Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration File No. 333-15911

 

Subject to Completion. Dated May 18, 2009.

Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus dated May 11, 2009.

 

$     

 

Aflac Incorporated

 

% Senior Notes due

 

 

 

 

This is an offering by Aflac Incorporated of $           of its     % Senior Notes due           (the “notes”). We will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on each      and     , commencing on     , 2009. The notes will mature on          .

 

We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time and from time to time before their maturity at the redemption price discussed under the caption “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement. The notes will be our general unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with any of our existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. The notes will be issued only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of this prospectus supplement, page 4 of the accompanying prospectus, and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” on page 18 of Aflac Incorporated’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 to read about factors you should consider before buying the notes.

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

The initial public offering price set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the notes will accrue from May     , 2009 and must be paid by the underwriters if the notes are delivered after May     , 2009.

 

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the notes. The underwriters expect to deliver the notes through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, which may include Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., against payment in New York, New York on or about May      , 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement dated May   , 2009.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

 

 

No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are an offer to sell only the notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is current only as of its date.

 

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of the offering of the notes and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated herein and therein by reference, on the other hand, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement.

 

As used in this prospectus supplement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “us”, “our” or “the Company” refer to the consolidated operations of Aflac Incorporated, and its direct and indirect operating subsidiaries. “Parent Company” refers solely to Aflac Incorporated. “Aflac” refers solely to our subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, an insurance company domiciled in Nebraska. Aflac operates in the United States (“Aflac U.S.”) and operates as a branch in Japan (“Aflac Japan”).

 

The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s insurance operations is the Japanese yen. We translate our yen-denominated financial statement accounts into U.S. dollars as follows. Assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period exchange rates. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Other revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated using average exchange rates for the year. The resulting currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. We include in earnings the realized currency exchange gains and losses resulting from transactions.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provided you with additional or different information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor the underwriters are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offer and sale of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Aflac Incorporated and the underwriters require persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus come to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer of, or an invitation to purchase, any of the notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer or invitation would be unlawful.

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

 

THE OFFERING

Issuer		Aflac Incorporated.
Securities		% Senior Notes due          (the “notes”).
Aggregate Principal Amount		$     .
Date of Maturity		The notes will mature on          .
Interest		% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year, beginning on          , 2009.
Ranking		The notes are our unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness from time to time outstanding.
Optional Redemption		We may redeem the notes in whole or in part at any time at the redemption price described in the section in this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption of the Notes”.
Certain Covenants		The Senior Debt Indenture under which the notes will be issued contains covenants that impose conditions on our ability to create liens on any capital stock of our restricted subsidiaries (as defined under “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus) or engage in sales of the capital stock of our restricted subsidiaries.
Events of Default		Events of default generally include failure to pay principal or any premium, failure to pay interest, failure to pay any sinking fund installment, failure to observe or perform any other covenants or agreement in the notes or indenture, certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization, or certain defaults of the Parent Company debt.
Listing		The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently there is no public market for the notes.
Use of Proceeds		We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $      after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay a loan from our primary life insurance subsidiary and for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.
Risk Factors		You should carefully consider all information set forth and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and, in particular, should carefully read the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement before purchasing any of the notes.
Trustee		The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
Governing Law		The notes will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

Investing in our notes involves risk. Please see the risk factors described in “Item 1A — Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and cause the value of our securities to decline. You could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Relating to Our Senior Debt

 

Because the notes will be issued by the Parent Company, which is a holding company, the notes will be structurally subordinated to the obligations of our subsidiaries.

 

We are a holding company whose assets primarily consist of the capital stock of our subsidiaries. Because we are a holding company, holders of the notes will have a junior position to the claims of creditors of our subsidiaries on their assets and earnings. The notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will:

 

 

At March 31, 2009, the aggregate amount of our outstanding consolidated indebtedness was $1,573 million, of which none was secured and all other unsecured indebtedness would rank equal in right of payment with the notes. All obligations (including insurance obligations) of our subsidiaries would be effectively senior to the notes. At March 31, 2009, the consolidated obligations of our subsidiaries reflected on our balance sheet were approximately $64,879 million.

 

Furthermore, in the event of insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, receivership, reorganization or similar event involving a subsidiary, the assets of that subsidiary would be used to satisfy claims of policyholders and creditors of the subsidiary rather than our creditors. As a result of the application of the subsidiary’s assets to satisfy claims of policyholders and creditors, the value of the stock of the subsidiary would be diminished and perhaps rendered worthless. Any such diminution in the value of the shares of our subsidiaries would adversely impact our financial condition and possibly impair our ability to meet our obligations on the debt securities. In addition, any liquidation of the assets of the Parent Company’s subsidiaries (Aflac U.S., in particular) to satisfy claims of the subsidiary’s policyholders and creditors might make it impossible for such subsidiary to pay dividends to us. Likewise, any inability of Aflac Japan to repatriate earnings to Aflac may also limit Aflac’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company. This inability to pay dividends would further impair our ability to satisfy our obligations under the debt securities.

The indenture under which the notes will be issued will contain only limited protection for holders of the notes in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction in the future.

 

The indenture under which the notes will be issued may not sufficiently protect holders of notes in the event we are involved in a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction. The indenture will not contain any provisions restricting our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to:

 

 

Additionally, the indenture will not require us to offer to purchase the notes in connection with a change of control or require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth. Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the notes could have the effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on the notes when due.

 

An active trading market for the notes may not develop.

 

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market, and we do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange or for quotation of the notes in any automated dealer quotation system. We have been informed by the underwriters that they intend to make a market in the notes after the offering is completed. However, the underwriters may cease their market-making at any time. In addition, the liquidity of the trading market in the notes, and the market price quoted for the notes, may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for fixed income securities and by changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally. In addition, such market-making activity will be subject to limits imposed by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. As a result, you cannot be sure that an active trading market will develop for the notes. If no active trading market develops, you may not be able to resell your notes at their fair market value or at all.

 

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $      after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay a loan from our primary life insurance subsidiary and for general corporate purposes.

 

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our consolidated capitalization as of March 31, 2009 on an actual basis and as adjusted to give effect to the offering of the notes and the planned use of proceeds. See “Use of Proceeds”.

 

You should read the information in this table together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities”. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description in the accompanying prospectus and the indenture dated as of May   , 2009, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture in respect of the notes, which we refer to as the “Senior Debt Indenture”, between Aflac Incorporated, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, which we refer to as the “Trustee”, pursuant to which the notes will be issued. All capitalized terms herein that are not defined within this prospectus supplement shall have the same meanings as defined in the First Supplemental Indenture. As used in this “Description of the Notes” section, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “us”, “our” or “the Company” refer to Aflac Incorporated.

 

General

 

The notes will be issued as a series of senior debt securities under the Senior Debt Indenture and will be limited in aggregate principal amount to $     . The notes will be issued only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Payments of principal of, and interest on, the notes will be made in U.S. dollars. The provisions of the Senior Debt Indenture pertaining to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture and unclaimed moneys will apply to the notes.

 

The notes are our unsecured obligations and will rank equally and pari passu with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness from time to time outstanding

 

Maturity

 

The entire principal amount of the notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on          , 20     .

 

Interest

 

Each note will bear interest of     % from the date of original issuance or from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or duly provided for. We will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on           and           of each year, each of which we refer to as an interest payment date.

 

Interest payments for the notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the notes is not a business day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay).

 

The interest payable by us on a note on any interest payment date and on the maturity date, subject to certain exceptions, will be paid to the person in whose name such note is registered at the close of business on the first calendar day of the month preceding such interest payment date, whether or not a business day. However, interest that we pay on the maturity date will be payable to the person to whom the principal will be payable.

 

Optional Redemption of the Notes

 

The notes will be redeemable, at the sole option of the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time (a “Redemption Date”), at a redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) an amount equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments for principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed, not including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of such

Redemption Date, discounted to such Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus       basis points; plus in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, such Redemption Date.

 

“Treasury Rate” means (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities”, for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes.

 

“Independent Investment Banker” means each of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their successors or, if any of such firms is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means with respect to any Redemption Date for the notes (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective successors and three other primary U.S. government securities dealers (each a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), as specified by the Company; provided that (1) if any of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective successors or any Primary Treasury Dealer as specified by the Company shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefore another Primary Treasury Dealer and (2) if the Company fails to select a substitute within a reasonable period of time, then the substitute will be a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to the Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed, in each case, as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding Section 12.2 of the Senior Debt Indenture, the notice of redemption with respect to the foregoing redemption need not set forth the Redemption Price but only the manner of calculation thereof.

 

The Company shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Price with respect to the foregoing redemption promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said Redemption Price.

 

If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair, the principal amount of such notes held by each beneficial owner of such notes to be redeemed. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any notes selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or any portion of the notes called for redemption, unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest.

 

Transfer

 

No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but payment will be required of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

 

Certain Covenants

 

The Senior Debt Indenture does not contain any provisions that will restrict the Company from incurring, assuming or becoming liable with respect to any indebtedness or other obligations, whether secured or unsecured, or from paying dividends or making other distributions on its capital stock or purchasing or redeeming its capital stock. The Senior Debt Indenture does not contain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity to which the Company must adhere. In addition, the Senior Debt Indenture does not contain any provision that would require that the Company repurchase or redeem or otherwise modify the terms of any of the notes upon a change in control or other events involving the Company which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the notes.

 

The Company is not required pursuant to the Senior Debt Indenture to repurchase the notes, in whole or in part, with the proceeds of any sale, transfer or other disposition of any shares of capital stock of any restricted subsidiary (or of any subsidiary having any direct or indirect control of any restricted subsidiary). Further, the Senior Debt Indenture does not provide for any restrictions on the Company’s use of such proceeds.

 

For a discussion of the covenants contained in the Senior Debt Indenture, including those imposing limitations on liens on restricted subsidiaries and dispositions of stock of restricted subsidiaries, see “Description of Debt Securities — Covenants Applicable to the Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Book-Entry System

 

The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, which we refer to along with its successors in this capacity as the depositary, will act as securities depositary for the notes. The notes will be issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., the depositary’s nominee. One or more fully registered global notes, representing the total aggregate principal amount of the notes, will be issued and will be deposited with the depositary or its custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer referred to below.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the notes so long as the notes are represented by global notes.

 

Investors may elect to hold interests in the notes in global form through either DTC in the United States or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”), if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems. Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Citibank, N.A. will act as depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as depositary for Euroclear (in such capacities, the “U.S. Depositaries”).

 

DTC advises that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The depositary holds securities that its participants (the “DTC Participants”) deposit with the depositary. The depositary also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. The depositary is owned by a number of its direct participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Access to the depositary’s system is also available to others, including securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear transactions through or maintain a direct or indirect custodial relationship with a direct participant either directly, or indirectly. The rules applicable to the depositary and its participants are on file with the SEC.

 

Clearstream, Luxembourg advises that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream, Luxembourg provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream, Luxembourg interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream, Luxembourg is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream, Luxembourg is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

Distributions with respect to interests in the notes held beneficially through Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg.

 

Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash.

Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within the Euroclear System, withdrawals of securities and cash from the Euroclear System, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in the Euroclear System. All securities in the Euroclear System are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no records of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

 

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through the Euroclear System will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for the Euroclear System.

 

We will issue the notes in definitive certificated form if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days. In addition, beneficial interests in a global note may be exchanged for definitive certificated notes upon request by or on behalf of the depositary in accordance with customary procedures following the request of a beneficial owner seeking to exercise or enforce its rights under such notes. If we determine at any time that the notes shall no longer be represented by global notes, we will inform the depositary of such determination who will, in turn, notify participants of their right to withdraw their beneficial interest from the global notes, and if such participants elect to withdraw their beneficial interests, we will issue certificates in definitive form in exchange for such beneficial interests in the global notes. Any global note, or portion thereof, that is exchangeable pursuant to this paragraph will be exchangeable for note certificates, as the case may be, registered in the names directed by the depositary. We expect that these instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global notes.

 

As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of the global notes, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global notes and all notes represented by these global notes for all purposes under the notes and the indenture governing the notes. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in global notes:

 

 

All payments on the notes represented by the global notes and all transfers and deliveries of related notes will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the holder of the securities.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in the global notes will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in global notes will be shown only on, and the transfer of

those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee, with respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by the participant on their behalf. Payments, transfers, deliveries, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global notes may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the depositary from time to time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in global notes, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the depositary’s records or any participant’s records relating to these beneficial ownership interests.

 

Although the depositary has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the global notes among participants, the depositary is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be discontinued at any time. We will not have any responsibility for the performance by the depositary or its direct participants or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing the depositary.

 

The information in this section concerning the depositary, its book-entry system, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we have not attempted to verify the accuracy of this information.

 

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

 

Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System, as applicable.

 

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.

 

Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System as a result of sales of the notes by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Euroclear System cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

 

Although DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued or changed at any time.

About the Trustee

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the Trustee. Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers vested in it by the Senior Debt Indenture at the request of any holder of the notes unless the holder offers the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might result. The Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in performing its duties if the Trustee reasonably believes that it is not reasonably assured of repayment or adequate indemnity. We have entered, and from time to time may continue to enter, into banking or other relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. or its affiliates.

 

The Trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities under the Senior Debt Indenture, and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such series.

 

Applicable Law

 

The notes and the Senior Debt Indenture will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Payment and Paying Agent

 

We will pay interest on any notes to the person in whose name the notes are registered on the regular record date for interest.

 

We will pay principal of, and any premium, interest and additional amounts on the notes at the office of the paying agent designated by us, except that we may pay interest by wire transfer or check mailed to the registered holder.

 

All moneys we pay to a paying agent of the Trustee for the payment of principal of, or any premium, interest or additional amounts on, a note which remains unclaimed at the end of two years will be repaid to us, and the holder of the note may then look only to us for payment.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as paying agent for the notes.

 

The following is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes by an initial holder of the notes that is a non-U.S. holder (as defined below) that acquires the notes pursuant to this offering at the initial sale price and holds the notes as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”), judicial decisions and current administrative rulings and practice, all as in effect and available as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be applicable to holders in light of their particular circumstances, or to holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as brokers, financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities or qualified retirement plans, entities that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, dealers in securities or currencies, certain U.S. expatriates, persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code and persons that hold the notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any other U.S. federal tax consequences (e.g., estate or gift tax) or any state, local or foreign tax laws. This discussion is not intended to constitute a complete analysis of all tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences applicable to them in their particular circumstances.

 

For purposes of this discussion, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is not (i) a citizen or individual resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is created or organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; (iv) a trust if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary control over its administration and one or more U.S. persons, within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, or (B) the trust has made an election under the applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person; or (v) a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) beneficially owns the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in a partnership that beneficially owns the notes should consult their tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to them.

 

Interest

 

A non-U.S. holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on the notes provided that (i) such interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by the non-U.S. holder (or, if certain tax treaties apply, such interest is not attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained within the United States by the non-U.S. holder) and (ii) the non-U.S. holder (A) does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock, (B) is not a controlled foreign corporation related to us directly or constructively through stock ownership, and (C) satisfies certain certification requirements. Such certification requirements will be met if (x) the non-U.S. holder provides its name and address, and certifies on an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8BEN (or appropriate substitute form), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person, or (y) a securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions holding the notes on behalf of the non-U.S. holder certifies on IRS Form W-8IMY, under penalties of perjury, that the certification referred to in clause (x) has been received by it and furnishes us or our paying agent

with a copy thereof. In addition, we or our paying agent must not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner of the notes is a U.S. person.

 

If interest on the notes is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by a non-U.S. holder but such non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy the other requirements outlined in the preceding paragraph, interest on the notes will generally be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax (currently imposed at a 30% rate, or a lower applicable treaty rate).

 

If interest on the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by a non-U.S. holder and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, then the non-U.S. holder will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest in the same manner as if such holder were a U.S. person and, in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation, may also be subject to the branch profits tax (currently imposed at a rate of 30%, or a lower applicable treaty rate). Any such interest will not also be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, however, if the non-U.S. holder delivers to us a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI in order to claim an exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax.

 

Disposition of the Notes

 

A non-U.S. holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax (or any withholding thereof) with respect to gain, if any, recognized on the disposition of the notes unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States by the non-U.S. holder and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base within the United States, or (ii) in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a nonresident alien individual, such holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year and certain other conditions are satisfied.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

A non-U.S. holder will generally be required to comply with certain certification procedures to establish that such holder is not a U.S. person in order to avoid backup withholding with respect to payments on, or the proceeds of a disposition of, the notes. Such requirement will be satisfied if the non-U.S. holder delivers the appropriate IRS Form W-8 as described above. In addition, we must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of any interest paid to such non-U.S. holder regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is correctly and timely provided to the IRS.

 

The Parent Company and the underwriters for the offering (the “underwriters”) named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the principal amount of notes indicated in the following table. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are the representatives of the several underwriters.

 

 

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken.

 

Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to     % of the principal amount of notes. Any such securities dealers may resell any notes purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to     % of the principal amount of notes. If all the notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the representatives may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

 

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

 

In connection with the offering of the notes, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater principal amount of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering of the notes. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering of the notes is in progress.

 

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

 

These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in

relation to the notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

 

(a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

 

(c) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

(d) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of notes to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

 

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

 

(a) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA would not, if the Parent Company was not an authorized person, apply to the Parent Company; and

 

(b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

 

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit

of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

 

This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

 

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

 

The Parent Company estimates that its share of the total expenses of the offering of the notes, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $  .

 

The Parent Company has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for the Parent Company, for which they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees and expenses.

 

Certain legal matters as to Georgia law in connection with this offering of notes will be passed upon for us by Joey M. Loudermilk, Esq., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Aflac Incorporated, and certain legal matters as to New York law in connection with this offering of notes will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York. Certain partners of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP beneficially own an aggregate of less than one percent of the common stock of Aflac Incorporated. The validity of the notes will be passed upon for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will rely as to all matters of Georgia law upon the opinion of Joey M. Loudermilk, Esq.

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Aflac Incorporated

 

 

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

 

 

We may, from time to time, offer to sell senior or subordinated debt securities. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities.

 

Specific terms of these securities not provided herein will be provided in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

 

 

 

You should carefully consider the risks of an investment in these securities. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, “Item 1A — Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and any other risk factors included in filings we have made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is May 11, 2009.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

This prospectus relates to a registration statement filed by Aflac Incorporated with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process (the “registration statement”). Under this shelf process as described in the registration statement, we may sell any combination of 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 that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

The functional currency of Aflac Japan’s (as defined below) insurance operations is the Japanese yen. We translate our yen-denominated financial statement accounts into U.S. dollars as follows. Assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period exchange rates. Realized gains and losses on security transactions are translated at the exchange rate on the trade date of each transaction. Other revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated using average exchange rates for the year. The resulting currency translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. We include in earnings the realized currency exchange gains and losses resulting from transactions.

 

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities to be offered. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” General information about us, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments and exhibits to those reports, are available free of charge through our website at www.aflac.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other securities filings and is not a part of these filings.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the information to which we have referred you. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus may only be accurate on the date of this prospectus.

 

As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our” or “the Company” refer to the consolidated operations of Aflac Incorporated and its direct and indirect operating subsidiaries. “Parent Company” refers solely to Aflac Incorporated. “Aflac” refers solely to our subsidiary, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, an insurance company domiciled in Nebraska. Aflac operates in the United States (“Aflac U.S.”) and operates as a branch in Japan (“Aflac Japan”).

 

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those informational statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. We desire to take advantage of these provisions. This prospectus and documents filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein contain cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected herein. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information and relate to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. Furthermore, forward-looking information is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements containing words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “goal,” “objective,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “intends,” “projects,” “will,” “assumes,” “potential,” “target” or similar words as well as specific projections of future results, generally qualify as forward-looking. We undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

 

We caution readers that the following factors, in addition to other factors mentioned from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements:

 

 

The Parent Company (Aflac Incorporated) was incorporated in 1973 under the laws of the State of Georgia. The Parent Company is a general business holding company and acts as a management company, overseeing the operations of its subsidiaries by providing management services and making capital available. Its principal business is supplemental health and life insurance, which is marketed and administered through its subsidiary, Aflac (American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus). Aflac operates in the United States and as a branch in Japan. Most of Aflac’s policies are individually underwritten and marketed through independent agents. Our insurance operations in the United States (Aflac U.S.) and our branch in Japan (Aflac Japan) service the two markets for our insurance business.

 

We believe Aflac is the world’s leading underwriter of individually issued policies marketed at worksites. We continue to diversify our product offerings in both Japan and the United States. Aflac Japan sells supplemental insurance products, including cancer life plans, general medical indemnity plans, medical/sickness riders, care plans, living benefit life plans, ordinary life insurance plans and annuities. Aflac U.S. sells supplemental insurance products, including accident/disability plans, cancer expense plans, short-term disability plans, sickness and hospital indemnity plans, hospital intensive care plans, fixed-benefit dental plans, vision care plans, long-term care plans and life insurance products.

 

We are authorized to conduct insurance business in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, several U.S. territories and Japan. Aflac Japan accounted for 72%, 71% and 72% of the Parent Company’s total revenues in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The percentage of total assets attributable to Aflac Japan was 87% at December 31, 2008 and 82% at December 31, 2007.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia 31999 and our telephone number is (706) 323-3431.

 

Our debt securities may be senior or subordinated in right of payment. For any particular debt securities we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe all applicable terms, including, but not limited to, the specific designation, the aggregate principal or face amount and the purchase price; the ranking, whether senior or subordinated; the stated maturity; the redemption terms, if any; the rate or manner of calculating the rate and the payment dates for interest, if any; the amount or manner of calculating the amount payable at maturity and whether that amount may be paid by delivering cash, securities or other property; and any other specific terms. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, all amounts payable in respect of the securities, including the purchase price, will be payable in U.S. dollars. We will issue the senior and subordinated debt securities under separate debt indentures between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.

 

Investing in our securities involves risk. Please see the risk factors described in “Item 1A — Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as any risk factors included in any other filings we have made with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein. Please also see any risk factors contained in any prospectus supplement that accompanies this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. Additional risk factors may be included in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series or offering of securities. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition and cause the value of our securities to decline. You could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us will be used for general corporate purposes. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities in an applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities in accordance with SEC rules.

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated. For the purpose of computing the below ratios, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes excluding interest expense on income tax liabilities, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, excluding interest expense on income tax liabilities, interest on investment-type contracts and such portion of rental expense as is estimated to be representative of the interest factors in the leases, all on a pre-tax basis.

 

 

Senior Debt Indenture and Subordinated Debt Indenture

 

We may issue our debt securities, consisting of notes, debentures or other indebtedness, from time to time in one or more series. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will issue any senior debt securities pursuant to a senior debt indenture to be entered into between the Parent Company, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, we will issue any subordinated debt securities pursuant to a subordinated debt indenture to be entered into between the Parent Company, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. A form of senior debt indenture and a form of subordinated debt indenture are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

The senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture are substantially similar, except that (1) the subordinated debt indenture, unlike the senior debt indenture, provides for debt securities that are specifically made junior in right of payment to other specified indebtedness of the Parent Company and (2) the senior debt indenture, unlike the subordinated debt indenture, restricts the ability of the Parent Company to use the shares of its restricted subsidiaries to secure any indebtedness, unless an equal and ratable security interest in these subsidiary shares is granted to the holders of the senior debt securities. Neither the senior debt indenture nor the subordinated debt indenture limits the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time.

 

The following description provides a general summary of the material terms and conditions of the senior debt indenture, the subordinated debt indenture and the debt securities to be issued pursuant to these indentures.

 

The following discussion is only a summary. The indentures may contain language that expands upon or limits the statements made in this prospectus. Accordingly, we strongly encourage you to refer to the indentures, as well as any applicable prospectus supplements for any debt securities offered, for a complete understanding of the terms and conditions applicable to the indentures and the debt securities.

 

Senior and Subordinated Debt Securities

 

The debt securities will be our unsecured senior or subordinated obligations. The term “senior” is generally used to describe debt obligations that entitle the holders to receive payment of principal and interest upon the happening of certain events prior to the holders of “subordinated” debt. Events that can trigger the right of holders of senior indebtedness to receive payment of principal and interest prior to payments to the holders of subordinated indebtedness include insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, receivership, reorganization or an event of default under the senior debt indenture.

 

We may issue the senior debt securities, pursuant to the senior debt indenture, in one or more series. All series of senior debt securities issued under the senior debt indenture will be equal in ranking. The senior debt securities also will rank equally with all our other unsecured indebtedness, other than unsecured indebtedness expressly designated by the holders thereof to be subordinate to our senior debt securities.

 

The senior indebtedness issued pursuant to the senior debt indenture will rank junior and be subordinate to any indebtedness of our subsidiaries. In the event of an insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, receivership, reorganization or similar event involving a subsidiary, the assets of that subsidiary would be used to satisfy claims of policyholders and creditors of the subsidiary rather than our creditors. As a result of the application of the subsidiary’s assets to satisfy claims of policyholders and creditors, the value of the stock of the subsidiary would be diminished and perhaps rendered worthless. Any such diminution in the value of the shares of our subsidiaries would adversely impact our financial condition and possibly impair our ability to meet our obligations on the debt securities. In addition, any liquidation of the assets of the Parent Company’s subsidiaries (Aflac, in particular) to satisfy claims of the subsidiary’s policyholders and creditors might make it impossible for such subsidiary to pay dividends to us. Likewise, any inability of Aflac Japan to repatriate earnings to Aflac may also limit Aflac’s ability to pay dividends to the Parent Company. This inability to pay dividends to the Parent Company would further impair the ability of the Parent Company to satisfy its obligations under the debt securities.

The debt securities issued under the subordinated debt indenture will be subordinate in right of payment in respect of principal, any premium and interest owing under the subordinated debt securities to all the senior indebtedness of the Parent Company in the manner described below under the caption “Subordination Under the Subordinated Debt Indenture.”

 

Prospectus Supplements

 

We will provide a prospectus supplement to accompany this prospectus for each series of debt securities we offer. In the prospectus supplement, we will describe the following terms and conditions of the series of debt securities that we are offering, to the extent applicable:

 

 

 

Holders of the debt securities may present their securities for exchange and may present registered debt securities for transfer in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as limited by the applicable indenture, we will provide these services without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the exchange or transfer.

 

Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating rate as specified in the prospectus supplement. In addition, if specified in the prospectus supplement, we may sell debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate, or at a discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to these discounted debt securities.

 

We may issue debt securities with the principal amount payable on any principal payment date, or the amount of interest payable on any interest payment date, to be determined by referring to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of such debt securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment date, or interest payments on any interest payment date, that are greater or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value on such dates of applicable currency, commodity, equity index or other factors. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information as to how we will determine the amount of principal or interest payable on any date, as well as the currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on that date relates and certain additional tax considerations.

 

Global Debt Securities

 

We may issue registered debt securities in global form. This means that one “global” debt security would be issued to represent one or more registered debt securities. The denomination of the global debt security would equal the aggregate principal amount of all registered debt securities represented by that global debt security.

 

We will deposit any registered debt securities issued in global form with a depositary, or with a nominee of the depositary, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any person holding an interest in the global debt security through the depositary will be considered the “beneficial” owner of that interest. A “beneficial” owner of a security is able to enjoy rights associated with ownership of the security, even though the beneficial owner is not recognized as the legal owner of the security. The interest of the beneficial owner in the security is considered the “beneficial interest.” We will register the debt securities in the name of the depositary or the nominee of the depositary, as appropriate.

The depositary or its nominee may only transfer a global debt security in its entirety and only in the following circumstances:

 

 

These restrictions on transfer would not apply to a global debt security after the depositary or its nominee, as applicable, exchanged the global debt security for registered debt securities issued in definitive form.

 

We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any series of debt securities represented by a registered global security in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities represented by a registered global security.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to (1) participants that have accounts with the depositary for the registered global security and (2) persons that may hold interests through those participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit each participant’s account on the depositary’s book-entry registration and transfer system with the principal amount of debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by that participant. Initially, the dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts that the depositary should credit.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the registered global security, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that purchasers of securities regulated by the laws of those states take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

 

As long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, that depositary or its nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security generally will not:

 

 

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if that person owns through a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture.

 

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders of debt securities or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder of debt securities is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

 

We will make payments of principal, any premium and any interest on a registered global security to the depositary or its nominee. None of the Parent Company, the indenture trustee or any other agent of the Parent Company or of the indenture trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to,

or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

 

We expect that the depositary for any registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary.

 

We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security owned through the participants.

 

We will issue our debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security, if the depositary for such registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and if a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed within 90 days. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by a registered global security and, in such event, will issue debt securities of the series in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security.

 

We will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in such name or names as the depositary shall instruct the indenture trustee. We expect that the depositary will base these instructions upon directions received by the depositary from participants with beneficial interests in the registered global security.

 

We also may issue bearer debt securities of a series in global form. We will deposit these global bearer securities with a common depositary or with a nominee for the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. We will describe the specific terms and procedures of the depositary arrangement for the bearer debt securities in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. We also will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security.

 

Covenants Applicable to the Debt Securities

 

Limitations on Liens.  Under the senior debt indenture, so long as any debt securities are outstanding, neither we nor any of our restricted subsidiaries may use any voting stock of a restricted subsidiary as security for any of our debt or other obligations unless any debt securities issued under the senior debt indenture are secured to the same extent as and for so long as that debt or other obligation is so secured. This restriction does not apply to liens existing at the time a corporation becomes our restricted subsidiary or any renewal or extension of any such existing lien and does not apply to shares of subsidiaries that are not “restricted subsidiaries.”

 

To qualify as our “subsidiary,” as defined in the senior debt indenture, we must control, either directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation. The senior debt indenture defines voting stock as any class or classes of stock having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors of the corporation in question, except that stock that carries only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event is not considered voting stock.

 

As defined in the senior debt indenture, our “restricted subsidiaries” include (1) Aflac, so long as it remains our subsidiary; (2) any other present or future subsidiary of the Parent Company, the consolidated total assets of which constitute at least 20% of our total consolidated assets; and (3) any successor to any such subsidiary.

 

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.  Both the senior and subordinated debt indentures provide that we will not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease our assets substantially as an entirety to any person, and no person may consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

 

 

 

This covenant would not apply to the direct or indirect conveyance, transfer or lease of all or any portion of the stock, assets or liabilities of any of our wholly owned subsidiaries to us or to our other wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

The limitations on the transactions described above do not apply to a recapitalization, change of control, or highly leveraged transaction unless the transaction involves a consolidation or merger into a third party, or a sale, other than for cash to a third party of all or substantially all of our assets, or a purchase by us of all or substantially all of the assets of a third party. In addition, the indentures do not include any provisions that would increase interest, provide an option to dispose of securities at a fixed price, or otherwise protect debt security holders in the event of any recapitalization, change of control, or highly leveraged transaction.

 

Limitations on Dispositions of Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries.  Both the senior and subordinated debt indentures provide that, except in a transaction otherwise governed by such indenture, neither we nor any of our restricted subsidiaries may issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the voting stock of a restricted subsidiary so long as any of the debt securities remain outstanding. However, exceptions to this restriction include situations where:

 

 

The indentures do not restrict the transfer of assets from a restricted subsidiary to any other person, including us or another of our subsidiaries.

 

Events of Default

 

Unless we provide other or substitute events of default in a prospectus supplement, the following events will constitute an event of default under both the senior and subordinated debt indentures:

 

 

 

If an event of default with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under either of the indentures shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such indenture or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare, by notice as provided in the applicable indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of an event of default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.

 

Both the senior and subordinated debt indentures entitle the trustee to obtain assurances of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it by the debt security holders for any actions taken by the trustee at the request of the security holders. The right of the indenture trustee to obtain assurances of indemnity or security is subject to the indenture trustee carrying out its duties with a level of care or standard of care that is generally acceptable and reasonable under the circumstances. An indemnity or indemnification is an undertaking by one party to reimburse another upon the occurrence of an anticipated loss.

 

Subject to the right of the indenture trustee to indemnification as described above and except as otherwise described in the indentures, the indentures provide that the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the affected outstanding debt securities of each series, treated as one class, may direct the time, method and place of any proceeding to exercise any right or power conferred in the indentures or for any remedy available to the trustee.

 

The senior and subordinated debt indentures provide that no holders of debt securities may institute any action against us, except for actions for payment of overdue principal, any premium or interest, unless:

 

 

Under both the senior and subordinated debt indentures, we will file annually with the trustee a certificate either stating that no default exists or specifying any default that does exist.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may discharge or defease our obligations under either the senior debt indenture or the subordinated debt indenture as set forth below.

 

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either the senior debt indenture or the subordinated debt indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or, in the case of debt securities payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. government obligations (as defined in either indenture), as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt securities.

 

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the relevant indenture) (“defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from our obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the relevant trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations which, through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant senior or subordinated debt indenture. In addition, in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee (i) an officers’ certificate to the effect that the relevant debt securities exchange(s) have informed us that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit, and (ii) an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

 

We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.

 

If we exercise our discharge or defeasance option, payment of the affected debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, payment of the affected debt securities may not be accelerated by reason of a default or an event of default with respect to the covenants that have been defeased. If, however, acceleration of the indebtedness under the debt securities occurs by reason of another event of default, the value of the money and government obligations in the defeasance trust on the date of acceleration could be less than the principal and interest then due on the affected securities because the required defeasance deposit is based upon scheduled cash flow rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.

 

Modification of the Indentures

 

Both the senior and subordinated debt indentures provide that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:

 

 

 

The senior and subordinated debt indentures also permit us and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding affected debt securities of all series issued under the relevant indenture, voting as one class, to change, in any manner, the relevant indenture and the rights of the holders of debt securities issued under that indenture. However, the consent of each holder of an affected debt security is required for changes that:

 

 

The subordinated debt indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of each holder of then outstanding senior indebtedness that would be adversely affected by the amendment.

 

Subordination Under the Subordinated Debt Indenture

 

The subordinated debt indenture provides that payment of the principal, any premium and interest on debt securities issued under the subordinated debt indenture will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in that indenture, to all our senior indebtedness. The subordinated debt indenture defines senior indebtedness as the principal, any premium and interest on all our indebtedness, whether incurred prior to or after the date of the indenture:

 

 

Senior indebtedness also includes all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of, and amendments, modifications and supplements to, the indebtedness listed above.

 

Senior indebtedness does not include:

 

 

 

The subordinated debt indenture does not limit the amount of senior indebtedness that we can incur.

 

The holders of all senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment of the full amount due on that indebtedness before the holders of any subordinated debt securities or coupons relating to those subordinated debt securities receive any payment on account of such subordinated debt securities or coupons, in the event:

 

 

We may not make any payment of the principal or interest on the subordinated debt securities or coupons during a continued default in payment of any senior indebtedness or if any event of default exists under the terms of any senior indebtedness.

 

Governing Law

 

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), is applicable, in which case the Trust Indenture Act will govern.

 

The Indenture Trustees

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as trustee under each of the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture.

 

If we ever issue securities in certificated form, those securities may be presented for registration, transfer and payment at the office of the registrar or at the office of any transfer agent we designate and maintain. The registrar or transfer agent will make the registration or transfer only if it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. There will not be a service charge for any exchange or registration of transfer of the securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with the exchange. At any time we may change transfer agents or approve a change in the location through which any transfer agent acts. We also may designate additional transfer agents for any securities at any time.

 

We will not be required to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any security to be redeemed for a period of 15 days before the selection of the securities to be redeemed. In addition, we will not be required to exchange or register the transfer of any security that was selected, called or is being called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any security being redeemed in part.

 

We will pay principal, any premium, interest and any amounts payable on any certificated securities at the offices of the paying agents we may designate from time to time. Generally, we will pay interest on a security on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for that payment.

 

We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus in any of three ways (or in any combination) from time to time:

 

 

In addition, we may enter into derivative or other hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If any applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with such a derivative or other hedging transaction, the third parties may, pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, sell securities covered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Any applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus, including:

 

 

Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, all amounts payable in respect of the securities, including the purchase price, will be payable in U.S. dollars. Any public offering price or purchase price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers or agents may be changed from time to time.

 

Underwriters or the third parties described above may offer and sell the offered securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price, at market prices or prices related thereto or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions described above. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

 

We may sell the securities through agents from time to time. If required by applicable law, any applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement or other prices pursuant to delayed delivery or other contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.

Any delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement, and any applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these delayed delivery contracts.

 

Each underwriter, dealer and agent participating in the distribution of any offered securities that are issuable in bearer form will agree that it will not offer, sell, resell or deliver, directly or indirectly, offered securities in bearer form in the United States or to U.S. persons except as otherwise permitted by Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D).

 

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Agents, underwriters and other third parties described above may be entitled under relevant underwriting or other agreements to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents, underwriters or other third parties may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, underwriters and such other third parties may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy any of this information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. These reports, proxy statements and other information may also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. General information about us, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments and exhibits to those reports, are available free of charge through our website at www.aflac.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with, or furnish them to, the SEC. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other securities filings and is not a part of these filings.

 

This prospectus relates to a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities to be offered. This prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and we refer you to the omitted information. The statements this prospectus makes pertaining to the content of any contract, agreement or other document that is an exhibit to the registration statement necessarily are summaries of their material provisions and do not describe all exceptions and qualifications contained in those contracts, agreements or documents. You should read those contracts, agreements or documents for information that may be important to you. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC’s public reference room or through its website.

 

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

 

The following documents listed below, which we have previously filed with the SEC, are incorporated by reference:

 

 

All documents filed by us under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities shall also be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus by reference.

 

We will provide a copy of these filings, at no cost, upon your written or oral request to us at the following address or telephone number:

 

Aflac Incorporated

Office of the Secretary

1932 Wynnton Road

Columbus, Georgia 31999

(706) 323-3431

 

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, unless those exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters as to Georgia law in connection with the offering of the debt securities will be passed upon for us by Joey M. Loudermilk, Esq., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Aflac Incorporated and certain legal matters as to New York law in connection with the offering of the debt securities will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel which we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. Certain partners of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP beneficially own an aggregate of less than one percent of the common stock of Aflac Incorporated.

 

The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Aflac Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit reports covering the December 31, 2008 financial statements and schedules refer to the adoption of the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, and the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R), in 2006.

 

Aflac Incorporated

 

 

% Senior Notes due