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TABLE OF CONTENTS
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004
Registration No. 333-[ ]
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Prudential Public Limited Company
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| England and Wales (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
Not applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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| Laurence Pountney Hill London EC4R 0HH, England (44) 20 7220 7588 (Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices) |
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Jackson National Life Insurance Company 1 Corporate Way Lansing, MI 48951 (517) 887-5049 Attention: General Counsel (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) |
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| Copies to: | ||
| Sebastian R. Sperber, Esq. Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton City Place House, 55 Basinghall Street London EC2V 5EH, England |
Philip J. Boeckman, Esq. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP CityPoint, One Ropemaker Street London EC2Y 9HR, England |
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), please check the following box. ý
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434 under the Securities Act, please check the following box. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered (1) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1)(2)(3) |
Amount of Registration Fee(4) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Debt Securities | ||||||
| Subordinated Debt Securities | ||||||
| Preference Shares (5)(6) | U.S.$2,000,000,000 | U.S.$2,000,000,000 | U.S.$91,600 | |||
This Registration Statement, which is a new Registration Statement, also constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-103500, which was declared effective on July 31, 2003. Such Post-Effective Amendment shall hereafter become effective concurrently with the effectiveness of this Registration Statement and in accordance with Section 8(c) of the Securities Act. Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, the prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement also constitutes a prospectus for Registration Statement No. 333-103500.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Subject to completion, dated July • , 2004
The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We may not sell these securities until the registration is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, and it is not soliciting nor is it seeking an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Prospectus
Prudential Public Limited Company
U.S.$2,000,000,000
Senior and Subordinated Debt Securities
Preference Shares and
American Depositary Shares
The aggregate initial offering price of any combination of securities offered through this prospectus will not exceed U.S.$2,000,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent).
We will provide the specific terms of the securities that we are offering in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also contain the names of the underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the securities, together with any applicable commissions or discounts.
Investing in the securities involves risks. See Item 3, "Risk Factors" beginning on page 5 of our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2003.
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION REGULATORS HAVE NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is , 2004.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") using the "shelf" registration process under the Securities Act. Under the shelf registration process, we may sell the debt securities and preference shares (collectively, the "securities") described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the securities and the extent to which such terms differ from the general terms described in "Description of the Debt Securities," "Description of Preference Shares" and "Description of American Depositary Receipts." The prospectus supplement may also add to or update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information About Us".
As used in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement, the terms "Prudential," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Prudential plc. In addition, the term "U.K. GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom and the term "U.S. GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
Our consolidated financial statements are published in pounds sterling. In this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, "U.S. dollars" or "$" refers to U.S. currency, "pounds sterling," "£" or "pence" refers to U.K. currency, and "euro" or "€" refers to the currency established for participating members of the European Union as of the beginning of stage three of the European Monetary Union on January 1, 1999.
In connection with any issue of securities through this prospectus, a stabilizing manager or any person acting for him may over-allot or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of such securities and any associated securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail for a limited period after the issue date. However, there will be no obligation on the stabilizing manager or
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any agent of his to do this. Such stabilizing, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time, and must be brought to an end after a limited period.
LIMITATIONS ON ENFORCEMENT OF U.S. LAWS AGAINST US,
OUR MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS
We are an English public limited company. Most of our directors and executive officers (and certain experts named in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference) are resident outside the United States, and a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons or to enforce against them or us in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. We have been advised by our English solicitors, Slaughter and May, that there is doubt as to enforceability in England and Wales, in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, of liabilities predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States. Any final or conclusive judgment for a definitive sum of money obtained in the courts of the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) in any suit, action or proceedings arising out of or in connection therewith, will be recognized in England, provided, among other things:
A foreign judgment may be "final and conclusive" though it is subject to appeal. An English court may stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
We file annual reports and special reports and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are also available over the internet at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The address of the SEC's internet site is provided solely for the information of prospective investors and is not intended to be an active link. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.
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The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" in this prospectus the information in the documents that we file with it, which means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below:
You may request a copy of these documents at no cost to you by writing or telephoning us at our principal executive offices, located at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH, England, +(44) 20 7220 7588, attn: Group Secretarial.
Information in this prospectus may be modified by information included in subsequent Exchange Act filings that we incorporate by reference, the result of which is that only the information as modified will be part of this prospectus. Other information in the prospectus will not be affected by the replacement of this superseded information nor will an investor's ability to rely on such superseded information be affected, to the extent such reliance occurs prior to the delivery of the superseding information.
Some statements in this prospectus are, and some statements contained in any prospectus supplement may be, forward-looking. All statements regarding our future financial condition, results of operations and businesses, strategy, plans and objectives are forward-looking. Statements containing the words "believes," "intends," "expects" and words of similar meaning are also forward-looking. Such statements involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results, performance or achievements or conditions in the markets in which we operate to differ from those expressed or implied in those statements. These factors include regulatory changes, technological developments, globalization, levels of spending in major economies, the levels of marketing and promotional expenditures, actions of competitors, employee costs, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates and future business combinations or dispositions, together with other factors discussed in "—Risk Factors" in our annual reports on Form 20-F and in any prospectus supplement. We may also make or disclose written and/or oral forward-looking statements in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC, our annual report and accounts to shareholders, proxy statements, offering circulars, registration statements, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by our directors, officers or employees to third parties, including financial analysts. We undertake no obligation to, and do not expect to, update any of our forward-looking statements.
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We are a leading international financial services group, providing retail financial services and fund management in our chosen markets of the United Kingdom, the United States, Asia and continental Europe. At December 31, 2003, we were one of the 30 largest public companies in the United Kingdom in terms of market capitalization on the London Stock Exchange. We are also listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Prudential is not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. or its subsidiary, Prudential Insurance Company of America. Our principal executive offices are located at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH, England. Our telephone number at this location is +(44) 20 7220 7588.
United Kingdom and Europe
As at December 31, 2003, we were the proprietor of the largest U.K. long-term fund of investment assets supporting long-term insurance products of The Prudential Assurance Company. This fund is rated AA+ (stable outlook) by Standard & Poor's and Aa1 (stable outlook) by Moody's in terms of financial strength. Our U.K. insurance operations are focused on a number of key product areas including corporate pensions, annuities, and with-profits bonds.
M&G is our fund management business in the United Kingdom and continental Europe and comprises retail, institutional and internal fund management activities. As at December 31, 2003, M&G was the third largest U.K. retail fund manager in terms of funds under management. It has also commenced distributing a range of funds in Germany, Austria and Italy.
Our on-line banking subsidiary, Egg plc, was launched in 1998. It offers products and services in the four main areas of banking, investments, insurance and online shopping. In June 2000, we completed an initial public offering of 21% of our holding in Egg plc on the London Stock Exchange.
On January 14, 2004, we announced that we were in preliminary discussions regarding a possible transaction with respect to our remaining 79% shareholding in Egg plc. On January 26, 2004, we announced that while these discussions were continuing, we had received unsolicited indications of interest from a number of parties. These discussions continue and may or may not lead to a transaction.
United States
Our U.S. life insurance subsidiary, Jackson National Life, was the 12th largest life insurance company in the United States in terms of general account assets as of December 31, 2003. It offers a range of products including fixed, equity-linked and variable annuities, life insurance, guaranteed investment contracts and funding agreements.
Asia
In Asia, we have 23 operations in 12 countries. The savings, protection and investment products we offer in Asia are tailored to the local markets in which we operate. We distribute our products primarily through our agency sales force and through bancassurance agreements.
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Except as otherwise provided in any prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities described in this prospectus will be added to our funds to be used for general corporate purposes. Pending such application, such net proceeds may be invested in short-term marketable securities.
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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated, using financial information calculated in accordance with U.K. GAAP, are:
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Year ended December 31, |
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1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
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| Historical Ratio of Earnings1 to Fixed Charges2 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.9 | |||||
| Supplemental3 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | 6.7 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 2.9 | |||||
On a U.S. GAAP basis, the ratios of earnings to fixed charges are as follows:
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Year ended December 31, |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
1999 |
2000 |
20014 |
20024 |
2003 |
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| Historical Ratio of Earnings1 to Fixed Charges2 | 1.5 | 1.2 | — | — | 1.4 | |||||
| Supplemental3 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | 11.6 | 5.0 | — | — | 5.0 | |||||
On a supplemental U.K. GAAP basis, fixed charges consist of interest arising on borrowings of Prudential plc (and related finance subsidiaries) required to support the Prudential group's shareholder-financed business, as well as other borrowings of a trading nature. These other borrowings consist of commercial paper borrowings that support a short-term fixed income securities reinvestment program. Fixed charges on certain other borrowings arising from trading activities are excluded. These consist of trading borrowings of U.K. banking operations and non-recourse borrowings issued by investment subsidiaries managed by PPM America. In addition, fixed charges arising on debt in respect of with-profits funds are excluded, as these fixed charges do not directly affect the earnings of the Prudential group. The Prudential group's earnings in respect of with-profits funds reflects up to one-ninth of the value of bonuses paid to policyholders, which is not directly affected by the amount of fixed charges incurred by the funds. Further details concerning the adjustment for with-profits business are described below. Lastly, interest credited on insurance products liabilities, including wholesale funding arrangements entered into by Jackson National Life, has been excluded. This presentation is consistent with the capitalization and indebtedness table below.
On a supplemental U.S. GAAP basis, fixed charges consist of interest arising on borrowings of Prudential plc (and related finance subsidiaries) required to support the Prudential group's shareholder-financed business, as well as other borrowings of a trading nature. No fixed charges relating to borrowings from trading activities have been excluded. Fixed charges arising on debt in respect of with-profits funds has been included at the shareholders' 10% interest only, as the policyholders' 90% share of the charges has no impact on income from continuing operations. Interest relating to the Scottish Amicable Insurance Fund (SAIF), however, within the with-profits funds, has been excluded in its entirety as shareholders are not entitled to any of the profits from this fund. In addition, interest credited on insurance product liabilities, including account values of investment-type policies and wholesale funding arrangements entered into by Jackson National Life, has been excluded.
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Exclusion of the appropriate fixed charges borne by with-profits funds reflects the regulatory structures and accounting bases of profit recognition that attach to these particular types of with-profits business. The nature and operation of the profit sharing arrangement between policyholders and shareholders regarding results of the with-profits funds business is distinctive to the United Kingdom and certain Asian operations. Separate statutory funds are maintained for shareholders in the Prudential group companies having with-profits business and shareholder funds are only entitled to receive profit distributions from the with-profits funds as a function of profit participation bonuses distributed or credited to policyholders. In the case of SAIF, shareholders are not entitled to any profit from the fund. Under U.K. GAAP, earnings from with-profits business are recognized only when with-profits bonuses are declared and the shareholders' share of bonuses is transferred to the shareholders' fund. As bonuses are smoothed over time, fixed charges incurred by with-profits funds do not directly impact the level of bonuses, and therefore do not directly impact earnings. To reflect these arrangements, on the U.K. GAAP basis, the supplementary ratios have been determined after exclusion of all interest payable by with-profits funds. Under U.S. GAAP, earnings from with-profits business are recognized only after establishing a liability for the policyholders' share of earnings. Consequently, fixed charges incurred by with-profits funds affect earnings only to the extent of the shareholders' proportional interest in the earnings of the with-profits funds. Accordingly, on the U.S. GAAP basis, the supplementary ratios have been determined after exclusion of all interest payable by SAIF and, in addition to all product interest, 90% of other interest payable by the PAC with-profits fund (and similar funds in certain Asian subsidiaries). An explanation of the basis of profits under U.K. GAAP for with-profits business is included in Item 5, "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Factors Affecting Results of Operations—U.K. GAAP Critical Accounting Policies—Other Features of U.K. GAAP Accounting That Are of Particular Significance to an Understanding of Prudential's U.K. GAAP Results" and "—Analysis by Geographic Region—United Kingdom—Basis of Profits" and "—With-profits Products" in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2003. An explanation of the basis of profits under U.S. GAAP for with-profits business is included in Item 5, "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—U.S. GAAP Analysis—U.S. GAAP Critical Accounting Policies" in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2003.
The U.S. GAAP supplemental ratios illustrate a greater variation in the ratio of earnings to fixed charges than the U.K. GAAP counterpart. Under U.K. GAAP, profit attributable to shareholders in respect of our with-profits business reflects up to one-ninth of the value of bonuses paid to policyholders. To the extent that earnings from the with-profits funds do (or do not) exceed bonuses and related shareholder distributions, there is a transfer to (or from) the liability for the fund for future appropriations. Under U.S. GAAP, however, the shareholders' 10% interest in the pre-bonus operating results from with-profits funds is reflected in net income. The shareholder result from these funds is strongly influenced by investment returns and is subject to considerable volatility.
We have not presented a table of combined fixed charges and preference share dividends to earnings ratios because, to date, the Prudential group has not issued preference shares and consequently has not paid any preference share dividends.
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CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
The table below sets forth our consolidated capitalization as of December 31, 2003. You should read this table in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes related thereto.
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As of December 31, 2003 |
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(In £ Millions) |
(In $ Millions)1 |
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| Short-term debt | 1,093 | 1,946 | |||
| Long-term debt | 3,018 | 5,372 | |||
| Total debt2 | 4,111 | 7,318 | |||
| Ordinary share capital3 | 100 | 178 | |||
| Share premium | 553 | 984 | |||
| Retained profit and loss reserve | 2,625 | 4,672 | |||
| Total shareholders' funds | 3,278 | 5,834 | |||
| Total capitalization | 7,389 | 13,152 | |||
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As of December 31, 2003 |
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(In £ Millions) |
(In $ Millions)1 |
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| Core structural borrowings: | |||||
| Parent company and finance subsidiaries | 2,427 | 4,320 | |||
| Jackson National life surplus notes | 140 | 249 | |||
| Structural borrowings of U.K. banking operations | 451 | 803 | |||
| Global commercial paper program4 | 1,064 | 1,894 | |||
| Medium term notes4 | 10 | 18 | |||
| Other borrowings | 19 | 34 | |||
| Total debt | 4,111 | 7,318 | |||
The aggregate amount of outstanding Prudential plc debt (excluding subsidiary debt) as at May 31, 2004, the most recent practicable date prior to the date of this prospectus, was £3,655 million. Of this amount, (i) no debt was secured, (ii) senior debt ranking equally with any Senior Debt Securities that may be issued pursuant to this prospectus totaled £2,351 million, (iii) debt ranking senior to any Dated Subordinated Debt Securities that may be issued pursuant to this prospectus totaled £2,351 million and (iv) debt ranking senior to any Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities or Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities that may be issued pursuant to this prospectus totaled £3,121 million.
Debt of our subsidiaries that would at May 31, 2004 effectively rank senior to any Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities that may be issued pursuant to this prospectus totaled £799 million. The equivalent amount including debt issued by long-term business operations and trading debt items such as Egg debt securities and Jackson National Life funding arrangements at May 31, 2004 was £6,827 million.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
Debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be issued under either a senior indenture or a subordinated indenture, each of which has been entered into between us, as issuer, and Wilmington Trust Company, as senior trustee and Citibank, N.A., as subordinated trustee, respectively. Senior debt securities ("Senior Debt Securities") will be issued under the senior indenture and subordinated debt securities ("Subordinated Debt Securities") will be issued under the subordinated indenture. We refer to Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities together as "debt securities" and the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture as the "indentures."
The following summary of certain provisions of the debt securities and the indentures, and any such summary in any prospectus supplement, do not purport to be complete and are subject, and qualified by reference, to all the provisions of the debt securities and the relevant indenture. As used in this description, the holder of a debt security is the registered owner of that security.
Forms of the indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures will be subject to and governed by the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. You should read the indentures for a more complete understanding of the provisions we describe. Please see "Where You Can Find More Information About Us" for information on how to obtain copies of the indentures.
We describe in this section the general terms that will apply to any debt securities that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus. At the time that we offer debt securities, we will describe in the related prospectus supplement the specific terms of the offered debt securities and the extent to which the general terms described in this section apply or do not apply to those securities.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the indentures.
General
The indentures do not limit the amount of the debt securities that we may issue thereunder and provide that we may issue debt securities thereunder from time to time in one or more series.
We may issue Senior Debt Securities, as described in greater detail below. We may also issue Subordinated Debt Securities. Subordinated Debt Securities may:
We will describe the following terms of the particular series of debt securities being offered in the applicable prospectus supplement:
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Tax Events, Regulatory Events, Junior Securities, Parity Securities and subordination, together with details for any indemnification or application of alternative coupon satisfaction mechanisms through the issuance of ordinary shares or otherwise,
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All debt securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time.
If the purchase price of any of the debt securities is denominated in a foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units or if the principal of (and premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units, the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to such issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.
Some of the debt securities may be issued as "Discounted Securities" (providing that upon any redemption prior to Maturity or acceleration of the Maturity thereof, an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof shall become due and payable) to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Any special U.S. federal income tax consequences and U.K. tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any Discounted Securities will be described in the related prospectus supplement, although a general discussion of the potential tax considerations may be found below under "Taxation".
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of a series, holders of debt securities will not be entitled to any voting rights except as otherwise described herein.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of a series, the provisions of the indentures and the debt securities do not afford you protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction involving us which might adversely affect you.
Denominations, Registration and Transfer
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will issue debt securities registered in the name of holders as set out in the books of the security registrar (each, a "Registered Debt Security," or a debt security in "registered form"). Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, Registered Debt Securities will be represented by interests in one or more global securities (each, a "Global Security," or a security in "global form") deposited with a nominee for, and accepted for settlement and clearance by, one or more of DTC and a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, as described under "Global Securities" below. Registered Debt Securities will be issued in such denominations as are specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and a Global Security will be issued in a denomination equal to the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series represented by such Global Security, unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise.
In the circumstances described below under "—Securities in Definitive Form," we may physically issue and deliver certificated debt securities, which are referred to as debt securities in "definitive form". Registered Debt Securities of any series issued in definitive form will be exchangeable for other Registered Debt Securities of the same series, of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and of different authorized denominations. A Registered Debt Security issued in definitive form may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer duly executed), at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent we designate for such purpose with respect to any series of debt securities and referred to in an applicable prospectus supplement, without service
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charge but subject to payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the applicable indenture. Such transfer or exchange will be effected after the security registrar or transfer agent, as the case may be, is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We have initially appointed the trustees as the security registrars under the relevant indentures. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents (in addition to the security registrar) that we have initially designated with respect to any series of debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of debt securities.
If the debt securities of a series are redeemed in part, we shall not be required to:
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be represented in whole or in part by one or more Global Securities that will be registered in the name of, or in the name of a nominee of, and deposited with or on behalf of, DTC or a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream (a "Depositary"). Global Securities will be issued in registered form unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. Unless and until it is exchanged for debt securities in definitive form, any such Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the relevant Depositary to its nominee, or vice versa, or by a nominee to another nominee of such Depositary or, in either case, to a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the related prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee will credit the accounts of persons entitled thereto with the respective beneficial interests in the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such Global Security. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such debt securities, or by us if we offer and sell directly such debt securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee ("participants") or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) for such Global Security and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons who hold interests through participants). The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
So long as the relevant Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, it will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the applicable indenture governing the debt securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the
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series represented by such Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture governing such debt securities. Such owners of beneficial interests will not have the direct right to act upon any solicitation for actions from holders of the debt securities and will be permitted to act only to the extent appropriate proxies to do so from DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, have been received. Similarly, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, unless and until debt securities in definitive form are issued, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will be restricted to acting only to the extent appropriate proxies have been received from DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable.
Any payments of principal, premium or interest on debt securities registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to it as the registered owner of the Global Security representing such debt securities. Neither we, nor any of the applicable trustees, paying agents or security registrars for such debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security for such debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the Depositary for a Global Security or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the debt securities of such series represented by such Global Security as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities payable to bearer or registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of such participants.
Securities in Definitive Form
If a Depositary for a Global Security in respect of a series of debt securities is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 120 days, or in the event of our winding up we fail to make any payment on any debt securities when due, and the applicable trustee has received notice from the registered owner of such Global Security requesting the exchange of a specified amount of such debt securities for debt securities of such series in definitive form, we will issue Registered Debt Securities in respect of the debt securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for the Global Security representing such series of debt securities.
We may at any time and in our sole discretion determine that the Registered Debt Securities in respect of the debt securities of any series represented by one or more Global Securities, shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event, we will issue Registered Debt Securities in respect of the debt securities of such series in definitive form. Further, if we so specify with respect to the debt securities of a series, you may, on terms acceptable to us and the Depositary for such Global Security, receive Registered Debt Securities of such series in definitive form.
In any such instance, you will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of securities of the series of debt securities represented by such Global Security, equal in principal amount to your beneficial interest, and to have such securities registered in your name.
Debt securities of any series so issued in definitive form will only be issued as Registered Debt Securities in authorized minimum denominations and bearing any applicable restrictive legend. We believe there should be no tax consequences associated with an exchange of Registered Debt Securities in global form for Registered Debt Securities in definitive form.
If we issue debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a particular Global Security, the relevant Depositary, as holder of that Global Security, will surrender it against receipt of the debt
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securities in definitive form, cancel the book-entry debt securities of that series, and distribute through DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, the debt securities in definitive form of that series to the persons and in the amounts specified by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be.
To the extent permitted by law, we, the applicable trustees, paying agents or security registrars shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any debt security in definitive form is registered as the absolute owner. Payments in respect of a debt security in definitive form will be made to the person in whose name the definitive debt security is registered as it appears in the register for that series. They will be made by check mailed or delivered to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the security register. In the event of a redemption, debt securities issued in definitive form should be presented to the applicable paying agent for redemption.
Holders of debt securities in definitive form will have the direct right to act upon any solicitation for actions from holders of the debt securities, including upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, and will not be required to rely upon receipt of proxies from DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream.
Status of the Senior Debt Securities
The Senior Debt Securities will constitute our direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and (subject to the provisions set forth under "—Senior Debt Securities—Negative Pledge" below) unsecured obligations. In each case, these obligations shall be without any preference among themselves and will rank at least equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. This will be subject, in the event of insolvency, to laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights. Other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness may contain covenants, events of default and other provisions which are different from or which are not contained in the Senior Debt Securities.
Senior Debt Securities—Negative Pledge
So long as any Senior Debt Securities remain outstanding (as defined in the senior indenture), we will not, and will ensure (so far as we can do so by the proper exercise of our voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable in relation to such company) that the Principal Subsidiary (as defined below) will not, create or permit to exist any mortgage or charge upon the whole or any part of our or its undertaking or assets (other than assets representing the fund or funds we maintain, or as the case may be, the Principal Subsidiary maintains, in respect of long-term business (as defined in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000)), present or future, to secure payment of any of our present or future Relevant Indebtedness (as defined below), or such Relevant Indebtedness of any of our Subsidiaries, or to secure any guarantee or indemnity in respect thereof, without at the same time securing such outstanding Senior Debt Securities and all amounts payable under the senior indenture in respect thereof equally and ratably with the same security as secures any such Relevant Indebtedness, guarantee or indemnity, or such other security as shall be approved by the holders of at least 75% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series.
"Subsidiary" means a subsidiary undertaking of Prudential, within the meaning of Section 258 of the Companies Act 1985 of Great Britain as amended by the Companies Act 1989 of Great Britain ("Section 258"). Section 258 provides that a company will be our subsidiary undertaking where:
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"Principal Subsidiary" means The Prudential Assurance Company Limited for so long as it remains our Subsidiary.
"Relevant Indebtedness" means any indebtedness for borrowed money (other than indebtedness in the form of sterling debenture stock (as defined in the senior indenture) or indebtedness which has a stated maturity not exceeding one year) which is in the form of, or represented or evidenced by, bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or other securities which, with our agreement or the agreement of any relevant Subsidiary, as the case may be, are quoted, listed, dealt in or traded on a stock exchange or over the counter or other recognized securities market (whether or not distributed by way of private placement) excluding any indebtedness for borrowed money incurred to acquire an asset from outside the Prudential group in respect of which the person to whom such indebtedness is owed has no recourse whatsoever to us or the Principal Subsidiary, as the case may be, for repayment other than recourse for amounts limited to the cash flow or net cash flow (other than historic cash flow or historic net cash flow) from such asset.
Status of the Subordinated Debt Securities
General
If we become bankrupt or are wound up or liquidated, the claims of the holders of Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate to, and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of, all claims of our Senior Creditors (as defined below). The Subordinated Debt Securities do not have the benefit of any negative pledge covenant.
As a result of this subordination, no amount will be payable should we be the subject of any bankruptcy, winding up or liquidation proceedings in England and Wales in respect of claims under the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series until all the claims of our Senior Creditors admitted in such bankruptcy, winding up or liquidation have been satisfied. Also, by reason of subordination, in the event of any such bankruptcy, winding up or liquidation in England and Wales, our creditors who are holders of such senior claims as described above may recover more, ratably, than holders of any such Subordinated Debt Securities and holders of other claims ranking pari passu therewith.
Currently there is no limitation on the issuance of indebtedness which would constitute claims of our Senior Creditors.
"Senior Creditor" when used with respect to any series of Subordinated Debt Securities means, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, any of our creditors:
Dated Subordinated Debt Securities
The Dated Subordinated Debt Securities will constitute our unsecured subordinated obligations without any preference among themselves.
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In the event we are the subject of any bankruptcy, winding up or liquidation proceedings, if the amounts payable with respect to the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and any claims ranking pari passu with any such debt securities are not paid in full, the holders of any such debt securities and holders of other claims ranking pari passu with any such debt securities will share ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the respective amounts to which they are entitled.
Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities
The Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities will constitute our unsecured subordinated obligations without any preference among themselves.
If we become bankrupt or are wound up or liquidated, the amount payable with respect to the Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities shall be determined by calculating the amount, if any, as would have been payable in respect thereof as if on the day prior to the commencement of the winding up and thereafter, the holders of the Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities were the holders of our most senior class of preference shares having a preferential right to a return of assets in the winding up over the holders of all issued classes of share capital (including all classes of our issued preference shares) for the time being, assuming that such preference shares were entitled (to the exclusion of all other rights or privileges) to receive as a return of capital in such winding up an amount equal to the principal amount of the Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities then outstanding together with premium, if any, and interest accrued to the date of the repayment, if any. If such amounts and any claims ranking pari passu with such amounts are not paid in full, the holders of such debt securities and claims will share ratably in any such distribution of our assets in proportion to the respective amounts to which they are entitled.
Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities
The Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities will constitute our unsecured subordinated obligations without any preference among themselves.
If we become bankrupt or are wound up or liquidated, the amount payable with respect to the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities shall be determined by calculating the amount, if any, as would have been payable in respect thereof as if on the day prior to the commencement of the winding up and thereafter, the holders of the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities were the holders of preference shares in our capital having a preferential right to a return of assets in the winding up over the holders of our ordinary shares (but pari passu with the holders of our most senior ranking class of issued preference shares, if any, except to the extent such preference shares represent claims of Senior Creditors) assuming that such preference shares were entitled (to the exclusion of all other rights or privileges) to receive as a return of capital in such winding up an amount equal to the principal amount of the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities then outstanding together with premium, if any, interest accrued to the date of repayment, if any, and to the extent specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Deferred Interest, if any. If such amounts and any claims ranking pari passu with such amounts are not paid in full, the holders of such debt securities and claims will share ratably in any such distribution of our assets in proportion to the respective amounts to which they are entitled.
The effect of using this method to calculate the amount payable with respect to the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities is that, in the event of a bankruptcy or similar event, the claims of the holders of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities will be subordinate to, and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of, all claims of the holders of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities and any claims ranking pari passu with such Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities.
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Currency
To the extent that holders of the debt securities are entitled to any recovery with respect to the debt securities in any bankruptcy, winding up or liquidation, it is unclear whether such holders would be entitled in such proceedings to a recovery in dollars or currencies other than pounds sterling and, as a general matter, the right to claim for any amounts payable on debt securities may be limited by applicable insolvency law.
Payments on Debt Securities
The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the date on which we will pay interest, if any, and, in the case of the Senior Debt Securities and the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, the date for payments of principal (and premium, if any, thereon) on any particular series of debt securities. The prospectus supplement will also specify the interest rate or rates, if any, or how such rate or rates will be calculated.
Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if we do not pay an installment of interest on an Interest Payment Date with respect to any Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities, or do not pay all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any such Subordinated Debt Securities on the Stated Maturity (if any) or any other date set for redemption, the obligation to make such payment on such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other date set for redemption, as the case may be, shall be deferred until:
No payment of interest so deferred will accrue interest. No payment so deferred shall be treated as due for any purpose until the Deferred Interest Payment Date or Deferred Principal Payment Date, as the case may be, and accordingly, no such deferral will constitute an Event of Default, Payment Default or Payment Event.
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement and notwithstanding any other provision of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, we may be entitled by notice in writing to the subordinated trustee, such notice a "Deferral Notice," to defer the due date for payment of any principal (or premium, if any, on) or interest in respect of any series of Subordinated Debt Securities if the U.K. Financial Services Authority has requested or required us to make that deferral. As a result, we would not have to make that payment on the date that it would otherwise have become due and payable.
We envisage that the U.K. Financial Services Authority would request the deferral of payments if it were concerned about our solvency or capital position. In such a situation, we would also expect the U.K. Financial Services Authority to take into consideration our views regarding the impact that such a deferral could have. These deferrals could be optional or mandatory.
The terms and conditions of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities could all include provisions which entitle us to the optional deferral of payments under certain circumstances. For example, these circumstances would
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occur when our board of directors determines that our distributable profits are insufficient for paying dividends or if we failed to meet capitalization ratios calculated on the basis of regulatory requirements. Whether we would exercise the right to defer payments under such circumstances would depend on our overall financial and trading situation, the general market environment, and the likely impact of such a deferral. The terms and conditions of the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities could also include mandatory requirements to defer payments. For example, these mandatory payment deferrals would be triggered by our failure to meet regulatory capital requirements.
Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities
Interest on the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities will, to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, be payable on each Compulsory Interest Payment Date (as defined below). The prospectus supplement will specify the interest rate or rates and how such rate or rates will be calculated.
We will have no obligation to make any payments on an Optional Interest Payment Date (as defined below), and any failure to make such payments shall not constitute an Event of Default, Capital Security Default or Payment Event. Any interest not paid on any Optional Interest Payment Date, together with any interest not paid because the Solvency Condition is not met, shall, if so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, constitute collectively "Deferred Interest" so long as the same remains unpaid. See "—Events of Default and Defaults—Subordinated Debt Securities" below. Deferred Interest and interest, if any, on Deferred Interest, with respect to the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities will be payable only pursuant to the alternative coupon satisfaction mechanism discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement and in such circumstances and in such manner as are set forth therein.
"Compulsory Interest Payment Date" means, in respect of the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities, any Interest Payment Date on which we satisfy the Solvency Condition and which is not an Optional Interest Payment Date.
"Optional Interest Payment Date" shall have the meaning attributable to such term in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Solvency Condition
Except in a winding up, if applicable, or if the U.K. Financial Services Authority has indicated that it has no objection to such payment, any payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or Deferred Interest, if any, in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series are conditional upon our satisfying the Solvency Condition at the time of and immediately after any such payment, and no principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or Deferred Interest, if any, shall be payable in respect of any series of such debt securities and neither we nor any of our Subsidiaries, as applicable, may redeem or repurchase any of the debt securities of any such series except to the extent that we would satisfy the Solvency Condition both at the time of and immediately after, any such payment, redemption or repurchase.
"Solvency Condition" means, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, that, at the relevant time, we are solvent by virtue of:
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"Assets" means the total amount of our non-consolidated gross assets as shown by our latest published balance sheet, but adjusted as specified in the subordinated indenture, including for contingencies and subsequent events, and to such extent as the person or persons giving the relevant Solvency Condition report may determine.
"Liabilities" means the total amount of our non-consolidated gross liabilities as shown by our latest published balance sheet, but adjusted, as specified in the subordinated indenture, including for contingencies and subsequent events, and to such extent as the person or persons giving the relevant Solvency Condition report may determine.
"Regulatory Capital Requirement" means any minimum or notional margin of solvency or minimum regulatory capital or capital ratios required for insurance companies or insurance holding companies by the U.K. Financial Services Authority or any successor regulatory body.
A report as to our solvency by two of our directors or, in certain circumstances as provided in the subordinated indenture, our auditors or, if we are in a winding up in England and Wales, our liquidator shall in the absence of proven error be treated and accepted by us, the subordinated trustee and the holders of any such Subordinated Debt Securities as correct and sufficient evidence thereof. Any such report shall be made to the subordinated trustee within 14 days before any such payment is to be made or within six months before any such repurchase or redemption is to be made.
If the Solvency Condition is not satisfied, the amount of any payment which could otherwise be payable in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series will be available to meet our losses.
Redemption and Repurchase, Conversion or Exchange
Redemption of Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities
The Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities will be undated and, accordingly, will have no final maturity and may not be repaid except in accordance with the provisions set forth below under "—Redemption or Conversion or Exchange of Debt Securities for Tax Reasons," "—Redemption or Conversion or Exchange of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities for Regulatory Reasons," "—Optional Redemption," "—Repurchase" and "Events of Default and Defaults—Subordinated Debt Securities" or as otherwise described in any applicable prospectus supplement.
Redemption or Conversion or Exchange of Debt Securities for Tax Reasons
Subject, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, to our satisfying the Solvency Condition on any applicable date set for redemption, the debt securities of any series may be redeemed, as a whole but not in part, at our option, upon not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' prior notice to the holders of such debt securities, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (and premium, if any, thereon), together with accrued interest, if any, and Deferred Interest, if any, thereon to the date fixed for redemption, and any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into preference shares may be converted or exchanged as a whole, at our option, upon the occurrence of a Tax Event with respect to such series, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
"Tax Event" means, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we determine that (i) in making any interest payments or Deferred Interest payments, as the case may be, in respect of any debt securities, we have paid, or will or would on the next interest payment date be required to pay, Additional Amounts, as described below under "—Payment of Additional Amounts"; (ii) payments, including Deferred Interest Payments, on the next interest payment date in respect of any
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Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities would be treated as "distributions" within the meaning of Section 209 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 of the United Kingdom (as amended, re-enacted or replaced); or (iii) as a result of a change in or amendment to the laws or regulations of the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or any authority thereof or therein having power to tax, including any treaty to which the United Kingdom is a party, or any change in an application or official interpretation of those laws or regulations (including a change or amendment resulting from a holding by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction), which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the date of issue of the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities, we would not be entitled to claim a deduction in computing our U.K. taxation liabilities in respect of any interest payment (including any Deferred Interest Payment) on the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities, or the value of the deduction to us would be materially reduced.
In the event that we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, we will deliver to the applicable trustee a certificate, signed by two of our authorized officers, evidencing compliance with such provisions and stating that we are entitled to redeem the debt securities of any such series pursuant to the terms of such debt securities and the applicable indenture. We will further be required, before giving a notice of redemption, to deliver to the applicable trustee a written opinion of independent legal counsel of recognized standing in the appropriate jurisdiction, in a form satisfactory to such trustee, confirming that we are entitled to exercise the right of redemption.
Notice of intention to redeem the debt securities of any series will be given in accordance with the provisions described under "Notices" below and pursuant to the terms of the applicable indenture. If such notice has been given, and subject, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities of any series to our satisfying the Solvency Condition on the applicable redemption date and, if so required under the applicable U.K. regulatory requirements, providing notice thereof to, and receiving no objection thereto from, the U.K. Financial Services Authority (see below), the debt securities of any such series shall become due and payable on the redemption date specified in such notice and, upon presentation and surrender of such debt securities at the place or places specified in such notice, we shall pay and redeem such debt securities at the places and in the manner therein specified and at the redemption price therein specified together with accrued interest, if any, and Deferred Interest, if any, to the redemption date. From and after the redemption date, unless we shall default in the payment of the redemption price together with accrued interest, if any, and Deferred Interest, if any, the debt securities of any such series called for redemption shall cease to bear interest. If any such debt security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal thereof (and premium, if any, thereon) and, to the extent set out in the applicable prospectus supplement, Deferred Interest, shall, until paid, bear interest from the redemption date at such rate per annum equal to the rate borne by such debt security or, in the case of Discounted Securities, such debt security's Yield to Maturity.
In the event that we elect to convert or exchange any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into preference shares upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, the applicable prospectus supplement for such debt securities will describe the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange provisions.
Redemption or Conversion or Exchange of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities for Regulatory Reasons
Subject to our satisfying the Solvency Condition and providing notice thereof to, and receiving no objection from, the U.K. Financial Services Authority (see below), on any applicable date set for redemption, the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities of any series may be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at our option, upon not more than 60 days' nor less than 30 days' prior notice to the holders of such debt securities, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (and premium, if any, thereon), together with accrued interest, if any, and Deferred Interest, if any, thereon to the date fixed for redemption and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus
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supplement, any Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities convertible or exchangeable into preference shares may be converted or exchanged as a whole, at our option, if a Regulatory Event is deemed to have occurred.
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, a "Regulatory Event" will be deemed to have occurred if the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities would not be capable of counting as cover for the minimum or notional margin of solvency or minimum capital or capital ratios required of us by any Regulatory Capital Requirement as a result of any change to the Capital Regulations or the application or official interpretation thereof at any relevant time.
"Capital Regulations" means rules and regulations of the U.K. Financial Services Authority, or any successor regulatory body, that require Prudential plc or any of its EEA Insurance Subsidiaries to meet a Regulatory Capital Requirement including, without limitation, pursuant to the Directive 98/78/EC of the European Union or any legislation, rules or regulations (whether having the force of law or otherwise) in any state within the European Economic Area (which includes the European Union together with Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) implementing such directive.
"EEA Insurance Subsidiary" means any of our Subsidiaries engaged in the insurance business and regulated as such by a member state of the European Economic Area.
In the event we elect to convert or exchange any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into preference shares upon the occurrence of a Regulatory Event, the applicable prospectus supplement for such debt securities will describe the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange provisions.
Optional Redemption
The applicable prospectus supplement will specify whether we may redeem the debt securities of any series, in whole or in part, at our option, in any other circumstances. The prospectus supplement will also specify the notice that we will be required to provide and the prices (and premium, if any, thereon) at which and the dates on which the debt securities may be redeemed. Any notice of redemption of debt securities will state:
Financial Services Authority Consents
Under U.K. regulatory requirements at the date of this prospectus, any redemption of Subordinated Debt Securities upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or Regulatory Event or repurchase or any optional redemption we or any of our Subsidiaries make of Subordinated Debt Securities of any series may be made only without the objection of the U.K. Financial Services Authority and subject to such conditions as the U.K. Financial Services Authority may impose at the time of any such non-objection.
Repurchase
Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, U.S. federal securities law), and subject, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, to our satisfying the Solvency Condition on the relevant date, we and any of our Subsidiaries may at any time repurchase debt securities in the open
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market, by tender to the holders of the securities of that series or by other means. Debt securities of any such series that we or any of our Subsidiaries may purchase may be held, resold or surrendered by the purchaser thereof through us to the applicable trustee or any paying agent for cancellation. See "Status of the Senior Debt Securities—Senior Debt Securities—Negative Pledge" for the definition of Subsidiary.
Payment of Additional Amounts
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will pay to the holder of any debt security such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that every net payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, and Deferred Interest, if any, on any such debt security after deduction or other withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment, duty or other governmental charge of any nature whatsoever imposed, levied or collected by the United Kingdom, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein having power to tax, will not be less than the amount provided for in any such debt security to be then due and payable ("Additional Amounts"); provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to pay additional amounts will not apply on account of any tax, assessment, duty or other governmental charge which is payable:
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No additional amounts will be paid as provided above with respect to any payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, or Deferred Interest, if any, on any such debt security to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of any such payment to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, a member of such a partnership or the beneficial owner of such payment would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the holder of any such debt security.
"Relevant Date" means the date on which the payment of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, on or Deferred Interest, if any, on any debt security first becomes due and payable but, if the full amount of the monies payable on such date has not been received by the relevant paying agent or as it shall have directed on or prior to such date, the "Relevant Date" means the date on which such monies shall have been so received.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, and Deferred Interest, if any, on Registered Debt Securities (other than a Global Security) will be made at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate from time to time, except that at our option payment of any interest may be made to any or all holders:
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, payment of any installment of interest on Registered Debt Securities will be made to the person in whose name such Registered Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest payment.
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the New York office of the senior trustee, in its capacity as paying agent, and/or such other paying agents as are named in the prospectus supplement will be designated as our paying agency for payments with respect to Senior Debt Securities. Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the New York office of the subordinated trustee, in its capacity as paying agent, and/or such other paying agents as are named in the prospectus supplement will be designated as our paying agency for payments with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities. Any other paying agents outside the United States and any other paying agents in the United States initially designated by us for the debt securities of a series will be named in the related prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agents or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each Place of Payment for such series; provided that if the debt securities of such series are listed on any stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, we will maintain a paying agent in any such required city located outside the United States for the debt securities of such series.
All moneys we pay to a paying agent for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, and Deferred Interest, if any, on any debt security or in respect of any other additional payments thereon which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest or additional payments shall have become due and payable will (subject to applicable laws) be repaid to us and the holder of such debt security will thereafter look only to us for payment thereof.
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Events of Default and Defaults—Senior Debt Securities
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise, an "Event of Default" with respect to each series of Senior Debt Securities shall result if:
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"Indebtedness for moneys borrowed" means the principal amount of (i) all moneys borrowed and (ii) all debentures (together in each case with any fixed or minimum premium payable on final redemption or repayment) which neither we nor any of our Subsidiaries beneficially owns for the time being.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the senior trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, at their discretion, declare the outstanding debt securities of that series to be due and repayable immediately (and the outstanding debt securities of that series will thereby become due and repayable) at their outstanding principal amount (or such other repayment amount as may be specified in or determined in accordance with the applicable prospectus supplement) together with accrued interest, if any (and premium, if any, thereon) as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. The senior trustee may, at its discretion and without further notice, institute such proceedings as it may think suitable against us to enforce payment.
Subject to the senior indenture provisions for the indemnification of the senior trustee, the holder(s) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding in the name of and on the behalf of the senior trustee for any remedy available to the senior trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the senior trustee with respect to the debt securities of the series. However, the senior trustee may refuse to follow any direction that is in conflict with any rule of law or the senior indenture or is unjustly prejudicial to the holder(s) of any Senior Debt Securities of that series not taking part in the direction or which would subject the senior trustee to personal liability. The senior trustee may also take any other action, consistent with the direction, that it deems proper.
The holder(s) of a majority, or any greater requisite amount, as the case may be, of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of any affected series may waive any Event of Default with respect to the series, except any default in respect of either:
The senior trustee will, within 90 days of a default with respect to the Senior Debt Securities of any series, give to each holder of the Senior Debt Securities of the affected series notice of any default it knows about, unless the default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on the affected Senior Debt Securities, the senior trustee will be entitled to withhold such notice if it determines in good faith that withholding of the notice is in the interest of the holder(s) of such series.
We will furnish the senior trustee with an annual certificate of certain of our officers certifying, to the best of their knowledge, whether we are, or have been, in default and specifying the nature and status of any such default. In addition, we are required to provide the senior trustee with written notice within five days of our becoming aware of any Event of Default, or default that could mature into an Event of Default, under the senior indenture.
Notwithstanding any contrary provisions, nothing shall impair the right of a holder, absent the senior trustee's consent, to sue for any payments due but unpaid with respect to such holder's Senior Debt Securities.
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Beneficial owners of Senior Debt Securities held in street name should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the senior trustee and how to waive an Event of Default.
Events of Default and Defaults—Subordinated Debt Securities
An "Event of Default" with respect to each series of Subordinated Debt Securities shall only occur if an order is made by a court of competent jurisdiction and is not successfully appealed within 30 days of the making of such order, or an effective shareholders' resolution is validly adopted, for our winding up (except in the case of a winding up solely for the purpose of a reconstruction or amalgamation or substitution in place of Prudential of a successor in business in each case where the Subordinated Debt Securities remain outstanding and are assumed by such successor in business on terms previously approved in writing by the holders of not less than 75% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of that series). If any such Event of Default with respect to any particular series of Subordinated Debt Securities occurs and is continuing, the subordinated trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of that series may declare the entire principal amount of (including premium, if any, on), or (in the case of Discounted Securities) such lesser amount as may be provided for with respect to such debt securities, all the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to us (and to the subordinated trustee if given by holders).
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon any such declaration of acceleration such principal or such lesser amount, as the case may be, including premium, if any, thereon, together with any accrued interest and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which we have expressly waived. However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration.
A "Payment Default" with respect to a series of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities shall, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, occur if we fail to pay, or set aside, principal of (or premium, if any, on) or accrued interest, if any, on any such Subordinated Debt Security when due, and such failure continues for 14 days, provided that, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement,
then, the failure to make or set aside such payment shall not constitute a Payment Default and the obligation to make such payment shall be deferred until (i) in the case of a payment of interest, the applicable Deferred Interest Payment Date and (ii) in the case of a payment of principal (or premium), the Deferred Principal Payment Date.
If any Payment Default shall occur, the subordinated trustee may commence:
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A "Capital Security Default" with respect to a series of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities shall, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, occur if:
If any Capital Security Default shall occur and is continuing in respect of any series of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities, the subordinated trustee may commence
A "Payment Event" shall, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, occur when a relevant payment of principal or interest in respect of a Subordinated Debt Security would have become due and at the end of the 14-day period following the date on which such payment is due, the Solvency Condition is not satisfied. In this event, such failure to pay will not constitute a Payment Default or Capital Security Default, as the case may be, but instead will constitute a "Payment Event." However, it shall not be a Payment Event, Payment Default or Capital Security Default if such sums were not paid in order to comply with a statute, regulation or order of any court of competent jurisdiction. Where there is doubt as to the validity or applicability of any such statute, regulation or order, it shall not be a Payment Event, Payment Default or Capital Security Default if we act on the advice given to us and to the subordinated trustee, in the form of a legal opinion acceptable to the subordinated trustee. However, the subordinated trustee may, by notice to us, require us to take action, including proceedings for a court declaration, to resolve the doubt, if counsel advises that the action is appropriate and reasonable. In this case, we shall proceed with the action promptly and be bound by any final resolution of the doubt. If the action results in a determination that we can make the relevant payment without violating any statute, regulation or order then the payment shall become due and payable immediately after the subordinated trustee gives us written notice informing it of the determination.
On any Payment Event, the subordinated trustee may institute proceedings in England and Wales (but not elsewhere) for our winding up, but may not pursue any other legal remedy, including a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid.
Subject to the subordinated indenture provisions for the indemnification of the subordinated trustee, the holder(s) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding in the name of and on the behalf of the subordinated trustee for any remedy available to the subordinated trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the subordinated trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series. However, the subordinated trustee may refuse to follow any direction that is in conflict with any rule of law or the subordinated indenture or is unjustly prejudicial to the holder(s) of any Subordinated Debt Securities of that series not taking part in the direction or which would subject the subordinated trustee to personal liability. The subordinated trustee may also take any other action, consistent with the direction, that it deems proper.
The holder(s) of a majority, or any greater requisite amount, as the case may be, of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of any affected series may waive any
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Event of Default, Payment Default, Capital Security Default and Payment Event with respect to the series, except any default in respect of either:
The subordinated trustee will, within 90 days of an Event of Default, Payment Default, Capital Security Default or Payment Event with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, give to each holder of the Subordinated Debt Securities of the affected series notice of any such default it knows about, unless such default has been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest or Deferred Interest, if any, on the affected Subordinated Debt Securities, the subordinated trustee will be entitled to withhold such notice if it determines in good faith that withholding of the notice is in the interest of the holder(s) of such series.
If we fail to perform or observe any of our respective obligations or covenants under any series of Subordinated Debt Securities or the subordinated indenture (other than any obligation or covenant (i) with respect to the payment of any principal or interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities of such series or (ii) which has expressly been included in the subordinated indenture solely for the benefit of Subordinated Debt Securities other than the Subordinated Debt Securities of such series) and such failure continues for a period of 30 days after the date on which there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the subordinated trustee or to us and the subordinated trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied, then the subordinated trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities of such series may institute such proceedings or take such other actions as they shall determine in their sole discretion to enforce such obligation or covenant; provided that we shall not as a consequence of such proceedings or other actions be obliged to pay any sum or sums representing or measured by reference to the principal or interest in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities of such series sooner than the same would otherwise have been due and payable.
We will furnish the subordinated trustee with an annual certificate of certain of our officers certifying, to the best of their knowledge, whether we are, or have been, in default and specifying the nature and status of any such default. In addition, we are required to provide the subordinated trustee with written notice within five days of our becoming aware of any Event of Default, or default that could mature into an Event of Default, under the subordinated indenture.
By acceptance of the Subordinated Debt Securities, holders of such Subordinated Debt Securities and the subordinated trustee, on behalf of such holders, will be deemed to have waived any right of set-off or counterclaim that such holders might otherwise have against us whether prior to or in any such bankruptcy or winding up. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if any of the rights and claims of any holder of Subordinated Debt Securities are discharged by set-off, such holder will immediately pay an amount equal to the amount of such discharge to us or, if applicable, the liquidator or subordinated trustee or receiver in our bankruptcy and, until such time as payment is made, will hold a sum equal to such amount in trust for us or, if applicable, the liquidator or subordinated trustee or receiver in our bankruptcy. Accordingly, such discharge will be deemed not to have taken place.
Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities of any series may not enforce the subordinated indenture or Subordinated Debt Securities, except as described in the preceding paragraphs; provided that each holder of Subordinated Debt Securities will have the right to institute suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, including Deferred Interest, as may
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be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, if any, on such Subordinated Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, if any, thereof or on the date any such payment is otherwise due and payable as provided in the subordinated indenture or the Subordinated Debt Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following delivery of a Deferral Notice, in the circumstances and to the extent provided for in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will be entitled to defer the due date for payment of any principal (or premium, if any, on) or interest in respect of any series of Subordinated Debt Securities. As a result, we will not have to make that payment on the date that it would otherwise have become due and payable.
Judgment Currency
A judgment for money damages by courts in the United States, including a money judgment based on an obligation expressed in a foreign currency, will ordinarily be rendered only in U.S. dollars. The statutory law of the State of New York provides that a court shall render a judgment or decree in the foreign currency of the underlying obligation and that the judgment or decree shall be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree.
If, for the purpose of obtaining a judgment in any court with respect to any of our obligations under the applicable indenture or debt security, as the case may be, it shall become necessary to convert into any other currency or currency unit any amount due under such indenture or debt security, as the case may be, then the conversion shall be made by the Currency Determination Agent at the Market Exchange Rate as in effect on the date of entry of the judgment (the "Judgment Date"). If pursuant to any such judgment, conversion shall be made on a date (the "Substitute Date") other than the Judgment Date and there shall occur a change between the Market Exchange Rate as in effect on the Judgment Date and the Market Exchange Rate as in effect on the Substitute Date, the indentures require us to pay such additional amounts (if any) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid is equal to the amount in such other currency or currency unit which, when converted at the Market Exchange Rate as in effect on the Judgment Date, is the amount then due under such indenture or debt security, as the case may be. We will not, however, be required to pay more in the currency or currency unit due under such indenture or debt security, as the case may be, at the Market Exchange Rate as in effect on the Judgment Date than the amount stated in U.S. dollars to be due under such indenture or debt security, as the case may be, so that in any event our obligations under such indenture or debt security, as the case may be, will be effectively maintained as obligations in U.S. dollars and we shall be entitled to withhold (or be reimbursed for, as the case may be) any excess of the amount actually realized upon any such conversion on the Substitute Date over the amount due and payable on the Judgment Date.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale or Lease of Assets
So long as any debt security of a series remains outstanding, we may not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person (as defined in the indentures) unless:
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or revisions necessary to take account of the jurisdiction in which any such corporation or other person is organized (if other than England and Wales),
Upon any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any such conveyance, transfer or lease, the successor corporation or person will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise all of our rights and powers under the applicable indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation or person had been named as the issuer thereunder and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the applicable indenture and such debt securities.
Satisfaction and Discharge
Except as may otherwise be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of a series, the indentures provide that we will be discharged from our obligations under the debt securities of a series (with certain exceptions) at any time prior to the Stated Maturity, if any, or redemption of such debt securities, including any redemption permitted under the terms of the
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subordinated indenture relating to any Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities or Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities, when:
in either case to the effect that, and based upon which such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such discharge and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if such discharge had not occurred and
Upon such discharge, the holders of the debt securities of such a series shall no longer be entitled to the benefits of the terms and conditions of the applicable indenture and debt securities, except for certain provisions, including registration of transfer and exchange of such debt securities and replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of such a series, and shall look for payment only to such deposited funds or obligations.
In addition, under the requirements of the U.K. Financial Services Authority at the date of this prospectus, any such discharge with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series would require the providing of notice to, and receipt of no objection from, the U.K. Financial Services Authority.
"U.S. Government Obligations" means non-callable:
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Conversion or Exchange
The applicable prospectus supplement may provide for the conversion or exchange of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities into preference shares upon the terms and conditions set forth therein. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will also have the option to convert or exchange, in whole but not in part, the Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities of any series into preference shares upon the terms and conditions set forth in such prospectus supplement.
Supplemental Indentures
The indentures contain provisions permitting us and the applicable trustee:
provided, that, in each case, no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the holder of each such outstanding debt security affected thereby:
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may be convertible or exchangeable, in each case, in any manner that has a material adverse effect on the rights of any holder of such debt securities,
In addition, a material variation in the terms and conditions of the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series, which may include modifications relating to the status, subordination, redemption, repurchase, Events of Default, Payment Defaults, Capital Security Defaults or Payment Events with respect to such Subordinated Debt Securities, may require the providing of notice to, and receipt of no objection from, the U.K. Financial Services Authority.
Waivers
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture and affected thereby, may on behalf of the holders of all such debt securities waive our compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable indenture as pertain to our corporate existence, our maintenance of certain agencies or, solely with respect to Senior Debt Securities, as pertain to the negative pledge covenant as described under "Senior Debt Securities—Negative Pledge" above. The holders of not less than a majority, or any greater requisite amount, as the case may be, in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series issued under the applicable indenture may on behalf of the holders of all such debt securities of such series waive defaults under the applicable indenture, except defaults in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on any such debt security or in respect to a covenant or a provision which under the applicable indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such a series.
Further Issuances
We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of a series, create and issue under the applicable indenture further debt securities of such series ranking pari passu with such outstanding debt securities in all respects (or in all respects except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further debt securities or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of such further debt securities) and so that any further debt securities of such series shall be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding debt securities of such series and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as such outstanding debt securities.
Notices
Notices to holders of Registered Debt Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the security register.
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Title
We, the trustees and any of our agents or of the trustees may treat the registered owner of any Registered Debt Security as the absolute owner thereof (whether or not such security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the contrary) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.
Governing Law
The senior indenture and the Senior Debt Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
In accordance with the guidelines of the U.K. Financial Services Authority, the subordination provisions in the subordinated indenture and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, with the intention that such provisions be given full effect in any insolvency proceeding relating to us in England and Wales. All other provisions in the subordinated indenture and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Concerning the Senior Trustee
The senior indenture provides that the senior trustee will have no obligations other than the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth in such senior indenture, except that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the senior trustee will use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise of the rights and powers vested in it by the senior indenture as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs. The senior trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the senior indenture at the request of any holder of Senior Debt Securities, unless such holder shall have offered to the senior trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the senior trustee against any loss, liability or expense, and then only to the extent required by the terms of the senior indenture.
Concerning the Subordinated Trustee
The subordinated indenture provides that the subordinated trustee will have no obligations other than the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth in such subordinated indenture, except that, if an Event of Default, Payment Default, Capital Security Default or Payment Event has occurred and is continuing, the subordinated trustee will use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise of the rights and powers vested in it by the subordinated indenture as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs. The subordinated trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the subordinated indenture at the request of any holder of Subordinated Debt Securities, unless such holder shall have offered to the subordinated trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the subordinated trustee against any loss, liability or expense, and then only to the extent required by the terms of the subordinated indenture.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERENCE SHARES
The following is a summary of the general terms of the preference shares of any series that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus, including any preference shares that may be issuable upon conversion or exchange of a class of Dated Subordinated Debt Securities, Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities or Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities. The preference shares will be offered in the form of American depositary shares ("ADSs"). The general terms of a particular series of preference shares will be summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to the series of preference shares or the debt securities that are convertible or exchangeable into preference shares of that series. The general terms of a particular series of preference shares may differ from the terms stated below, which will be indicated in the relevant prospectus supplement. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified by, our Articles and any resolutions passed by our board of directors or a committee thereof in connection with an issuance of preference shares. A copy of the Articles has been filed as exhibit to the registration statement and copies of the relevant resolutions will be filed in connection with the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently, we do not have outstanding any series of preference shares.
General
Under our Articles, our board of directors or a committee authorized by it can authorize the issuance of one or more series of preference shares with such dividend rights, liquidation value per share, redemption provisions, voting rights and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions as it sees fit, including dollar-denominated preference shares with a nominal value of $0.01 per share (the "dollar preference shares"), pounds sterling-denominated preference shares with a nominal value of £0.01 per share (the "sterling preference shares") or euro-denominated preference shares with a nominal value of €0.01 per share (the "euro preference shares"), subject to the limitations set out in our Articles. For each preference share of a particular series that is issued, an amount equal to the share's nominal value will be credited to our issued share capital account, and an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the share's issue price and its nominal value in general will be credited to our share premium account.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preference shares of a series will be dollar preference shares with a nominal value per share, dividend rights, redemption price and liquidation value per share stated in U.S. dollar-denominated terms, and will be issued only in fully paid form.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preference shares of any series will initially be issued in bearer form and deposited with JPMorgan Chase Bank (the "ADS Depositary"), against the issuance of ADSs, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), upon receipt of payment for the preference shares. The preference shares of a particular series deposited under the Deposit Agreement will be represented by ADSs of a corresponding series. Preference shares of any series withdrawn from deposit under the Deposit Agreement will be represented by share certificates in registered form without dividend coupons. These share certificates will be delivered at the time of withdrawal. The certificate will be delivered at the time of withdrawal and may be exchanged by the holder for separate share certificates in registered form, without dividend coupons, representing the preference shares of that series. Preference shares of each series that are withdrawn from deposit will be transferable separately. See "Description of American Depositary Receipts."
The holder may transfer title to preference shares of any series in registered form only by transfer and registration on the register for the preference shares of the relevant series. Preference shares of any series in registered form may not be exchanged, in whole or in part, for preference shares of the series in bearer form. The registration of transfer of preference shares of any series may be made only on the register for the preference shares of the series kept by the registrar at its office in the United Kingdom.
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See "Registrar and Paying Agent" below. The registrar will not charge the person requesting the registration a fee. However, the person requesting registration will be liable for any taxes, stamp duties or other governmental charges that must be paid in connection with the registration. English law does not currently limit the right of non-resident or foreign owners to acquire freely preference shares of any series or, when entitled to vote preference shares of a particular series, vote freely the preference shares. There are currently no English laws or regulations that would restrict the remittance of dividends or other payments to non-resident holders of preference shares of any series.
The preference shares of any series will have the dividend rights, rights upon liquidation, redemption provisions and voting rights summarized below, unless the prospectus supplement relating to the preference shares of a particular series states otherwise. The holder of the preference shares should pay particular attention to the following specific terms relating to his or her particular series of shares, including:
Dividends
The holders of the preference shares of a particular series will be entitled to receive any cash dividends declared by us out of the profits available for distribution (which will be determined in accordance with the Articles and the Companies Act 1985) on the dates and at the rates or amounts stated, or as determined by the method of calculation described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.
The prospectus supplement relating to each series of preference shares (or, in the case of debt securities convertible or exchangeable into preference shares, the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities) shall designate whether dividends on the preference shares to be issued, either directly or upon conversion or exchange, are cumulative or non-cumulative.
Unless the prospectus supplement relating to the preference shares of a particular series states otherwise, if the profits available to us to distribute as dividends are, in our board of directors' opinion, not sufficient to enable us to pay in full on the same date both dividends on the preference shares of the series and the dividends on any other shares that have an equal right to dividends as the preference shares of that series, we are required first, to pay in full, or to set aside an amount equal to, all dividends scheduled to be paid on or before that dividend payment date on any shares with a right to dividends ranking in priority to that of the preference shares, and second, to pay dividends on the preference shares of the series and any other shares ranking equally with the preference shares of that series as to participation in profits pro rata to the amount of the cash dividend scheduled to be paid to them. The amount scheduled to be paid will include the amount of any dividend payable on that date and, in the event that we issue cumulative preference shares, any arrears on past cumulative dividends on any shares ranking equally in the right to dividends with the preference shares of that series. In accordance with the Companies Act 1985, the profits available to us for distribution are, in general and with some adjustments, equal to our accumulated, realized profits less our accumulated, realized losses.
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The dividend will be calculated by annualizing the applicable dividend amount or rate and dividing by the number of dividend periods in a year. Unless the prospectus supplement relating to the preference shares of a particular series states otherwise, the dividends to be paid will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months for any dividend period that is shorter or longer than a full dividend period and on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed for any partial month.
In the case of preference shares of any series that we designate as non-cumulative, if a dividend, or a portion of it, on the preference shares of such series is not required to be paid and is not paid on the relevant date scheduled for payment, then holders of preference shares of such series will lose the right they had to a dividend and will not earn any interest on the unpaid amount, regardless of whether dividends on the preference shares of such series are paid for any future dividend period.
We will fix a date to pay dividends on the preference shares of any series to the record holders who are listed on the register as the holders of the preference shares on the relevant record date. The relevant record date will be between 15 and 60 days prior to the relevant dates for dividend payment fixed by us. Unless the law requires otherwise, we will pay the dividend in the form of a U.S. dollar check drawn on a bank in London or New York City and mailed to the holder at the address that appears on the register for the preference shares. If the date we have scheduled to pay dividends on the preference shares of any series is not a day on which banks in London and New York City are open for business and on which foreign exchange dealings can be conducted in London and in New York City, then the dividend will be paid on the following business day, and we will not be required to pay any interest or other payment because of the delay. Dividends declared but not yet paid do not bear interest. For a description of how dividends will be distributed to holders of ADSs, see "Description of American Depositary Receipts—Dividends and Other Distributions."
Unless the prospectus supplement relating to the preference shares of a particular series states otherwise, if we have not paid the dividend payable, if any, on our preference shares of any series in full on the most recent date scheduled for dividend payment in respect of a dividend period, we will not be permitted to declare or pay dividends or distributions on any class of our shares ranking junior to, or pari passu with, in the right to dividends our preference shares of any series, unless we pay in full, or set aside an amount to provide for payment in full of, the dividends payable, if any, on our preference shares of such series and those ranking equally as to dividends with the preference shares of such series for the same dividend period or for such other additional periods as may be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to preference shares of that series.
Except as provided in this prospectus and in the prospectus supplement relating to the preference shares of a particular series, the holders of the preference shares of any series do not have the right to share in our profits.
Liquidation Rights
On a return of capital on a winding-up or otherwise (but not, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to the preference shares of a particular series, on a redemption, purchase by us or reduction of any of our share capital), the holders of the dollar preference shares of a particular series that are outstanding at the time and the holders of any other of our shares ranking equal to or in priority to the series will be entitled to receive payment in U.S. dollars out of any assets available for distribution to shareholders. This distribution will be made in priority to any distribution of assets to holders of any class of our shares ranking below the preference shares of the series. Preference shareholders will be entitled to a payment equal to the amount paid up (or credited as paid up) on each preference share together with any premium on such share as may be determined in accordance with the prospectus supplement relating to such preference share plus, in the case of any series of cumulative preference shares, if any, accrued dividends unless there are insufficient assets available for distribution in which case preference shareholders will be entitled to share ratably in any
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distribution of our assets in proportion to the full respective amounts to which they are entitled. Preference shareholders will have no further right to participate in a return of capital.
Redemption and Purchase
Unless the relevant prospectus supplement specifies otherwise and subject to the Companies Act 1985, we will have the right, at our option, to redeem the whole or any part of any series of preference shares at certain times determined in accordance with our Articles, which shall not be earlier than the fifth anniversary of the date of original issue of the preference shares of the series. In respect of each dollar preference share redeemed, we shall pay in U.S. Dollars the aggregate of the nominal value of such preference share and any premium credited as paid up on such share at the time it was issued, together with accrued dividends as at the date of redemption and a redemption premium calculated pursuant to a formula set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which formula shall be chosen by us from among several possible formulas set forth in our Articles.
If we wish to redeem preference shares of any series, we must provide notice to the ADS Depositary and each record holder of the preference shares to be redeemed, between 30 and 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. The notice of redemption must state:
The redemption process will not be considered invalid due to a defect in the notice of redemption or in the mailing. The dividend on the preference shares due for redemption will cease accruing on the relevant redemption date. Subject to any applicable fiscal or other laws and regulations, we will make the redemption payment by a U.S. dollar check drawn on, or, if the holder requests, by transfer to a dollar account maintained by the person to be paid with, a bank in London or New York City. The holder of the preference shares to be redeemed must deliver to us the relevant share certificates at the place specified in the notice of redemption. In the event that any date on which any payment relating to the redemption of preference shares of any series is to be made is not a business day, then payment of the redemption price payable on that date will be made on the following business day, with no interest or other additional payment payable in these circumstances. Preference shares will only be treated as redeemed when, and dividends will continue to accrue until, all redemption payments together with all accrued dividends have been paid. For information regarding redemption of preference shares represented by ADSs, see "Description of American Depositary Receipts—Redemption of ADSs."
We may, unless the relevant prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, at any time purchase outstanding preference shares of any series in the open market, by tender to all holders of preference shares of that series alike or by private agreement. These purchases will be made in accordance with the Articles, applicable law (including the Companies Act 1985 and U.S. federal securities laws) and applicable regulations of the FSA in its capacity as the United Kingdom Listing Authority. Any preference shares of any series purchased or redeemed by us for our own account (other than in the ordinary course of the business of dealing in securities) will be cancelled by us and will no longer be issued and outstanding. Under existing FSA requirements, we can redeem or purchase preference shares of any series only with the prior consent of the FSA.
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Voting Rights
The holders of the preference shares having a registered address within the United Kingdom will be entitled to receive notice of our general meetings but will not be entitled to attend or vote at those meetings, except as otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to any particular series of preference shares.
Holders of the preference shares may have the right to vote separately as a class in the circumstances described below under the heading "Variation of Rights".
Variation of Rights
The rights, preferences or restrictions attached to the preference shares may be varied by the consent in writing of the holders of at least three-quarters of the preference shares of all series in issue or by the sanction of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of preference shares as a single class regardless of series.
The rights, preferences or restrictions of any particular series of preference shares may be varied on a different basis to other series of preference shares by the consent in writing of the holders of at least three-quarters of the preference shares of that particular series or by the sanction of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of preference shares of that series.
An extraordinary resolution requires the approval of at least three-quarters of those shareholders who are entitled to attend and vote in respect of the resolution. Two persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third of the outstanding preference shares of any series must be present for the meeting to be valid. An adjourned meeting will be valid when any one holder is present in person or by proxy.
We may create or issue any shares of any class, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of any class, that rank equally with the preference shares of any series in the right to share in our profits or assets, whether the rights attaching to such shares are identical to or differ in any respect from the preference shares, without the rights of the preference shares of any series being deemed to be varied or abrogated.
The rights attached to the preference shares will not be deemed to be varied or abrogated by any purchase by us or redemption of any of our share capital in each case ranking as regards participation in the profits and assets of the company in priority to or equally with or after such preference shares.
Registrar and Paying Agent
Our registrar, Lloyds TSB Registrars, presently located at The Causeway, Worthing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, England, will act as registrar and paying agent for the preference shares of each series.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
The following is a summary of the general terms and provisions of the Deposit Agreement under which the ADS Depositary will issue the American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs. The Deposit Agreement is among us, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of ADRs issued under that agreement. This summary does not purport to be complete. We may amend or supersede all or part or this summary to the extent we tell you in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read the Deposit Agreement, which is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part. You may also read the Deposit Agreement at the principal offices of the JPMorgan Chase Bank in New York City.
American Depositary Receipts
ADRs will evidence ADSs of a particular series, which will represent preference shares of a corresponding series. Unless the relevant prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, each ADS will represent one preference share, or evidence of rights to receive one preference share, which we will deposit in the form of a bearer instrument with the ADS Depositary or the London branch of JPMorgan Chase Bank, as custodian. Each ADS will also represent securities, cash or other property deposited with the ADS Depositary but not distributed to ADS holders. An ADR may evidence any number of ADSs of the corresponding series.
You may hold ADSs either directly or indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADS holder. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Because the ADS Depositary or its custodian or nominee will actually be the record owner of the shares, you must rely on it to exercise the rights of a shareholder on your behalf. The obligations of the ADS Depositary are set out in the Deposit Agreement. The Deposit Agreement and the ADSs are governed by New York law.
Deposit and Issuance of ADRs
When the ADS Depositary has received preference shares of a particular series or evidence of rights to receive preference shares, and applicable fees, charges and taxes, subject to the Deposit Agreement's terms, the ADS Depositary will execute and deliver at its principal office to the person(s) specified by us in writing, an ADR or ADRs registered in the name of that person(s) evidencing the number of ADSs of that series corresponding to the preference shares of that series. The ADS Depositary's principal office is presently located at 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004.
Withdrawal of Deposited Securities
Upon surrender of ADRs at the principal office of the ADS Depositary and upon payment of the taxes, charges and fees provided in the Deposit Agreement and subject to its terms, an ADR holder is entitled to delivery, to or upon its order, at the principal office of the ADS Depositary or at the office of the custodian in London, of preference shares of the relevant series in registered form, in respect of the deposited preference shares and any other documents of title evidenced by the surrendered ADRs. The ADR holder will bear the risk and expense for the forwarding of share certificates and other documents of title to the principal office of the ADS Depositary.
The relevant prospectus supplement may contain further restriction on the withdrawal of preference shares of a series.
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Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The ADS Depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of underlying shares your ADSs represent.
Any U.S. dollars will be distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents (fractional cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with in accordance with the ADS Depositary's then current practices).
The ADS Depositary can make no assurances that it will be able to convert any currency at a specified exchange rate or sell any property, rights, shares or other security at a specified price, nor that it will be able to complete any such transactions within a specified time period.
Redemption of ADSs
If we redeem any preference shares of a particular series, the ADS Depositary will redeem, from the amounts that it receives from the redemption of deposited preference shares of that series, a number of ADSs of the series representing those preference shares which corresponds to the number of deposited preference shares of that series. The ADS redemption price will be equal to the per share amount received by the ADS Depositary upon redemption of the preference shares represented by such
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ADS multiplied by the number of preference shares represented by each such ADS. If we do not redeem all of the outstanding preference shares of a particular series, the ADS Depositary will select the ADSs of the corresponding series to be redeemed, either by lot or pro rata to the number of preference shares represented.
Record Date
Whenever any dividend or other distribution becomes payable or shall be made in respect of preference shares of a particular series, or any preference shares of a particular series are to be redeemed, or the ADS Depositary receives notice of any meeting at which holders of preference shares of a particular series are entitled to vote, the ADS Depositary will fix a record date for the determination of which ADR holders are entitled to receive the dividend, distribution, amount in respect of redemption of ADSs of the corresponding series, or the net proceeds of their sale, or to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at the meeting, or to act in respect to any other matter, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement. This record date will be as near as practicable to the corresponding record date we set.
Voting of the Underlying Deposited Securities
When the ADS Depositary receives notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies of holders of preference shares of a particular series, it will as soon as practicable mail to the record holders of ADRs of the corresponding series a notice including:
The ADS Depositary has agreed that it will endeavor, if practicable, to vote or cause to be voted those preference shares in accordance with any written non-discretionary instructions of record holders of ADRs that it receives on or before the date set by the ADS Depositary. The ADS Depositary shall not vote any preference shares except in accordance with written instructions from a record holder of ADRs entitled hereunder to give such instructions.
Holders of ADRs evidencing ADSs will not be entitled to vote shares of the corresponding series of preference shares directly.
Inspection of Transfer Books
The ADS Depositary or its agent will, at its transfer office in New York City, keep books for the registration and transfer of ADRs. These books will be open for inspection by ADR holders at all reasonable times. However, this inspection may not be for the purpose of communicating with ADR holders in the interest of a business or object other than our business or a matter related to the Deposit Agreement or the ADRs.
Reports and Notices
The ADS Depositary will make available at its principal office, for any ADR holder to inspect, any reports and communications received from us that both the ADS Depositary receives as the holder of preference shares of the applicable series and that we make generally available to the holders of those
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preference shares. At our request, the ADS Depositary will also mail or make available copies of those reports to ADR holders that we furnish as provided in the Deposit Agreement.
Fees and Expenses
| ADS holders must pay |
For: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S.$0.05 per ADS | • | Each issuance of an ADS, including as a result of a distribution of shares or rights or other property (paid by person to whom receipt is delivered) | ||
• |
Each withdrawal of an ADS (paid by person surrendering receipt) |
|||
Registration or transfer fees |
• |
Transfer and registration of shares on any applicable register payable by you when you deposit or withdraw shares |
||
Expenses of JPMorgan Chase Bank |
• |
Conversion of foreign currency to U.S. dollars |
||
• |
Cable, telex, facsimile transmission and delivery charges |
|||
Taxes and other governmental charges the ADS Depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADS or share underlying an ADS |
• |
Stamp duty reserve tax or similar charge in connection with the deposit of shares |
||
• |
Stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes |
|||
Payment of Taxes
You will have to pay any taxes or other governmental charges payable on your ADSs. Until you pay such taxes or charges the ADS Depositary may withhold your dividends and other distributions and may refuse to affect a registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination or withdrawal of the deposited securities.
The ADS Depositary may deduct the amount of any taxes owed from any payments to you. It may also sell deposited securities or property, other than cash, by public or private sale, to pay any taxes owed. You will remain liable if the proceeds of the sale are not enough to pay the taxes. If the ADS Depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and will pay to you any proceeds, or send to you any cash or other property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.
The ADS Depositary or the custodian will remit to the governmental authority any amounts required to be withheld in connection with a distribution that is owed by either of them to such governmental authority. We will similarly remit any amounts so owed by us.
Amendment and Termination
How may the Deposit Agreement be amended?
The form of the ADRs evidencing ADSs of a particular series and any provisions of the Deposit Agreement relating to those ADRs may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the ADS Depositary, in any respect that we deem necessary or desirable. If the amendment adds or increases fees or charges (except stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, and cable, telex,
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facsimile transmission and delivery charges; transfer or registration fees for the registration of transfers of deposited preference shares or in connection with the withdrawal of such preference shares; and charges of the ADS Depositary in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars), or prejudices an important existing right of ADS holders, it will only become effective three months after the ADS Depositary notifies you of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADS, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADSs and the Deposit Agreement as amended.
No amendment will impair your right to surrender your ADS and receive the underlying securities, except when required to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. If a governmental body adopts new laws or rules that require the Deposit Agreement or ADS to be amended, we and the ADS Depositary may make the necessary amendments, which could take effect before you receive notice thereof.
How may the Deposit Agreement be terminated?
Whenever we direct, the ADS Depositary has agreed to terminate the Deposit Agreement as to ADRs evidencing ADSs of a series by mailing a termination notice to the record holder of all those outstanding ADRs at least 30 days before the date fixed in the notice for termination. The ADS Depositary may also terminate the Deposit Agreement at its own initiative but may only do so after giving us 90 days prior notice and giving you 30 days prior notice.
After termination, the ADS Depositary and its agent will be required to do only the following under the Deposit Agreement: (1) collect and hold distributions on the deposited securities, (2) sell any property or rights or convert deposited securities into cash as provided in the Deposit Agreement, and (3) deliver shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs. As soon as practicable after six months from the termination date, the ADS Depositary will, if practical, sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the ADS Depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the Deposit Agreement for the pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It has no liability for interest. The ADS Depositary's only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash and with respect to certain indemnification obligations. After termination our only obligations under the Deposit Agreement will be with respect to certain indemnification obligations and to pay certain charges to the ADS Depositary.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability to ADS Holders
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the ADS Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs
The Deposit Agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the ADS Depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the ADS Depositary. We and the ADS Depositary:
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In addition, you may request the ADS Depositary to cause its nominee to take certain actions as a shareholder on your behalf. You must pay the expenses associated with any such request and comply with certain other conditions.
The ADS Depositary will not be responsible for failing to carry out instructions to vote the ADSs or for the manner in which the ADSs are voted or the effect of the vote. The ADS Depositary may own and deal in our securities and in ADSs.
In the Deposit Agreement, we and the ADS Depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.
Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the ADS Depositary will issue or register transfers of an ADS, make a distribution of cash, shares or other property to an ADS holder, or permit withdrawal of shares, the ADS Depositary may require:
The ADS Depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our transfer books, the transfer books of the ADS Depositary or any register for deposited securities are closed or at any time if we or the ADS Depositary think it necessary or advisable to do so for any reason.
Your Right to Receive the Shares Underlying your ADSs
You have the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying shares at any time except:
Pre-Release of ADSs
In certain circumstances, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the ADS Depositary may issue ADSs before deposit of the underlying shares. This is called a pre-release of ADS. A pre-release is closed-out as soon as the underlying shares are delivered to the ADS Depositary. The ADS Depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (1) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made must represent to the ADS Depositary in
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writing that it or its customer (a) owns the shares to be deposited, (b) assigns all rights, title or interest in the shares to the ADS Depositary, (c) holds the shares for the account of the ADS Depositary, (d) shall not dispose of the shares other than in satisfaction of pre-release and (e) will deliver the shares to the custodian within five business days of demand; and (2) pre-release ADSs are fully collateralized with cash or U.S. government securities (marked to market daily) held by the ADS Depositary until the shares are deposited for your benefit. In addition, the ADS Depositary will limit the number of pre-release ADSs to not more than 30% of all ADSs (excluding those evidenced by pre-released ADRs). However, the ADS Depositary reserves the right to change or disregard this limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The ADS Depositary may retain for its own account any compensation for the issuance of ADRs against such other rights to receives shares, including without limitation earnings on the collateral securing such rights.
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Debt securities we issue may be held through one or more international and domestic clearing systems. The principal clearing systems we will use are the book-entry systems operated by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear. These systems have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates.
Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market. Where payments for debt securities we issue in global form will be made in U.S. dollars, these procedures can be used for cross-market transfers and the debt securities will be cleared and settled on a delivery against payment basis.
Global Securities will be registered in the name of and deposited with a nominee for, and accepted for settlement and clearance by, one or more of DTC and a common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, and any other clearing system identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Cross-market transfers of securities that are not in global form may be cleared and settled in accordance with other procedures that may be established among the clearing systems for these securities. Investors in debt securities that are issued outside of the United States, its territories and possessions must initially hold their interests through Euroclear, Clearstream or the clearing system that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The policies of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to the investor's interest in debt securities held by them. This is also true for any other clearing system that may be named in a prospectus supplement.
The policies of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to investors' interests in debt securities held by them. This is also true for any other clearing system that may be named in a prospectus supplement.
Neither we, nor any trustee, paying agent or registrar have any responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream or any of their direct or indirect participants or accountholders. Neither we, nor any trustee, paying agent or registrar have any responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream or any of their direct or indirect participants or accountholders. Neither we, nor any trustee, paying agent or registrar supervise these systems in any way. This is also true for any other clearing system indicated in a prospectus supplement.
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and their participants and accountholders perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.
The description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.
The Clearing Systems
DTC
DTC has advised us as follows:
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Clearstream
Clearstream has advised us as follows:
Euroclear
Euroclear has advised us as follows:
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Other Clearing Systems
We may choose any other clearing system for a particular series of debt securities. The clearance and settlement procedures for the clearing system we choose will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Primary Distribution
The distribution of the debt securities will be cleared through one or more of the clearing systems that we have described above or any other clearing system that is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Payment for debt securities will be made on a delivery versus payment or free delivery basis. These payment procedures will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Clearance and settlement procedures may vary from one series of debt securities to another according to the currency that is chosen for the specific series of debt securities. Customary clearance and settlement procedures are described below.
We will submit applications to the relevant system or systems for the debt securities to be accepted for clearance. The clearance numbers that are applicable to each clearance system will be specified in the prospectus supplement.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures—DTC
DTC participants that hold debt securities through DTC on behalf of investors will follow the settlement practices applicable to U.S. corporate debt obligations in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System.
Debt securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of these DTC participants against payment in same-day funds, for payments in U.S. dollars, on the settlement date. For payments in a currency other than U.S. dollars, debt securities will be credited free of payment on the settlement date.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures—Euroclear and Clearstream
We understand that investors that hold their debt securities through Euroclear or Clearstream accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.
Debt securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Euroclear and Clearstream accountholders on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.
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Secondary Market Trading
Trading between DTC Participants
Secondary market trading of the debt securities between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC's rules. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to U.S. corporate debt obligations in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System for debt securities.
If payment is made in U.S. dollars, settlement will be in same-day funds. If payment is made in a currency other than U.S. dollars, settlement will be free of payment. If payment is made other than in U.S. dollars, separate payment arrangements outside of the DTC system must be made between the DTC participants involved.
Trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream Accountholders
We understand that secondary market trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream accountholders will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form.
Trading between a DTC Seller and a Euroclear or Clearstream Purchaser
A purchaser of debt securities that are held in the account of a DTC participant must send instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream at least one business day prior to settlement. The instructions will provide for the transfer of the debt securities from the selling DTC participant's account to the account of the purchasing Euroclear or Clearstream accountholder. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will then instruct the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream to receive the debt securities either against payment by the common depositary or free of payment.
The beneficial interests in the debt securities will be credited by DTC to the common depositary. Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, will then credit the account of the participant, following its usual procedures. Credit for the debt securities will appear on the next day, European time. Cash debit will be back-valued to, and the interest on the debt securities will accrue from, the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If the trade fails and settlement is not completed on the intended date, the Euroclear or Clearstream cash debit will be valued as of the actual settlement date instead.
Euroclear or Clearstream accountholders will need the funds necessary to process same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing this is to preposition funds for settlement, either from cash or from existing lines of credit, as for any settlement occurring within Euroclear or Clearstream. Under this approach, accountholders may take on credit exposure to Euroclear or Clearstream until the debt securities are credited to their accounts one business day later.
As an alternative, if Euroclear or Clearstream has extended a line of credit to them, accountholders can choose not to preposition funds and will instead allow that credit line to be drawn upon to finance settlement. Under this procedure, Euroclear or Clearstream accountholders purchasing debt securities would incur overdraft charges for one business day (assuming they cleared the overdraft as soon as the debt securities were credited to their accounts). However, interest on the debt securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases, the investment income on debt securities that is earned during that one business day period may substantially reduce or offset the amount of the overdraft charges. This result will, however, depend on each accountholder's particular cost of funds.
Because the settlement will take place during New York business hours, DTC participants will use their usual procedures to deliver debt securities to the common depositary on behalf of Euroclear or
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Clearstream accountholders. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. For the DTC participants, then, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.
Special Timing Considerations
You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the debt securities through Clearstream and Euroclear on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the debt securities, or to receive or make a payment or delivery of the debt securities, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream or Euroclear is used.
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This section discusses the material U.K. and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership of the debt securities, the preference shares and the ADSs. This summary applies to you only if:
This section does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to any particular investor. We have assumed that you are familiar with the tax rules applicable to investments in securities generally and with any special rules to which you may be subject. In particular, the discussion does not address the tax treatment of investors that are subject to special rules, such as banks, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, persons that control (directly or indirectly) 10% or more of our voting stock, persons that elect mark-to-market treatment, persons that hold the securities as a position in a straddle, conversion transaction, synthetic security, or other integrated financial transaction for tax purposes, and persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.
The discussion that follows is of a general nature, and additional disclosure regarding the tax treatment of specific securities may be provided in the prospectus supplement for such instruments. To the extent there is any inconsistency in the discussion of tax consequences between this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the discussion in the prospectus supplement.
The statements regarding U.K. and U.S. tax laws set forth below are based on the laws in force on the date of this prospectus, which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
You should consult your own tax advisers as to the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the securities in the light of your particular circumstances, including the effect of any state, local, or other national laws.
U.K. Taxation
Interest
Payments of interest on the securities should be exempt from withholding or deduction for or on account of U.K. tax under the provisions of U.K. tax law relating to "quoted Eurobonds", provided that the securities are listed on a "recognized stock exchange" within the meaning of section 841 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. The New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange are currently recognized for these purposes. Accordingly, interest payments made on the securities should be payable without withholding or deduction for or on account of U.K. income tax.
Dividends
Under current U.K. legislation, no U.K. withholding tax will be deducted from any dividends paid on the preference shares.
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Purchase, Sale, and Retirement of Securities
You will not be liable for U.K. taxation on capital gains realized on a sale or other disposal or redemption or conversion of the securities.
Disposals of Preference Shares or ADSs
You will not be liable for U.K. taxation on capital gains upon a disposal of preference shares or ADSs.
EU Savings Directive
On January 21, 2003, the European Council of Economics and Finance Ministers ("ECOFIN") agreed on proposals under which Member States will be required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest (or similar income) paid by a person within its jurisdiction to an individual resident in that other Member State, except that, for a transitional period only, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria will instead be required to operate a withholding system in relation to such payments (the ending of the transitional period is dependent upon the conclusion of certain other agreements relating to information exchange with certain other countries). The directive is required to be implemented into the national laws of Member States from January 1, 2004 and it is anticipated that the proposals will take effect on or after July 1, 2005.
U.S. Federal Income Taxation
U.S. Tax Status
Under current law, preference shares, Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities will be, and Dated Subordinated Debt Securities may be, treated as equity of the issuer for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Senior Debt Securities will generally be treated as debt for such purposes. Please consult the applicable prospectus supplement for information regarding the treatment of a particular instrument.
Securities Characterized as Debt for U.S. Tax Purposes
Interest. Payments or accruals of "qualified stated interest" (as defined below) on a Senior Debt Security or a Dated Subordinated Debt Security that is treated as debt for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be taxable to you as ordinary interest income at the time that you receive or accrue such amounts (in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting). If you use the cash method of tax accounting and you receive payments of interest pursuant to the terms of a security in a currency other than the U.S. dollar (a "foreign currency"), the amount of interest income you will realize will be the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency payment based on the exchange rate in effect on the date you receive the payment, regardless of whether you convert the payment into U.S. dollars. If you use the accrual method of tax accounting, the amount of interest income you will realize will be based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period (or with respect to an interest accrual period that spans two taxable years, at the average exchange rate for the partial period within the taxable year). Alternatively, as an accrual-basis taxpayer, you may elect to translate all interest income on such foreign currency-denominated securities at the spot rate on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year, in the case of an accrual period that spans more than one taxable year) or on the date that you receive the interest payment if that date is within five business days of the end of the accrual period. If you make this election, you must apply it consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and you cannot change the election without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service. If you use the accrual method of accounting for tax purposes, you will recognize foreign currency gain or loss on the receipt of a foreign currency interest payment if the exchange rate in effect on the date the payment is received differs from the rate applicable to a previous accrual of that interest
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income. This foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss, but generally will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the security.
Original Issue Discount. If we issue securities that are treated as debt at a discount from their stated redemption price at maturity, and the discount is equal to or more than the product of one-fourth of one percent (0.25%) of the stated redemption price at maturity of the securities multiplied by the number of full years to their maturity, the securities will be "discount securities." The difference between the issue price and the stated redemption price at maturity of the securities will be the "original issue discount." The "issue price" of the securities will be the first price at which a substantial amount of the securities are sold to the public (i.e., excluding sales of securities to underwriters, placement agents, wholesalers, or similar persons). The "stated redemption price at maturity" will include all payments under the securities other than payments of qualified stated interest. The term "qualified stated interest" generally means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments issued by us) at least annually during the entire term of a security at a single fixed interest rate or, subject to certain conditions, based on one or more interest indices.
If you invest in a discount security, you generally will be subject to the special tax accounting rules for original issue discount obligations. You should be aware that, as described in greater detail below, if you invest in a discount security, you generally will be required to include original issue discount in ordinary gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it accrues, although you may not yet have received the cash attributable to that income.
In general, and regardless of whether you use the cash or the accrual method of tax accounting, if you are the holder of a discount security with a maturity greater than one year, you will be required to include in ordinary gross income the sum of the "daily portions" of original issue discount on that security for all days during the taxable year that you own the security. The daily portions of original issue discount on a discount security are determined by allocating to each day in any accrual period a ratable portion of the original issue discount allocable to that period. Accrual periods may be any length and may vary in length over the term of a discount security, so long as no accrual period is longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs on the first or last day of an accrual period. For initial holders, the amount of original issue discount on a discount security allocable to each accrual period is determined by:
In the case of a discount security that is a floating rate security, both the "annual yield to maturity" and the qualified stated interest will be determined for these purposes as though the security bore interest in all periods at a fixed rate generally equal to the rate that would be applicable to interest payments on the security on its date of issue or, in the case of some floating rate securities, the rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the security. Additional rules may apply if interest on a floating rate security is based on more than one interest index. The "adjusted issue price" of a discount security at the beginning of any accrual period will generally be the sum of its issue price (including any accrued interest) and the amount of original issue discount allocable to all prior accrual periods, reduced by the amount of all payments other than any qualified stated interest payments on the security in all prior accrual periods. All payments on a discount security (other than qualified stated interest) will generally be viewed first as payments of previously accrued original issue discount (to the extent of the previously accrued discount), with payments considered made from the earliest accrual periods first, and then as payments of principal. The "annual yield to maturity" of a security is the discount rate (appropriately
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adjusted to reflect the length of accrual periods) that causes the present value on the issue date of all payments on the security to equal the issue price. As a result of this "constant yield" method of including original issue discount income, the amounts you will be required to include in your gross income if you invest in a discount security denominated in U.S. dollars generally will be less in the early years and greater in the later years than amounts that would be includible on a straight-line basis.
You generally may make an irrevocable election to include in income your entire return on a security (i.e., the excess of all remaining payments to be received on the security, including payments of qualified stated interest, over the amount you paid for the security) under the constant yield method described above. If you purchase securities at a premium and if you make this election, you will also be deemed to have made the election (discussed below under "Premium") to amortize premium currently on a constant yield basis in respect of all other premium bonds that you hold.
In the case of a discount security that is also a foreign currency security, you should determine the U.S. dollar amount includible as original issue discount for each accrual period by:
Alternatively, you may translate the foreign currency amount at the spot rate of exchange on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year, for an accrual period that spans two taxable years) or at the spot rate of exchange on the date of receipt, if that date is within five business days of the last day of the accrual period, provided that you have made the election described above under "Interest." Because exchange rates may fluctuate, if you are the holder of a discount security that is also a foreign currency security, you may recognize a different amount of original issue discount income in each accrual period than would be the case if you were the holder of an otherwise similar discount security denominated in U.S. dollars. Upon the receipt of an amount attributable to original issue discount (whether in connection with a payment of an amount that is not qualified stated interest or the sale or retirement of the discount security), you will recognize ordinary income or loss measured by the difference between the amount received (translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt or on the date of disposition of the discount security, as the case may be) and the amount accrued (using the exchange rate applicable to such previous accrual).
Premium. If you purchase a security that is treated as debt at a cost greater than the security's remaining redemption amount, you will be considered to have purchased the security at a premium, and you may elect to amortize the premium as an offset to interest income, using a constant yield method, over the remaining term of the security. If you make this election, it generally will apply to all debt instruments that you hold at the time of the election, as well as any debt instruments that you subsequently acquire. In addition, you may not revoke the election without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service. If you elect to amortize the premium, you will be required to reduce your tax basis in the security by the amount of the premium amortized during your holding period. In the case of premium on a foreign currency security, you should calculate the amortization of the premium in the foreign currency. Premium amortization deductions attributable to a period reduce interest income in respect of that period, and therefore are translated into U.S. dollars at the rate that you use for interest payments in respect of that period. Exchange gain or loss will be realized with respect to amortized premium on a foreign currency security based on the difference between the exchange rate computed on the date or dates the premium is amortized against interest payments on the security and the exchange rate on the date you acquired the security. If you do not elect to amortize premium, the amount of premium will be included in your tax basis in the security. Therefore, if you do not elect to
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amortize premium and you hold the security to maturity, you generally will be required to treat the premium as capital loss when the security matures.
Purchase, Sale, and Retirement of Securities. Initially, your tax basis in a security that is treated as debt generally will equal the cost of the security to you. Your basis will increase by any amounts that you are required to include in income under the rules governing original issue discount, and will decrease by the amount of any amortized premium and any payments other than qualified stated interest made on the security. If you purchase a security that is denominated in a foreign currency, the cost to you (and therefore generally your initial tax basis) will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency purchase price on the date of purchase calculated at the exchange rate in effect on that date. The amount of any subsequent adjustments to your tax basis in a security in respect of foreign currency-denominated original issue discount or premium will be determined in the manner described above. If you convert U.S. dollars into a foreign currency and then immediately use that foreign currency to purchase a security, you generally will not have any taxable gain or loss as a result of the conversion or purchase.
If you sell or exchange such a security, or if such a security that you hold is retired, you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you realize on the transaction (less any accrued qualified stated interest, which will be subject to tax in the manner described above under "Interest") and your tax basis in the security. If you sell or exchange a security for a foreign currency, or receive foreign currency on the retirement of a security, the amount you will realize for U.S. tax purposes generally will be the dollar value of the foreign currency that you receive calculated at the exchange rate in effect on the date the security is disposed of or retired.
Except as discussed below with respect to foreign currency gain or loss, the gain or loss that you recognize on a sale, exchange, or retirement of such a security generally will be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the security for more than one year on the date of disposition. Net long-term capital gain recognized by an individual generally will be subject to tax at a lower rate than net short-term capital gain or ordinary income. Your ability to offset capital losses against ordinary income is limited.
Despite the foregoing, gain or loss that you recognize on a sale, exchange, or retirement of a foreign currency security generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss to the extent that the gain or loss is attributable to changes in exchange rates during the period in which you held the security. This foreign currency gain or loss will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income that you receive on the security.
Securities Characterized as Equity for U.S. Tax Purposes
Dividends. If we pay dividends on preference shares, you must include those dividends in your income when you receive them. The dividends will be treated as foreign source income. If you receive dividend payments denominated in pounds sterling or euro, you should determine the amount of your dividend income by converting pounds sterling or euro, as applicable, into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rate in effect on the date of your (or the ADS Depositary's, in the case of ADSs) receipt of the dividend. Such dividends generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to U.S. corporations.
Interest. Payments of interest on Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities, Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities, or Dated Subordinated Debt Securities that are characterized as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as dividends. Accordingly, such payments generally will be includible in your income on the date of receipt without regard to your method of tax accounting. Payments made in a currency other than the U.S. dollar will be included in income in a U.S. dollar amount determined by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether you convert the payment into U.S. dollars.
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Purchase, Sale, and Retirement of Securities. Your tax basis in a security that is treated as equity generally will equal the cost of the security to you. If you purchase a security that is denominated in a foreign currency, the cost to you (and therefore generally your tax basis) will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency purchase price on the date of purchase calculated at the exchange rate in effect on that date. If you convert U.S. dollars into a foreign currency and then immediately use that foreign currency to purchase a security, you generally will not have any taxable gain or loss as a result of the conversion or purchase.
If you sell or exchange such a security, or if such a security that you hold is retired, you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you realize on the transaction and your tax basis in the security. If you sell or exchange a security for a foreign currency, or receive foreign currency on the retirement of a security, the amount you will realize for U.S. tax purposes generally will be the dollar value of the foreign currency that you receive calculated at the exchange rate in effect on the date the security is disposed of or retired.
Gain or loss that you recognize on a sale, exchange, or retirement of such a security generally will be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the security for more than one year on the date of disposition. Net long-term capital gain recognized by an individual generally will be subject to tax at a lower rate than net short-term capital gain or ordinary income. Your ability to offset capital losses against ordinary income is limited.
U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
The paying agent will be required to file information returns with the IRS with respect to payments made to certain U.S. holders. In addition, dividends, interest and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of preference shares, ADSs or debt securities that are paid in the United States or through a U.S.-related financial intermediary may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the recipient is a corporation, other exempt recipient or a taxpayer that provides an identification number and certifies that no loss of exemption from backup withholding has occurred.
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We may sell the securities:
The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities being offered thereby will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of such securities, the principal amounts or number of securities, as the case may be, to be purchased by any such underwriters, any applicable commissions or discounts and any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed. The net proceeds to us will also be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities being sold will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement with respect to the securities being offered thereby, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase such securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any of such securities are purchased. The initial public offering price of any securities and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
If dealers are used in the sale, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement with respect to the securities being offered thereby, we will sell such securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale.
Securities may also be sold through agents that we designate from time to time, or directly by us. Any agent involved in the offering and sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement with respect to such securities. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, Prudential plc in the ordinary course of business.
To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities. These may include over-allotment, stabilization, syndicate short covering transactions and penalty bids. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Syndicate short covering transactions involve purchases of securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim selling concessions from dealers when the securities originally sold by the dealers are purchased in covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions. These transactions
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may cause the price of the securities sold in an offering to be higher than it would otherwise be. These transactions, if commenced, may be continued by the persons participating in the offering at any time.
In the event that securities of any series are not listed on a U.S. national securities exchange, certain broker-dealers may make a market in such securities but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that any broker-dealer will make a market in securities of any series or as to the liquidity of the trading market for such securities.
Certain legal matters in connection with the securities to be offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, London, England, our U.S. counsel and by Slaughter and May, our English solicitors, and for the underwriters, dealers or agents by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, London, England, their U.S. counsel and by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, their English solicitors.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our consolidated financial statements and condensed financial statement schedule as at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 appearing in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2003 (the "2003 Form 20-F") and incorporated by reference herein have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance on the reports of KPMG Audit Plc, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing in the 2003 Form 20-F and incorporated by reference herein, upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The following is a statement of expenses in connection with the distribution of the securities registered. All amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.
| |
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee | U.S.$ | 253,400 | 1 | |
| Legal fees and expenses | 285,000 | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 65,000 | |||
| Printing and engraving expenses | 32,000 | |||
| Miscellaneous | 50,000 | |||
| Total | U.S.$ | 685,400 | ||
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GLOSSARY
The following is a glossary of terms that are used in this prospectus, in each case defined as below unless otherwise specified in the indentures, supplemental indenture or prospectus supplement.
"Additional Amounts" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payment of Additional Amounts".
"ADRs" has the meaning set forth under "Description of Preference Shares"—General.
"ADSs" has the meaning set forth under "Description of Preference Shares".
"ADS Depositary" has the meaning set forth under "Description of Preference Shares—General".
"Assets" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Solvency Condition".
"Business Day" means each day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which commercial banking institutions in The City of New York or in London, England or in a Place of Payment, or, in respect of any payment to be made in a foreign currency, in the principal financial center of the country issuing such foreign currency, are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close, and shall otherwise mean each day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which banking institutions, at the place where any specified act pursuant to the applicable indenture is to occur, are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
"Capital Regulations" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Redemption and Repurchase—Redemption of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities for Regulatory Reasons".
"Capital Security Default" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Events of Default and Defaults—Subordinated Debt Securities".
"Clearstream" means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme.
"Compulsory Interest Payment Date" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities".
"Currency Determination Agent" means the senior trustee or subordinated trustee, as applicable, acting in the capacity of such agent.
"Dated Subordinated Debt Securities" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—General".
"debt securities" means the Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities.
"Deferred Interest" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities".
"Deferred Interest Payment Date" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities".
"Deferral Notice" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities".
"Deferred Principal Payment Date" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Dated Subordinated Debt Securities and Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities".
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"Depositary" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Global Securities".
"Discounted Security" means any debt security which provides for an amount (excluding any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest thereon) less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to the applicable indenture.
"dollar preference shares" has the meaning set forth under "Description of Preference Shares—General".
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company.
"EEA Insurance Subsidiary" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Redemption and Repurchase—Redemption of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities for Regulatory Reasons".
"ECOFIN" has the meaning set forth under "Taxation—U.K. Taxation—EU Savings Directive".
"Election Date" means any date by which an election for payment of any debt security in a currency or currency unit other than that in which such security is issued must be made, as specified in greater detail in the indentures.
"euro preference shares" has the meaning set forth under "Description of Preference Shares—General".
"Euroclear" means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.
"Event of Default" when used with respect to the Senior Debt Securities has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Events of Default and Defaults—Senior Debt Securities".
"Event of Default" when used with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Events of Default and Defaults—Subordinated Debt Securities".
"global form" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Denominations, Registration and Transfer".
"Global Security" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Denominations, Registration and Transfer".
"Indebtedness for moneys borrowed" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Events of Default and Defaults—Senior Debt Securities".
"indentures" means the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture.
"Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to (i) the Senior Debt Securities, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such securities, (ii) the Dated Subordinated Debt Securities or Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such securities, subject to any deferral provided for in the subordinated indenture, a supplemental indenture or prospectus supplement and (iii) the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities, means an Optional Interest Payment Date or a Compulsory Interest Payment Date, subject to any deferral provided for in the subordinated indenture, a supplemental indenture or prospectus supplement.
"Judgment Date" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Judgment Currency".
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"Junior Securities" means our ordinary shares or any of our other securities which rank, as regards distributions on a return of assets on our winding up or in respect of distributions or payments of dividends or any other payments thereon, after the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities.
"Liabilities" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Solvency Condition".
"Market Exchange Rate" means (i) for any conversion involving a currency unit on the one hand and dollars or any foreign currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant currency unit and dollars or such foreign currency calculated by the method specified in the applicable indenture and (ii) for any conversion of dollars into any foreign currency or for any conversion of one foreign currency into dollars or another foreign currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the dollars or foreign currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the dollars or foreign currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in either New York City, New York, London, England, or any other principal market for dollars or such foreign currency, in each case determined by us or the Currency Determination Agent, provided, in each case, as set out in the indentures.
"Maturity" means the date, if any, on which the principal (or, if the context so requires, lesser amount in the case of Discounted Securities) of (or premium, if any, on) that debt security becomes due and payable as provided therein or in the applicable indenture, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, request for redemption, repayment at the option of the holder, pursuant to any sinking fund provisions or otherwise.
"Parity Securities" means our perpetual capital instruments, preferred or preference shares or other securities issued directly or indirectly by us ranking pari passu with the Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities as to rights to interest or dividend payments and participation in our assets in the event of liquidation.
"Payment Default" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Events of Default and Defaults—Subordinated Debt Securities".
"Payment Event" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Events of Default and Defaults—Subordinated Debt Securities".
"Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—General".
"Perpetual Subordinated Debt Securities" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—General".
"Place of Payment" means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest and Deferred Interest, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the debt securities of a series are payable.
"pounds sterling" or "£" or "pence" has the meaning set forth under "About This Prospectus".
"preference shares" means preference shares of any series that we may issue.
"Principal Subsidiary" means The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, subject as provided in "Description of the Debt Securities—Senior Debt Securities—Negative Pledge".
"registered form" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Denominations, Registration and Transfer".
"Registered Debt Security" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Denominations, Registration and Transfer".
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"Regular Record Date" means, for interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on debt securities of any series, the date, if any, we specify for that purpose.
"Regulatory Capital Requirement" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Solvency Condition".
"Regulatory Event" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Redemption and Repurchase—Redemption of Perpetual Subordinated Capital Securities for Regulatory Reasons".
"Relevant Date" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payment of Additional Amounts".
"Relevant Indebtedness" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Senior Debt Securities—Negative Pledge".
"SEC" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
"securities" means the debt securities and the preference shares.
"Senior Debt Securities" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities".
"Senior Creditor" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Status of the Subordinated Debt Securities—General".
"senior indenture" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities".
"Solvency Condition" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Payments on Debt Securities—Solvency Condition".
"Stated Maturity" when used with respect to any debt security or any installment of principal thereof (or premium, if any, thereon) or interest, if any, thereon, means the date, if any, specified in such security as the fixed date on which the principal of such security (or premium, if any, thereon) or such installment of principal (or premium, if any, thereon) or interest is due and payable, subject, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, to any deferral provided for in the subordinated indenture, a supplemental indenture or prospectus supplement.
"sterling preference shares" has the meaning set forth under "Description of Preference Shares—General".
"Subordinated Debt Securities" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities".
"subordinated indenture" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities".
"Subsidiary" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Senior Debt Securities—Negative Pledge".
"Substitute Date" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Judgment Currency".
"Tax Event" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Redemption and Repurchase—Redemption of Debt Securities for Tax Reasons".
"United Kingdom" and "U.K." means The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
"U.K. GAAP" has the meaning set forth under "About This Prospectus".
"United States" and "U.S." means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions (which include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
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Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands) and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
"U.S. dollars" or "$" has the meaning set forth under "About This Prospectus".
"U.S. GAAP" has the meaning set forth under "About This Prospectus".
"U.S. Government Obligations" has the meaning set forth under "Description of the Debt Securities—Satisfaction and Discharge".
"Yield to Maturity" when used with respect to any Discounted Security, means the yield to maturity, if any, set forth in such Discounted Security.
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No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus in connection with the offer made by this prospectus, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Prudential plc or any of the underwriters, dealers or agents. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstance create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Prudential plc since the date hereof. This prospectus does not constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in any state in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
All dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers' obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
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Prudential Public Limited Company
Senior and Subordinated Debt Securities
Preference Shares
American Depositary Shares
Prospectus
, 2004
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Article 219 of Prudential's articles of association provides:
"Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts but without prejudice to any indemnity to which a director may otherwise be entitled, every director or other officer and every employee of the Company shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on his part) or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application in which relief is granted to him by the court from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to affairs of the Company".
Article 167 of Prudential's articles of association provides:
"Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 219, the board may exercise all the powers of the Company to purchase and maintain insurance for or for the benefit of any person who is or was:
(a) a director, officer or employee of the Company, or any body which is or was the holding company or subsidiary undertaking of the Company, or in which the Company or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking has or had any interest (whether director or indirect) or with which the Company or such holding company or subsidiary undertaking is or was in any way allied or associated; or
(b) a trustee of any pension fund in which employees of the Company or any other body referred to in Article 167(a) is or has been interested,
including without limitation insurance against any liability incurred by such person in respect of any act or omission in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his duties or in the exercise or purported exercise of his powers or otherwise in relation to his duties, powers or offices in relation to the relevant body or fund."
The relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1985 are sections 310 and 727. Section 310 provides:
"(1) This section applies to any provision, whether contained in a company's articles or in any contract with the company or otherwise, for exempting any officer of the company or any person (whether an officer or not) employed by the company as auditor from, or indemnifying him against, any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which he may be guilty in relation to the company.
(2) Except as provided by the following subsection, any such provision is void.
(3) This section does not prevent a company;
(a) from purchasing and maintaining for any such officer or auditor insurance against any such liability, or
(b) from indemnifying any such officer or auditor against any liability incurred by him—
(i) in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which judgement is given in his favour or he is acquitted, or
II-1
(ii) in connection with any application under section 144(3) or (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or section 727 (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct) in which relief is granted to him by the court.
Section 727 provides:
"(1) If in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against an officer of a company or a person employed by a company as auditor (whether he is or is not an officer of the company) it appears to the court hearing the case that that officer or person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly and reasonably, and that having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including those connected with his appointment) he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from his liability on such terms at it thinks fit.
(2) If any such officer or person as above-mentioned has reason to apprehend that any claim will or might be made against him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, he may apply to the court for relief; and the court on the application has the same power to relieve him as under this section it would have had if it had been a court before which proceedings against that person for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust had been brought.
(3) Where a case to which subsection (1) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he is satisfied that the defendant or defender ought in pursuance of that subsection to be relieved either in whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him, withdraw the case in whole or in part from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the defendant or defender on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the judge may think proper".
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Item 9. Exhibits
| Number |
Description |
|
|---|---|---|
1 |
Form of Underwriting Agreement.* |
|
3 |
Articles of Association of the Registrant.** |
|
4.1 |
Form of Indenture relating to the senior debt securities (including form of senior debt securities).* |
|
4.2 |
Form of Indenture relating to the subordinated debt securities (including forms of subordinated debt securities).* |
|
4.3 |
Form of share warrant representing preference shares in bearer form.* |
|
4.4 |
Form of share certificate representing preference shares in registered form.* |
|
4.5 |
Form of ADR Deposit Agreement.* |
|
5.1 |
Opinion of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, U.S. counsel to the Registrant.* |
|
5.2 |
Opinion of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to the Registrant.* |
|
12 |
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. |
|
23.1 |
Consent of KPMG Audit Plc. |
|
23.2 |
Consent of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton (included in 5.1 above).* |
|
23.3 |
Consent of Slaughter and May (included in 5.2 above).* |
|
24 |
Powers of attorney (included in the signature pages contained herein). |
|
25.1 |
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Wilmington Trust Company as Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to 4.1 above.* |
|
25.2 |
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Citibank, N.A., as Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to 4.2 above.* |
Item 10. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high and of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
II-3
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided, that the Registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Registration Statement, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon
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Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Prudential plc certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in London, England, on July 7, 2004.
PRUDENTIAL PLC |
||||
By: |
/s/ JONATHAN BLOOMER |
|||
| Name: | Jonathan Bloomer | |||
| Title: | Group Chief Executive | |||
Know all persons by these presents that each of the undersigned constitutes and appoints Jonathan Bloomer and Peter Maynard, jointly and severally, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full and several power of substitution, for and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as they or he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on July 7, 2004.
| By: | /s/ DAVID CLEMENTI |
|||
| Name: | David Clementi | |||
| Title: | Chairman | |||
By: |
/s/ JONATHAN BLOOMER |
|||
| Name: | Jonathan Bloomer | |||
| Title: | Group Chief Executive, Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ PHILIP BROADLEY |
|||
| Name: | Philip Broadley | |||
| Title: | Group Finance Director, Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ CLARK MANNING |
|||
| Name: | Clark Manning | |||
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer—Jackson National Life, Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ MICHAEL MCLINTOCK |
|||
| Name: | Michael McLintock | |||
| Title: | Chief Executive—M&G, Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ MARK NORBOM |
|||
| Name: | Mark Norbom | |||
| Title: | Chief Executive—Prudential Corporation Asia, Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ MARK WOOD |
|||
| Name: | Mark Wood | |||
| Title: | Chief Executive—U.K. and European Operations, Executive Director | |||
By: |
||||
| Name: | Bart Becht | |||
| Title: | Non-Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ BRIDGET MACASKILL |
|||
| Name: | Bridget Macaskill | |||
| Title: | Non-Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ ROB ROWLEY |
|||
| Name: | Rob Rowley | |||
| Title: | Non-Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ JAMES ROSS |
|||
| Name: | James Ross | |||
| Title: | Non-Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ ROBERTO MENDOZA |
|||
| Name: | Roberto Mendoza | |||
| Title: | Non-Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ KATHLEEN O'DONOVAN |
|||
| Name: | Kathleen O'Donovan | |||
| Title: | Non-Executive Director | |||
By: |
/s/ ANDREW CROSSLEY |
|||
| Name: | Andrew Crossley | |||
| Title: | Director, Group Finance and Risk | |||
By: |
/s/ THOMAS MEYER |
|||
| Name: | Thomas Meyer (on behalf of Jackson National Life Insurance Company) |
|||
| Title: | Authorized Representative | |||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Number |
Description |
|
|---|---|---|
1 |
Form of Underwriting Agreement.* |
|
3 |
Articles of Association of the Registrant.** |
|
4.1 |
Form of Indenture relating to the senior debt securities (including forms of dated debt securities).* |
|
4.2 |
Form of Indenture relating to the subordinated debt securities (including forms of subordinated debt securities).* |
|
4.3 |
Form of share warrant representing preference shares in bearer form.* |
|
4.4 |
Form of share certificate representing preference shares in registered form.* |
|
4.5 |
Form of ADR Deposit Agreement.* |
|
5.1 |
Opinion of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, U.S. counsel to the Registrant.* |
|
5.2 |
Opinion of Slaughter and May, English solicitors to the Registrant.* |
|
12 |
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. |
|
23.1 |
Consent of KPMG Audit Plc. |
|
23.2 |
Consent of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton (included in 5.1 above).* |
|
23.3 |
Consent of Slaughter and May (included in 5.2 above).* |
|
24 |
Powers of attorney (included in the signature pages herein). |
|
25.1 |
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to 4.1 above.* |
|
25.2 |
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Citibank, N.A., as Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to 4.2 above.* |