Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-156132

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

(to Prospectus dated December 15, 2008)

 

$1,250,000,000

 

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

 

$500,000,000 3.90% Senior Notes due 2020

$750,000,000 5.35% Senior Notes due 2040

 

 

We are offering $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.90% senior notes due 2020 (the “2020 senior notes”) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.35% senior notes due 2040 (the “2040 senior notes” and, together with the 2020 senior notes, the “senior notes”). Interest on the senior notes is payable on November 1 and May 1 of each year, beginning on May 1, 2011. The 2020 senior notes will mature on November 1, 2020. The 2040 senior notes will mature on November 1, 2040. We may redeem the senior notes in whole or in part at any time at the redemption prices described herein.

 

The senior notes will be unsecured senior obligations of our company and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness. The senior notes will be issued only in registered form in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

 

 

 

Investing in the senior notes involves risks. See “A Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page S-3, “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase any senior 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 underwriters expect to deliver the senior notes to investors on or about November 1, 2010, in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg and Euroclear Bank N.V./S.A.

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

Senior Co-Manager

 

HSBC

 

Co-Managers

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is October 27, 2010.

 

We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related free writing prospectus issued by us. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may provide to you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference or any related free writing prospectus issued by us is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to this offering.

 

If information varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

 

Unless we have indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, the terms “Travelers,” the “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean The Travelers Companies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRV”. You may inspect the reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. You may find additional information about us at our web site at http://www.travelers.com. The information on our web site is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus supplement:

 

 

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

Attn: Corporate Secretary

485 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Telephone No.: (917) 778-6000

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

Issuer		The Travelers Companies, Inc., a Minnesota corporation.
Securities Offered		$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.90% senior notes due 2020 (which we refer to as the “2020 senior notes”) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.35% senior notes due 2040 (which we refer to as the “2040 senior notes,” and together with the 2020 senior notes, the “senior notes”).
Maturity		The 2020 senior notes will mature on November 1, 2020. The 2040 senior notes will mature on November 1, 2040.
Interest		The 2020 senior notes will bear interest at 3.90% per year. The 2040 senior notes will bear interest at 5.35% per year. Interest on the senior notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on November 1 and May 1 of each year, commencing May 1, 2011. Interest will accrue from and including November 1, 2010.
Redemption		We may redeem either series of the senior notes at our option on not less than 30 days’, but not more than 60 days’, prior written notice, in whole or in part, at the redemption price set forth under the caption “Description of the Senior Notes — Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement.
Certain Covenants		The indenture governing the senior notes contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to create, issue, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance on any voting stock, as defined in the indenture, of a designated subsidiary, as defined in the indenture. See “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer — Restrictive Covenants” in the accompanying prospectus.
Ranking		The senior notes will be unsecured and rank equally with all our other unsecured senior debt. The indenture under which the senior notes will be issued does not limit our ability to issue or incur other additional senior indebtedness. See “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer” in the accompanying prospectus. The senior notes will be issued only in registered form in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Use of Proceeds		We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately $1,234 million, after deduction of underwriting expenses and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, including to fund the consummation of our tender offer for any or all of our $1,000,000,000 outstanding subordinated debentures. Proceeds from the offering may also be used to pay a portion of outstanding debt as it matures over the next few years. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.
Listing		The senior notes will not be listed on any exchange.

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus issued by us and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain, and management may make, certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Specifically, earnings guidance, statements about our share repurchase plans and statements about the potential impact of investment markets and other economic conditions on our investment portfolio and underwriting results, among others, are forward looking, and we may also make forward-looking statements about, among other things:

 

 

We caution investors that such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements.

 

Some of the factors that cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

 

 

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately $1,234 million, after deduction of underwriting expenses and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, including to fund the consummation of our tender offer for any or all of our $1,000,000,000 outstanding subordinated debentures. Proceeds from the offering may also be used to pay a portion of outstanding debt as it matures over the next few years.

 

 

The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization at September 30, 2010:

 

 

 

 

The following tables set forth selected consolidated financial information that is qualified in its entirety by and should be read in conjunction with our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and related “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections in our reports filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The statement of operations and other data presented below for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the balance sheet data presented below at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements contained in reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The statement of operations and other data presented below for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the balance sheet data presented below at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements contained in reports not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The statement of operations and other data presented below for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and the balance sheet data presented below at September 30, 2010 are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in a report incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. The balance sheet data presented below at September 30, 2009 are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in a report not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. In the opinion of management, our unaudited consolidated financial statements at and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results and financial condition at the dates and for the unaudited interim periods. Historical results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period.

 

 

The following description of the particular terms of the senior notes supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the senior notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus (the senior notes are referred to in that prospectus as “senior debt securities” and “debt securities”). You should carefully read the entire prospectus and prospectus supplement to understand fully the terms of the senior notes. All of the information set forth below is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed explanation set forth in the accompanying prospectus.

 

The senior notes are two series of senior debt securities issued by us under the indenture, dated as of March 12, 2002, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank), as trustee, which is more fully described in the accompanying prospectus.

 

The senior notes will be our unsecured senior obligations and will rank equally with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. At September 30, 2010, we had approximately $5.0 billion of senior and unsubordinated debt outstanding.

 

We are a holding company and rely primarily on dividends from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations for payment of interest and principal on outstanding debt obligations, dividends to shareholders and corporate expenses. As a result, our cash flows and consequent ability to service our obligations, including the senior notes, are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and distributions of those earnings to us and other payments or distributions of funds by our subsidiaries to us.

 

The ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to us in the future will depend on their statutory surplus, on earnings and on regulatory restrictions. In addition, our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the senior notes. Furthermore, except to the extent we have a priority or equal claim against our subsidiaries as a creditor, the senior notes will be effectively subordinated to debt, preferred stock and other liabilities (including liabilities to policyholders) at the subsidiary level because, as the common shareholder of our subsidiaries, we will be subject to the prior claims of creditors of our subsidiaries.

 

The aggregate principal amount of the 2020 senior notes is $500,000,000, and the aggregate principal amount of the 2040 senior notes is $750,000,000. The 2020 senior notes will mature on November 1, 2020, and the 2040 senior notes will mature on November 1, 2040. We will have the ability to redeem the senior notes prior to their stated maturities on the terms described below. The senior notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

We will periodically pay interest on the 2020 senior notes at an annual rate of 3.90% and on the 2040 senior notes at an annual rate of 5.35%. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each November 1 and May 1, beginning May 1, 2011, to the persons in whose names the applicable senior notes are registered at the close of business on the preceding October 15 and April 15, respectively, except that any interest payable upon maturity of the senior notes will be payable to the person to whom the principal of the senior note is payable. Interest on the senior notes will accrue from and including November 1, 2010, or from the most recent date for which interest has been paid or provided for. Interest will accrue on the basis of a 360-day year, consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

In any case where any interest payment date, redemption date or stated maturity of the senior notes shall not be a business day at any place of payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the indenture or of the senior notes) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such place of payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding business day at such place of payment with the same force and effect as if made on the interest payment date or redemption date, or at the stated maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and after such interest payment date, redemption date or stated maturity, as the case may be. “Business day”, when used with respect to any place of payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that place of payment are authorized or obligated by law to close.

 

The senior notes will be issued as two separate series of senior debt securities under the indenture referred to above. The indenture does not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur. We may from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the 2020 senior notes or the 2040 senior notes, issue other debt securities under the

indenture in addition to the 2020 senior notes and the 2040 senior notes offered hereby. We may also from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the 2020 senior notes or the 2040 senior notes, issue additional debt securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms (other than the issue date of the additional debt securities, the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of the additional debt securities or, in some cases, the first interest payment date for the additional debt securities) as the 2020 senior notes or the 2040 senior notes, as the case may be. Any such additional securities will constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture with the 2020 senior notes or the 2040 senior notes, as the case may be.

 

Optional Redemption

 

Either series of the senior notes will be redeemable in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

 

In each case we will pay accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be redeemed to the date of redemption.

 

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

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of the four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.

 

“Independent Investment Banker” means (1) Goldman, Sachs & Co., (2) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, (3) Barclays Capital Inc. and (4) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and their respective successors, or, if such firm or the successors, if any, to such firm, as the case may be, are unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by us.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) Goldman, Sachs & Co., (2) a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined herein) selected by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, (3) Barclays Capital Inc. and (4) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of them ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealers (each a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the trustee, 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 trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to:

 

(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; provided that, if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life of the senior notes to be redeemed, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the

Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from those 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 semiannual 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 will be calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date. As used in the immediately preceding sentence and in the definition of “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” above, the term “business day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of the senior notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the senior notes will state, among other things, the amount of senior notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of senior notes to be redeemed. If less than all of the 2020 senior notes or the 2040 senior notes, as the case may be, are to be redeemed at our option, the trustee will select, in a manner it deems fair and appropriate, the senior notes, or portions of the senior notes, to be redeemed. Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any senior notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date.

 

We will not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any senior notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of senior notes selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any senior notes so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such senior notes being redeemed in part.

 

The full defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of the indenture described in the accompanying prospectus will apply to the senior notes.

 

Book-Entry Delivery and Form

 

The senior notes will be issued as global debt securities in “book-entry” form in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. See “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer — Legal Ownership — Global Securities” in the accompanying prospectus. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will be the depositary with respect to the senior notes. The senior notes will be issued as fully registered securities in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee, and will be deposited with DTC.

 

DTC has advised us that it is a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, a limited-purpose trust company under the New York banking law, and a registered clearing agency with the SEC. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC and facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which is owned by a number of its participants and by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

 

Same-Day Settlement and Payment

 

Settlement for the senior notes will be made by the underwriters in immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest on the senior notes will be made by us in immediately available funds. The senior notes will trade in DTC’s settlement system until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the senior notes therefore will be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds.

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the senior notes as of the date hereof. Except where noted, this summary deals only with the senior notes that are held as capital assets by a non-U.S. holder, defined below, who acquires the senior notes upon original issuance at their initial offering price.

 

A “non-U.S. holder” means a holder of the senior notes (other than a partnership) that is not for U.S. federal income tax purposes any of the following:

 

 

This summary is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences different from those summarized below. This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxes and does not deal with foreign, state, local or other tax considerations that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders in light of their personal circumstances. In addition, it does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws (including if you are a U.S. expatriate, “controlled foreign corporation,” “passive foreign investment company” or a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes). We cannot assure you that a change in law will not alter significantly the tax considerations that we describe in this summary.

 

If a partnership holds the senior notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding the senior notes, you should consult your tax advisors.

 

If you are considering the purchase of the senior notes, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you of the ownership of the senior notes, as well as the consequences to you arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

 

U.S. Federal Withholding Tax

 

The 30% U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment of interest on the senior notes under the “portfolio interest rule,” provided that:

 

 

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to you will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide us with a properly executed:

 

 

The 30% U.S. federal withholding tax generally will not apply to any payment of principal or gain that you realize on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a senior note.

 

U.S. Federal Income Tax

 

If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on the senior notes is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment), then you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis (although you will be exempt from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, provided the certification requirements discussed above in “U.S. Federal Withholding Tax” are satisfied) in the same manner as if you were a U.S. person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of such interest, subject to adjustments.

 

Any gain realized on the disposition of a senior note generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:

 

 

U.S. Federal Estate Tax

 

Your estate will not be subject to U.S. federal estate tax on the senior notes beneficially owned by you at the time of your death, provided that any payment to you on the senior notes would be eligible for exemption from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax under the “portfolio interest rule” described above under “U.S. Federal Withholding Tax” without regard to the statement requirement described in the fifth bullet point of that section.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Generally, we must report to the IRS and to you the amount of interest paid to you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

 

In general, you will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments on the senior notes that we make to you provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a U.S. person as defined under the Code, and we have received from you the statement described above in the fifth bullet point under “U.S. Federal Withholding Tax.”

 

Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a sale of the senior notes within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless you certify under penalties of perjury that you are not a U.S. person as defined under the Code (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a U.S. person as defined under the Code) or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase of the senior notes by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or provisions under any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of the Code or ERISA (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of such plans, accounts and arrangements (each, a “Plan”).

 

General Fiduciary Matters

 

ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (an “ERISA Plan”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of such an ERISA Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such an ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to such an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan.

 

In considering an investment in the senior notes of a portion of the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan including, without limitation, the prudence, diversification, delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.

 

Prohibited Transaction Issues

 

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engaged in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan that engaged in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. The acquisition and/or holding of senior notes by an ERISA Plan with respect to which the issuer or its affiliates is considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory or administrative exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, or “PTCEs,” that may apply to the acquisition and holding of the senior notes. These class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE 84-14 respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE 90-1 respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38 respecting bank collective investment funds, PTCE 95-60 respecting life insurance company general accounts and PTCE 96-23 respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers. In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide relief from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code for certain transactions, provided that neither the issuer of the securities nor any of its affiliates (directly or indirectly) have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of any ERISA Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the ERISA Plan pays no more than adequate consideration in connection with the transaction. There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied.

 

Because of the foregoing, the senior notes should not be purchased or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase and holding will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

 

Representation

 

By acceptance of a senior note, each purchaser and subsequent transferee of a senior note will be deemed to have represented and warranted that either (i) no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or transferee to acquire and hold the senior notes constitutes assets of any Plan or (ii) the purchase and holding of the senior notes by such purchaser or transferee will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or similar violation under any applicable Similar Laws.

 

The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive. Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries, or other persons considering purchasing the senior notes on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such investment and whether an exemption would be applicable to the purchase and holding of the senior notes. Purchasers of the senior notes have exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase and holding of the senior notes do not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Laws. The sale of any senior notes to a Plan is in no respect a representation by the issuer or any of its affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any such Plan generally or any particular Plan, or that such investment is appropriate for such Plans generally or any particular Plan.

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below. Under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement dated October 27, 2010 between us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to each of the underwriters named below, severally, and each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase, the principal amount of the 2020 senior notes and 2040 senior notes set forth opposite its name below:

 

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the senior notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the senior notes if they purchase any of the senior notes.

 

The senior notes are new issues of securities with no established trading market and will not be listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market for the senior notes, but they have no obligation to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without providing any notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of any trading market for the senior notes.

 

The underwriters initially propose to offer the senior notes directly to the public at the offering price described on the cover page and may offer the senior notes to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of 0.30% of the principal amount of the 2020 senior notes and a concession not in excess of 0.50% of the principal amount of the 2040 senior notes. Any underwriter may allow, and any such dealer may reallow, a concession not in excess of 0.20% of the principal amount of the 2020 senior notes to certain other dealers and a concession not in excess of 0.25% of the principal amount of the 2040 senior notes. After the initial offering of the senior notes, the underwriters may from time to time vary the offering price and other selling terms. The offering of the senior 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 underwriting discount in connection with this offering is 0.50% of the principal amount of the 2020 senior notes and 0.8750% of the principal amount of the 2040 senior notes.

 

We have also agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments which the underwriters may be required to make in respect of any such liabilities.

 

Expenses associated with this offering, to be paid by us, other than underwriting discounts, are estimated to be $1.9 million.

 

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. From time to time in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in and may in the future engage in commercial banking and/or investment banking transactions with, and provide advisory services to, us and our affiliates for which they have received

or will receive customary fees and expenses. Certain of the underwriters or their respective affiliates are lenders under a revolving credit agreement dated June 10, 2010 among us and certain banks named therein providing for aggregate borrowings by us of a maximum of $1.0 billion. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

In connection with the offering, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC on behalf of the underwriters, may purchase and sell senior notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of senior notes in excess of the principal amounts of senior notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the senior notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of senior notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the senior notes while the offering is in progress.

 

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when Goldman, Sachs & Co., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase senior notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

 

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market prices of the senior notes. They may also cause the prices of the senior notes to be higher than the prices that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

 

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 senior notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the senior 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 senior 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 investors with the minimum total consideration per investor of €50,000; (d) 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 (e) 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 senior notes to the public” in relation to any senior 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 senior notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the senior notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant 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 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the senior notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the issuer; 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 senior notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

The senior 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 senior 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 senior 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 senior notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan (the Securities 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 Securities 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 senior notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the senior 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 senior 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 validity of the issuance of the senior notes offered by this prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has in the past provided, and may continue to provide, legal services to us.

 

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules of The Travelers Companies, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 have been incorporated by reference in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit reports covering the December 31, 2009 consolidated financial statements and related financial statement schedules refer to the Company’s change in its method of evaluating other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities as of April 1, 2009 due to the adoption of new FASB guidance.

PROSPECTUS

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities

Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Common Stock

Warrants

Stock Purchase Contracts

and

Units

 

Travelers Capital Trust II

Travelers Capital Trust III

Travelers Capital Trust IV

Travelers Capital Trust V

 

Preferred Securities

guaranteed to the extent set forth herein

by The Travelers Companies, Inc.

 

 

We will provide you with more specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

We may offer these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

 

The Travelers Companies, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRV”.

 

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

 

Prospectus dated December 15, 2008.

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms “Travelers”, “we”, “us” or “our” means The Travelers Companies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the term “Trusts” means, collectively, Travelers Capital Trust II, Travelers Capital Trust III, Travelers Capital Trust IV and Travelers Capital Trust V.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a shelf registration or continuous process. Under this shelf process, 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 containing specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. A prospectus supplement may include or incorporate by reference a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities or to us. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

 

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the SEC web site or at the SEC office mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

 

When acquiring any securities discussed in this prospectus, you should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement, including the information

incorporated by reference. Neither we, the Trusts nor any underwriters or agents have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not offering the securities in any state where the offer is prohibited. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is truthful or complete at any date other than the date mentioned on the cover page of these documents.

 

We may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time. If we, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we reserve the sole right to accept and, together with any agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any of those offers.

 

Any prospectus supplement will contain the names of the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, together with the terms of offering, the compensation of those underwriters and the net proceeds to us. Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

Unless otherwise stated, currency amounts in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement are stated in United States dollars (“$”).

 

This prospectus may contain, and documents incorporated by reference herein may contain, certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Specifically, earnings guidance, statements about our share repurchase plans, statements about the potential impact of the recent disruption in the investment markets and other economic conditions on our investment portfolio and underwriting results are forward looking, and we may make forward-looking statements about our results of operations (including, among others, premium volume, net and operating income, investment income, return on equity, expected returns and combined ratio) and financial condition (including, among others, invested assets and liquidity); the sufficiency of our asbestos and other reserves (including, among others, asbestos claim payment patterns); the cost and availability of reinsurance coverage; catastrophe losses; investment performance; investment, economic and underwriting market conditions; and strategic initiatives. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements.

 

Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the following: catastrophe losses could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, our financial position and/or liquidity and could adversely impact our ratings, our ability to raise capital and the availability and cost of reinsurance; if actual claims exceed our loss reserves, or if changes in the estimated level of loss reserves are necessary, our financial results could be materially and adversely affected; our business could be harmed because of our potential exposure to asbestos and environmental claims and related litigation; we are exposed to, and may face adverse developments involving, mass tort claims such as those relating to exposure to potentially harmful products or substances; the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues on our business are uncertain; we may not be able to collect all amounts due to us from reinsurers, and reinsurance coverage may not be available to us in the future at commercially reasonable rates or at all; the intense competition that we face could harm our ability to maintain or increase our profitability and premium volume; we are exposed to credit risk in certain of our business operations and in our investment portfolio; the insurance industry and we are the subject of a number of investigations by state and federal authorities in the United States, and we cannot predict the outcome of these investigations or their impact on our business or financial results; our businesses are heavily regulated, and changes in regulation may reduce our profitability and limit our growth; a downgrade in our claims-paying and debt ratings could adversely impact our business volumes, adversely impact our ability to access the capital markets and increase our borrowing costs; our investment portfolio may suffer reduced returns or losses; deteriorating economic conditions in the United States and abroad could

adversely impact our ability to grow our business profitably, and inflation could result in an increase in loss costs which could negatively impact our profitability; the inability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to our holding company in sufficient amounts would harm our ability to meet our obligations and to pay future shareholder dividends; disruptions to our relationships with our independent agents and brokers could adversely affect us; we are subject to a number of risks associated with our business outside the United States including operational, legal and foreign exchange rate risk; we could be adversely affected if our controls to ensure compliance with guidelines, policies and legal and regulatory standards are not effective; our business success and profitability depend, in part, on effective information technology systems and on continuing to develop and implement improvements in technology; certain significant multiyear technology projects are currently in process but may not be successful; and if we experience difficulties with technology, data security and/or outsourcing relationships, our ability to conduct our business could be negatively impacted.

 

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus or as of the date of the documents incorporated herein by reference, and we undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, see the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Form 10-K.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F. Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRV.” You may inspect the reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. You may find additional information about us at our web site at http://www.travelers.com. The information on our web site is not part of this prospectus.

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus:

 

 

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

Attn: Corporate Secretary

385 Washington Street

St. Paul, Minnesota 55102

Telephone No.: (917) 778-6828

 

We have not included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus any separate financial statements of the Trusts. We do not believe that these financial statements would provide holders of preferred securities with any important information for the following reasons:

 

 

Although the Trusts would normally be required to file information with the SEC on an ongoing basis, we expect the SEC to exempt the Trusts from filing this information for as long as we continue to file our information with the SEC.

 

The Travelers Companies, Inc. is a holding company principally engaged, through its subsidiaries, in providing a wide range of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations and individuals. The company, known as The St. Paul Companies, Inc., or St. Paul, prior to its merger on April 1, 2004 with Travelers Property Casualty Corp., or Travelers Property, is incorporated as a general business corporation under the laws of the State of Minnesota and is one of the oldest insurance organizations in the United States, dating back to 1853. Upon completion of the merger with Travelers Property, the company was named The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. The company’s name was changed to The Travelers Companies, Inc. on February 26, 2007.

 

The principal executive offices of the company are located at 385 Washington Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102, and the telephone number is (651) 310-7911. Unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms “we”, “us”, “our” or “Travelers” mean The Travelers Companies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Each of Travelers Capital Trust II, Travelers Capital Trust III, Travelers Capital Trust IV and Travelers Capital Trust V (each a “Trust” and collectively the “Trusts”) is a statutory trust created under Delaware law. Each of the Trusts exists for the exclusive purposes of:

 

 

Any senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities and warrants we sell to a Trust will be the sole assets of such Trust, and, accordingly, payments under the senior, subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities will be the sole revenues of such Trust, and such Trust’s ability to distribute shares of our common stock or other securities upon conversion of the preferred securities, if convertible, will depend solely on our performance under the warrants or convertible debt securities sold by us to such Trust. We will acquire and own all of the common securities of each of the Trusts. The common securities will rank on a parity with, and payments will be made on the common securities pro rata with, the preferred securities, except that upon an event of default under the applicable declaration of trust resulting from an event of default under the senior, subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities, our rights as holder of the common securities to distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the preferred securities.

 

Each Trust has a term as to be provided in each respective declaration of trust, which will be described in the prospectus supplement. The Trusts’ business and affairs are conducted by the trustees. The trustees for the Trusts are The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as institutional trustee, BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware, as the Delaware trustee, and two regular trustees or “administrative trustees” who are officers of The Travelers Companies, Inc. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as institutional trustee, will act as sole indenture trustee under the declarations of trust. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will also act as guarantee trustee under the guarantee and as indenture trustee under the senior debt indenture, the subordinated debt indenture and the junior subordinated debt indenture.

The duties and obligations of each trustee are governed by the declarations of trust. As sponsor of the Trusts, we will pay all fees, expenses, debts and obligations (other than the payment of distributions and other payments on the preferred securities) related to the Trusts and any offering of the Trusts’ preferred securities and will pay, directly or indirectly, all ongoing costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trusts. The principal executive office of the Trusts is c/o The Travelers Companies, Inc., 385 Washington Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102, and the telephone number is (651) 310-7911.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements for each of the periods indicated:

 

 

For accounting purposes, the merger of St. Paul and Travelers Property was accounted for as a reverse acquisition with Travelers Property treated as the accounting acquirer. Accordingly, this transaction was accounted for as a purchase business combination, using Travelers Property’s historical financial information and applying fair value estimates to the acquired assets, liabilities and commitments of St. Paul as of April 1, 2004. Beginning on April 1, 2004, the results of operations and financial condition of St. Paul were consolidated with Travelers Property. Accordingly, all financial information presented for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 reflects the accounts of Travelers Property for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and the consolidated accounts of St. Paul and Travelers Property for the nine months ended December 31, 2004. The financial information for 2003 reflects the accounts of Travelers Property.

 

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing income available for fixed charges by the fixed charges. For purposes of this ratio, fixed charges consist of that portion of rentals deemed representative of the appropriate interest factor.

 

We may issue senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities. None of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities or the junior subordinated debt securities will be secured by any of our property or assets. Thus, by owning a debt security issued by us, you are one of our unsecured creditors.

 

The senior debt securities will constitute part of our senior debt, will be issued under a senior debt indenture described below and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

 

The subordinated debt securities will constitute part of our subordinated debt, will be issued under a subordinated debt indenture described below and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our “senior indebtedness”, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture. The junior subordinated debt securities will constitute part of our junior subordinated debt, will be issued under a junior subordinated indenture described below and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our “senior indebtedness”, including our

subordinated debt, as defined in the junior subordinated indenture. The prospectus supplement for any series of subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities will indicate the approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter. None of the indentures limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, including senior indebtedness.

 

“Debt securities” in this prospectus refers to the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the junior subordinated debt securities.

 

The debt securities are each governed by a document called an indenture — the senior debt indenture, in the case of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt indenture, in the case of the subordinated debt securities, and the junior subordinated debt indenture, in the case of the junior subordinated debt securities. Each of the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture is a contract between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., which will act as trustee. The indentures are substantially similar, except for (i) the covenant described below under “— Restrictive Covenants — Limitations on Liens and Other Encumbrances on Voting Stock of Designated Subsidiaries” and the related provisions regarding the treatment of liens when we merge or engage in similar transactions (as described under “— Special Situations — Mergers and Similar Events”), which are included only in the senior debt indenture, (ii) the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated debt indenture and the junior subordinated debt indenture, (iii) the definition of senior indebtedness in the subordinated debt indenture and the junior subordinated debt indenture, which is different in each indenture and (iv) the events of default contained in the junior subordinated indenture, which are limited to payment defaults and certain events of bankruptcy.

 

Reference to the indenture or the trustee with respect to any debt securities means the indenture under which those debt securities are issued and the trustee under that indenture.

 

The trustee has two main roles:

 

 

The indentures and their associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indentures and the debt securities are governed by the laws of the State of New York. A copy of the senior debt indenture, dated as of March 12, 2002, the form of subordinated debt indenture and the form of junior subordinated debt indenture appear as exhibits to our registration statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain a copy.

 

We may issue as many distinct series of debt securities under any of the indentures as we wish. This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, although the prospectus supplement which describes the terms of each series of debt securities may also describe differences with the material terms summarized here.

 

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indentures, including definitions of some of the terms used in the indentures. We describe the meaning for only the more important terms. Whenever we refer to the defined terms of the indentures in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, those defined terms are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement. You must look to the indentures for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement.

 

This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus.

There may also be a further prospectus supplement, known as a pricing supplement, which contains the precise terms of debt securities you are offered.

 

We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which are securities that are offered and sold at a substantial discount to their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement relating to original issue discount securities will describe federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to them. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and any material additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

 

In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement and the pricing supplement, if any, relating to the series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:

 

 

 

Those terms may vary from the terms described here. Accordingly, this summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the terms of the series described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus.

 

Legal Ownership

 

Street Name and Other Indirect Holders

 

Investors who hold debt securities in accounts at banks or brokers will generally not be recognized by us as legal holders of debt securities. This is called holding in “street name”. Instead, we would recognize only the bank or broker or the financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold its debt securities. These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along principal, interest and other payments on the debt securities, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. If you hold debt securities in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

 

Direct Holders

 

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustees and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustees, run only to persons or entities who are the direct holders of debt securities (i.e., those who are registered as holders of debt securities). As noted above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold in street name or through other indirect means, either because you choose to hold debt securities in that manner or because the debt securities are issued in the form of global securities as described below. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment even if that registered holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a street name customer but does not do so.

Global Securities

 

What Is a Global Security? A global security is a special type of indirectly held security, as described above under “— Street Name and Other Indirect Holders”.

 

If we choose to issue debt securities in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be indirect holders. We do this by requiring that the global security be registered in the name of a financial institution we select and by requiring that the debt securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct holder of the global security is called the depositary.

 

Any person wishing to own a debt security included in the global security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. The prospectus supplement indicates whether your series of debt securities will be issued only in the form of global securities.

 

Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities.  As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a registered holder of debt securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

 

If you are an investor in debt securities that are issued only in the form of global securities, you should be aware that:

 

 

Special Situations When Global Security Will Be Terminated.  In a few special situations described later, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing debt securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold debt securities directly or in street name will be up to you. You must consult your own bank or broker to find out how to have your interests in debt securities transferred to your own name, so that you will be a direct holder. The rights of street name investors and direct holders in the debt securities have been previously described in the subsections entitled, “— Street Name and Other Indirect Holders” and “— Direct Holders”.

 

The special situations for termination of a global security are:

 

 

Defaults are discussed below under “— Default and Related Matters”.

The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary (and not we or the applicable trustee) is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

In the remainder of this description “you” means direct holders and not street name or other indirect holders of debt securities. Indirect holders should read the previous subsection entitled “— Street Name and Other Indirect Holders”.

 

Overview of the Remainder of this Description

 

The remainder of this description summarizes:

 

 

Additional Mechanics

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

The debt securities will be issued:

 

 

You may have your debt securities broken into more debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. This is called an exchange.

 

You may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the trustee. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform the service ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered direct holders is called the security registrar. It will also register transfers of the debt securities.

 

You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

If we designate additional transfer agents, they will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

 

If the debt securities are redeemable and we redeem less than all of the debt securities of a particular series, we may block the issuance, transfer or exchange of debt securities during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

We will pay interest to you if you are a direct holder listed in the trustee’s records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if you no longer own the debt security on the interest due date. That particular day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the regular record date and is stated in the prospectus supplement. Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between them how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the one who is the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller. This prorated interest amount is called accrued interest.

 

We will pay interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee in New York City. You must make arrangements to have your payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks.

 

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments.

 

We may also arrange for additional payment offices and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called paying agents. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. We must notify you of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of debt securities.

 

Notices

 

We and the trustee will send notices regarding the debt securities only to direct holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustee’s records.

 

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of one year after the amount is due to direct holders will be repaid to us. After that one-year period, you may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else.

 

Special Situations

 

Mergers and Similar Events

 

We are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another company or firm. We are also permitted to sell or lease substantially all of our assets to another firm, or to buy or lease substantially all of the assets of another firm. However, we may not take any of these actions unless the following conditions (among others) are met:

 

 

 

Modification and Waiver

 

There are four types of changes we can make to either indenture and the debt securities issued under that indenture.

 

Changes Requiring Your Approval.  First, there are changes that cannot be made to your debt securities without your specific approval. The following is a list of those types of changes:

 

 

Changes Requiring a Majority Vote.  The second type of change to a particular indenture and the debt securities is the kind that requires a vote in favor by direct holders of debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of all series affected thereby, voting together as a single class. Most changes, including waivers, as described below, fall into this category, except for changes noted above as requiring the approval of the holders of each security affected thereby, and, as noted below, changes not requiring approval.

 

Each indenture provides that a supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the applicable indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of securities, or which modifies the rights of the holders of securities of such series with

respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the applicable indenture of the holders of securities of any other series.

 

Changes Not Requiring Approval.  The third type of change does not require any vote by holders of debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the debt securities.

 

Changes by Waiver Requiring a Majority Vote.  Fourth, we need a vote by direct holders of senior debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected to obtain a waiver of certain of the restrictive covenants, including the one described later under “— Restrictive Covenants — Limitation on Liens and Other Encumbrances on Voting Stock of Designated Subsidiaries”. We also need such a majority vote to obtain a waiver of any past default, except a payment default listed in the first category described later under “— Default and Related Matters — Events of Default”.

 

Modification of Subordination Provisions.  In addition, we may not modify the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt indenture or the junior subordinated indenture in a manner that would adversely affect the outstanding subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, of any one or more series in any material respect, without the consent of the direct holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all affected series, voting together as one class.

 

Further Details Concerning Voting.  When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal amount to attribute to a debt security:

 

 

Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore will not be eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust for you money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described under “— Defeasance — Full Defeasance”.

 

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the direct holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the applicable indenture. In some circumstances, the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by direct holders. If we or the trustee set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of a particular series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are direct holders of outstanding securities of that series on the record date and must be taken within 90 days following the record date.

 

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change an indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

 

Subordination Provisions

 

Direct holders of subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities should recognize that contractual provisions in the subordinated debt indenture and junior subordinated debt indenture may prohibit us from making payments on those securities. Subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the subordinated debt indenture, to all of our senior indebtedness, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities we have issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture. Junior subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the junior subordinated debt indenture, to all of our

senior indebtedness, as defined in the junior subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities we have issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture and subordinated debt indenture.

 

Subject to the qualifications described below, the term “senior indebtedness” is defined in the subordinated debt indenture to include principal of, and interest and premium (if any) on, and any other payment due pursuant to any of the following, whether incurred prior to, on or after the date of this prospectus:

 

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, under the subordinated debt indenture, senior indebtedness will not include:

 

 

Subject to the qualifications described below, the term “senior indebtedness” is defined in the junior subordinated indenture to include principal of, and interest and premium (if any) on, and any other payment due pursuant to any of the following, whether incurred prior to, on or after the date of this prospectus:

 

 

 

The junior subordinated debt securities will rank senior to all of our equity securities.

 

The senior indebtedness will continue to be senior indebtedness and entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the senior indebtedness or extension or renewal of the senior indebtedness.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, under the junior subordinated indenture, senior indebtedness will not include:

 

 

Each of the subordinated debt indenture and junior subordinated debt indenture provides that no payment or other distribution may be made in respect of any subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, in the following circumstances:

 

 

 

If the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture or junior subordinated debt indenture, as the case may be, or any direct holders of the subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the trustee or the direct holders will have to repay that money to the direct holders of the senior indebtedness.

 

Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the subordinated debt securities or junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, of any series, we will be in default on our obligations under that series if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the trustee under the subordinated debt indenture or the junior subordinated debt indenture, as the case may be, and the direct holders of that series can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the direct holders of senior indebtedness have been fully satisfied.

 

Restrictive Covenants

 

General

 

We have made certain promises in each indenture called “covenants” where, among other things, we promise to maintain our corporate existence and all licenses and material permits necessary for our business. In addition, in the senior debt indenture, we have made the promise described in the next paragraph. The subordinated debt indenture and junior subordinated debt indenture do not include the promise described in the next paragraph.

 

Limitation on Liens and Other Encumbrances on Voting Stock of Designated Subsidiaries

 

Some of our property may be subject to a mortgage or other legal mechanism that gives our lenders preferential rights in that property over other lenders, including the direct holders of the senior debt securities, or over our general creditors if we fail to pay them back. These preferential rights are called liens. In the senior debt indenture, we promise not to create, issue, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance on any voting stock of a designated subsidiary, unless we also secure all the senior debt securities that are deemed outstanding under the senior debt indenture equally and ratably with, or prior to, the indebtedness being secured, together with, at our election, any of our or any designated subsidiary’s other indebtedness. This promise does not restrict our ability to sell or otherwise dispose of our interests in any designated subsidiary.

As used here:

 

 

 

Defeasance

 

The following discussion of full defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to your series of debt securities only if we choose to have them apply to that series. If we do so choose, we will state that in the prospectus supplement.

 

Full Defeasance

 

If there is a change in federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on the debt securities, called full defeasance, if we put in place the following arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

 

 

If we accomplished full defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment on the debt securities. In addition, in the case of subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debt securities, the provisions described above under “— Subordination Provisions” will not apply. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever become bankrupt or insolvent.

 

Covenant Defeasance

 

Under current federal tax law, we can make the same type of deposit described above and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the debt securities. This is called covenant defeasance. In that event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and securities set aside in trust to repay the debt securities. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:

 

 

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, the following provisions, among others, of the indentures and the debt securities would no longer apply:

 

 

In addition, in the case of subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debt securities, the provisions described above under “— Subordination Provisions” will not apply if we accomplish covenant defeasance.

 

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you could still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit. In fact, if one of the remaining events of default occurs, such as our bankruptcy, and the debt securities become immediately due and payable, there may be a shortfall in the trust deposit. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

 

Default and Related Matters

 

Ranking With Our Other Unsecured Creditors

 

The debt securities are not secured by any of our property or assets. Accordingly, your ownership of debt securities means that you are one of our unsecured creditors. The senior debt securities are not subordinated to any of our debt obligations, and therefore, they rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities and the junior subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our senior indebtedness, as defined in the subordinated debt indenture and the junior subordinated debt indenture, as the case may be.

Events of Default

 

You will have special rights if an event of default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

 

What Is an Event of Default?  The term “event of default” generally means any of the following:

 

 

However, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, under the terms of the junior subordinated debt indenture, a covenant default and failure to deposit money into a sinking fund when required are not an event of default.

 

Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs.  If you are a holder of a subordinated debt or junior subordinated debt security, all remedies available upon the occurrence of an event of default under the applicable indenture will be subject to the restrictions on the subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, described above under “— Subordination Provisions”. If an event of default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the direct holders of 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount (or, in the case of original issue discount securities, the portion of the principal amount that is specified in the terms of the affected debt security) of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. However, a declaration of acceleration of maturity may be canceled by the direct holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series.

 

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities which are original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity of a portion of the principal amount of original issue discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default and its continuation.

 

Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indentures at the request of any holders unless the direct holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability, called an indemnity. If reasonable indemnity is provided, the direct holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority direct holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series.

 

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

 

 

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt security on or after its due date.

 

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and to make or cancel a declaration of acceleration.

 

We will furnish to the trustee every year a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under it, or else specifying any default.

 

Our Relationship With the Trustee

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the trustee under the senior debt indenture, the subordinated debt indenture and the junior subordinated indenture. The Bank of New York Mellon is also a lender under a revolving credit agreement among us and certain banks named therein providing for aggregate borrowing by us of a maximum of $1.0 billion. No borrowings under this facility were outstanding at September 30, 2008. At September 30, 2008, The Bank of New York Mellon had issued $32.4 million in letters of credit on our behalf. The Bank of New York Mellon or its affiliates are also the trustee under other indentures pursuant to which we or our subsidiaries have issued debt securities and have provided, and may in the future provide, commercial and investment banking services to us from time to time.

 

We may issue preferred stock in one or more series, as described below. The following briefly summarizes the provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation that would be important to holders of our preferred stock. The following description may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation which is an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus.

 

The description of most of the financial and other specific terms of your series will be in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.

 

As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your series of preferred stock as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your series of preferred stock.

 

Reference to a series of preferred stock means all of the shares of preferred stock issued as part of the same series under a certificate of designations filed as part of our amended and restated articles of incorporation. Reference to your prospectus supplement means the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the preferred stock you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.

 

Our Authorized Preferred Stock

 

Under our amended and restated articles of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized, without further action by our shareholders, to establish from the 5,000,000 undesignated shares authorized by our amended and restated articles of incorporation one or more classes and series of shares, to designate each such class and series, to fix the relative rights and preferences of each such class and series and to issue such

shares. Such rights and preferences may be superior to common stock as to dividends, distributions of assets (upon liquidation or otherwise) and voting rights. Undesignated shares may be convertible into shares of any other series or class of stock, including common stock, if our board of directors so determines. Our board of directors will fix the terms of the series of preferred stock it designates by resolution adopted before we issue any shares of the series of preferred stock.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of preferred stock will contain a description of the specific terms of that series as fixed by our board of directors, including, as applicable:

 

 

When we issue and receive payment for shares of preferred stock, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable, which means that its holders will have paid their purchase price in full and that we may not ask them to surrender additional funds. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, holders of preferred stock will not have any preemptive or subscription rights to acquire more of our stock. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, each series of preferred stock will rank on a parity in all respects with each other series of preferred stock and prior to our common stock as to dividends and any distribution of our assets.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, the rights of holders of the preferred stock offered may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of any shares of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Our board of directors may cause shares of preferred stock to be issued in public or private transactions for any proper corporate purposes, which may include issuances to obtain additional financing in connection with acquisitions and issuances to officers, directors and employees pursuant to benefit plans. Our board of directors’ ability to issue shares of preferred stock may discourage attempts by others to acquire control of us without negotiation with our board of directors, as it may make it difficult for a person to acquire us without negotiating with our board of directors.

 

Redemption

 

If so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a series of preferred stock may be redeemable at any time, in whole or in part, at our option or the holder’s and may be mandatorily redeemed.

 

Any restriction on the repurchase or redemption by us of our preferred stock while we are in arrears in the payment of dividends will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Any partial redemptions of preferred stock will be made in a way that our board of directors decides is equitable.

Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue after the redemption date on shares of preferred stock called for redemption, and all rights of holders of these shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.

 

Dividends

 

Holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors from funds legally available for payment of dividends. The rates and dates of payment of dividends will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each series of preferred stock. Dividends will be payable to holders of record of preferred stock as they appear on our books on the record dates fixed by the board of directors. Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may not declare, pay or set apart funds for payment of dividends on a particular series of preferred stock unless full dividends on any other series of preferred stock that ranks equally with or senior to the series of preferred stock have been paid or sufficient funds have been set apart for payment for either of the following:

 

 

Partial dividends declared on shares of any series of preferred stock and other series of preferred stock ranking on an equal basis as to dividends will be declared pro rata. A pro rata declaration means that the ratio of dividends declared per share to accrued dividends per share will be the same for each series of preferred stock.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock that is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable will state the terms on which shares of that series are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock, another series of our preferred stock or any other securities.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, holders of each series of our preferred stock will have the right to receive distributions upon liquidation in the amount described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each series of preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends. These distributions will be made before any distribution is made on the common stock or on any securities ranking junior to the preferred stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up.

 

If the liquidation amounts payable relating to the preferred stock of any series and any other securities ranking on a parity regarding liquidation rights are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of that series and the other securities will have the right to a ratable portion of our available assets, up to the full liquidation preference of each security. Holders of these series of preferred stock or other securities will not be entitled to any other amounts from us after they have received their full liquidation preference.

 

Voting Rights

 

The holders of shares of preferred stock will have no voting rights, except:

 

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursement agent for the preferred stock will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The registrar for shares of preferred stock will send notices to shareholders of any meetings at which holders of the preferred stock have the right to elect directors or to vote on any other matter.

 

The following briefly summarizes the provisions of the depositary shares and depositary receipts that we may issue from time to time and which would be important to holders of depositary receipts, other than pricing and related terms which will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the generalized provisions summarized below do not apply to the depositary shares or depositary receipts being offered and provide any additional provisions applicable to the depositary shares or depositary receipts being offered. The following description and any description in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of the form of deposit agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus.

 

Description of Depositary Shares

 

We may offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts. Each depositary share represents a fraction or a multiple of a share of the particular series of preferred stock issued and deposited with a depositary. The fraction or the multiple of a share of preferred stock which each depositary share represents will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We will deposit the shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares according to the provisions of a deposit agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company which we will select as our preferred stock depositary. We will name the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each holder of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the underlying preferred stock in proportion to the applicable fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share. These rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights. The depositary will send the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications that we deliver to the depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of depositary shares.

 

Depositary Receipts

 

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to anyone who is buying a fraction or a multiple of a share of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

 

Unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption, a holder of depositary shares may receive the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the holder’s depositary receipts after surrendering the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary, paying any taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and complying with any other requirement of the deposit agreement. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the surrendered depositary shares exceed the number of depositary shares that represent the number of whole shares of preferred stock the holder wishes to withdraw, then the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Once the holder has withdrawn the preferred stock, the holder will not be entitled to re-deposit that preferred stock under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary shares in exchange for such preferred stock. We do not expect that there will be any public trading market for withdrawn shares of preferred stock.

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The depositary will distribute to record holders of depositary shares any cash dividends or other cash distributions it receives on preferred stock, after deducting its fees and expenses. Each holder will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holder. The depositary will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents. The depositary will add any fractional cents not distributed to the next sum received for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.

 

In the event of a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

 

The amounts distributed to holders of depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the preferred stock depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

If the series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, then we will give the necessary proceeds to the depositary. The depositary will then redeem the depositary shares using the funds they received from us for the preferred stock. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price payable per share for the applicable series of the preferred stock and any other amounts per share payable with respect to the preferred stock multiplied by the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by one depositary share. Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem the depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock on the same day provided we have paid in full to the depositary the redemption price of the preferred stock to be redeemed and any accrued and unpaid dividends. If fewer than all the depositary shares of a series are to be redeemed, the depositary shares will be selected by lot or ratably or by any other equitable methods as the depositary will decide.

 

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be considered outstanding. Therefore, all rights of holders of the depositary shares will cease, except that the holders will still be entitled to receive any cash payable upon the redemption and any money or other property to which the holder was entitled at the time of redemption. To receive this amount or other property, the holders must surrender the depositary receipts evidencing their depositary shares to the preferred stock depositary. Any funds that we deposit with the preferred stock depositary for any depositary shares that the holders fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of one year from the date we deposit the funds.

 

Voting the Preferred Stock

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will notify holders of depositary shares of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to the holders. The record date for determining holders of depositary shares that are entitled to vote will be the same as the record date for the preferred stock. The materials the holders will receive will (1) describe the matters to be voted on and (2) explain how the holders, on a certain date, may instruct the depositary to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them on or before the date specified. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the shares as instructed by the holder. We agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable it to vote as a holder has instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any depositary shares, it will vote all shares of that series held by it proportionately with instructions received.

 

Conversion or Exchange

 

The depositary, with our approval or at our instruction, will convert or exchange all depositary shares if the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is converted or exchanged. In order for the depositary to do so, we will need to deposit the other preferred stock, common stock or other securities into which the preferred stock is to be converted or for which it will be exchanged.

The exchange or conversion rate per depositary share will be equal to:

 

 

The depositary shares, as such, cannot be converted or exchanged into other preferred stock, common stock, securities of another issuer or any other of our securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a holder of depositary shares may be able to surrender the depositary receipts to the depositary with written instructions asking the depositary to instruct us to convert or exchange the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares into other shares of our preferred stock or common stock or to exchange the preferred stock for any other securities registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. If the depositary shares carry this right, we would agree that, upon the payment of any applicable fees, we will cause the conversion or exchange of the preferred stock using the same procedures as we use for the delivery of preferred stock. If a holder is only converting part of the depositary shares represented by a depositary receipt, new depositary receipts will be issued for any depositary shares that are not converted or exchanged.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of depositary receipt without consent of the holder at any time. However, if the amendment adds or increases fees or charges (other than any change in the fees of any depositary, registrar or transfer agent) or prejudices an important right of holders, it will only become effective with the approval of holders of at least a majority of the affected depositary shares then outstanding. We will make no amendment that impairs the right of any holder of depositary shares, as described above under “— Withdrawal of Preferred Stock”, to receive shares of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by those depositary shares, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. If an amendment becomes effective, holders are deemed to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the amended deposit agreement if they continue to hold their depositary receipts.

 

The deposit agreement automatically terminates if:

 

 

We may also terminate the deposit agreement at any time we wish. If we do so, the depositary will give notice of termination to the record holders not less than 30 days before the termination date. Once depositary receipts are surrendered to the depositary, it will send to each holder the number of whole or fractional shares of the series of preferred stock underlying that holder’s depositary receipts.

 

Charges of Depositary and Expenses

 

We will pay the fees, charges and expenses of the depositary provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by us. Holders of depositary receipts will pay any taxes and governmental charges and any charges provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by them. If the depositary incurs fees, charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise liable at the election of a holder of a depositary receipt or other person, that holder or other person will be liable for those fees, charges and expenses.

Limitations on Our Obligations and Liability to Holders of Depositary Receipts

 

The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary as follows:

 

 

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

 

The depositary may resign at any time by notifying us of its election to do so. In addition, we may remove the depositary at any time. Within 60 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal of the depositary, we will appoint a successor depositary.

 

The following briefly summarizes the provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws that would be important to holders of common stock. The following description may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws which are exhibits to the registration statement which contains this prospectus.

 

Our Common Stock

 

Our authorized capital stock includes 1,745,000,000 shares of common stock. As of December 4, 2008, there were 585,006,811 shares of common stock outstanding, which were held by 80,286 shareholders of record.

 

Each share of common stock is entitled to participate pro rata in distributions upon liquidation, subject to the rights of holders of preferred shares, and to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or similar equity preservation rights, and cumulative voting of shares in the election of directors is prohibited.

 

The holders of common stock may receive cash dividends as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to the rights of any holders of preferred shares. We are a holding company, and our primary source for the payment of dividends is dividends from our subsidiaries. Various state laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends that may be paid to us by our insurance subsidiaries. The declaration and payment of future dividends to holders of our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our operating subsidiaries, legal requirements, regulatory constraints and other factors as the board of directors deems relevant.

 

The outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock offered by the registration statement when issued will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TRV”.

 

Transfer Agent

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters

 

We are subject to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 302A. Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.521, provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity (as defined in Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota Statutes) of that person against judgments, penalties, fines (including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against such person with respect to an employee benefit plan), settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or omissions of that person complained of in the proceeding, that person:

 

 

Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify and make permitted advances to a person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his former or present official capacity against judgments, penalties, fines (including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against the person with respect to an employee benefit plan), settlements and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by that person in connection with the proceeding in the manner and to the fullest extent permitted or required by Section 302A.521.

 

We have directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, with coverage of up to $250 million, subject to various deductibles and exclusions from coverage.

 

General

 

We may issue warrants to purchase senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or any combination of these securities, and these warrants may be issued by us independently or together with any underlying securities and may be attached or separate from the underlying securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

 

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the warrants in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the warrant agreement, a form of which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrants that we may offer, including the following:

 

 

 

 

 

Warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and warrants may be exercised at the warrant agent’s corporate trust office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for shares of preferred stock or common stock will not have any rights of holders of the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon such exercise.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

 

Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.

 

Enforceability of Rights; Governing Law

 

The holders of warrants, without the consent of the warrant agent, may, on their own behalf and for their own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against us to enforce their rights to exercise and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of their warrants. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, each issue of warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

We may issue stock purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from or sell to us, and obligating us to purchase from or sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of our common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the stock purchase contracts. We may issue stock purchase contracts in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following information about the stock purchase contracts issued under it:

 

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contracts. The preceding description and any description of stock purchase contracts in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the stock purchase contract agreement, a form of which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depository arrangements relating to such stock purchase contracts.

 

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

 

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units. The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement, a form of which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units.

 

The following summary outlines the material terms and provisions of the preferred securities that the Trusts may offer. The particular terms of any preferred securities a Trust offers and the extent, if any, to which these general terms and provisions may or may not apply to the preferred securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Each of the Trusts will issue the preferred securities under a declaration of trust which we will enter into at the time of any offering of preferred securities by such Trust. The declarations of trust for the Trusts are subject to and governed by the Delaware law and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and BNY Mellon Trust of Delaware will act as Delaware trustee and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as institutional trustee under the declarations of trusts for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the preferred securities will be those contained in the applicable declaration of trust and those made part of the declaration of trust by the Trust Indenture Act and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The following summary may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the declarations of trust, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus, the Trust Indenture Act and the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

 

Terms

 

Each declaration of trust will provide that the applicable Trust may issue, from time to time, only one series of preferred securities and one series of common securities. The preferred securities will be offered to investors and the common securities will be held by us. The terms of the preferred securities, as a general matter, will mirror the terms of the senior, subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities that we will issue to a Trust in exchange for the proceeds of the sales of the preferred and common securities, and because the preferred securities represent undivided interests in the related debt securities, any conversion feature applicable to the preferred securities will mirror the terms of the convertible debt securities or warrants, if any, that we will have issued to such Trust. If we fail to make a payment on the senior, subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities, the Trust holding those debt securities will not have sufficient funds to make related payments, including cash distributions, on its preferred securities. If the related debt securities, and, accordingly, the preferred securities are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities, in the event that we fail to perform under any convertible debt securities or warrants we issue to a Trust, such Trust will be unable to distribute to the holders any of our shares of common stock or other securities to be distributed to the holders of the preferred securities upon their conversion.

 

You should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the preferred securities for specific terms of the preferred securities, including, but not limited to:

 

 

 

We will guarantee the common and preferred securities to the extent described below under “Description of Trust Guarantees”. Our guarantee, when taken together with our obligations under the related debt securities and the related indenture and any warrants and related warrant agreement, and our obligations under the declarations of trust, would provide a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of amounts due on any common and preferred securities and the distribution of any securities to which the holders would be entitled upon conversion of the common and preferred securities, if the related debt securities, and, accordingly, the common and preferred securities are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities. Certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to any offering of preferred securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution

 

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, each declaration of trust states that the applicable Trust will be dissolved:

 

 

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, in the event of a dissolution as described above other than in connection with redemption, after a Trust satisfies all liabilities to its creditors as provided by applicable law, each holder of the preferred or common securities issued by the Trust will be entitled to receive:

 

 

 

If a Trust cannot pay the full amount due on its preferred and common securities because it has insufficient assets available for payment, then the amounts payable by the Trust on its preferred and common securities will be paid on a pro rata basis. However, if an event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to any series of related debt securities, the total amounts due on the preferred securities will be paid before any distribution on the common securities.

 

Events of Default

 

The following will be events of default under each declaration of trust:

 

 

At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to a related series of debt securities and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the affected preferred securities may rescind any declaration of acceleration with respect to the related debt securities and its consequences:

 

 

The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the affected preferred securities may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to related debt securities, other than a default in the payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any related debt security or a default with respect to a covenant or provision that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each affected outstanding related debt security. In addition, the holders of at least a majority in liquidation amount of the affected preferred securities may waive any past default under the declarations of trust, subject to certain qualifications provided in the declaration of trust.

 

The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the affected preferred securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the institutional trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred on the institutional trustee under the declarations of trust.

 

A holder of preferred securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against us, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the institutional trustee or anyone else, for enforcement of payment to the holder of principal and any premium or interest on the related series of debt securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities of the holder, if we fail to pay principal and any premium or interest on the related series of debt securities when payable.

 

We are required to furnish annually, to the institutional trustee for the Trusts, officers’ certificates to the effect that, to the best knowledge of the individuals providing the certificates, we and the Trusts are not in default under the applicable declaration of trust or, if there has been a default, specifying the default and its status.

Consolidation, Merger or Amalgamation of the Trusts

 

Each of the Trusts may not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any entity, except as described below or as described in “— Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution”. Each Trust may, with the consent of the administrative trustees but without the consent of the holders of the outstanding preferred securities or the other trustees of the Trust, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, a trust organized under the laws of any State if:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, unless all of the holders of the preferred and common securities approve otherwise, a Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any other entity, or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into or replace it if the transaction would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be taxable as a corporation or classified other than as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

Voting Rights

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holders of the preferred securities will have no voting rights except as discussed below and under “— Amendment to the Trust Agreements” and “Description of Trust Guarantees — Modification of the Trust Guarantees; Assignment” and as otherwise required by law.

 

If any proposed amendment to a declaration of trust provides for, or the trustee of the Trust otherwise proposes to effect:

 

 

then the holders of the affected preferred securities as a class will be entitled to vote on the amendment or proposal. In that case, the amendment or proposal will be effective only if approved by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the affected preferred securities.

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the preferred securities issued by a Trust have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the institutional trustee, or direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the institutional trustee under the applicable declaration of trust, including the right to direct the institutional trustee, as holder of the debt securities and, if applicable, the warrants, to:

 

 

In addition, before taking any of the foregoing actions, we will provide to the institutional trustee an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of such actions, the trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

The institutional trustee will notify all preferred securities holders of a Trust of any notice of default received from the indenture trustee with respect to the debt securities held by the Trust.

 

Any required approval of the holders of preferred securities may be given at a meeting of the holders of the preferred securities convened for the purpose or pursuant to written consent. The administrative trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of securities are entitled to vote to be given to each holder of record of the preferred securities at the holder’s registered address at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the meeting.

 

No vote or consent of the holders of the preferred securities will be required for a Trust to redeem and cancel its preferred securities in accordance with its declaration of trust.

Notwithstanding that holders of the preferred securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the preferred securities that are owned by us, or any affiliate of ours will, for purposes of any vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.

 

Amendment to the Declarations of Trust

 

The declarations of trust may be amended from time to time by us and the institutional trustee and the administrative trustees of the Trust, without the consent of the holders of the preferred securities, to:

 

 

provided, however, that, in each case, the amendment would not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the holders of the preferred securities.

 

Other amendments to the declarations of trust may be made by us and the trustees of the Trust upon approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities of a Trust and receipt by the trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, affect the treatment of the debt securities held by the Trust as indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes or affect the Trust’s exemption from the Investment Company Act.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each affected holder of common or preferred securities of a Trust, a declaration of trust may not be amended to:

 

 

Removal and Replacement of Trustees

 

Unless an event of default exists under the declaration of trust or, if the preferred securities are convertible and there is a separate warrant agreement, the warrant agreement, we may remove the institutional trustee and the Delaware trustee at any time. If an event of default exists, the institutional trustee and the Delaware trustee may be removed only by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding preferred securities. In no event will the holders of the preferred securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the administrative trustees because these voting rights are vested exclusively in us as the holder of all the Trust’s common securities. No resignation or removal of the institutional trustee or the Delaware trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the applicable declaration of trust.

 

Merger or Consolidation of Trustees

 

Any entity into which the institutional trustee or the Delaware trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust

business of the trustee, shall be the successor of the trustee under the applicable declaration of trust; provided, however, that the entity shall be otherwise qualified and eligible.

 

Information Concerning the Institutional Trustee

 

For matters relating to compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, the institutional trustee for the Trusts will have all of the duties and responsibilities of an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Except if an event of default exists under the declarations of trust, the institutional trustee will undertake to perform only the duties specifically set forth in declarations of trust. While such an event of default exists, the institutional trustee must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the institutional trustee is not obligated to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the applicable declaration of trust at the request of any holder of preferred securities, unless the institutional trustee is offered an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur. But the holders of preferred securities will not be required to offer indemnity if the holders, by exercising their voting rights, direct the institutional trustee to take any action that is provided for in the declaration of trust following a declaration of an event of default.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., which is the institutional trustee for the Trusts, also serves as the senior debt indenture trustee, the subordinated debt indenture trustee, the junior subordinated debt indenture trustee and the guarantee trustee under the trust guarantee described below. We and certain of our affiliates maintain banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. or its affiliates, which are described above under “Description of Debt Securities We May Offer — Our Relationship With the Trustee”.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The administrative trustees of the each of the Trusts are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of and to operate the applicable Trust in such a way that:

 

 

The administrative trustees are authorized to take any action, so long as it is consistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust or the applicable declaration of trust that the administrative trustees determine to be necessary or desirable for the above purposes, as long as it does not materially and adversely affect the holders of the securities.

 

Registered holders of the preferred securities have no preemptive or similar rights.

 

No Trust may, among other things, incur indebtedness.

 

Governing Law

 

The declarations of trust and the preferred securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

The following describes certain general terms and provisions of the trust guarantees which we will execute and deliver for the benefit of the holders from time to time of preferred securities and the common securities issued by the Trusts. The trust guarantees will be separately qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as indenture trustee under the trust guarantees for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the trust guarantees will be those contained in the trust guarantees and those made part of the trust guarantees by the Trust Indenture Act. The following summary may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of trust guarantees, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement which contains this prospectus, and the Trust Indenture Act. The trust guarantees will be held by the guarantee trustee of each Trust for the benefit of the holders of the preferred securities.

 

General

 

We will irrevocably and unconditionally agree to pay or make the following payments or distributions with respect to common and preferred securities, in full, to the holders of the common and preferred securities, as and when they become due regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that a Trust may have except for the defense of payment:

 

 

 

Our obligation to make a payment under the trust guarantee may be satisfied by our direct payment of the required amounts to the holders of common and preferred securities to which the trust guarantee relates or by causing a Trust to pay the amounts to the holders. Payments under the trust guarantee will be made on the common and preferred securities on a pro rata basis. However, if an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to any series of related debt securities, the total amounts due on the preferred securities will be paid before any payment on the common securities.

 

Modification of the Trust Guarantees; Assignment

 

Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely affect the rights of holders of preferred securities in any material respect (in which case no vote will be required), each trust guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding common and preferred securities to which the trust guarantee relates. The manner of obtaining the approval of holders of the preferred securities will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement. All guarantees and agreements contained in each trust guarantee will bind our successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives and will be for the benefit of the holders of the outstanding common and preferred securities to which each trust guarantee relates.

Termination

 

Each trust guarantee will terminate when any of the following has occurred:

 

 

Each trust guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of common and preferred securities to which each trust guarantee relates must restore payment of any amounts paid on the common and preferred securities or under each trust guarantee.

 

Events of Default

 

There will be an event of default under the trust guarantees if we fail to perform any of our payment or other obligations under the trust guarantees. However, other than with respect to a default in payment of any guarantee payment, we must have received notice of default and not have cured the default within 90 days after receipt of the notice. We, as guarantor, will be required to file annually with the guarantee trustee a certificate regarding our compliance with the applicable conditions and covenants under each of our trust guarantees.

 

Each trust guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the common and preferred securities to which a trust guarantee relates have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the guarantee trustee in respect of such trust guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the guarantee trustee under such trust guarantee. If the guarantee trustee fails to enforce the applicable trust guarantee, any holder of common or preferred securities to which the trust guarantee relates may institute a legal proceeding directly against us to enforce the holder’s rights under the trust guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the trust, the guarantee trustee or any one else. If we do not make a guarantee payment, a holder of common or preferred securities may directly institute a proceeding against us for enforcement of the trust guarantee for such payment.

 

Status of the Trust Guarantees

 

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to the preferred securities will indicate whether the applicable trust guarantee is our senior or subordinated obligation. If such trust guarantee is our senior obligation, it will be our general unsecured obligation and will rank equal to our other senior and unsecured obligations.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if such trust guarantee is our subordinated obligation, it will be our general unsecured obligation and will rank as follows:

 

 

The terms of the preferred securities provide that each holder of preferred securities by acceptance of the preferred securities agrees to any subordination provisions and other terms of the applicable trust guarantee relating to applicable subordination.

 

Information Concerning the Guarantee Trustee

 

The guarantee trustee, except if we default under the trust guarantee, will undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable trust guarantee and, in case a default with respect to such trust guarantee has occurred, must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the guarantee trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the applicable trust guarantee at the request of any holder of the common or preferred securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it may incur.

 

Governing Law

 

Each trust guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Effect of Obligations Under the Debt Securities and the Trust Guarantees

 

As long as we make payments of interest and any other payments when they are due on the debt securities held by a Trust, those payments will be sufficient to cover distributions and any other payments due on the preferred securities issued by the Trust because of the following factors:

 

 

We will irrevocably guarantee payments of distributions and other amounts due on the preferred securities to the extent the Trust has funds available to pay such amounts as and to the extent set forth herein. Taken together, our obligations under the debt securities, the applicable debt indenture, the applicable declaration of trust and the applicable trust guarantee will provide a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of a Trust’s payments of distributions and other amounts due on the preferred securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents constitutes this trust guarantee. Only the combined operation of these documents effectively provides a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of a Trust’s obligations under the preferred securities.

 

If and to the extent that we do not make the required payments on the debt securities, a Trust will not have sufficient funds to make its related payments, including distributions on the preferred securities. Our trust guarantee will not cover any payments when a Trust does not have sufficient funds available to make those payments. Your remedy, as a holder of preferred securities, is to institute a direct action against us.

 

In the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, our special United States tax counsel, the following discussion is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of the ownership of the debt securities, preferred securities and common and preferred stock as of the date hereof.

 

Except where noted, this summary deals only with debt securities, preferred securities and common and preferred stock that are held as capital assets, and does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws, including if you are:

 

 

This summary is based upon provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below.

 

The discussion below assumes that all the debt securities issued under this prospectus will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as our indebtedness and you should note that in the event of an alternative characterization, the tax consequences would differ from those discussed below. Accordingly, if we intend to treat a debt security as other than debt for United States federal income tax purposes, we will disclose the relevant tax considerations in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will summarize any special United States federal tax considerations relevant to a particular issue of the debt securities, preferred securities or common or preferred stock in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will also summarize material federal income tax consequences, if any, applicable to any offering of warrants, stock purchase contracts, units or depositary shares in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

For purposes of this summary, a “United States Holder” means a beneficial owner of the debt securities, preferred securities or common or preferred stock that is for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

 

 

A “Non-United States Holder” means a beneficial owner of the debt securities, preferred securities or common or preferred stock who is neither a United States Holder nor a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

If a partnership holds the debt securities, preferred securities or common or preferred stock, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding the debt securities, preferred securities or common or preferred stock, you should consult your tax advisors.

 

This summary does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income tax consequences to you in light of your particular circumstances and does not address the effects of any state, local or non-United States tax laws. If you are considering the purchase of debt securities, preferred securities or common or preferred stock, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular United States federal income tax consequences to you, as well as the consequences to you arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

 

Debt Securities

 

Consequences to United States Holders

 

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a United States Holder of debt securities.

 

Payments of Interest

 

Except as set forth below, interest on a debt security will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with your method of accounting for tax purposes.

 

Original Issue Discount

 

If you own debt securities issued with original issue discount (“OID”), you will be subject to special tax accounting rules, as described in greater detail below. In that case, you should be aware that you generally must include OID in gross income in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to that income. However, you generally will not be required to include separately in income cash payments received on the debt securities, even if denominated as interest, to the extent those payments do not constitute “qualified stated interest,” as defined below. Notice will be given in the applicable prospectus supplement when we determine that a particular debt security will be an original issue discount debt security.

 

Additional rules applicable to debt securities with OID that are denominated in or determined by reference to a currency other than the U.S. dollar are described under “— Foreign Currency Debt Securities” below.

 

A debt security with an “issue price” that is less than the stated redemption price at maturity (the sum of all payments to be made on the debt security other than “qualified stated interest”) generally will be issued with OID if that difference is at least 0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity. The “issue price” of each debt security in a particular offering will be the first price at which a substantial amount of that particular offering is sold to the public. The term

“qualified stated interest” means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or in property, other than debt instruments of the issuer, and meets all of the following conditions:

 

 

 

We will give you notice in the applicable prospectus supplement when we determine that a particular debt security will bear interest that is not qualified stated interest.

 

If you own a debt security issued with de minimis OID, which is discount that is not OID because it is less than 0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity, you generally must include the de minimis OID in income at the time principal payments on the debt securities are made in proportion to the amount paid. Any amount of de minimis OID that you have included in income will be treated as capital gain.

 

Certain of the debt securities may contain provisions permitting them to be redeemed prior to their stated maturity at our option and/or at your option. Original issue discount debt securities containing those features may be subject to rules that differ from the general rules discussed herein. If you are considering the purchase of original issue discount debt securities with those features, you should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement and should consult your own tax advisors with respect to those features since the tax consequences to you with respect to OID will depend, in part, on the particular terms and features of the debt securities.

 

If you own original issue discount debt securities with a maturity upon issuance of more than one year, you generally must include OID in income in advance of the receipt of some or all of the related cash payments using the “constant yield method” described in the following paragraphs.

 

The amount of OID that you must include in income if you are the initial United States Holder of an original issue discount debt security is the sum of the “daily portions” of OID with respect to the debt security for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year in which you held that debt security (“accrued OID”). The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in any “accrual period” a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. The “accrual period” for an original issue discount debt security may be of any length and may vary in length over the term of the debt security, provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs on the first day or the final day of an accrual period. The amount of OID allocable to any accrual period other than the final accrual period is an amount equal to the excess, if any, of:

 

 

OID allocable to a final accrual period is the difference between the amount payable at maturity, other than a payment of qualified stated interest, and the adjusted issue price at the beginning of the final accrual period. Special rules will apply for calculating OID for an initial short accrual period. The “adjusted issue price” of a debt security at the beginning of any accrual period is equal to its issue price increased by the accrued OID for each prior accrual period, determined without regard to the amortization of any acquisition or bond premium, as described below, and reduced by any payments previously made on the debt security other than a payment of qualified stated interest. Under these rules, you will generally have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID in successive accrual periods. We are required to provide information returns stating the amount of OID accrued on debt securities held by persons of record other than corporations and other exempt holders.

 

Debt instruments that provide for a variable rate of interest (“variable rate debt securities”) are subject to special OID rules. In the case of an original issue discount debt security that is a variable rate debt security, both the “yield to maturity” and “qualified stated interest” will be determined solely for purposes of

calculating the accrual of OID as though the debt security will bear interest in all periods at a fixed rate generally equal to the rate that would be applicable to interest payments on the debt security on its date of issue or, in the case of certain variable rate debt securities, the rate that reflects the yield to maturity that is reasonably expected for the debt security. Additional rules may apply if either:

 

 

The discussion above generally does not address debt securities providing for contingent payments. You should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement regarding the United States federal income tax consequences of the holding and disposition of any debt securities providing for contingent payments.

 

You may elect to treat all interest on any debt security as OID and calculate the amount includible in gross income under the constant yield method described above. For purposes of this election, interest includes stated interest, acquisition discount, OID, de minimis OID, market discount, de minimis market discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium. You should consult with your own tax advisors about this election.

 

Short-Term Debt Securities

 

In the case of debt securities having a term of one year or less, all payments, including all stated interest, will be included in the stated redemption price at maturity and will not be qualified stated interest. As a result, you will generally be taxed on the discount instead of stated interest. The discount will be equal to the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity over the issue price of a short-term debt security, unless you elect to compute this discount using tax basis instead of issue price. In general, individuals and certain other cash method United States Holders of short-term debt securities are not required to include accrued discount in their income currently unless they elect to do so, but may be required to include stated interest in income as the income is received. United States Holders that report income for United States federal income tax purposes on the accrual method and certain other United States Holders are required to accrue discount on short-term debt securities (as ordinary income) on a straight-line basis, unless an election is made to accrue the discount according to a constant yield method based on daily compounding. If you are not required, and do not elect, to include discount in income currently, any gain you realize on the sale, exchange or retirement of a short-term debt security will generally be ordinary income to you to the extent of the discount accrued by you through the date of sale, exchange or retirement. In addition, if you do not elect to currently include accrued discount in income you may be required to defer deductions for a portion of your interest expense with respect to any indebtedness attributable to the short-term debt securities.

 

Market Discount

 

If you purchase a debt security for an amount that is less than its stated redemption price at maturity (or, in the case of an original issue discount debt security, its adjusted issue price), the amount of the difference will be treated as “market discount” for United States federal income tax purposes, unless that difference is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, you will be required to treat any principal payment on, or any gain on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a debt security as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount that you have not previously included in income and are treated as having accrued on the debt security at the time of its payment or disposition.

 

In addition, you may be required to defer, until the maturity of the debt security or its earlier disposition in a taxable transaction, the deduction of all or a portion of the interest expense on any indebtedness attributable to the debt security. You may elect, on a debt security-by-debt security basis, to deduct the deferred interest expense in a tax year prior to the year of disposition. You should consult your own tax advisors before making this election.

 

Any market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of the debt security, unless you elect to accrue on a constant interest method. You may

elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues, on either a ratable or constant interest method, in which case the rule described above regarding deferral of interest deductions will not apply.

 

Acquisition Premium, Amortizable Bond Premium

 

If you purchase an original issue discount debt security for an amount that is greater than its adjusted issue price but equal to or less than the sum of all amounts payable on the debt security after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, you will be considered to have purchased that debt security at an “acquisition premium.” Under the acquisition premium rules, the amount of OID that you must include in gross income with respect to the debt security for any taxable year will be reduced by the portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to that year.

 

If you purchase a debt security (including an original issue discount debt security) for an amount in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the debt security after the purchase date other than qualified stated interest, you will be considered to have purchased the debt security at a “premium” and, if it is an original issue discount debt security, you will not be required to include any OID in income. You generally may elect to amortize the premium over the remaining term of the debt security on a constant yield method as an offset to interest when includible in income under your regular accounting method. Special rules limit the amortization of premium in the case of convertible debt instruments. If you do not elect to amortize bond premium, that premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss you would otherwise recognize on disposition of the debt security.

 

Sale, Exchange and Retirement of Debt Securities

 

Your tax basis in a debt security will, in general, be your cost for that debt security, increased by OID, market discount or any discount with respect to a short-term debt security that you previously included in income, and reduced by any amortized premium and any cash payments on the debt security other than qualified stated interest. Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a debt security, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you realize upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition (less an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid qualified stated interest, which will be taxable as interest income to the extent not previously included in income) and the adjusted tax basis of the debt security. Except as described above with respect to certain short-term debt securities or with respect to market discount, with respect to gain or loss attributable to changes in exchange rates as discussed below with respect to foreign currency debt securities, and with respect to contingent payment debt instruments which this summary generally does not discuss, that gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. Capital gains of individuals derived in respect of capital assets held for more than one year are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Foreign Currency Debt Securities

 

Payments of Interest.  If you receive interest payments made in a foreign currency and you use the cash basis method of accounting, you will be required to include in income the U.S. dollar value of the amount received, determined by translating the foreign currency received at the “spot rate” for such foreign currency on the date such payment is received regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. You will not recognize exchange gain or loss with respect to the receipt of such payment.

 

If you use the accrual method of accounting, you may determine the amount of income recognized with respect to such interest in accordance with either of two methods. Under the first method, you will be required to include in income for each taxable year the U.S. dollar value of the interest that has accrued during such year, determined by translating such interest at the average rate of exchange for the period or periods during which such interest accrued. Under the second method, you may elect to translate interest income at the spot rate on:

 

 

Upon receipt of an interest payment on such debt security (including, upon the sale of a debt security, the receipt of proceeds which include amounts attributable to accrued interest previously included in income), you will recognize ordinary gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of such payment (determined by translating the foreign currency received at the spot rate for such foreign currency on the date such payment is received) and the U.S. dollar value of the interest income you previously included in income with respect to such payment.

 

Original Issue Discount.  OID on a debt security that is also a foreign currency debt security will be determined for any accrual period in the applicable foreign currency and then translated into U.S. dollars, in the same manner as interest income accrued by a holder on the accrual basis, as described above. You will recognize exchange gain or loss when OID is paid (including, upon the sale of a debt security, the receipt of proceeds that include amounts attributable to OID previously included in income) to the extent of the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the accrued OID (determined in the same manner as for accrued interest) and the U.S. dollar value of such payment (determined by translating the foreign currency received at the spot rate for such foreign currency on the date such payment is received). For these purposes, all receipts on a debt security will be viewed:

 

 

Market Discount and Bond Premium.  The amount of market discount on foreign currency debt securities includible in income will generally be determined by translating the market discount determined in the foreign currency into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the date the foreign currency debt security is retired or otherwise disposed of. If you have elected to accrue market discount currently, then the amount which accrues is determined in the foreign currency and then translated into U.S. dollars on the basis of the average exchange rate in effect during such accrual period. You will recognize exchange gain or loss with respect to market discount which is accrued currently using the approach applicable to the accrual of interest income as described above.

 

Bond premium on a foreign currency debt security will be computed in the applicable foreign currency. If you have elected to amortize the premium, the amortizable bond premium will reduce interest income in the applicable foreign currency. At the time bond premium is amortized, exchange gain or loss, which is generally ordinary gain or loss, will be realized based on the difference between spot rates at such time and the time of acquisition of the foreign currency debt security.

 

If you elect not to amortize bond premium, you must translate the bond premium computed in the foreign currency into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the maturity date and such bond premium will constitute a capital loss which may be offset or eliminated by exchange gain.

 

Sale, Exchange and Retirement of Foreign Currency Debt Securities.  Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a foreign currency debt security, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition (less an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid qualified stated interest, which will be treated as a payment of interest for United States federal income tax purposes) and your adjusted tax basis in the foreign currency debt security. Your initial tax basis in a foreign currency debt security generally will be your U.S. dollar cost. If you purchased a foreign currency debt security with foreign currency, your cost generally will be the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency amount paid for such foreign currency debt security determined at the time of such purchase. If your foreign currency debt security is sold, exchanged or retired for an amount denominated in foreign currency, then your amount realized generally will be based on the spot rate of the foreign currency on the date of sale, exchange or retirement. If you are a cash method taxpayer and the foreign currency debt securities are traded on an established securities market, foreign currency paid or received is translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the settlement date of the purchase or sale. An accrual method taxpayer may elect the same treatment with respect to the purchase and sale of foreign currency debt securities traded on an established securities market, provided that the election is applied consistently.

 

Subject to the foreign currency rules discussed below, such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition, the foreign currency debt security has been held for more than one year. Capital gains of individuals derived with respect to capital assets held for more than one year are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Gain or loss realized by you on the sale, exchange or retirement of a foreign currency debt security would generally be treated as U.S. source gain or loss.

 

A portion of your gain or loss with respect to the principal amount of a foreign currency debt security may be treated as exchange gain or loss. Exchange gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss and generally will be U.S. source gain or loss. For these purposes, the principal amount of the foreign currency debt security is your purchase price for the foreign currency debt security calculated in the foreign currency on the date of purchase, and the amount of exchange gain or loss recognized is equal to the difference between (i) the U.S. dollar value of the principal amount determined on the date of the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of the foreign currency debt security and (ii) the U.S. dollar value of the principal amount determined on the date you purchased the foreign currency debt security. The amount of exchange gain or loss will be limited to the amount of overall gain or loss realized on the disposition of the foreign currency debt security.

 

Exchange Gain or Loss with Respect to Foreign Currency.  Your tax basis in the foreign currency received as interest on a foreign currency debt security will be the U.S. dollar value thereof at the spot rate in effect on the date the foreign currency is received. Your tax basis in foreign currency received on the sale, exchange or retirement of a foreign currency debt security will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency, determined at the time of the sale, exchange or retirement. As discussed above, if the foreign currency debt securities are traded on an established securities market, a cash basis United States Holder (or, upon election, an accrual basis United States Holder) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency by translating the foreign currency received at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale, exchange or retirement. Accordingly, your basis in the foreign currency received would be equal to the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date.

 

Any gain or loss recognized by you on a sale, exchange or other disposition of the foreign currency will be ordinary income or loss and generally will be United States source gain or loss.

 

Reportable Transactions.  Treasury regulations issued under the Code meant to require the reporting of certain tax shelter transactions could be interpreted to cover transactions generally not regarded as tax shelters, including certain foreign currency transactions. Under the Treasury regulations, certain transactions are required to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), including, in certain circumstances, a sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a foreign currency debt security or foreign currency received in respect of a foreign currency debt security to the extent that such sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition results in a tax loss in excess of a threshold amount. If you are considering the purchase of a foreign currency debt security, you should consult with your own tax advisors to determine the tax return obligations, if any, with respect to an investment in the debt securities, including any requirement to file IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement).

 

Consequences to Non-United States Holders

 

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income and estate tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a Non-United States Holder of debt securities.

 

United States Federal Withholding Tax

 

The 30% United States federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment of interest on the debt securities (including OID) under the “portfolio interest rule,” provided that:

 

 

 

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest, including OID, made to you will be subject to the 30% United States federal withholding tax, unless you provide us with a properly executed:

 

 

The 30% United States federal withholding tax generally will not apply to any payment of principal or gain that you realize on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a debt security.

 

United States Federal Income Tax

 

If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest, including OID, on the debt securities is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment), then you will be subject to United States federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis (although you will be exempt from the 30% United States federal withholding tax, provided the certification requirements discussed above in “— United States Federal Withholding Tax” are satisfied) in the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of such interest, subject to adjustments.

 

Any gain realized on the disposition of a debt security generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax unless:

 

 

United States Federal Estate Tax

 

Your estate will not be subject to United States federal estate tax on debt securities beneficially owned by you at the time of your death, provided that any payment to you on the debt securities, including OID, would be eligible for exemption from the 30% United States federal withholding tax under the “portfolio interest rule” described above under “— United States Federal Withholding Tax,” without regard to the statement requirement described in the sixth bullet point of that section.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Consequences to United States Holders

 

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to certain payments of principal, interest (including OID) and premium paid on debt securities and to the proceeds of sale of a debt security paid to you (unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation). A backup withholding tax may apply to such payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification of exempt status, or if you fail to report in full dividend and interest income.

 

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Consequences to Non-United States Holders

 

Generally, we must report to the IRS and to you the amount of interest (including OID) on the debt securities paid to you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

 

In general, you will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments on the debt securities that we make to you provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code, and we have received from you the statement described above in the sixth bullet point under “— Debt Securities — Consequences to Non-United States Holders — United States Federal Withholding Tax.”

 

In addition, no information reporting or backup withholding will be required regarding the proceeds of the sale of a debt security made within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, if the payor receives the statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code, or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Preferred Securities

 

Classification of the Trust

 

We intend to take the position that each Trust will be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and not as an association taxable as a corporation. As a result, for United States federal income tax purposes, you generally will be treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the related debt securities held by the Trust. Thus, you will be required to include in your gross income your pro rata share of the interest income or OID that is paid or accrued on the related debt securities. See “Consequences to United States Holders — Interest Income and Original Issue Discount” below.

 

Classification of the Debt Securities

 

We intend to take the position that the debt securities will be classified as our indebtedness for all United States tax purposes. We, the Trust and you (by your acceptance of a beneficial ownership interest in a preferred security) will agree to treat the debt securities as indebtedness for all United States tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the debt securities will be classified as our indebtedness.

 

Consequences to United States Holders

 

Interest Income and Original Issue Discount

 

We anticipate that the debt securities will not be issued with an issue price that is less than their stated redemption price at maturity. In this case, subject to the discussion below, the debt securities will not be

subject to the special OID rules, at least upon initial issuance, so that you will generally be taxed on the stated interest on the debt securities as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with your regular method of tax accounting.

 

If, however, we exercise our right to defer payments of interest on the debt securities, the debt securities will become OID instruments at such time. In such case, you will be subject to the special OID rules described below. Once the debt securities become OID instruments, they will be taxed as OID instruments for as long as they remain outstanding.

 

Under the OID economic accrual rules, the following occurs:

 

 

The Treasury regulations dealing with OID and the deferral of interest payments have not yet been addressed in any rulings or other interpretations by the IRS. It is possible that the IRS could assert that the debt securities were issued initially with OID merely because of our right to defer interest payments. If the IRS were successful in this regard, you would be subject to the special OID rules described above, regardless of whether we exercise our option to defer payments of interest on such debt securities.

 

Because the debt securities are treated as debt for tax purposes, any income you recognize with respect to the preferred securities will not be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction or taxation for individuals at long-term capital gain rates as qualified dividend income.

 

Distribution of Debt Securities or Cash upon Liquidation of the Trust

 

As described under the caption “Description of Preferred Securities That the Trusts May Offer — Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution” in this prospectus, the debt securities held by the Trust may be distributed to you in exchange for your preferred securities if the Trust is dissolved before the maturity of the debt securities. Under current law, this type of distribution from a grantor trust would not be taxable. Upon such a distribution, you will receive your pro rata share of the debt securities previously held indirectly through the Trust. Your holding period and aggregate tax basis in the debt securities will equal the holding period and aggregate tax basis that you had in your preferred securities before the distribution.

 

We may also have the option to redeem the debt securities and distribute the resulting cash in liquidation of the Trust. This redemption would be taxable as described below in “— Sales of Preferred Securities or Redemption of Debt Securities.”

 

If you receive debt securities in exchange for your preferred securities, you would accrue interest in respect of the debt securities received from the Trust in the manner described above under “— Interest Income and Original Issue Discount.”

Sales of Preferred Securities or Redemption of Debt Securities

 

If you sell your preferred securities or receive cash upon redemption of the debt securities, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between:

 

 

Your gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, provided that you hold the preferred securities or debt securities as a capital asset. The gain or loss will generally be a long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your preferred securities or debt securities for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of individuals derived with respect to capital assets held for more than one year are subject to reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Tax Shelter Regulations

 

Under applicable Treasury regulations, taxpayers engaging in certain transactions, including loss transactions above a threshold, may be required to include tax shelter disclosure information with their annual United States federal income tax return. The IRS has provided an exception from this disclosure requirement for losses arising from cash investments, but this exception does not apply to investments in flow-through entities. You should consult your own tax advisors about whether the limitation applicable to flow-through entities would apply to your investment in a Trust.

 

Consequences to Non-United States Holders

 

The following discussion only applies to you if you are a Non-United States Holder. As discussed above, the preferred securities will be treated by the parties as evidence of indirect undivided beneficial ownership interests in the debt securities. See above under “— Classification of the Trust” in this section.

 

United States Federal Withholding Tax

 

Under the “portfolio interest” exception, the 30% United States federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment by us or any paying agent of interest (including OID) on the preferred securities (or the debt securities), provided that:

 

 

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest (including OID) made to you will be subject to the 30% United States federal withholding tax, unless you provide us or our paying agent, as the case may be, with a properly executed

 

 

The 30% United States federal withholding tax generally will not apply to any payment of principal or gain that you realize on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of the preferred securities (or debt securities).

 

United States Federal Income Tax

 

If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on the preferred securities (or the debt securities) is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment), then you will be subject to United States federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis in the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code. However, you will not be subject to the withholding described above, as long as you provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI as described above. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of your earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with the conduct by you of a trade or business in the United States. For this purpose, interest on preferred securities (or debt securities) will be included in earnings and profits.

 

You will generally not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain you realize upon the disposition of a preferred security (or a debt security) unless:

 

 

United States Federal Estate Tax

 

Your estate will not be subject to United States federal estate tax on the preferred securities (or the debt securities) beneficially owned by you at the time of your death, provided that any payment to you on the preferred securities (or the debt securities), including OID, would be eligible for exemption from the 30% United States federal withholding tax under the “portfolio interest” exception described above under “— United States Federal Withholding Tax,” without regard to the statement requirement described in the fifth bullet point of that section.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Consequences to United States Holders

 

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to certain payments of principal, interest (including OID) and premium paid on the preferred securities (or debt securities) and to the proceeds of sale of preferred securities (or debt securities) paid to you (unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation). A backup withholding tax may apply to such payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status, or if you fail to report in full dividend and interest income.

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Consequences to Non-United States Holders

 

Generally, we must report to the IRS and to you the amount of interest (including OID) paid to you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

 

In general, you will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments that we make to you provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code, and you have provided the statement described above in the fifth bullet point under “— Preferred Securities — Consequences to Non-United States Holders — United States Federal Withholding Tax.”

 

In addition, no information reporting or backup withholding will be required regarding the proceeds of the sale of preferred securities (or debt securities) made within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, if the payor receives the statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code, or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Common and Preferred Stock

 

Consequences to United States Holders

 

The United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of our stock depend on a number of factors including:

 

 

United States Holders should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement regarding the material United States federal income tax consequences, if any, of the holding and disposition of our stock.

 

Consequences to Non-United States Holders

 

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a Non-United States Holder of common or preferred stock.

 

Dividends

 

Dividends paid to you generally will be subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. However, dividends that are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a United States permanent establishment) are not subject to the withholding tax, provided certain certification and disclosure requirements are satisfied. Instead, such dividends are subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis in the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code. If you are a foreign corporation, any such effectively connected dividends received by you may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

A Non-United States Holder of our common or preferred stock who wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate and avoid backup withholding, as discussed below, for dividends will be required (a) to complete IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) and certify under penalties of perjury that such holder is not a United States person as defined under the Code and is eligible for treaty benefits or (b) if our common stock is held through certain foreign intermediaries, to satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable United States Treasury regulations. Special certification and other requirements apply to certain Non-United States Holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

 

If you are eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

 

Gain on Disposition of Common Stock and Preferred Stock

 

Any gain realized on the disposition of our common or preferred stock generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax unless:

 

 

If you are an individual Non-United States Holder described in the first bullet point immediately above, you will be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated United States federal income tax rates. If you are an individual Non-United States Holder described in the second bullet point immediately above, you will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by United States source capital losses, even though you are not considered a resident of the United States. If you are a Non-United States Holder that is a foreign corporation and you are described in the first bullet point immediately above, you will be subject to tax on your net gain in the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code and, in addition, you may be subject to the branch profits tax equal to 30% of your effectively connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

 

We believe we are not and do not anticipate becoming a “United States real property holding corporation” for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Federal Estate Tax

 

If you are an individual, common or preferred stock held by you at the time of your death will be included in you gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

We must report annually to the IRS and you the amount of dividends paid to you and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

 

You will be subject to backup withholding for dividends paid to you unless you certify under penalties of perjury that you are a Non-United States Holder (and we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code), or you otherwise establish an exemption.

Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a sale of our common or preferred stock within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, unless you certify under penalties of perjury that you are a Non-United States Holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code), or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Other Securities

 

If you are considering the purchase of warrants, stock purchase contracts, depositary shares or units, you should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement regarding the special United States federal income tax consequences, if any, of the holding and disposition of such securities including any tax considerations relating to the specific terms of such securities.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the offered securities may, subject to certain legal restrictions, be held by (i) pension, profit sharing and other employee benefit plans which are subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (which we refer to as “ERISA”), (ii) plans, accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or provisions under federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to any of the provisions of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (which we refer to as “Similar Laws”) and (iii) entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plans, accounts or arrangements. A fiduciary of any such plan, account or arrangement must determine that the purchase and holding of an interest in the offered securities is consistent with its fiduciary duties and will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or a violation under any applicable Similar Laws.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain matters of Delaware law relating to the Trust and its preferred securities will be passed upon for the Trust and us by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Wendy C. Skjerven, Esq., our Vice President, Associate Group General Counsel and Deputy Corporate Secretary, and by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York.

 

The consolidated financial statements and all related financial statement schedules of The Travelers Companies, Inc. as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference in the registration statement 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.

$1,250,000,000

 

 

The Travelers Companies, Inc.

 

 

$500,000,000 3.90% Senior Notes due 2020

$750,000,000 5.35% Senior Notes due 2040

 

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

October 27, 2010

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

Senior Co-Manager

 

HSBC

 

Co-Managers