1 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ------------------------ FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ------------------------ CABOT CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 75 STATE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109-1806 617-345-0100 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices) ------------------------ ROBERT ROTHBERG, ESQ. VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL CABOT CORPORATION 75 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109-1806 617-345-0100 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) ------------------------ With copies to: JOHN O. NEWELL, ESQ. GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR LLP Exchange Place 53 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109-2881 617-570-1000 ------------------------ Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective. If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ] If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X] If this form is used to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. [ ] ------------------------ CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
DELAWARE 04-2271897 (State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) (1) In U.S. Dollars or the equivalent thereof denominated in one or more foreign currencies or units of two or more foreign currencies or composite currencies. Pursuant to Rule 429, $55,000,000 is being carried forward from Registration Statement No. 33-48686. The amount of the filing fee previously paid in connection with such securities is $17,187. (2) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. ------------------------ THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(1) AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION FEE(2) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debt Securities................... $500,000,000 $131,275 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT (TO PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER , 1998) SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 1998 $500,000,000 CABOT CORPORATION MEDIUM-TERM NOTES DUE NINE MONTHS OR MORE FROM DATE OF ISSUE ------------------------ Cabot Corporation (the "Company") may offer from time to time up to $500,000,000 aggregate initial offering price, or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies, of its Medium-Term Notes Due Nine Months or More From Date of Issue (the "Notes"). Such aggregate initial offering price is subject to reduction as a result of the sale by the Company of other Debt Securities described in the accompanying Prospectus. Each Note will mature on any day nine months or more from the date of issue, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement hereto (each, a "Pricing Supplement"), and may be subject to redemption at the option of the Company or repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, in each case, in whole or in part, prior to its Stated Maturity Date, if specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. In addition, each Note will be denominated and/or payable in United States dollars or a foreign or composite currency, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Notes, other than Foreign Currency Notes, will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, while Foreign Currency Notes will be issued in the minimum denominations specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Company may issue Notes that bear interest at fixed rates ("Fixed Rate Notes") or at floating rates ("Floating Rate Notes"). The applicable Pricing Supplement will specify whether a Floating Rate Note is a Regular Floating Rate Note, a Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note or an Inverse Floating Rate Note and whether the rate of interest thereon is determined by reference to one or more of the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR, the Prime Rate or the Treasury Rate (each, an "Interest Rate Basis"), or any other interest rate basis or formula, as adjusted by any Spread and/or Spread Multiplier. Interest on each Floating Rate Note will accrue from its date of issue and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, will be payable monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually in arrears, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, and on the Maturity Date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the rate of interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Interest on each Fixed Rate Note will accrue from its date of issue and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, will be payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year and on the Maturity Date. The Company may also issue Discount Notes, Indexed Notes and Amortizing Notes. The interest rate, or formula for the determination of the interest rate, if any, applicable to each Note and the other variable terms thereof will be established by the Company on the date of issue of such Note and will be specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Interest rates or formulas and other terms of Notes are subject to change by the Company, but no such change will affect any Note previously issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company. Each Note will be issued in book-entry form (a "Book-Entry Note") or in fully registered certificated form (a "Certificated Note"), as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Each Book-Entry Note will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities (the "Global Securities") deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company (or such other depositary identified in the applicable Pricing Supplement) (the "Depositary") and registered in the name of the Depositary or the Depositary's nominee. Interests in the Global Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to its participants) and the Depositary's participants (with respect to beneficial owners). Except in limited circumstances, Book-Entry Notes will not be exchangeable for Certificated Notes. SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE S-2 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN RISKS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES OFFERED HEREBY. ------------------------ THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT HERETO. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. (1) Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (the "Agents"), individually or in a syndicate, may purchase Notes, as principal, from the Company for resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices relating to prevailing market prices at the time of resale as determined by the applicable Agent or, if so specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, for resale at a fixed offering price. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any Note sold to an Agent as principal will be purchased by such Agent at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof less a percentage of the principal amount equal to the commission applicable to an agency sale (as described below) of a Note of identical maturity. If agreed to by the Company and an Agent, such Agent may utilize its reasonable efforts on an agency basis to solicit offers to purchase the Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Company will pay a commission to an Agent, ranging from .125% to .750% of the principal amount of a Note, depending upon its stated maturity, sold through an Agent. Commissions with respect to Notes with stated maturities in excess of 30 years that are sold through such Agent will be negotiated between the Company and such Agent at the time of such sale. See "Plan of Distribution." (2) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Agents against, and to provide contribution with respect to, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Plan of Distribution." (3) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $125,000. (4) Or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies. The Notes are being offered on a continuing basis by the Company to or through the Agents. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. There is no assurance that the Notes offered hereby will be sold or, if sold, that there will be a secondary market for the Notes or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. The Company reserves the right to cancel or modify the offer made hereby without notice. The Company or an Agent, if it solicits the offer on an agency basis, may reject any offer to purchase Notes in whole or in part. See "Plan of Distribution." ------------------------ MERRILL LYNCH & CO. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. J.P. MORGAN & CO. ------------------------ The date of this Prospectus Supplement is October , 1998. Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENTS' DISCOUNTS AND PRICE TO PUBLIC(1) COMMISSIONS(1)(2) PROCEEDS TO COMPANY(1)(3) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Per Note............................... 100% .125%-.750% 99.875%-99.250% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total.................................. $500,000,000 $625,000- $3,750,000 $499,375,000- $496,250,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 IN CONNECTION WITH AN OFFERING OF NOTES PURCHASED BY ONE OR MORE AGENTS AS PRINCIPAL ON A FIXED OFFERING PRICE BASIS, SUCH AGENT(S) MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF NOTES. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY INCLUDE STABILIZING AND THE PURCHASE OF NOTES TO COVER SHORT POSITIONS OF SUCH AGENT(S). FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION." ------------------------ RISK FACTORS This Prospectus Supplement does not describe all of the risks of an investment in Notes, whether resulting from such Notes being denominated or payable in or determined by reference to a currency or composite currency other than United States dollars or to one or more interest rate, currency or other indices or formulas, or otherwise. The Company and the Agents disclaim any responsibility to advise prospective investors of such risks as they exist at the date of this Prospectus Supplement or as they change from time to time. Prospective investors should consult their own financial and legal advisors as to the risks entailed by an investment in such Notes and the suitability of investing in such Notes in light of their particular circumstances. Such Notes are not an appropriate investment for investors who are unsophisticated with respect to foreign currency transactions or transactions involving the applicable interest rate or currency index or other indices or formulas. Prospective investors should carefully consider, among other factors, the matters described below. STRUCTURE RISKS An investment in Notes indexed, as to principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, to one or more interest rate, currency (including exchange rates and swap indices between currencies or composite currencies) or other indices or formulas, either directly or inversely, entails significant risks that are not associated with similar investments in a conventional fixed rate or floating rate debt security. Such risks include, without limitation, the possibility that such indices or formulas may be subject to significant changes, that no interest will be payable in respect of such Notes or will be payable at a rate lower than one applicable to a conventional fixed rate or floating rate debt security issued by the Company at the same time, that repayment of the principal and/or premium, if any, in respect of such Notes may occur at times other than that expected by the Holders (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus), and that the Holders could lose all or a substantial portion of principal and/or premium, if any, payable with respect to such Notes on the Maturity Date (as defined under "Description of Notes--General"). Such risks depend on a number of interrelated factors, including economic, financial and political events, over which the Company has no control. Additionally, if the formula used to determine the amount of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, payable with respect to such Notes contains a multiplier or leverage factor, the effect of any change in the applicable index or indices or formula or formulas will be magnified. In recent years, values of certain indices and formulas have been highly volatile and such volatility may be expected to continue in the future. Fluctuations in the value of any particular index or formula that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations that may occur in the future. Any optional redemption feature of Notes might affect the market value of such Notes. Since the Company may be expected to redeem such Notes when prevailing interest rates are relatively low, Holders generally will not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the current interest rate on such Notes. The Notes will not have an established trading market when issued, and there can be no assurance of a secondary market for the Notes or the liquidity of the secondary market if one develops. See "Plan of Distribution." The secondary market, if any, for Notes will be affected by a number of factors independent of the creditworthiness of the Company and the value of the applicable index or indices or formula or formulas, including the complexity and volatility of each such index or formula, the method of calculating the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in respect of such Notes, the time remaining to the maturity of such Notes, the outstanding amount of such Notes, any redemption features of such Notes, the amount of other S-2 4 debt securities linked to such index or formula and the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally. Such factors also will affect the market value of such Notes. In addition, certain Notes may be designed for specific investment objectives or strategies and, therefore, may have a more limited secondary market and experience more price volatility than conventional debt securities. Holders may not be able to sell such Notes readily or at prices that will enable them to realize their anticipated yield. No investor should purchase Notes unless such investor understands and is able to bear the risk that such Notes may not be readily saleable, that the value of such Notes will fluctuate over time and that such fluctuations may be significant. EXCHANGE RATES AND EXCHANGE CONTROLS An investment in Foreign Currency Notes (as defined under "Description of Notes--General") entails significant risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a debt security denominated and payable in United States dollars. Such risks include, without limitation, the possibility of significant changes in the rate of exchange between the United States dollar and the Specified Currency (as defined under "Description of Notes -- General") and the possibility of the imposition or modification of exchange controls by the applicable governments or monetary authorities. Such risks generally depend on factors over which the Company has no control, such as economic, financial and political events and the supply and demand for the applicable currencies or composite currencies. In addition, if the formula used to determine the amount of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, payable with respect to Foreign Currency Notes contains a multiplier or leverage factor, the effect of any change in the applicable currencies or composite currencies will be magnified. In recent years, rates of exchange between the United States dollar and foreign or composite currencies have been highly volatile and such volatility may be expected to continue in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations that may occur in the future. Depreciation of the Specified Currency applicable to a Foreign Currency Note against the United States dollar would result in a decrease in the United States dollar- equivalent yield of such Foreign Currency Note, in the United States dollar-equivalent value of the principal and premium, if any, payable on the Maturity Date of such Foreign Currency Note, and, generally, in the United States dollar-equivalent market value of such Foreign Currency Note. Governments or monetary authorities have imposed from time to time, and may in the future impose or revise, exchange controls at or prior to the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, a Foreign Currency Note is due, which could affect exchange rates as well as the availability of the Specified Currency on such date. Even if there are no exchange controls, it is possible that the Specified Currency would not be available on the applicable payment date due to other circumstances beyond the control of the Company. In such cases, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations in respect of such Foreign Currency Note in United States dollars. See "Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes--Availability of Specified Currency." CREDIT RATINGS The credit ratings assigned to the Company's medium-term note program may not reflect the potential impact of all risks related to structure and other factors on the value of the Notes. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their own financial and legal advisors as to the risks entailed by an investment in the Notes and the suitability of investing in such Notes in light of their particular circumstances. USE OF PROCEEDS Except as may be otherwise stated in a Pricing Supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes offered hereby will be used to repay outstanding short-term borrowings and long-term debt, the interest rate and maturity of which (and the use of proceeds, if such borrowings or debt was incurred within one year from the sale of the Notes, except in the case of short-term borrowings used for working capital) will be described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. S-3 5 DESCRIPTION OF NOTES The Notes will be issued as a series of Debt Securities under an Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, as supplemented and modified by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 17, 1992 and a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 31, 1997 (collectively and as amended or modified from time to time, the "Indenture"). State Street Bank and Trust Company is the current trustee under the Indenture (the "Trustee"). The Indenture is subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The following summary of certain provisions of the Notes and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual provisions of the Notes and the Indenture. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the accompanying Prospectus, the Notes or the Indenture, as the case may be. The term "Debt Securities," as used in this Prospectus Supplement, refers to all debt securities, including the Notes, issued and issuable from time to time under the Indenture. The following description of Notes will apply to each Note offered hereby unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. GENERAL All Debt Securities, including the Notes, issued and to be issued under the Indenture will be unsecured general obligations of the Company and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time outstanding. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate initial offering price of Debt Securities that may be issued thereunder and Debt Securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series up to the aggregate initial offering price from time to time authorized by the Company for each series. As of the date of this Prospectus Supplement, the Company has not issued any of the Notes offered hereby. The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, provide for the issuance of Notes or other Debt Securities under the Indenture in addition to the $500,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of Notes offered hereby. The Notes are currently limited to up to $500,000,000 aggregate initial offering price, or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies. Each Note will mature on any day nine months or more from its date of issue (the "Stated Maturity Date"), as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, unless the principal thereof (or any installment of principal thereof) becomes due and payable prior to the Stated Maturity Date, whether by the declaration of acceleration of maturity, notice of redemption at the option of the Company, notice of the Holder's option to elect repayment or otherwise (the Stated Maturity Date or such prior date, as the case may be, is herein referred to as the "Maturity Date" with respect to the principal of such Note repayable on such date). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest-bearing Notes will either be Fixed Rate Notes or Floating Rate Notes, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Company may also issue Discount Notes, Indexed Notes and Amortizing Notes (as such terms are hereinafter defined). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will be denominated in, and payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in respect thereof will be made in, United States dollars. The Notes also may be denominated in, and payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in respect thereof may be made in, one or more foreign or composite currencies ("Foreign Currency Notes"). See "Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes--Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any." The currency or composite currency in which a particular Note is denominated (or, if such currency or composite currency is no longer legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the relevant country, such other currency or composite currency which is then legal tender in such country for the payment of such debts) is herein referred to as the "Specified Currency" with respect to such Note. References herein to "United States dollars", "U.S. dollars" or "$" are to the lawful currency of the United States of America (the "United States"). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, purchasers are required to pay for the Notes in the applicable Specified Currencies. At the present time, there are limited facilities in the United States for the conversion of United States dollars into foreign or composite currencies and vice versa, and commercial banks do not generally offer non-United States dollar checking or savings account facilities in the S-4 6 United States. The Agent from or through which a Foreign Currency Note is purchased may be prepared to arrange for the conversion of United States dollars into the Specified Currency in order to enable the purchaser to pay for such Foreign Currency Note, provided that a request is made to such Agent on or prior to the fifth Business Day (as hereinafter defined) preceding the date of delivery of such Foreign Currency Note, or by such other day as determined by such Agent. Each such conversion will be made by such Agent on such terms and subject to such conditions, limitations and charges as such Agent may from time to time establish in accordance with its regular foreign exchange practices. All costs of exchange will be borne by the purchaser of each such Foreign Currency Note. See "Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes." Interest rates offered by the Company with respect to the Notes may differ depending upon, among other factors, the aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased in any single transaction. Notes with different variable terms other than interest rates may also be offered concurrently to different investors. Interest rates or formulas and other terms of Notes are subject to change by the Company from time to time, but no such change will affect any Note previously issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company. Each Note will be issued as a Book-Entry Note represented by one or more fully registered Global Securities or as a fully registered Certificated Note. The minimum denominations of each Note other than a Foreign Currency Note will be $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, while the minimum denominations of each Foreign Currency Note will be specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, Book-Entry Notes will be made by the Company through the Trustee to the Depositary. See "--Book-Entry Notes." In the case of Certificated Notes, payment of principal and premium, if any, due on the Maturity Date will be made in immediately available funds upon presentation and surrender thereof (and, in the case of any repayment on an Optional Repayment Date, upon submission of a duly completed election form in accordance with the provisions described below) at the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006. Payment of interest, if any, due on the Maturity Date of a Certificated Note will be made to the person to whom payment of the principal thereof and premium, if any, thereon shall be made. Payment of interest, if any, due on a Certificated Note on any Interest Payment Date (as hereinafter defined) other than the Maturity Date will be made by check mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder of $10,000,000 (or, if the Specified Currency is other than United States dollars, the equivalent thereof in such Specified Currency) or more in aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes (whether having identical or different terms and provisions) will be entitled to receive interest payments, if any, on any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 days prior to such Interest Payment Date. Any such wire transfer instructions received by the Trustee shall remain in effect until revoked by such Holder. For special payment terms applicable to Foreign Currency Notes, see "Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes--Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any." As used herein, "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York; provided, however, that, with respect to Foreign Currency Notes, such day is also not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal Financial Center (as hereinafter defined) of the country issuing the Specified Currency (unless the Specified Currency is European Currency Units ("ECU"), in which case such day is also not a day that appears as an ECU non-settlement day on the display designated as "ISDE" on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service (or is not a day designated as an ECU non-settlement day by the ECU Banking Association) or, if ECU non-settlement days do not appear on that page (and are not so designated), a day that is not a day on which payments in ECU cannot be settled in the international interbank market); provided, further, that, with respect to Notes as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, such day is also a London Business Day (as hereinafter defined). "London Business Day" means a day on which S-5 7 dealings in the Designated LIBOR Currency (as hereinafter defined) are transacted in the London interbank market. "Principal Financial Center" means (i) the capital city of the country issuing the Specified Currency (except as described in the immediately preceding paragraph with respect to ECU) or (ii) the capital city of the country to which the Designated LIBOR Currency relates (or, in the case of ECU, Luxembourg), as applicable, except, in the case of (i) or (ii) above, that with respect to United States dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Deutsche marks, Dutch guilders, Italian lire and Swiss francs, the "Principal Financial Center" shall be The City of New York, Sydney, Toronto, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan (solely in the case of the Specified Currency) and Zurich, respectively. Book-Entry Notes may be transferred or exchanged only through the Depositary. See "--Book-Entry Notes." Registration of transfer or exchange of Certificated Notes will be made at the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006. No service charge will be made by the Company or the Trustee for any such registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith (other than exchanges pursuant to the Indenture not involving any transfer). The defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions contained in the Indenture shall apply to the Notes. REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund. The Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to the Stated Maturity Date only if an Initial Redemption Date is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If so specified, the Notes will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company on any date on and after the applicable Initial Redemption Date in whole or from time to time in part in increments of $1,000 or any other integral multiple of an authorized denomination specified in such Pricing Supplement (provided that any remaining principal amount thereof shall be at least $1,000 or the minimum authorized denomination applicable thereto), at the applicable Redemption Price (as hereinafter defined), together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date of redemption, on written notice given to the Holders thereof not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the date of redemption and in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. "Redemption Price", with respect to a Note, means an amount equal to the Initial Redemption Percentage specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (as adjusted by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if applicable) multiplied by the unpaid principal amount to be redeemed. The Initial Redemption Percentage, if any, applicable to a Note shall decline at each anniversary of the Initial Redemption Date by an amount equal to the applicable Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if any, until the Redemption Price is equal to 100% of the unpaid principal amount to be redeemed. For a discussion of the redemption of Discount Notes, see "--Discount Notes." REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER The Notes will be repayable by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof prior to the Stated Maturity Date only if one or more Optional Repayment Dates are specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If so specified, the Notes will be subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof on any Optional Repayment Date in whole or from time to time in part in increments of $1,000 or any other integral multiple of an authorized denomination specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (provided that any remaining principal amount thereof shall be at least $1,000 or the minimum authorized denomination applicable thereto), at a repayment price equal to 100% of the unpaid principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date of repayment. For any Note to be repaid, such Note must be received, together with the form thereon entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" duly completed, by the Trustee at its office maintained for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the date of repayment. Exercise of such repayment option by the Holder will be irrevocable. For a discussion of the repayment of Discount Notes, see "--Discount Notes." S-6 8 Only the Depositary may exercise the repayment option in respect of Global Securities representing Book-Entry Notes. Accordingly, Beneficial Owners (as hereinafter defined) of Global Securities that desire to have all or any portion of the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global Securities repaid must instruct the Participant (as hereinafter defined) through which they own their interest to direct the Depositary to exercise the repayment option on their behalf by delivering the related Global Security and duly completed election form to the Trustee as aforesaid. In order to ensure that such Global Security and election form are received by the Trustee on a particular day, the applicable Beneficial Owner must so instruct the Participant through which it owns its interest before such Participant's deadline for accepting instructions for that day. Different firms may have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers. Accordingly, Beneficial Owners should consult the Participants through which they own their interest for the respective deadlines for such Participants. All instructions given to Participants from Beneficial Owners of Global Securities relating to the option to elect repayment shall be irrevocable. In addition, at the time such instructions are given, each such Beneficial Owner shall cause the Participant through which it owns its interest to transfer such Beneficial Owner's interest in the Global Security or Securities representing the related Book-Entry Notes, on the Depositary's records, to the Trustee. See "--Book-Entry Notes." If applicable, the Company will comply with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules promulgated thereunder, and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with any such repayment. The Company may at any time purchase Notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise. Notes so purchased by the Company may, at the discretion of the Company, be held, resold or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. INTEREST General Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each interest-bearing Note will bear interest from its date of issue at the rate per annum, in the case of a Fixed Rate Note, or pursuant to the interest rate formula, in the case of a Floating Rate Note, in each case as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, until the principal thereof is paid or duly made available for payment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest payments in respect of Fixed Rate Notes and Floating Rate Notes will be made in an amount equal to the interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly made available for payment (or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has been paid or duly made available for payment) to but excluding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be (each, an "Interest Period"). Interest on Fixed Rate Notes and Floating Rate Notes will be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the first payment of interest on any such Note originally issued between a Record Date (as hereinafter defined) and the related Interest Payment Date will be made on the Interest Payment Date immediately following the next succeeding Record Date to the Holder on such next succeeding Record Date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, a "Record Date" shall be the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date. Fixed Rate Notes Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year or on such other date(s) specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (each, an "Interest Payment Date" with respect to Fixed Rate Notes) and on the Maturity Date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date of a Fixed Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest will be made on the next S-7 9 succeeding Business Day as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment on the next succeeding Business Day. Floating Rate Notes Interest on Floating Rate Notes will be determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Interest Rate Bases, which may, as described below, include (i) the CD Rate, (ii) the CMT Rate, (iii) the Commercial Paper Rate, (iv) the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, (v) the Federal Funds Rate, (vi) LIBOR, (vii) the Prime Rate, (viii) the Treasury Rate, or (ix) such other Interest Rate Basis or interest rate formula as may be specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The applicable Pricing Supplement will specify certain terms with respect to which each Floating Rate Note is being delivered, including: whether such Floating Rate Note is a "Regular Floating Rate Note," a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note" or an "Inverse Floating Rate Note," the Fixed Rate Commencement Date, if applicable, Fixed Interest Rate, if applicable, Interest Rate Basis or Bases, Initial Interest Rate, if any, Initial Interest Reset Date, Interest Reset Dates, Interest Payment Dates, Index Maturity, Maximum Interest Rate and/or Minimum Interest Rate, if any, and Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, as such terms are defined below. If one or more of the applicable Interest Rate Bases is LIBOR or the CMT Rate, the applicable Pricing Supplement will also specify the Designated LIBOR Currency and Designated LIBOR Page or the Designated CMT Maturity Index and Designated CMT Telerate Page, respectively, as such terms are defined below. The interest rate borne by the Floating Rate Notes will be determined as follows: (i) Unless such Floating Rate Note is designated as a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note" or an "Inverse Floating Rate Note", or as having an Addendum attached or having "Other/Additional Provisions" apply, in each case relating to a different interest rate formula, such Floating Rate Note will be designated as a "Regular Floating Rate Note" and, except as described below or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, will bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Regular Floating Rate Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period, if any, from the date of issue to the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate. (ii) If such Floating Rate Note is designated as a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note," then, except as described below or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, such Floating Rate Note will bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that (y) the interest rate in effect for the period, if any, from the date of issue to the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate and (z) the interest rate in effect for the period commencing on the Fixed Rate Commencement Date to the Maturity Date shall be the Fixed Interest Rate, if such rate is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or, if no such Fixed Interest Rate is specified, the interest rate in effect thereon on the day immediately preceding the Fixed Rate Commencement Date. (iii) If such Floating Rate Note is designated as an "Inverse Floating Rate Note," then, except as described below or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, such Floating Rate Note will bear interest at the Fixed Interest Rate minus the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest rate thereon will not be less than zero. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Inverse Floating Rate Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period, if any, from the date of issue to the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate. S-8 10 The "Spread" is the number of basis points to be added to or subtracted from the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases applicable to such Floating Rate Note. The "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage of the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases applicable to such Floating Rate Note by which such Interest Rate Basis or Bases will be multiplied to determine the applicable interest rate on such Floating Rate Note. The "Index Maturity" is the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation with respect to which the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases will be calculated. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest rate with respect to each Interest Rate Basis will be determined in accordance with the applicable provisions below. Except as set forth above or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest rate in effect on each day shall be (i) if such day is an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date (as hereinafter defined) immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date or (ii) if such day is not an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding the most recent Interest Reset Date. The applicable Pricing Supplement will specify whether the rate of interest on the related Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually or on such other specified basis (each, an "Interest Reset Period") and the dates on which such rate of interest will be reset (each, an "Interest Reset Date"). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Interest Reset Dates will be, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset: (i) daily, each Business Day; (ii) weekly, the Wednesday of each week (with the exception of weekly reset Floating Rate Notes as to which the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, which will reset the Tuesday of each week, except as described below); (iii) monthly, the third Wednesday of each month (with the exception of monthly reset Floating Rate Notes as to which the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, which will reset on the first calendar day of the month); (iv) quarterly, the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; (v) semiannually, the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and (vi) annually, the third Wednesday of the month specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided however, that, with respect to Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Notes, the rate of interest thereon will not reset after the applicable Fixed Rate Commencement Date. If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, except that in the case of a Floating Rate Note as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis and such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. The interest rate applicable to each Interest Reset Period commencing on the related Interest Reset Date will be the rate determined by the Calculation Agent (as hereinafter defined) as of the applicable Interest Determination Date and calculated on or prior to the Calculation Date (as hereinafter defined), except with respect to LIBOR and the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, which will be calculated on such Interest Determination Date. The "Interest Determination Date" with respect to the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Federal Funds Rate and the Prime Rate will be the second Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date; the "Interest Determination Date" with respect to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate will be the last working day of the month immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date on which the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (the "FHLB of San Francisco") publishes the Index (as hereinafter defined); and the "Interest Determination Date" with respect to LIBOR will be the second London Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date, unless the Designated LIBOR Currency is British pounds sterling, in which case the "Interest Determination Date" will be the applicable Interest Reset Date. With respect to the Treasury Rate, the "Interest Determination Date" will be the day in the week in which the applicable Interest Reset Date falls on which day Treasury Bills (as hereinafter defined) are normally auctioned (Treasury Bills are normally sold at an auction held on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally held on the following Tuesday, except that such auction may be held on the preceding Friday); provided, however, that if an auction is held on the Friday of the week preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date, the "Interest Determination Date" will be such preceding Friday; provided, further, that if the Interest Determination Date would otherwise fall on an Interest Reset Date, then such Interest Reset Date will be S-9 11 postponed to the next succeeding Business Day. The "Interest Determination Date" pertaining to a Floating Rate Note the interest rate of which is determined by reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases will be the most recent Business Day which is at least two Business Days prior to the applicable Interest Reset Date for such Floating Rate Note on which each Interest Rate Basis is determinable. Each Interest Rate Basis will be determined as of such date, and the applicable interest rate will take effect on the applicable Interest Reset Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Floating Rate Note may also have either or both of the following: (i) a Maximum Interest Rate, or ceiling, that may accrue during any Interest Period and (ii) a Minimum Interest Rate, or floor, that may accrue during any Interest Period. In addition to any Maximum Interest Rate that may apply to any Floating Rate Note, the interest rate on Floating Rate Notes will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application. Except as provided below or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest will be payable, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset: (i) daily, weekly or monthly, on the third Wednesday of each month or on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; (ii) quarterly, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; (iii) semiannually, on the third Wednesday of the two months of each year specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and (iv) annually, on the third Wednesday of the month of each year specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (each, an "Interest Payment Date" with respect to Floating Rate Notes) and, in each case, on the Maturity Date. If any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date for any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, except that in the case of a Floating Rate Note as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis and such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date of a Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on such payment for the period from and after the Maturity Date to the date of such payment on the next succeeding Business Day. All percentages resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five-one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all amounts used in or resulting from such calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, in the case of United States dollars, to the nearest cent or, in the case of a foreign or composite currency, to the nearest unit (with one-half cent or unit being rounded upwards). With respect to each Floating Rate Note, accrued interest is calculated by multiplying its principal amount by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day in the applicable Interest Period. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for each such day will be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360, in the case of Floating Rate Notes for which an applicable Interest Rate Basis is the CD Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR or the Prime Rate, or by the actual number of days in the year in the case of Floating Rate Notes for which an applicable Interest Rate Basis is the CMT Rate or the Treasury Rate. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for Floating Rate Notes for which the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases will be calculated in each period in the same manner as if only the applicable Interest Rate Basis specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement applied. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Trustee will be the "Calculation Agent." Upon request of the Holder of any Floating Rate Note, the Calculation Agent will disclose the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective as a result of a determination made for the next succeeding Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Calculation Date," if applicable, S-10 12 pertaining to any Interest Determination Date will be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day or (ii) the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Calculation Agent shall determine each Interest Rate Basis in accordance with the following provisions. CD RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "CD Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the CD Rate (a "CD Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate on such date for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in "Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates" or any successor publication ("H.15(519)") under the heading "CDs (Secondary Market)," or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in its daily statistical release "Composite 3:30 P.M. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or any successor publication ("Composite Quotations") under the heading "Certificates of Deposit." If such rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CD Rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers in negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit in The City of New York (which may include the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of major United States money center banks for negotiable certificates of deposit with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement in an amount that is representative for a single transaction in that market at that time; provided, however, that if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the CD Rate determined as of such CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CD Rate in effect on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date. CMT RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "CMT Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the CMT Rate (a "CMT Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate displayed on the Designated CMT Telerate Page under the caption "...Treasury Constant Maturities...Federal Reserve Board Release H.15...Mondays Approximately 3:45 P.M.," under the column for the Designated CMT Maturity Index for (i) if the Designated CMT Telerate Page is 7055, the rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date and (ii) if the Designated CMT Telerate Page is 7052, the weekly or monthly average, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, for the week or the month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week or the month, as applicable, in which the related CMT Rate Interest Determination Date falls. If such rate is no longer displayed on the relevant page or is not displayed by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate for such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be such treasury constant maturity rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index as published in H.15(519). If such rate is no longer published or is not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be such treasury constant maturity rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index (or other United States Treasury rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index) for the CMT Rate Interest Determination Date with respect to such Interest Reset Date as may then be published by either the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the United States Department of the Treasury that the Calculation Agent determines to be comparable to the rate formerly displayed on the Designated CMT Telerate Page and published in H.15(519). If such information is not provided by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate on the CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity, based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market S-11 13 offered rates as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date reported, according to their written records, by three leading primary United States government securities dealers in The City of New York (which may include the Agents or their affiliates) (each, a "Reference Dealer") selected by the Calculation Agent (from five such Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest)), for the most recently issued direct noncallable fixed rate obligations of the United States ("Treasury Notes") with an original maturity of approximately the Designated CMT Maturity Index and a remaining term to maturity of not less than such Designated CMT Maturity Index minus one year. If the Calculation Agent is unable to obtain three such Treasury Note quotations, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers in The City of New York (from five such Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest)), for Treasury Notes with an original maturity of the number of years that is the next highest to the Designated CMT Maturity Index and a remaining term to maturity closest to the Designated CMT Maturity Index and in an amount of at least $100 million. If three or four (and not five) of such Reference Dealers are quoting as described above, then the CMT Rate will be based on the arithmetic mean of the offered rates obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of such quotes will be eliminated; provided, however, that if fewer than three Reference Dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned herein, the CMT Rate determined as of such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CMT Rate in effect on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date. If two Treasury Notes with an original maturity as described in the second preceding sentence have remaining terms to maturity equally close to the Designated CMT Maturity Index, the Calculation Agent will obtain quotations for the Treasury Note with the shorter remaining term to maturity. "Designated CMT Telerate Page" means the display on the Dow Jones Markets Limited (or any successor service) on the page specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying Treasury Constant Maturities as reported in H.15(519) or, if no such page is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, page 7052. "Designated CMT Maturity Index" means the original period to maturity of the U.S. Treasury securities (either 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20 or 30 years) specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement with respect to which the CMT Rate will be calculated or, if no such maturity is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, 2 years. COMMERCIAL PAPER RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Commercial Paper Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Commercial Paper Rate (a "Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date"), the Money Market Yield (as hereinafter defined) on such date of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in H.15(519) under the caption "Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial." In the event that such rate is not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Money Market Yield of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in Composite Quotations under the heading "Commercial Paper" (with an Index Maturity of one month or three months being deemed to be equivalent to an Index Maturity of 30 days or 90 days, respectively). If such rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of commercial paper in The City of New York (which may include the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement placed for a S-12 14 non-financial entity whose bond rating is "Aa", or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; provided, however, that if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Commercial Paper Rate determined as of such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Commercial Paper Rate in effect on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date. "Money Market Yield" means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula: D x 360 X 100 --------------- Money Market Yield = 360 - (D x M) where "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and "M' refers to the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period. ELEVENTH DISTRICT COST OF FUNDS RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate (an "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate equal to the monthly weighted average cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date falls, as set forth under the caption "11th District" on Telerate Page 7058 as of 11:00 A.M., San Francisco time, on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 7058 on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date, then the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date shall be the monthly weighted average cost of funds paid by member institutions of the Eleventh Federal Home Loan Bank District that was most recently announced (the "Index") by the FHLB of San Francisco as such cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. If the FHLB of San Francisco fails to announce the Index on or prior to such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date for the calendar month immediately preceding such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate determined as of such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate in effect on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. FEDERAL FUNDS RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Federal Funds Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Federal Funds Rate (a "Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate on such date for United States dollar federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)" or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date as published in Composite Quotations under the heading "Federal Funds/Effective Rate." If such rate is not published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Federal Funds Rate on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight United States dollar federal funds arranged by three leading brokers of federal funds transactions in The City of New York (which may include the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date; provided, however, that if the brokers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Federal Funds Rate determined as of such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. S-13 15 LIBOR. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "LIBOR" means the rate determined in accordance with the following provisions: (i) With respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR (a "LIBOR Interest Determination Date"), LIBOR will be either: (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (unless the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, in which case such single rate shall be used) for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency having the Index Maturity specified in such Pricing Supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, that appear (or, if only a single rate is required as aforesaid, appears) on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or if neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as the method for calculating LIBOR, the rate for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency having the Index Maturity specified in such Pricing Supplement, commencing on such Interest Reset Date, that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. If fewer than two such offered rates so appear, or if no such rate so appears, as applicable, LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be determined in accordance with the provisions described in clause (ii) below. (ii) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination Date on which fewer than two offered rates appear, or no rate appears, as the case may be, on the Designated LIBOR Page as specified in clause (i) above, the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks (which may include affiliates of the Agents) in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency for the period of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated LIBOR Currency in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in the applicable Principal Financial Center, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major banks (which may include affiliates of the Agents) in such Principal Financial Center selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in the Designated LIBOR Currency to leading European banks, having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated LIBOR Currency in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be LIBOR in effect on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. "Designated LIBOR Currency" means the currency or composite currency specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as to which LIBOR shall be calculated or, if no such currency or composite currency is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, United States dollars. "Designated LIBOR Page" means (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the display on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service (or any successor service) on the page specified in such Pricing Supplement (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the Designated LIBOR Currency, or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as the method for calculating LIBOR, the display on the Dow Jones Markets Limited (or any successor service) on the page specified in such Pricing Supplement (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the Designated LIBOR Currency. S-14 16 PRIME RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Prime Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Prime Rate (a "Prime Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate on such date as such rate is published in H.15(519) under the heading "Bank Prime Loan." If such rate is not published prior to 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page (as hereinafter defined) as such bank's prime rate or base lending rate as in effect for such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. If fewer than four such rates appear on the Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page for such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a 360-day year as of the close of business on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date by four major money center banks (which may include affiliates of the Agents) in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent. If fewer than four such quotations are so provided, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of four prime rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a 360-day year as of the close of business on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date as furnished in The City of New York by the major money center banks, if any, that have provided such quotations and by a reasonable number of substitute banks or trust companies (which may include affiliates of the Agents) to obtain four such prime rate quotations, provided such substitute banks or trust companies are organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, each having total equity capital of at least $500 million and being subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority, selected by the Calculation Agent to provide such rate or rates; provided, however, that if the banks or trust companies so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Prime Rate determined as of such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Prime Rate in effect on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. "Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page" means the display on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service (or any successor service) on the "USPRIME1" page (or such other page as may replace the USPRIME1 page on such service) for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major United States banks. TREASURY RATE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined by reference to the Treasury Rate (a "Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate from the auction held on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date (the "Auction") of direct obligations of the United States ("Treasury Bills") having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, as such rate is published in H.15(519) under the heading "Treasury Bills-auction average (investment)" or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the auction average rate of such Treasury Bills (expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) as otherwise announced by the United States Department of the Treasury. In the event that the results of the Auction of Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement are not reported as provided by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, or if no such Auction is held, then the Treasury Rate will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity (expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date, of three leading primary United States government securities dealers (which may include the Agents or their affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided, however, that if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury Rate determined as of such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Treasury Rate in effect on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date. S-15 17 OTHER/ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS; ADDENDUM Any provisions with respect to the Notes, including the specification and determination of one or more Interest Rate Bases, the calculation of the interest rate applicable to a Floating Rate Note, the Interest Payment Dates, the Stated Maturity Date, any redemption or repayment provisions or any other term relating thereto, may be modified and/or supplemented as specified under "Other/Additional Provisions" on the face thereof or in an Addendum relating thereto, if so specified on the face thereof and described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. DISCOUNT NOTES The Company may from time to time offer Notes ("Discount Notes") that have an Issue Price (as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement) that is less than 100% of the principal amount thereof (i.e. par) by more than a percentage equal to the product of 0.25% and the number of full years to the Stated Maturity Date. Discount Notes may not bear any interest currently or may bear interest at a rate that is below market rates at the time of issuance. The difference between the Issue Price of a Discount Note and par is referred to herein as the "Discount." In the event of redemption, repayment or acceleration of maturity of a Discount Note, the amount payable to the Holder of such Discount Note will be equal to the sum of (i) the Issue Price (increased by any accruals of Discount) and, in the event of any redemption of such Discount Note (if applicable), multiplied by the Initial Redemption Percentage (as adjusted by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if applicable) and (ii) any unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date of such redemption, repayment or acceleration of maturity, as the case may be. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, for purposes of determining the amount of Discount that has accrued as of any date on which a redemption, repayment or acceleration of maturity occurs for a Discount Note, such Discount will be accrued using a constant yield method. The constant yield will be calculated using a 30-day month, 360-day year convention, a compounding period that, except for the Initial Period (as hereinafter defined), corresponds to the shortest period between Interest Payment Dates for the applicable Discount Note (with ratable accruals within a compounding period), a coupon rate equal to the initial coupon rate applicable to such Discount Note and an assumption that the maturity of such Discount Note will not be accelerated. If the period from the date of issue to the initial Interest Payment Date for a Discount Note (the "Initial Period") is shorter than the compounding period for such Discount Note, a proportionate amount of the yield for an entire compounding period will be accrued. If the Initial Period is longer than the compounding period, then such period will be divided into a regular compounding period and a short period with the short period being treated as provided in the preceding sentence. The accrual of the applicable Discount may differ from the accrual of original issue discount for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), certain Discount Notes may not be treated as having original issue discount within the meaning of the Code, and Notes other than Discount Notes may be treated as issued with original issue discount for federal income tax purposes. See "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations." INDEXED NOTES The Company may from time to time offer Notes ("Indexed Notes") with the amount of principal, premium and/or interest payable in respect thereof to be determined with reference to the price or prices of specified commodities or stocks, to the exchange rate of one or more designated currencies (including a composite currency such as the ECU) relative to an indexed currency or to other items, in each case as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. In certain cases, Holders of Indexed Notes may receive a principal payment on the Maturity Date that is greater than or less than the principal amount of such Indexed Notes depending upon the relative value on the Maturity Date of the specified indexed item. Information as to the method for determining the amount of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, payable in respect of Indexed Notes, certain historical information with respect to the specified indexed item and any material tax considerations associated with an investment in Indexed Notes will be specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. See also "Risk Factors." S-16 18 AMORTIZING NOTES The Company may from time to time offer Notes ("Amortizing Notes") with the amount of principal thereof and interest thereon payable in installments over the term of such Notes. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on each Amortizing Note will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Payments with respect to Amortizing Notes will be applied first to interest due and payable thereon and then to the reduction of the unpaid principal amount thereof. Further information concerning additional terms and provisions of Amortizing Notes will be specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, including a table setting forth repayment information for such Amortizing Notes. BOOK-ENTRY NOTES The Company has established a depositary arrangement with The Depository Trust Company with respect to the Book-Entry Notes, the terms of which are summarized below. Any additional or differing terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to the Book-Entry Notes will be described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Upon issuance, all Book-Entry Notes of like tenor and terms up to $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount will be represented by a single Global Security. Each Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and will be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. No Global Security may be transferred except as a whole by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or such nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor. So long as the Depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Notes represented thereby for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as otherwise provided below, the Beneficial Owners of the Global Security or Securities representing Book-Entry Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and no Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes shall be exchangeable or transferable. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if such Beneficial Owner is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such Beneficial Owner owns its interest in order to exercise any rights of a Holder under such Global Security or the Indenture. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in certificated form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes will be exchangeable for Certificated Notes of like tenor and terms and of differing authorized denominations in a like aggregate principal amount, only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Securities or the Company becomes aware that the Depositary has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in any such case, the Company shall not have appointed a successor to the Depositary within 60 calendar days thereafter, (ii) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that the Global Securities shall be exchangeable for Certificated Notes or (iii) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the Notes under the Indenture. Upon any such exchange, the Certificated Notes shall be registered in the names of the Beneficial Owners of the Global Security or Securities representing Book-Entry Notes, which names shall be provided by the Depositary's relevant Participants (as identified by the Depositary) to the Trustee. The following is based on information furnished by the Depositary: The Depositary will act as securities depository for the Book-Entry Notes. The Book-Entry Notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the Depositary's partnership nominee). One fully registered Global Security will be issued for each issue of Book-Entry Notes, each in the aggregate principal amount of such issue, and will be deposited with the Depositary. If, however, the aggregate principal amount of any issue exceeds $200,000,000, one Global Security will be issued with respect to each S-17 19 $200,000,000 of principal amount and an additional Global Security will be issued with respect to any remaining principal amount of such issue. The Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The Depositary holds securities that its participants ("Participants") deposit with the Depositary. The Depositary also facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants of the Depositary ("Direct Participants") include securities brokers and dealers (including the Agents), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. The Depositary is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the Depositary's 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 Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to the Depositary and its Participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Purchases of Book-Entry Notes under the Depositary's system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for such Book-Entry Notes on the Depositary's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Book-Entry Note represented by a Global Security ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the records of Direct Participants and Indirect Participants. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from the Depositary of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct Participants or Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in a Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners of a Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes will not receive Certificated Notes representing their ownership interests therein, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for such Book-Entry Notes is discontinued. To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Global Securities representing Book-Entry Notes which are deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary are registered in the name of the Depositary's nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of Global Securities with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. The Depositary has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Global Securities representing the Book-Entry Notes; the Depositary's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Book-Entry Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers. Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Neither the Depositary nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to the Global Securities representing the Book-Entry Notes. Under its usual procedures, the Depositary mails an Omnibus Proxy to the Company as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Book-Entry Notes are credited on the applicable record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy). Principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, payments on the Global Securities representing the Book-Entry Notes will be made in immediately available funds to the Depositary. The Depositary's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on the Depositary's records unless the Depositary has reason to believe that it will not receive S-18 20 payment on such date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of the Depositary, the Trustee or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, to the Depositary is the responsibility of the Company and the Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants shall be the responsibility of the Depositary, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners shall be the responsibility of Direct Participants and Indirect Participants. If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the Book-Entry Notes of like tenor and terms are being redeemed, the Depositary's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed. A Beneficial Owner shall give notice of any option to elect to have its Book-Entry Notes repaid by the Company, through its Participant, to the Trustee, and shall effect delivery of such Book-Entry Notes by causing the Direct Participant to transfer the Participant's interest in the Global Security or Securities representing such Book-Entry Notes, on the Depositary's records, to the Trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of Book-Entry Notes in connection with a demand for repayment will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the Global Security or Securities representing such Book-Entry Notes are transferred by Direct Participants on the Depositary's records. The Depositary may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the Book-Entry Notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Company or the Trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, Certificated Notes are required to be printed and delivered. The Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through the Depositary (or a successor securities depository). In that event, Certificated Notes will be printed and delivered. The information in this section concerning the Depositary and the Depositary's system has been obtained from sources that the Company believes to be reliable, but neither the Company nor any Agent takes any responsibility for the accuracy thereof. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES GENERAL Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Foreign Currency Notes will not be sold in, or to residents of, the country issuing the applicable currency. The information set forth in this Prospectus Supplement is directed to prospective purchasers who are United States residents and, with respect to Foreign Currency Notes, is by necessity incomplete. The Company and the Agents disclaim any responsibility to advise prospective purchasers who are residents of countries other than the United States with respect to any matters that may affect the purchase, holding or receipt of payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, Foreign Currency Notes. Such persons should consult their own financial and legal advisors with regard to such matters. See "Risk Factors -- Exchange Rates and Exchange Controls." PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST, IF ANY Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Company is obligated to make payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, a Foreign Currency Note in the Specified Currency. Any such amounts payable by the Company in the Specified Currency will be converted by the exchange rate agent named in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the "Exchange Rate Agent") into United States dollars for payment to Holders unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or the Holder of such Foreign Currency Note elects, in the manner hereinafter described, to receive such amounts in the Specified Currency. S-19 21 Any United States dollar amount to be received by a Holder of a Foreign Currency Note will be based on the highest bid quotation in The City of New York received by the Exchange Rate Agent at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date from three recognized foreign exchange dealers (one of whom may be the Exchange Rate Agent) selected by the Exchange Rate Agent and approved by the Company for the purchase by the quoting dealer of the Specified Currency for United States dollars for settlement on such payment date in the aggregate amount of such Specified Currency payable to all Holders of Foreign Currency Notes scheduled to receive United States dollar payments and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. All currency exchange costs will be borne by the Holders of such Foreign Currency Notes by deductions from such payments. If three such bid quotations are not available, payments will be made in the Specified Currency. Holders of Foreign Currency Notes may elect to receive all or a specified portion of any payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in the Specified Currency by submitting a written request for such payment to the Trustee at its corporate trust office in The City of New York on or prior to the applicable Record Date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. Such written request may be mailed or hand delivered or sent by cable, telex or other form of facsimile transmission. Holders of Foreign Currency Notes may elect to receive all or a specified portion of all future payments in the Specified Currency and need not file a separate election for each payment. Such election will remain in effect until revoked by written notice to the Trustee, but written notice of any such revocation must be received by the Trustee on or prior to the applicable Record Date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. Holders of Foreign Currency Notes to be held in the name of a broker or nominee should contact such broker or nominee to determine whether and how an election to receive payments in the Specified Currency may be made. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, if the Specified Currency is other than United States dollars, a Beneficial Owner of the related Global Security or Securities which elects to receive payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in the Specified Currency must notify the Participant through which it owns its interest on or prior to the applicable Record Date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be, of such Beneficial Owner's election. Such Participant must notify the Depositary of such election on or prior to the third Business Day after such Record Date or at least twelve calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be, and the Depositary will notify the Trustee of such election on or prior to the fifth Business Day after such Record Date or at least ten calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If complete instructions are received by the Participant from the Beneficial Owner and forwarded by the Participant to the Depositary, and by the Depositary to the Trustee, on or prior to such dates, then such Beneficial Owner will receive payments in the Specified Currency. Payments of the principal of, and premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, on, Foreign Currency Notes which are to be made in United States dollars will be made in the manner specified herein with respect to Notes denominated in United States dollars. See "Description of Notes--General." Payments of interest, if any, on Foreign Currency Notes which are to be made in the Specified Currency on an Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date will be made by check mailed to the address of the Holders of such Foreign Currency Notes as they appear in the Security Register, subject to the right to receive such interest payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds under the circumstances described under "Description of Notes--General." Payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, on, Foreign Currency Notes which are to be made in the Specified Currency on the Maturity Date will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account with a bank designated at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date by each Holder thereof, provided that such bank has appropriate facilities therefor and that the applicable Foreign Currency Note is presented and surrendered at the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, in time for the Trustee to make such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. S-20 22 AVAILABILITY OF SPECIFIED CURRENCY Except as set forth below, if the Specified Currency for a Foreign Currency Note is not available for the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in respect thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to the Holder of such Foreign Currency Note by making such payment in United States dollars on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate, computed by the Exchange Rate Agent, on the second Business Day prior to such payment or, if such Market Exchange Rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Market Exchange Rate, or as otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If the Specified Currency for a Foreign Currency Note is a composite currency that is not available for the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, in respect thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to the Holder of such Foreign Currency Note by making such payment in United States dollars on the basis of the equivalent of the composite currency in United States dollars. The component currencies of the composite currency for this purpose (the "Component Currencies") shall be the currency amounts that were components of the composite currency as of the last day on which the composite currency was used. The equivalent of the composite currency in United States dollars shall be calculated by aggregating the United States dollar equivalents of the Component Currencies. The United States dollar equivalent of each of the Component Currencies shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate on the second Business Day prior to the required payment or, if such Market Exchange Rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Market Exchange Rate for each such Component Currency, or as otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the number of units of the currency as a Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the amounts of those currencies as Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such single currency equal to the sum of the amounts of the consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single currency. If any Component Currency is divided into two or more currencies, the amount of the original Component Currency shall be replaced by the amounts of such two or more currencies, the sum of which shall be equal to the amount of the original Component Currency. The "Market Exchange Rate" for a Specified Currency other than United States dollars means the noon dollar buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such Specified Currency as certified for customs purposes (or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Any payment made in United States dollars under such circumstances where the required payment is in a Specified Currency other than United States dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to the Notes. All determinations referred to above made by the Exchange Rate Agent shall be at its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Holders of the Foreign Currency Notes. JUDGMENTS Under current New York law, a state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment in respect of a Foreign Currency Note would be required to render such judgment in the Specified Currency, and such foreign currency judgment would be converted into United States dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of such judgment. Accordingly, the Holder of such Foreign Currency Note would be subject to exchange rate fluctuations between the date of entry of such foreign currency judgment and the time the amount of such foreign currency judgment is paid to such Holder in United States dollars and converted by such Holder into the Specified Currency. It is not certain, however, whether a non-New York state court would follow the same rules and procedures with respect to conversions of foreign currency judgments. S-21 23 The Company will indemnify the Holder of any Note against any loss incurred by such Holder as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any amount due under such Note and such judgment or order requiring payment in a currency or composite currency (the "Judgment Currency") other than the Specified Currency, and as a result of any variation between (i) the rate of exchange at which the Specified Currency amount is converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order, and (ii) the rate of exchange at which the Holder of such Note, on the date of payment of such judgment or order, is able to purchase the Specified Currency with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually received by such Holder, as the case may be. CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS The following summary of certain United States Federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes is based upon laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change (including changes in effective dates) or possible differing interpretations. It deals only with Notes held as capital assets and does not purport to deal with persons in special tax situations, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities or currencies, persons holding Notes as a hedge against currency risks or as a position in a "straddle" for tax purposes, or persons whose functional currency is not the United States dollar. It also does not deal with holders other than original purchasers (except where otherwise specifically noted). Persons considering the purchase of the Notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of United States Federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Note that is for United States Federal income tax purposes (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable Treasury regulations), (iii) an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source, (iv) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (v) any other person whose income or gain in respect of a Note is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Notwithstanding the preceding clause (iv), to the extent provided in regulations, certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996 and treated as United States persons prior to such date that elect to continue to be so treated also shall be considered U.S. Holders. As used herein, the term "non-U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Note that is not a U.S. Holder. U.S. HOLDERS PAYMENTS OF INTEREST. Payments of interest on a Note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are accrued or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting). ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. The following summary is a general discussion of the United States Federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Notes issued with original issue discount ("Original Issue Discount Notes"). The following summary is based upon final Treasury regulations (the "OID Regulations") released by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") on January 27, 1994, as amended on June 11, 1996, under the original issue discount provisions of the Code. For United States Federal income tax purposes, original issue discount is the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity of a Note over its issue price, if such excess equals or exceeds a de minimis amount (generally 1/4 of 1% of the Note's stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to its maturity from its issue date or, in the case of a Note providing for the payment of any amount other than qualified stated interest (as defined below) prior to maturity, multiplied by the weighted average maturity of such Note). The issue price of each Note in an issue of Notes equals the first price at which a substantial amount of such Notes has been sold (ignoring sales to bond houses, brokers, or similar S-22 24 persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers). The stated redemption price at maturity of a Note is the sum of all payments provided by the Note other than "qualified stated interest" payments. The term "qualified stated interest" generally means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually at a single fixed rate. In addition, under the OID Regulations, if a Note bears interest for one or more accrual periods at a rate below the rate applicable for the remaining term of such Note (e.g., Notes with teaser rates or interest holidays), and if the greater of either the resulting foregone interest on such Note or any "true" discount on such Note (i.e., the excess of the Note's stated principal amount over its issue price) equals or exceeds a specified de minimis amount, then the stated interest on the Note would be treated as original issue discount rather than qualified stated interest. Payments of qualified stated interest on a Note are taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are accrued or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting). A U.S. Holder of an Original Issue Discount Note must include original issue discount in income as ordinary interest for United States Federal income tax purposes as it accrues under a constant yield method in advance of receipt of the cash payments attributable to such income, regardless of such U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting. In general, the amount of original issue discount included in income by the initial U.S. Holder of an Original Issue Discount Note is the sum of the daily portions of original issue discount with respect to such Original Issue Discount Note for each day during the taxable year (or portion of the taxable year) on which such U.S. Holder held such Original Issue Discount Note. The "daily portion" of original issue discount on any Original Issue Discount Note is determined by allocating to each day in any accrual period a ratable portion of the original issue discount allocable to that accrual period. An "accrual period" may be of any length and the accrual periods may vary in length over the term of the Original Issue Discount Note, provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs either on the final day of an accrual period or on the first day of an accrual period. The amount of original issue discount allocable to each accrual period is generally equal to the difference between (i) the product of the Original Issue Discount Note's adjusted issue price at the beginning of such accrual period and its yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and appropriately adjusted to take into account the length of the particular accrual period) and (ii) the amount of any qualified stated interest payments allocable to such accrual period. The "adjusted issue price" of an Original Issue Discount Note at the beginning of any accrual period is the sum of the issue price of the Original Issue Discount Note plus the amount of original issue discount allocable to all prior accrual periods minus the amount of any prior payments on the Original Issue Discount Note that were not qualified stated interest payments. Under these rules, U.S. Holders generally will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of original issue discount in successive accrual periods. A U.S. Holder who purchases an Original Issue Discount Note for an amount that is greater than its adjusted issue price as of the purchase date and less than or equal to the sum of all amounts payable on the Original Issue Discount Note after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, will be considered to have purchased the Original Issue Discount Note at an "acquisition premium." Under the acquisition premium rules, the amount of original issue discount which such U.S. Holder must include in its gross income with respect to such Original Issue Discount Note for any taxable year (or portion thereof in which the U.S. Holder holds the Original Issue Discount Note) will be reduced (but not below zero) by the portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to the period. Under the OID Regulations, Floating Rate Notes and Indexed Notes ("Variable Notes") are subject to special rules whereby a Variable Note will qualify as a "variable rate debt instrument" if (a) its issue price does not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments due under the Variable Note by more than a specified de minimis amount and (b) it provides for stated interest, paid or compounded at least annually, at current values of (i) one or more qualified floating rates, (ii) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates, (iii) a single objective rate, or (iv) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a qualified inverse floating rate. A "qualified floating rate" is any variable rate where variations in the value of such rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which S-23 25 the Variable Note is denominated. Although a multiple of a qualified floating rate will generally not itself constitute a qualified floating rate, a variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than .65 but not more than 1.35 will constitute a qualified floating rate. A variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than .65 but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate, will also constitute a qualified floating rate. In addition, under the OID Regulations, two or more qualified floating rates that can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the Variable Note (e.g., two or more qualified floating rates with values within 25 basis points of each other as determined on the Variable Note's issue date) will be treated as a single qualified floating rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a variable rate that would otherwise constitute a qualified floating rate but which is subject to one or more restrictions such as a maximum numerical limitation (i.e., a cap) or a minimum numerical limitation (i.e., a floor) may, under certain circumstances, fail to be treated as a qualified floating rate under the OID Regulations unless such cap or floor is fixed throughout the term of the Note. An "objective rate" is a rate that is not itself a qualified floating rate but which is determined using a single fixed formula and that is based on objective financial or economic information. A rate will not qualify as an objective rate if it is based on information that is within the control of the issuer (or a related party) or that is unique to the circumstances of the issuer (or a related party), such as dividends, profits, or the value of the issuer' stock (although a rate does not fail to be an objective rate merely because it is based on the credit quality of the issuer). A "qualified inverse floating rate" is any objective rate where such rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, as long as variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the qualified floating rate. The OID Regulations also provide that if a Variable Note provides for stated interest at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by a variable rate that is either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate and if the variable rate on the Variable Note's issue date is intended to approximate the fixed rate (e.g., the value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of the fixed rate by more than 25 basis points), then the fixed rate and the variable rate together will constitute either a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, as the case may be. If a Variable Note that provides for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term thereof qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations and if the interest on such Note is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually, then all stated interest on the Note will constitute qualified stated interest and will be taxed accordingly. Thus, a Variable Note that provides for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term thereof and that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations will generally not be treated as having been issued with original issue discount unless the Variable Note is issued at a "true" discount (i.e., at a price below the Note's stated principal amount) in excess of a specified de minimis amount. The amount of qualified stated interest and the amount of original issue discount, if any, that accrues during an accrual period on such a Variable Note is determined under the rules applicable to fixed rate debt instruments by assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to (i) in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value, as of the issue date, of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or (ii) in the case of an objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate), a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Variable Note. The qualified stated interest allocable to an accrual period is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest assumed to be paid during the accrual period pursuant to the foregoing rules. In general, any other Variable Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" will be converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument for purposes of determining the amount and accrual of original issue discount and qualified stated interest on the Variable Note. The OID Regulations generally require that such a Variable Note be converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument by substituting any qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate provided for under the terms of the Variable Note with a fixed rate equal to the value of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be, as of the Variable Note's issue date. Any objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate) provided for under the terms of the Variable Note is converted into a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Variable Note. In the case of a Variable Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt S-24 26 instrument" and provides for stated interest at a fixed rate in addition to either one or more qualified floating rates or a qualified inverse floating rate, the fixed rate is initially converted into a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, if the Variable Note provides for a qualified inverse floating rate). Under such circumstances, the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the Variable Note as of the Variable Note's issue date is approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for either the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate rather than the fixed rate. Subsequent to converting the fixed rate into either a qualified floating rate or a qualified inverse floating rate, the Variable Note is then converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument in the manner described above. Once the Variable Note is converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument pursuant to the foregoing rules, the amount of original issue discount and qualified stated interest, if any, are determined for the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument by applying the general original issue discount rules to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument and a U.S. Holder of the Variable Note will account for such original issue discount and qualified stated interest as if the U.S. Holder held the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument. Each accrual period appropriate adjustments will be made to the amount of qualified stated interest or original issue discount assumed to have been accrued or paid with respect to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument in the event that such amounts differ from the actual amount of interest accrued or paid on the Variable Note during the accrual period. If a Variable Note does not qualify as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations, then the Variable Note would be treated as a contingent payment debt obligation. U.S. Holders should be aware that on June 11, 1996, the Treasury Department issued final regulations (the "CPDI Regulations") concerning the proper United States Federal income tax treatment of contingent payment debt instruments. In general, the CPDI Regulations cause the timing and character of income, gain or loss reported on a contingent payment debt instrument to substantially differ from the timing and character of income, gain or loss reported on a contingent payment debt instrument under general principles of current United States Federal income tax law. Specifically, the CPDI Regulations generally require a U.S. Holder of such an instrument to include future contingent and noncontingent interest payments in income as such interest accrues based upon a projected payment schedule. Moreover, in general, under the CPDI Regulations, any gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, or retirement of a contingent payment debt instrument will be treated as ordinary income and all or a portion of any loss realized could be treated as ordinary loss as opposed to capital loss (depending upon the circumstances). The CPDI Regulations apply to debt instruments issued on or after August 13, 1996. The proper United States Federal income tax treatment of Variable Notes that are treated as contingent payment debt obligations will be more fully described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Furthermore, any other special United States Federal income tax considerations, not otherwise discussed herein, which are applicable to any particular issue of Notes will be discussed in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Certain of the Notes (i) may be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to their stated maturity (a "call option") and/or (ii) may be repayable at the option of the holder prior to their stated maturity (a "put option"). Notes containing such features may be subject to rules that differ from the general rules discussed above. Investors intending to purchase Notes with such features should consult their own tax advisors, since the original issue discount consequences will depend, in part, on the particular terms and features of the purchased Notes. U.S. Holders may generally, upon election, include in income all interest (including stated interest, acquisition discount, original issue discount, de minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount, and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium) that accrues on a debt instrument by using the constant yield method applicable to original issue discount, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. SHORT-TERM NOTES. Notes that have a fixed maturity of one year or less ("Short-Term Notes") will be treated as having been issued with original issue discount. In general, an individual or other cash method U.S. Holder is not required to accrue such original issue discount unless the U.S. Holder elects to do so. If such an S-25 27 election is not made, any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or maturity of the Short-Term Note will be ordinary income to the extent of the original issue discount accrued on a straight-line basis, or upon election under the constant yield method (based on daily compounding), through the date of sale or maturity, and a portion of the deductions otherwise allowable to the U.S. Holder for interest on borrowings allocable to the Short-Term Note will be deferred until a corresponding amount of income is realized. U.S. Holders who report income for United States Federal income tax purposes under the accrual method, and certain other holders including banks and dealers in securities, are required to accrue original issue discount on a Short-Term Note on a straight-line basis unless an election is made to accrue the original issue discount under a constant yield method (based on daily compounding). MARKET DISCOUNT. If a U.S. Holder purchases a Note, other than an Original Issue Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its issue price (or, in the case of a subsequent purchaser, its stated redemption price at maturity) or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its adjusted issue price as of the purchase date, such U.S. Holder will be treated as having purchased such Note at a "market discount," unless such market discount is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, a U.S. Holder will be required to treat any partial principal payment (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Note, any payment that does not constitute qualified stated interest) on, or any gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a Note as ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of such payment or realized gain or (ii) the market discount which has not previously been included in income and is treated as having accrued on such Note at the time of such payment or disposition. Market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of the Note, unless the U.S. Holder elects to accrue market discount under a constant yield method. A U.S. Holder may be required to defer the deduction of all or a portion of the interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry a Note with market discount until the maturity of the Note or certain earlier dispositions, because a current deduction is only allowed to the extent the interest expense exceeds an allocable portion of market discount. A U.S. Holder may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or constant yield basis), in which case the rules described above regarding the treatment as ordinary income of gain upon the disposition of the Note and upon the receipt of certain cash payments and regarding the deferral of interest deductions will not apply. Generally, such currently included market discount is treated as ordinary interest for United States Federal income tax purposes. Such an election will apply to all debt instruments acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which such election applies and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. PREMIUM. If a U.S. Holder purchases a Note for an amount that is greater than the sum of all amounts payable on the Note after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, such U.S. Holder will be considered to have purchased the Note with "amortizable bond premium" equal in amount to such excess. A U.S. Holder may elect to amortize such premium using a constant yield method over the remaining term of the Note and may offset interest otherwise required to be included in respect of the Note during any taxable year by the amortized amount of such excess for the taxable year. However, if the Note may be optionally redeemed after the U.S. Holder acquires it at a price in excess of its stated redemption price at maturity, special rules would apply which could result in a deferral of the amortization of some bond premium until later in the term of the Note. Any election to amortize bond premium applies to all taxable debt instruments acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which such election applies and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. DISPOSITION OF A NOTE. Except as discussed above, upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement (other than amounts representing accrued and unpaid interest) and such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Note. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in a Note generally will equal such U.S. Holder's initial investment in the Note increased by any original issue discount included in income (and accrued market discount, if any, if the U.S. Holder has included such market discount in income) and S-26 28 decreased by the amount of any payments, other than qualified stated interest payments, received and amortizable bond premium taken with respect to such Note. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Note were held for more than one year. FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES. The proper United States Federal income tax treatment of Foreign Currency notes will be described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. NON-U.S. HOLDERS A non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United States Federal income taxes on payments of principal, premium (if any) or interest (including original issue discount, if any) on a Note, unless such non-U.S. Holder is a direct or indirect 10% or greater shareholder of the Company, a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company or a bank receiving interest described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code. To qualify for the exemption from taxation, the last United States payor in the chain of payment prior to payment to a non-U.S. Holder (the "Withholding Agent") must have received in the year in which a payment of interest or principal occurs, or in either of the two preceding calendar years, a statement that (i) is signed by the beneficial owner of the Note under penalties of perjury, (ii) certifies that such owner is not a U.S. Holder and (iii) provides the name and address of the beneficial owner. The statement may be made on an IRS Form W-8 or a substantially similar form, and the beneficial owner must inform the Withholding Agent of any change in the information on the statement within 30 days of such change. If a Note is held through a securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions, the organization or institution may provide a signed statement to the Withholding Agent. However, in such case, the signed statement must be accompanied by a copy of the IRS Form W-8 or the substitute form provided by the beneficial owner to the organization or institution. The Treasury Department is considering implementation of further certification requirements aimed at determining whether the issuer of a debt obligation is related to holders thereof. Final regulations dealing with withholding tax on income paid to foreign persons and related matters (the "New Withholding Regulations") were issued by the Treasury Department on October 6, 1997. The New Withholding Regulations will generally be effective for payments made after December 31, 1999, subject to certain transition rules. Prospective Non-U.S. Holders are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the New Withholding Regulations. Generally, a non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to Federal income taxes on any amount which constitutes capital gain upon retirement or disposition of a Note, provided the gain is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the non-U.S. Holder. Certain other exceptions may be applicable, and a non-U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisor in this regard. The Notes will not be includible in the estate of a non-U.S. Holder unless the individual is a direct or indirect 10% or greater shareholder of the Company or, at the time of such individual's death, payments in respect of the Notes would have been effectively connected with the conduct by such individual of a trade or business in the United States. BACKUP WITHHOLDING Backup withholding of United States Federal income tax at a rate of 31% may apply to payments made in respect of the Notes to registered owners who are not "exempt recipients" and who fail to provide certain identifying information (such as the registered owner's taxpayer identification number) in the required manner. Generally, individuals are not exempt recipients, whereas corporations and certain other entities generally are exempt recipients. Payments made in respect of the Notes to a U.S. Holder must be reported to the IRS, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient or establishes an exemption. Compliance with the identification procedures described in the preceding section would establish an exemption from backup withholding for those non-U.S. Holders who are not exempt recipients. In addition, upon the sale of a Note to (or through) a broker, the broker must withhold 31% of the entire purchase price, unless either (i) the broker determines that the seller is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) the seller provides, in the required manner, certain identifying information and, in the case of a non-U.S. Holder, certifies that such seller is a non-U.S. Holder (and certain other conditions are met). Such S-27 29 a sale must also be reported by the broker to the IRS, unless either (i) the broker determines that the seller is an exempt recipient or (ii) the seller certifies its non-U.S. status (and certain other conditions are met). Certification of the registered owner's non-U.S. status would be made normally on an IRS Form W-8 under penalties of perjury, although in certain cases it may be possible to submit other documentary evidence. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a beneficial owner would be allowed as a refund or a credit against such beneficial owner's United States Federal income tax provided the required information is furnished to the IRS. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Notes are being offered on a continuing basis for sale by the Company to or through Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (the "Agents"). The Agents, individually or in a syndicate, may purchase Notes, as principal, from the Company from time to time for resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices relating to prevailing market prices at the time of resale as determined by the applicable Agent or, if so specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, for resale at a fixed offering price. If agreed to by the Company and an Agent, such Agent may also utilize its reasonable efforts on an agency basis to solicit offers to purchase the Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The Company will pay a commission to an Agent, ranging from .125% to .750% of the principal amount of each Note, depending upon its stated maturity, sold through such Agent as an agent of the Company. Commissions with respect to Notes with stated maturities in excess of 30 years that are sold through an Agent as an agent of the Company will be negotiated between the Company and such Agent at the time of such sale. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any Note sold to an Agent as principal will be purchased by such Agent at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof less a percentage of the principal amount equal to the commission applicable to an agency sale of a Note of identical maturity. An Agent may sell Notes it has purchased from the Company as principal to certain dealers less a concession equal to all or any portion of the discount received in connection with such purchase. Such Agent may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount to certain other dealers. After the initial offering of Notes, the offering price (in the case of Notes to be resold on a fixed offering price basis), the concession and the reallowance may be changed. The Company reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer made hereby without notice and may reject offers in whole or in part (whether placed directly with the Company or through an Agent). Each Agent will have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject in whole or in part any offer to purchase Notes received by it on an agency basis. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payment of the purchase price of the Notes will be required to be made in immediately available funds in the Specified Currency in The City of New York on the date of settlement. See "Description of Notes--General." Upon issuance, the Notes will not have an established trading market. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. The Agents may from time to time purchase and sell Notes in the secondary market, but the Agents are not obligated to do so, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the Notes or that there will be liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. From time to time, the Agents may make a market in the Notes, but the Agents are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activity at any time. In connection with an offering of Notes purchased by one or more Agents as principal on a fixed offering price basis, such Agent(s) will be permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of Notes. Such transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of Notes. If the Agent creates or the Agents create, as the case may be, a short position in Notes, i.e., if it sells or they sell Notes in an aggregate principal amount exceeding that set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement, such Agent(s) may reduce that short position by purchasing Notes in the open market. In S-28 30 general, purchases of Notes for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of Notes to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. Neither the Company nor any of the Agents makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described in the immediately preceding paragraph may have on the price of Notes. In addition, neither the Company nor any of the Agents makes any representation that the Agents will engage in any such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice. The Agents may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company has agreed to indemnify the Agents against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Agents may be required to make in respect thereof. The Company has agreed to reimburse the Agents for certain other expenses. In the ordinary course of its business, the Agents and their affiliates have engaged and may in the future engage in investment and commercial banking transactions with the Company and certain of its affiliates. From time to time, the Company may issue and sell other Debt Securities described in the accompanying Prospectus, and the amount of Notes offered hereby is subject to reduction as a result of such sales. S-29 31 Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the registration statement becomes effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. PROSPECTUS Subject to Completion, Dated September 29, 1998 $500,000,000 CABOT CORPORATION DEBT SECURITIES ------------------------ Cabot Corporation ("Cabot" and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the "Company") may offer from time to time in one or more series unsecured debt securities ("Debt Securities ") with an aggregate public offering price of up to $500,000,000, in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. The Debt Securities may be offered in separate series in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (each a "Prospectus Supplement"). The specific terms of the Debt Securities for which this Prospectus is being delivered (the "Offered Securities") will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and will include, where applicable, the specific title, aggregate principal amount, ranking, currency, form (which may be registered or bearer, or certificated or global), authorized denominations, maturity, rate (or manner of calculation thereof) and time of payment of interest, terms for redemption at the option of Cabot or repayment at the option of the holder, terms for sinking fund payments, covenants and any initial public offering price. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where appropriate, about certain United States federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the Debt Securities covered by such Prospectus Supplement. The Debt Securities may be offered directly, through agents designated from time to time by Cabot or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution." Except as otherwise permitted by law, no Debt Securities may be sold without delivery of a Prospectus Supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such Debt Securities. ------------------------ THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. ------------------------ The date of this Prospectus is October , 1998 32 AVAILABLE INFORMATION Cabot is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such materials can be obtained upon written request from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, the Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), the Boston Stock Exchange and the Pacific Exchange. Such materials can be inspected and copied at the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, the Boston Stock Exchange, One Boston Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02108, or the Pacific Exchange, 301 Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104. Cabot files information electronically with the Commission, and the Commission maintains a Web Site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants (including the Company) that file electronically with the Commission. The address of the Commission's Web Site is (http://www.sec.gov). Cabot has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the Debt Securities. This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and financial schedules thereto, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. The Registration Statement, including exhibits thereto, may be inspected and copied at the locations described above. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents previously filed by Cabot with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference: (i) Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 (File No. 1-5667) and (ii) Cabot's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 1998, March 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997. All documents filed by Cabot pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of all Debt Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein (or in an applicable Prospectus Supplement) or in any subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, except as so modified or superseded. ANY PERSON RECEIVING A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS MAY OBTAIN, WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST, A COPY OF ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN, EXCEPT FOR THE EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS. WRITTEN REQUESTS SHOULD BE MAILED TO SARAH W. SAUNDERS, SECRETARY, CABOT CORPORATION, 75 STATE STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109. TELEPHONE REQUESTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO MS. SAUNDERS AT (617) 345-0100. 2 33 FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This Prospectus, including any related Prospectus Supplement and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "assume" and other similar expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. In addition, information relating to periods after the date of this Prospectus or the related Prospectus Supplement are forward-looking statements. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are in some cases beyond the control of the Company and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, the following: market supply and demand conditions, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, cost of raw materials, demand for customers" products and competitors' reactions to market conditions. Timely commercialization of products under development by the Company may be disrupted or delayed by technical difficulties, market acceptance, competitors' new products, as well as difficulties in moving from the experimental stage to the production stage. THE COMPANY Cabot Corporation, a Delaware corporation, has its principal executive offices at 75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-1806 (telephone: (617) 345-0100). Unless the context requires otherwise, the term "Company" means Cabot Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the term "Cabot" means Cabot Corporation. Cabot's business was founded in 1882 and incorporated in the State of Delaware in 1960. The Company is a corporation with businesses in specialty chemicals and materials and in liquefied natural gas ("LNG"). The Company has facilities in the United States and more than 20 other countries. The Company's specialty chemicals and materials businesses manufacture or produce carbon black, fumed silica, high purity polishing compounds, thermoplastic concentrates and specialty compounds, certain elements and their alloys for the electronic materials and refractory metals industries, colorant products for use in inkjet printing applications, and cesium formate drilling fluids. Carbon black is a fine powder used as a reinforcing agent in tires and industrial rubber products such as extruded profiles, hoses and molded goods. Non-rubber grades of carbon black, known as special blacks, are used to provide pigmentation, conductivity and ultraviolet protection and for other purposes in many speciality applications such as inks, plastics, cables and coatings. Fumed silica is an ultra-fine, high-purity silica used as a reinforcing, thickening, thixotropic, suspending or anti-caking agent in a wide variety of products for the automotive, construction and consumer products industries, including adhesives, cosmetics, inks, silicon rubber, coatings and pharmaceuticals. High-purity polishing compounds, made from fumed metal oxides and a variety of chemistries, are used in the manufacture of integrated circuit chips and other electronic devices by the semiconductor industry. The Company produces black and white thermoplastics concentrates and specialty compounds for sale to plastic resin producers and the plastics processing industry. Major applications for these materials include pipe and tubing, packaging and agricultural film, automotive components, cable sheathing and special packaging for use in the electronics industry. The Company also produces tantalum in various forms including powder and wire for electronic capacitors. The Company produces tantalum and niobium and their alloys in wrought form for non-electronic applications such as chemical process equipment and the production of superalloys, and for various other industrial and aerospace applications. The Company manufactures colorant products for use in inkjet printing applications and which are targeted to various printing markets, including home and office printers, wideformat printers, and commercial and industrial printing applications. The Company's pigment-based colorants, designed to replace traditional pigment dispersions and dyes, deliver enhanced color, stability, durability, ink formulation flexibility and high print quality. The Company is developing cesium brine to be marketed as a drilling and 3 34 completion fluid for use in high temperature and high pressure drilling of oil and gas wells. This brine has a high density but, because it has no solid additives, it has a low viscosity permitting it to flow readily; it is resistant to high temperatures and yet it is biodegradable. After restructuring the Company's safety products and specialty composites business in July 1995, the Company maintains an approximately 42.5% ownership interest in Aearo Corporation, and has the right to designate two nominees for election as directors. Aearo Corporation manufactures and sells personal safety products, as well as energy absorbing, vibration damping and impact absorbing products for industrial noise control and environmental enhancement. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cabot LNG Corporation, purchases LNG from foreign suppliers, and stores and resells it in both vapor and liquid form in the northeast United States through a terminal facility in Everett, Massachusetts. USE OF PROCEEDS Unless otherwise described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of outstanding debt. Pending such uses, the proceeds may be invested temporarily in short-term securities. RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES The Company's ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended June 30, 1998 was 5.0x, and for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993 was 3.6x, 7.3x, 7.5x, 3.6x and 2.5x, respectively. For purposes of computing this ratio, earnings have been calculated by adding fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest) to income (loss) before income taxes and extraordinary items. Fixed charges consist of interest costs, whether expensed or capitalized, the interest component of rental expense, and the amortization of debt discounts and issue costs, whether expensed or capitalized. DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES The Debt Securities will be issued under an Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, as amended and supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 17, 1992 and a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 31, 1997 (collectively and as amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Indenture"). State Street Bank and Trust Company is the current trustee under the Indenture (the "Trustee"). The Indenture is subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The following summary of certain provisions of the Debt Securities and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual provisions of the Debt Securities and the Indenture. A copy of the Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. GENERAL Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for the terms of the Offered Securities: (1) the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities; (2) the percentage of their principal amount at which the Offered Securities will be issued, if issued at a discount from their principal amount; (3) the date on which the Offered Securities will mature; (4) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum at which the Offered Securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such interest rates will be determined; (5) the times at which such interest, if any, will be payable; (6) the date, if any, after which the Offered Securities may be redeemed at the option of Cabot or the Holder (as defined in the Indenture) and the redemption price; (7) the terms of any redemption, whether mandatory or optional; (8) the denominations in which the Offered Securities are authorized to be issued; (9) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency 4 35 (including composite currencies) in which payment of principal of (and premium if any) and interest (if any) on such Offered Securities shall be payable; and (10) any other terms of the Offered Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture. Except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, the Offered Securities will be issued in fully registered form only, in denominations set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, and may be transferred or exchanged upon payment of a fee, if applicable, to cover any tax or other governmental charge in connection therewith (Section 2.06 of the Indenture). Except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) will be payable, and the Offered Securities may be exchanged or transferred, at the principal office of the Trustee in Boston, Massachusetts, or at a paying agency maintained by Cabot, except that, at Cabot's option, interest may be paid by its check mailed to the registered Holders of the Offered Securities (Sections 2.03 and 4.02 of the Indenture). The Indenture provides that, in addition to any Debt Securities offered hereby, additional debt securities may be issued thereunder, without limitation as to the aggregate principal amount. The Indenture does not limit the incurrence by the Company of other unsecured debt and unsubordinated debt and does not limit the incurrence of secured debt by subsidiaries of Cabot which are not Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined below). As of the date of this Prospectus, Cabot has issued debt securities outstanding under the Indenture in the aggregate principal amount of $245,000,000 of various Series A Medium-Term Notes due from the year 2002 to the year 2027 with a weighted average interest rate of 7.5%. The Debt Securities will be unsecured obligations of Cabot and will rank equally with other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of Cabot (if any). The Debt Securities are unsecured obligations exclusively of Cabot. Cabot's source of payment of the Debt Securities are revenues from operations conducted directly by it and advances and dividends from its subsidiaries. Because a material amount of Cabot's consolidated assets and revenues are accounted for by its subsidiaries, Cabot's cash flow and consequent ability to service its debt (including the Debt Securities) are dependent upon the earnings of such subsidiaries and other companies in which Cabot has investments and the distribution of those earnings to Cabot. To the extent Cabot must rely on earnings of its subsidiaries and other companies in which it has an investment to pay amounts owed on the Debt Securities, the Debt Securities will be effectively subordinated to all liabilities, including trade payables, of Cabot's subsidiaries and such other companies, except to the extent that claims of Cabot itself as a creditor of such companies may be recognized. PERMANENT GLOBAL SECURITIES If any Debt Securities of a series are issuable in permanent global form, the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto will describe the circumstances, if any, under which beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Debt Security may exchange such interests for Debt Securities of such series and like tenor of any authorized form and denomination. A person having a beneficial interest in a permanent global Debt Security will, except with respect to payment of premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such permanent global Debt Security, be treated as a holder of such principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities represented by such permanent global Debt Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Holder of such permanent global Debt Security. Principal of and premium (if any) and interest (if any) on a permanent global Debt Security will be payable in the manner described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS The following terms are defined in more detail in Section 4.01 of the Indenture: "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means total assets of Cabot and its Restricted Subsidiaries less (1) total current liabilities (excluding long-term debt due within 12 months), (2) certain intangibles and (3) equity in and net advances to subsidiaries that are not Restricted Subsidiaries. "Debt" means any debt for money borrowed and any guarantees of such debt but excludes non-recourse debt for money borrowed incurred (1) to develop or exploit oil, gas, or other mineral property and (2) to develop electrical generating facilities. 5 36 "Exempted Debt" means the total of the following incurred after December 1, 1987: (1) the outstanding principal amount of Debt of Cabot and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by any Lien other than a Lien permitted under clauses (1) through (9) below under the subcaption "Limitations on Liens," and (2) the aggregate present value of rent due under leases of Cabot and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the remaining term of such leases, other than rent arising from a permitted Sale-Leaseback Transaction described in clauses (1) through (4) below under the subcaption "Limitation on Sale and Leaseback." "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, or lien. "Principal Property" means (1) real property, plants or buildings owned or leased by Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary located in the United States with a gross book value, excluding depreciation, in excess of 2% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, (2) majority working interests in oil and gas properties located in the United States owned by Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary which are classified by Cabot or such Restricted Subsidiary as capable of producing commercial quantities from existing production, gathering and transporting facilities and (3) any other property designated as such. "Restricted Property" means Principal Property and Debt or stock of a Restricted Subsidiary. "Restricted Subsidiary" means a subsidiary the assets of which are primarily located in, or the business of which is primarily carried on in, the United States (except Cabot's subsidiaries engaged in the liquefied natural gas business), that is not engaged in certain businesses of finance, real estate or insurance, and any subsidiary that may be designated in the future as a Restricted Subsidiary by Cabot's Board of Directors. "Sale-Leaseback Transaction" means an arrangement pursuant to which Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers Principal Property to a third person and leases it back from such person. CERTAIN COVENANTS Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, the following covenants of Cabot described under this caption are applicable to Debt Securities of all series issued under the Indenture. The covenants in the Indenture apply to Cabot and its Restricted Subsidiaries. Less than a majority of Cabot's consolidated assets are accounted for by Cabot and its Restricted Subsidiaries. Limitation on Liens. Cabot may not, and may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, incur a Lien on Restricted Property to secure a Debt without making effective provision to secure the Debt Securities equally and ratably with such Debt unless: (1) the Lien is on such Property at the time the corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; (2) the Lien is on such Property at the time Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary acquires or leases such Property; (3) the Lien secures Debt incurred to finance all or some of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property of Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary (including substantially unimproved real property of Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary); (4) the Lien secures a Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to Cabot or another wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary; (5) the Lien is on property of a corporation at the time the corporation merges into or consolidates with Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary; (6) the Lien is on property of a person at the time the person transfers or leases all or substantially all of its assets to Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary; (7) the Lien is in favor of a government or governmental entity and secures (i) payment pursuant to a contract or statute, or (ii) Debt incurred to finance all or some of the purchase price or cost of construction of the property subject to the Lien; (8) the Lien extends, renews, refunds or replaces in whole or in part a Lien referred to in clauses (1) through (7) above; or (9) the Lien is on oil, gas or other mineral property or on products or by-products produced or extracted from that property to secure non-recourse Debt or is on any electrical generating facility to secure non-recourse debt. Notwithstanding the above provisions, Cabot or any Restricted Subsidiary may, without equally and ratably securing the Debt Securities, grant a Lien securing Debt which would otherwise be prohibited by the limitations described above if, at the time of granting such Lien and after giving effect to any Debt secured by such Lien, Exempted Debt does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (Section 4.03 of the Indenture). Limitation on Sale and Leaseback. Cabot may not and may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into a Sale-Leaseback Transaction unless: (1) the lease has a term including renewal rights of three years or less; (2) the lease is between Cabot and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries; 6 37 (3) Cabot or the Restricted Subsidiary, pursuant to clause (3) or (7) contained under the subcaption "Limitation on Liens" above, could create a Lien on the Property to secure Debt; or (4) Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary receiving the proceeds from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, within 180 days after it is consummated, applies, or commits to apply, the proceeds or, if greater, the fair market value of the property as determined by Cabot's Board of Directors, to (a) the acquisition of Restricted Property, including the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of Principal Property, or (b) if permitted by the terms thereof, the redemption of securities of any series under the redemption provisions of the Indenture and such securities or the retirement or redemption of other Long-Term Debt of Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary. However, no credit may be received for (i) the retirement of other Long-Term Debt at maturity or the redemption of securities or other Long-Term Debt pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, or (ii) the retirement or redemption of any Long-Term Debt that is subordinated or junior to the securities or owed by Cabot to a Restricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the above prohibitions, Cabot or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale-Leaseback Transaction if, at the time of entering into the transaction and after giving effect to it, Exempted Debt does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (Section 4.04 of the Indenture). Limitation on Sale or Transfer of Restricted Property. Cabot may not, and it may not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell any Restricted Property to an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless it applies, or commits to apply, an amount equal to the fair market value of such Restricted Property at the time of such sale or transfer, as determined by the Board of Directors of Cabot, within 18 months after the effective date of the transaction, to (a) the acquisition of Restricted Property, including the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of Principal Property, or (b) if permitted by the terms thereof, the redemption of securities of any series under the redemption provisions of the Indenture and such securities or the retirement or redemption of other Long-Term Debt of Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary. However, no credit may be received for (i) the retirement of other Long-Term Debt at maturity or the redemption of securities or other Long-Term Debt pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, or (ii) the retirement or redemption of any Long-Term Debt that is subordinated or junior to the securities or owed by Cabot to a Restricted Subsidiary. (Section 4.05 of the Indenture). CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS Cabot may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, another corporation unless (i) the successor corporation assumes all of the obligations of Cabot under the Indenture and Debt Securities, (ii) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default would occur and be continuing, and (iii) the surviving corporation is organized under the laws of the United States or any State (the term Default includes Events of Default specified below with grace periods). Thereafter all such obligations of Cabot terminate (Section 5.01 of the Indenture). If upon any such consolidation, merger or transfer, any Principal Property would become subject to an attaching Lien that secures Debt, then prior to such event Cabot must secure the Debt Securities by a direct Lien on such Principal Property. The direct Lien may equally and ratably secure the Debt Securities and any other obligation of Cabot or a Subsidiary entitled to such security. However, Cabot need not so secure the Debt Securities if (1) the attaching Lien is permitted under any of clauses (1) through (9) described under the subcaption "Limitation on Liens," or (2) Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary could incur Debt secured by a Lien otherwise subject to the limitations described under the subcaption "Limitation on Liens," because after giving effect to such Debt, Exempted Debt would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (Section 5.02 of the Indenture). EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND NOTICE THEREOF The following are defined in the Indenture as "Events of Default" with respect to any series of Debt Securities then outstanding: failure to pay interest when due on such series, continued for thirty days; failure to pay principal (other than a sinking fund payment) or any premium when due on such series; failure to make any sinking fund payment when due on such series, continued for 10 days; failure to comply with any of Cabot's other agreements in the Indenture or Debt Securities for 90 days after notice by the Trustee or 7 38 Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of Debt Securities of such series then outstanding; default by Cabot or a Restricted Subsidiary under an agreement for money borrowed (including the Indenture) in excess of $25,000,000 resulting in the acceleration of the due date of such debt, if not cured; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of Cabot (Section 6.01 of the Indenture). If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the Trustee or the Holders owning at least 25% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal of and accrued interest on the Debt Securities of the respective series (or, if any of the Debt Securities of that series are original issue discount Debt Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Debt Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, but the Holders of a majority in principal amount of such series of Debt Securities then outstanding may, subject to certain conditions, rescind such declaration if the default is cured (Section 6.02 of the Indenture). The Indenture provides that, with respect to each series, the Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a Default known to it, give Holders of the Debt Securities notice of Default; however, the Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Debt Securities notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in the payment of principal, interest or premium, if any) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest (Section 7.05 of the Indenture). Holders of the Debt Securities of any series may not enforce the Indenture or the Debt Securities of such series except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it from the Holders requesting the Trustee to enforce the Indenture or Debt Securities before doing so (Section 6.06 of the Indenture). With respect to any series, Holders owning a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series then outstanding may waive existing past Events of Default with respect to such series except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debt Securities of such series (Section 6.04 of the Indenture). Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a series then outstanding shall have the right, subject to certain limitations, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to that series (Section 6.05 of the Indenture). The Indenture provides that Cabot must file annually with the Trustee a statement regarding compliance with the terms of the Indenture with respect to each series outstanding and specifying any default of which the signers may have knowledge (Section 4.07 of the Indenture). MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE The Indenture provides that Cabot and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture for various purposes not inconsistent with the terms of the Indenture, but none of such changes may adversely affect the rights of any Holder. The Indenture further provides that Cabot and the Trustee may, with the consent of Holders of at least 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of a series then outstanding, amend the Indenture with respect to that series, except that no amendment may, without the consent of each Holder affected, (i) reduce the aforesaid percentage below 66 2/3%, (ii) modify the terms of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Security or (iii) waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Security (Article 9 of the Indenture). DEFEASANCE The Indenture provides that Cabot, at its option, may terminate all of its obligations under the Debt Securities of any or all series and under the Indenture with respect to such series (except for certain obligations regarding the transfer and exchange of such Debt Securities, the obligation to pay amounts due under such Debt Securities and certain obligations relating to the Trustee) if Cabot (i) irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or direct obligations of the United States of America sufficient to pay all principal of (including any mandatory sinking funds payments) and interest and premium, if any, on such Debt Securities to maturity or redemption, and (ii) delivers to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the Holders of such Debt Securities to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes (Section 8.01 of the Indenture). 8 39 TRUSTEE The Trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to such one or more series (Section 7.08 of the Indenture). CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee under the Indenture, is also trustee under another indenture involving an industrial revenue bond financing in the principal amount of $1,000,000 by Cabot. In addition, State Street Bank and Trust Company is part owner of Boston EquiServe LP, the transfer agent for Cabot's common stock, and performs other services for Cabot from time to time in the normal course of business. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Company may sell Debt Securities to or through one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by or through them, directly to one or more individual, institutional or other purchasers, through agents or through any combination of these methods of sale. The distribution of the Debt Securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices (any of which may represent a discount from the prevailing market prices). In connection with the sale of Debt Securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from the Company or from purchasers of Debt Securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions. Underwriters may sell Debt Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers, and agents that participate in the distribution of Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions they receive from the Company, and any profit on the resale of Debt Securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified, and any such compensation received from the Company will be described, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the related Prospectus Supplement, each series of Debt Securities will be a new issue with no established trading market. The Company may elect to list any series of Debt Securities on an exchange, but is not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a series of Debt Securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, the Debt Securities. Under agreements into which the Company may enter, underwriters will be, and dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Debt Securities may be, entitled to indemnification by the Company against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company in the ordinary course of business. If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize dealers or other persons acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Debt Securities from the Company at the public offering price set forth in such Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts ("Contracts") providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in such Prospectus Supplement. Each Contract will be for an amount no less than, and the aggregate principal amounts of Debt Securities sold pursuant to Contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom Contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to the approval of 9 40 the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except (i) the purchase by an institution of the Debt Securities covered by its Contracts shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject, and (ii) if Debt Securities are being sold to underwriters, the Company shall have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of the Debt Securities less the principal amount thereof covered by the Contracts. If in conjunction with the sale of Debt Securities to institutions under Contracts, Debt Securities are also being sold to the public, the consummation of the sale under the Contracts shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the sale to the public. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such Contracts. In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the Debt Securities offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states Debt Securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with. Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the Debt Securities offered hereby may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Debt Securities for a period of two business days prior to the commencement of such distribution. LEGAL MATTERS Certain legal matters, including the legality of the Debt Securities, will be passed upon for the Company by Robert Rothberg and for the Underwriters by Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Rothberg has a substantial interest in Cabot, as defined by the rules of the Commission, in that as of August 31, 1998, Mr. Rothberg was the beneficial owner (as defined by the rules of the Commission) of approximately 130,000 shares of the common stock of Cabot, which shares had a market value of in excess of approximately $3,000,000 as of September 17, 1998. EXPERTS The consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 1997 and 1996 and the consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the period ended September 30, 1997 of Cabot Corporation included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference herein, have been incorporated herein in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing. 10 41 - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE APPLICABLE PRICING SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE APPLICABLE PRICING SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE AGENTS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE APPLICABLE PRICING SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE APPLICABLE PRICING SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. ------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ $500,000,000 CABOT CORPORATION MEDIUM-TERM NOTES DUE NINE MONTHS OR MORE FROM DATE OF ISSUE ------------------------ PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT ------------------------ MERRILL LYNCH & CO. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. J.P. MORGAN & CO. OCTOBER , 1998 ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------
PAGE ---- PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT Risk Factors.......................... S-2 Description of Notes.................. S-4 Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes...................... S-19 Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.................. S-22 Plan of Distribution.................. S-28 PROSPECTUS Available Information................. 2 Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference........................ 2 The Company........................... 3 Use of Proceeds....................... 4 Description of Debt Securities........ 4 Plan of Distribution.................. 9 Legal Matters......................... 10 Experts............................... 10 42 PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered are set forth in the following table (all amounts except the registration fee are estimated): - --------------- All expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be borne by the Company. ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Paragraph (i) of Article EIGHTH of the Restated Certificate of Amendment, as amended, of the Company provides that: (1) No director of this corporation shall be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to this corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or hereafter may be amended, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of this liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the corporation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided herein, shall be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended Delaware General Corporation Law. Any repeal or modification of this Article by the stockholders of this corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director of this corporation for acts or omissions prior to such repeal or modification. (2) No officer or employee of this corporation shall be liable to this corporation for any loss or damage suffered by it on account of any action taken or omitted to be taken by him in good faith as an officer or employee of this corporation, if such person exercised or used the same degree of care and skill as a prudent man would have exercised or used under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. (3) For purposes of determining compliance with this paragraph (i), any director, officer or employee of this corporation shall be deemed to have taken actions or omitted to take actions in good faith if the action taken or omitted to be taken by him or her was taken or omitted in reliance in good faith upon the advice of counsel for this corporation, or the books of account or other records of this corporation, or reports or information made or furnished to this corporation by any official, accountant, engineer, agent, or employee of this corporation, or by any independent public accountant or auditor, counsel, engineer, appraiser, investment banker or other expert retained or employed by this corporation, by the directors, by any committee of the board of directors of this corporation or by any authorized officer of this corporation. II-1
Registration fee............................................ $131,275 Blue Sky fees and expenses.................................. 5,000 Legal fees and expenses..................................... 1,000 Accounting fees and expenses................................ 35,000 Rating agency fees.......................................... 165,000 Printing and engraving expenses............................. 10,000 Miscellaneous............................................... 2,725 -------- TOTAL............................................. $350,000 43 Paragraph (j) of Article EIGHTH of the Restated Certificate of Amendment, as amended, of the Company provides that: The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (and whether or not by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or is or was serving as a fiduciary of any employee benefit plan, fund or program sponsored by the corporation or such other company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as amended from time to time. Such indemnification (unless ordered by a court) shall be made as authorized in a specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Such determination shall be made (1) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. Additionally, Section 14.1 of the Company's Bylaws provide that: The corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time under the law of the State of Delaware, indemnify and upon request shall advance expenses to any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding, claim or counterclaim, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was or has agreed to be a director, officer, employee or agent of this corporation or while a director, officer, employee or agent is or was serving at the request of this corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, fiduciary, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against expenses (including attorney's fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement or incurred in connection with the investigation, preparation to defend or defense of such action, suit, proceeding, claim or counterclaim; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not require this corporation to indemnify or advance expenses to any person in connection with any action, suit, proceeding, claim or counterclaim initiated by or on behalf of such person, other than an action to enforce indemnification rights. Such indemnification shall not be exclusive of other indemnification rights arising under any agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of such person. Any such person seeking indemnification under this Section 14.1 shall be deemed to have met the standard of conduct required for such indemnification unless the contrary shall be established. The corporation shall have the power to provide indemnification and advance expenses to any other person, including stockholders purporting to act on behalf of the corporation, to the extent permitted by the law of the State of Delaware. Pursuant to Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("GCL"), the Company generally has the power to indemnify its present and future directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses and liabilities incurred by them in connection with any suit to which they are, or are threatened to be made, a party by reason of their serving in such positions so long as they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action, they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. With II-2 44 respect to suits by or in the right of the Company, however, indemnification is generally limited to attorneys' fees and other expenses and is not available if such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless the court determines that indemnification is appropriate. The statute expressly provides that the power to indemnify authorized thereby is not exclusive of any rights granted under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Company maintains directors and officers liability insurance which provides for payment on behalf of a director or officer of certain defined losses arising from claims against such directors or officers by reason of certain defined wrongful acts, subject to certain exclusions. ITEM 16. EXHIBITS. II-3
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ----------- 1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.** 1.2 Form of Distribution Agreement for medium-term notes.* 3(a).1 Certificate of Incorporation of Cabot Corporation restated effective October 24, 1983, as amended February 14, 1985, December 3, 1986, February 19, 1987, November 18, 1988, November 24, 1995 and March 12, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1996, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 24, 1996). 3(b).1 The By-laws of Cabot Corporation as of January 11, 1991 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1991, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 10, 1995, between Cabot Corporation and The First National Bank of Boston as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on November 13, 1995). 4.2 Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, between Cabot Corporation and The First National Bank of Boston, Trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of Amendment No. 1 to Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 33-18883, filed with the Commission on December 10, 1987). 4.3 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 17, 1992, to Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, between Cabot Corporation and The First National Bank of Boston, Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration Statement No. 33-48686, filed with the Commission on June 18, 1992). 4.4 Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 31, 1997 between Cabot Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 1996, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on February 14, 1997). 5.1 Opinion of Robert Rothberg, Esq. as to the legality of the Debt Securities being registered.* 10.1 Credit Agreement, dated as of January 3, 1997, among Cabot Corporation, the banks listed therein and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1997, file reference I-5667, filed with the Commission on May 14, 1997). 10.2 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 33-28699, filed with the Commission on May 12, 1989). 10.3 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 28 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-03683, filed with the Commission on May 14, 1996). 45 II-4
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ----------- 10.4 Note Purchase Agreement between John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee for the Cabot Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and Cabot Corporation, dated as of November 15, 1988 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1988, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 29, 1988). 10.5 Supplemental Cash Balance Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(i) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.6 Supplemental Employee Stock Ownership Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(ii) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.7 Supplemental Retirement Incentive Savings Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(iii) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.8 Supplemental Employee Benefit Agreement with John G.L. Cabot (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(f) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1987, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 28, 1987). 10.9 Cabot Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan dated January 1, 1995 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(v) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1995, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 29, 1995). 10.10 Amendment 1997-I to Cabot Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan dated June 30, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(d)(v) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 24, 1997). 10.11 Form of severance agreement entered into between Cabot Corporation and various managers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(g) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1991, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 10.12 Group Annuity Contract No. GA-6121 between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated June 28, 1991 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(h) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1991, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 10.13 Non-employee Directors' Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A of Cabot's Proxy Statement for its 1992 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 10.14 Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Liquefied Natural Gas and Transportation Agreement, dated April 13, 1976, between L'Entreprise Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation et la Commercialisation des Hydrocarbures ("Sonatrach") and Distrigas Corporation, and Amendment No. 3 to said Agreement, dated February 21, 1988 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(j) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.15 Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Liquefied Natural Gas, dated December 11, 1988, between Sonatrading Amsterdam B.V. ("Sonatrading") and Distrigas Corporation and Transportation Agreement, dated December 11, 1988, between Sonatrach and Distrigas Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(p) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1989, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 28, 1989). 46 - --------------- * Filed herewith ** To be filed by amendment ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS. (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any acts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) herein do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic II-5
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ----------- 10.16 Mutual Assurances Agreements among Cabot Corporation, Sonatrach, Distrigas Corporation and Sonatrading dated February 21, 1988 and December 11, 1988, respectively (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Cabot's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 17, 1992, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission). 10.17 K N Energy, Inc. By-law provision (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(o)(iv) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.18 Asset Transfer Agreement, dated as of June 13, 1995, among Cabot Safety Corporation, Cabot Canada Ltd., Cabot Safety Limited, Cabot Corporation, Cabot Safety Holdings Corporation and Cabot Safety Acquisition Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2(a) of Cabot Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 11, 1995, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission). 10.19 Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of July 11, 1995, among Vestar Equity Partners, L.P., Cabot CSC Corporation, Cabot Safety Holdings Corporation, Cabot Corporation and various other parties thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2(b) of Cabot Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 11, 1995, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission). 10.20 Cabot Corporation Senior Management Severance Protection Plan, effective January 9, 1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997.) 10.21 Cabot Corporation Key Employee Severance Protection Plan, effective January 9, 1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997.) 12.1 Calculation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998.) 23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.* 23.2 Consent of Robert Rothberg, Esq. (Included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto). 24.1 Power of Attorney.* 25.1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee. (Incorporated by reference from Statement of Eligibility dated January 29, 1997 filed by State Street Bank and Trust Company.) 47 reports filed by the undersigned registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement; (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) The registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) The registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest annual report to securityholders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information. (d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. (e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If the public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering. (f) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. II-6 48 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Cabot Corporation certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston, Massachusetts on the 29th day of September, 1998. CABOT CORPORATION By: /s/ SAMUEL W. BODMAN ---------------------------------------- SAMUEL W. BODMAN Chairman of the board and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. II-7
SIGNATURE CAPACITY DATE --------- -------- ---- /s/ SAMUEL W. BODMAN Director, Chairman of the Board and September 29, 1998 - --------------------------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer (principal SAMUEL W. BODMAN executive officer) /s/ KENNETT F. BURNES Director, President and Chief Operating September 29, 1998 - --------------------------------------------------- Officer KENNETT F. BURNES /s/ ROBERT L. CULVER Executive Vice President and Chief September 29, 1998 - --------------------------------------------------- Financial Officer (principal financial ROBERT L. CULVER officer) /s/ WILLIAM T. ANDERSON Controller (principal accounting September 29, 1998 - --------------------------------------------------- officer) WILLIAM T. ANDERSON /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- JANE C. BRADLEY /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- JOHN G.L. CABOT /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- JOHN S. CLARKESON /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- ARTHUR L. GOLDSTEIN 49 II-8
SIGNATURE CAPACITY DATE --------- -------- ---- /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- ROBERT P. HENDERSON /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- ARNOLD S. HIATT /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- GAUTAM S. KAJI /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- RODERICK C.G. MACLEOD /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- JOHN H. MCARTHUR /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- JOHN F. O'BRIEN /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- DAVID V. RAGONE /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- CHARLES P. SIESS, JR. /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- MORRIS TANENBAUM /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- LYDIA W. THOMAS /s/ Director September 29, 1998 * - --------------------------------------------------- MARK S. WRIGHTON By: /s/ SARAH W. SAUNDERS September 29, 1998 ---------------------------------------------- SARAH W. SAUNDERS Attorney-in-Fact 50 EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ----------- 1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.** 1.2 Form of Distribution Agreement for medium-term notes.* 3(a).1 Certificate of Incorporation of Cabot Corporation restated effective October 24, 1983, as amended February 14, 1985, December 3, 1986, February 19, 1987, November 18, 1988, November 24, 1995 and March 12, 1996 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(a) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1996, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 24, 1996). 3(b).1 The By-laws of Cabot Corporation as of January 11, 1991 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1991, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 10, 1995, between Cabot Corporation and The First National Bank of Boston as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on November 13, 1995). 4.2 Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, between Cabot Corporation and The First National Bank of Boston, Trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of Amendment No. 1 to Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 33-18883, filed with the Commission on December 10, 1987). 4.3 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 17, 1992, to Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, between Cabot Corporation and The First National Bank of Boston, Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration Statement No. 33-48686, filed with the Commission on June 18, 1992). 4.4 Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 31, 1997 between Cabot Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 1996, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on February 14, 1997). 5.1 Opinion of Robert Rothberg, Esq. as to the legality of the Debt Securities being registered.* 10.1 Credit Agreement, dated as of January 3, 1997, among Cabot Corporation, the banks listed therein and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 1997, file reference I-5667, filed with the Commission on May 14, 1997). 10.2 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 33-28699, filed with the Commission on May 12, 1989). 10.3 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 28 of Cabot's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-03683, filed with the Commission on May 14, 1996). 10.4 Note Purchase Agreement between John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee for the Cabot Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and Cabot Corporation, dated as of November 15, 1988 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1988, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 29, 1988). 10.5 Supplemental Cash Balance Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(i) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.6 Supplemental Employee Stock Ownership Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(ii) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 51
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ----------- 10.7 Supplemental Retirement Incentive Savings Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(iii) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.8 Supplemental Employee Benefit Agreement with John G.L. Cabot (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(f) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1987, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 28, 1987). 10.9 Cabot Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan dated January 1, 1995 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(e)(v) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1995, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 29, 1995). 10.10 Amendment 1997-I to Cabot Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan dated June 30, 1997 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(d)(v) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 24, 1997). 10.11 Form of severance agreement entered into between Cabot Corporation and various managers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(g) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1991, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 10.12 Group Annuity Contract No. GA-6121 between The Prudential Insurance Company of America and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated June 28, 1991 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(h) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1991, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 10.13 Non-employee Directors' Stock Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A of Cabot's Proxy Statement for its 1992 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 27, 1991). 10.14 Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Liquefied Natural Gas and Transportation Agreement, dated April 13, 1976, between L'Entreprise Nationale pour la Recherche, la Production, le Transport, la Transformation et la Commercialisation des Hydrocarbures ("Sonatrach") and Distrigas Corporation, and Amendment No. 3 to said Agreement, dated February 21, 1988 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(j) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.15 Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of Liquefied Natural Gas, dated December 11, 1988, between Sonatrading Amsterdam B.V. ("Sonatrading") and Distrigas Corporation and Transportation Agreement, dated December 11, 1988, between Sonatrach and Distrigas Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(p) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1989, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 28, 1989). 10.16 Mutual Assurances Agreements among Cabot Corporation, Sonatrach, Distrigas Corporation and Sonatrading dated February 21, 1988 and December 11, 1988, respectively (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Cabot's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 17, 1992, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission). 10.17 K N Energy, Inc. By-law provision (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(o)(iv) of Cabot's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1994, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission on December 22, 1994). 10.18 Asset Transfer Agreement, dated as of June 13, 1995, among Cabot Safety Corporation, Cabot Canada Ltd., Cabot Safety Limited, Cabot Corporation, Cabot Safety Holdings Corporation and Cabot Safety Acquisition Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2(a) of Cabot Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 11, 1995, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission). 52 - --------------- * Filed herewith. ** To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference with the offering of the Debt Securities.
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ----------- ----------- 10.19 Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of July 11, 1995, among Vestar Equity Partners, L.P., Cabot CSC Corporation, Cabot Safety Holdings Corporation, Cabot Corporation and various other parties thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2(b) of Cabot Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 11, 1995, file reference 1-5667, filed with the Commission). filed with the Commission). 10.20 Cabot Corporation Senior Management Severance Protection Plan, effective January 9, 1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997.) 10.21 Cabot Corporation Key Employee Severance Protection Plan, effective January 9, 1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) of Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997.) 12.1 Calculation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit to Cabot's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998.) 23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP* 23.2 Consent of Robert Rothberg, Esq. (Included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto). 24.1 Power of Attorney.* 25.1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee. (Incorporated by reference from Statement of Eligibility dated January 29, 1997 filed by State Street Bank and Trust Company.)
1 EXHIBIT 1.2 CABOT CORPORATION $500,000,000 MEDIUM-TERM NOTES DUE NINE MONTHS OR MORE FROM DATE OF ISSUE DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT ___________, 199_ MERRILL LYNCH & CO. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated World Financial Center North Tower, 10th Floor New York, New York 10281-1310 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. 85 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. 60 Wall Street New York, NY 10260 Ladies and Gentlemen: Cabot Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), confirms its agreement with each of Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (each, an "Agent", and collectively, the "Agents") with respect to the issue and sale by the Company of its Medium-Term Notes Due Nine Months or More From Date of Issue (the "Notes"). The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 17, 1992 and a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 31, 1997, and (collectively and as amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Indenture"), between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as successor trustee (the "Trustee"). As of the date hereof, the Company has authorized the issuance and sale of up to U.S. $500,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of Notes (or its equivalent, based upon the exchange rate on the applicable trade date in such foreign or composite currencies as the Company shall designate at the time of issuance) to or through the Agents pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. It is understood, however, that the Company may from time to time authorize the issuance of additional Notes and that such additional Notes may be sold to or through the Agents pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, all as though the issuance of such Notes were authorized as of the date hereof. This Agreement provides both for the sale of Notes by the Company to one or more Agents as principal for resale to investors and other purchasers and for the sale of Notes by the Company directly to investors (as may from time to time be agreed to by the Company and the applicable Agent), in which case the applicable Agent will act as an agent of the Company in soliciting offers for the purchase of Notes. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-________) [and pre-effective amendment[s] no[s]. ________ thereto] for the 2 registration of debt securities, including the Notes, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations"), and the Company has filed such post-effective amendments thereto as may be required prior to any acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes. Such registration statement (as so amended, if applicable) has been declared effective by the Commission and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). Such registration statement (as so amended, if applicable) is referred to herein as the "Registration Statement"; and the final prospectus and all applicable amendments or supplements thereto (including the final prospectus supplement and pricing supplement relating to the offering of Notes), in the form first furnished to the applicable Agent(s), are collectively referred to herein as the "Prospectus"; provided, however, that all references to the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus" shall also be deemed to include all documents incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), prior to any acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes; provided, further, that if the Company files a registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), then, after such filing, all references to the "Registration Statement" shall also be deemed to include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. A "preliminary prospectus" shall be deemed to refer to any prospectus used before the registration statement became effective and any prospectus furnished by the Company after the registration statement became effective and before any acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes which omitted information to be included upon pricing in a form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR"). All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is "disclosed", "contained," "included" or "stated" (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, as the case may be. 1. APPOINTMENT AS AGENT. a. APPOINTMENT. Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and subject to the reservation by the Company of the right to sell Notes directly on its own behalf, the Company hereby agrees that Notes will be sold exclusively to or through the Agents. The Company agrees that it will not appoint any other agents to act on its behalf, or to assist it, in the placement of the Notes. b. SALE OF NOTES. The Company shall not sell or approve the solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes in excess of the amount which shall be authorized by the Company from time to time or in excess of the aggregate initial offering price of Notes registered pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Agents shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the aggregate initial offering price of Notes sold, or of otherwise monitoring the availability of Notes for sale, under the Registration Statement. c. PURCHASES AS PRINCIPAL. The Agents shall not have any obligation to purchase Notes from the Company as principal. However, absent an agreement between an Agent and the Company that such Agent shall be acting solely as an agent for the Company, such Agent shall be deemed to be 2 3 acting as principal in connection with any offering of Notes by the Company through such Agent. Accordingly, the Agents, individually or in a syndicate, may agree from time to time to purchase Notes from the Company as principal for resale to investors and other purchasers determined by such Agents. Any purchase of Notes from the Company by an Agent as principal shall be made in accordance with Section 3(a) hereof. d. SOLICITATIONS AS AGENT. If agreed upon between an Agent and the Company, such Agent, acting solely as an agent for the Company and not as principal, will solicit offers for the purchase of Notes. Such Agent will communicate to the Company, orally, each offer for the purchase of Notes solicited by it on an agency basis other than those offers rejected by such Agent. Such Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any offer for the purchase of Notes, in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its agreement contained herein. The Company may accept or reject any offer for the purchase of Notes, in whole or in part. Such Agent shall make reasonable efforts to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer for the purchase of Notes has been solicited by it on an agency basis and accepted by the Company. Such Agent shall not have any liability to the Company in the event that any such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Company shall default on its obligation to deliver Notes to a purchaser whose offer has been solicited by such Agent on an agency basis and accepted by the Company, the Company shall (i) hold such Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (ii) pay to such Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. e. RELIANCE. The Company and the Agents agree that any Notes purchased from the Company by one or more Agents as principal shall be purchased, and any Notes the placement of which an Agent arranges as an agent of the Company shall be placed by such Agent, in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company contained herein and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein. 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. a. The Company represents and warrants to each Agent as of the date hereof, as of the date of each acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes (whether to such Agent as principal or through such Agent as agent), as of the date of each delivery of Notes (whether to such Agent as principal or through such Agent as agent) (the date of each such delivery to such Agent as principal is referred to herein as a "Settlement Date"), and as of any time that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (each of the times referenced above is referred to herein as a "Representation Date"), as follows: i. DUE INCORPORATION, GOOD STANDING AND DUE QUALIFICATION OF THE COMPANY. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Delaware with corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated in the Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not result in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise (a "Material Adverse Effect"). 3 4 ii. DUE INCORPORATION, GOOD STANDING AND DUE QUALIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES. Each significant subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the 1933 Act), if any, and [______] (each, a "Significant Subsidiary") has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company owns such amount or percentage of the outstanding capital stock of its subsidiaries as it is stated in the Prospectus to own or as it is assumed to own for purposes of preparing the financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims, and all such stock is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. iii. REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act; the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with; the Indenture has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act; at the respective times that the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (including the filing of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Commission (the "Annual Report on Form 10-K")) became effective and at each Representation Date, the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) and any amendments thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act Regulations") and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; each preliminary prospectus and prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations; each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the applicable Agent(s) for use in connection with the offering of Notes are identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T; and at the date hereof, at the date of the Prospectus and at each Representation Date, neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Agents expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to any statement in or omission from the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of the Trustee. 4 5 iv. INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they were or are hereafter filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the "1934 Act Regulations") and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the date hereof, at the date of the Prospectus and at each Representation Date, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. v. INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. The accountants who certified the financial statements and any supporting schedules thereto included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. vi. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The consolidated financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, as well as those financial statements, schedules and notes of any other entity included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries, or such other entity, as the case may be, at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries, or such other entity, as the case may be, for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except for the notes to any unaudited financial statements; the supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein; the selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and any pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. vii. NO MATERIAL CHANGES. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (1) there has been no event or occurrence that would result in a Material Adverse Effect and (2) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise. viii. AUTHORIZATION, ETC. OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' 5 6 rights generally, (2) general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (3) requirements that a claim with respect to any debt securities issued under the Indenture that are payable in a foreign or composite currency (or a foreign or composite currency judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or (4) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States; the Notes have been duly authorized by the Company for offer, sale, issuance and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued, authenticated and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, (2) general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (3) requirements that a claim with respect to any Notes payable in a foreign or composite currency (or a foreign or composite currency judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate or exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or (4) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States; the Notes will be substantially in a form previously certified to the Agents and contemplated by the Indenture; and each holder of Notes will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. ix. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES. The Indenture and the Notes conform and will conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and are substantially in the form filed or incorporated by reference, as the case may be, as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Immediately after any sale of Notes by the Company hereunder, the aggregate amount of Notes which shall have been issued and sold by the Company hereunder and of any debt securities of the Company (other than such Notes) that shall have been issued and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement will not exceed the amount of debt securities registered under the Registration Statement. x. ACCURACY OF EXHIBITS. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required. xi. ABSENCE OF DEFAULTS AND CONFLICTS. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of the provisions of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments"), except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and any other agreement or instrument entered into or issued or to be entered into or issued by the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Prospectus, the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Notes and the use of proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus) and the compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder and under the Indenture, the Notes and such other agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate 6 7 action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (a "Repayment Event") under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any assets, properties or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any Agreements and Instruments, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or operations. xii. ABSENCE OF PROCEEDINGS. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other than as stated therein), or which may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which may reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the assets, properties or operations thereof, the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Prospectus; and the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective assets, properties or operations is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, may not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. xiii. TITLE TO PROPERTY. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all property that is described in the Prospectus as owned by the Company and its subsidiaries or necessary to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind, except (A) as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or (B) those which are not material and do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially interfere with or adversely affect the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries. xiv. ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. Except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all 7 8 permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances that may reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws. xv. NO FILINGS, REGULATORY APPROVALS ETC. No filing with, or approval, authorization, consent, license, registration, qualification, order or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes or in connection with the transactions contemplated in the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act or the 1939 Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the solicitation by any Agent of offers to purchase Securities from the Company and with purchases of Securities by such Agent as principal, as the case may be, in each case in the manner contemplated hereby. xvi. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. The Company is not, and upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be, an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). xvii. COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT. The Notes, upon issuance, will be excluded or exempted under, or beyond the purview of, the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the "Commodity Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the Commodity Exchange Act (the "Commodity Exchange Act Regulations"). xviii. RATINGS. The Medium-Term Note Program under which the Notes are issued (the "Program"), as well as the Notes, are rated [ ] by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and [BBB+] by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, or such other rating as to which the Company shall have most recently notified the Agents pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof. b. ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to one or more Agents or to counsel for the Agents in connection with an offering of Notes to one or more Agents as principal or through an Agent as agent shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to such Agent or Agents as to the matters covered thereby on the date of such certificate[ and, unless subsequently amended or supplemented, at each Representation Date subsequent thereto]. 3. PURCHASES AS PRINCIPAL; SOLICITATIONS AS AGENT. a. PURCHASES AS PRINCIPAL. Notes purchased from the Company by the Agents, individually or in a syndicate, as principal shall be made in accordance with terms agreed upon between such Agent or Agents and the Company (which terms, unless otherwise agreed, shall, to the extent applicable, include those terms specified in Exhibit A hereto and shall be agreed upon orally, with written confirmation prepared by such Agent or Agents and mailed to the Company). An Agent's 8 9 commitment to purchase Notes as principal shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to "this Agreement" shall include the applicable agreement of one or more Agents to purchase Notes from the Company as principal. Each purchase of Notes by one or more Agents as principal, unless otherwise agreed, shall be at a discount from the principal amount of each such Note equivalent to the applicable commission set forth in Schedule A hereto. The Agents may engage the services of any broker or dealer in connection with the resale of the Notes purchased by them as principal and may allow all or any portion of the discount received from the Company in connection with such purchases to such brokers or dealers. At the time of each purchase of Notes from the Company by one or more Agents as principal, such Agent or Agents shall specify the requirements for the officers' certificate, opinion of counsel and comfort letter pursuant to Sections 7(b), 7(c) and 7(d) hereof. If the Company and two or more Agents enter into an agreement pursuant to which such Agents agree to purchase Notes from the Company as principal and one or more of such Agents shall fail at the Settlement Date to purchase the Notes which it or they are obligated to purchase (the "Defaulted Notes"), then the nondefaulting Agents shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one of them or one or more other Agents or underwriters to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Notes in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; provided, however, that if such arrangements shall not have been completed within such 24-hour period, then: (i) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Notes does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be so purchased by all of such Agents on the Settlement Date, the nondefaulting Agents shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective initial underwriting obligations bear to the underwriting obligations of all nondefaulting Agents; or (ii) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Notes exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be so purchased by all of such Agents on the Settlement Date, such agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any nondefaulting Agent. No action taken pursuant to this paragraph shall relieve any defaulting Agent from liability in respect of its default. In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of such agreement, either the nondefaulting Agents or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Settlement Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. b. SOLICITATIONS AS AGENT. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, when agreed by the Company and an Agent, such Agent, as an agent of the Company, will use its reasonable efforts to solicit offers for the purchase of Notes upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Agents are not authorized to appoint sub-agents with respect to Notes sold through them as agent. All Notes sold through an Agent as agent will be sold at 100% of their principal amount unless otherwise agreed upon between the Company and such Agent. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes through an Agent, as an agent of the Company, commencing at any time for any period of time or permanently. As soon as practicable after receipt of instructions from the Company, such Agent will suspend solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes from the 9 10 Company until such time as the Company has advised such Agent that such solicitation may be resumed. The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission, in the form of a discount, equal to the applicable percentage of the principal amount of each Note sold by the Company as a result of a solicitation made by such Agent, as an agent of the Company, as set forth in Schedule A hereto. c. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. The purchase price, interest rate or formula, maturity date and other terms of the Notes specified in Exhibit A hereto (as applicable) shall be agreed upon between the Company and the applicable Agent(s) and specified in a pricing supplement to the Prospectus (each, a "Pricing Supplement") to be prepared by the Company in connection with each sale of Notes. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will be issued in denominations of U.S. $1,000 or any larger amount that is an integral multiple of U.S. $1,000. Administrative procedures with respect to the issuance and sale of the Notes (the "Procedures") shall be agreed upon from time to time among the Company, the Agents and the Trustee. The Agents and the Company agree to perform, and the Company agrees to cause the Trustee to agree to perform, their respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by them in the Procedures. 4. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and agrees with each Agent as follows: a. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS. The Company will notify the Agents immediately, and confirm such notice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (other than any amendment or supplement thereto providing solely for the determination of the variable terms of the Notes or relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Notes), (ii) the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or (v) any change in the rating assigned by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization to the Program or any debt securities (including the Notes) of the Company, or the public announcement by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of the Program or any such debt securities, or the withdrawal by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization of its rating of the Program or any such debt securities. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. b. FILING OR USE OF AMENDMENTS. The Company will give the Agents advance notice of its intention to file or prepare any additional registration statement with respect to the registration of additional Notes, any amendment to the Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations) or any amendment or supplement to the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus (other than an amendment or supplement thereto providing solely for the determination of the variable terms of the Notes or relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Notes), whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, will furnish to the Agents copies of any such 10 11 document a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file any such document to which the Agents or counsel for the Agents shall object. c. DELIVERY OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Company has furnished to each Agent and to counsel for the Agents, without charge, signed and conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed and conformed copies of all consents and certificates of experts. The Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Agents will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. d. DELIVERY OF THE PROSPECTUS. The Company will deliver to each Agent, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Agent may reasonably request, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Agent, without charge, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Agent may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Agents will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. e. PREPARATION OF PRICING SUPPLEMENTS. The Company will prepare, with respect to any Notes to be sold to or through one or more Agents pursuant to this Agreement, a Pricing Supplement with respect to such Notes in a form previously approved by the Agents. The Company will deliver such Pricing Supplement no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day following the date of the Company's acceptance of the offer for the purchase of such Notes and will file such Pricing Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the 1933 Act not later than the close of business of the Commission on the fifth business day after the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first used. f. REVISIONS OF PROSPECTUS -- MATERIAL CHANGES. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (m) of this Section 4, if at any time during the term of this Agreement any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Agents or counsel for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of either such counsel, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company shall give immediate notice, confirmed in writing, to the Agents to cease the solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes in their capacity as agents and to cease sales of any Notes they may then own as principal, and the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 4(b) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement and Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Agents, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Agents may reasonably request. In addition, the Company will comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of each offering of Notes. 11 12 g. PROSPECTUS REVISIONS -- PERIODIC FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (m) of this Section 4, on or prior to the date on which there shall be released to the general public interim financial statement information related to the Company with respect to each of the first three quarters of any fiscal year or preliminary financial statement information with respect to any fiscal year, the Company shall furnish such information to the Agents, confirmed in writing, and shall cause the Prospectus to be timely amended or supplemented to include financial information with respect thereto and corresponding information for the comparable period of the preceding fiscal year, as well as such other information and explanations as shall be necessary for an understanding thereof or as shall be required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations. h. PROSPECTUS REVISIONS -- AUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (m) of this Section 4, on or prior to the date on which there shall be released to the general public financial information included in or derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the preceding fiscal year, the Company shall furnish such information to the Agents, confirmed in writing, and shall cause the Prospectus to be timely amended or supplemented to include such audited consolidated financial statements and the report or reports, and consent or consents to such inclusion, of the independent accountants with respect thereto, as well as such other information and explanations as shall be necessary for an understanding of such consolidated financial statements or as shall be required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations. i. EARNINGS STATEMENTS. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act. j. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods prescribed by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations. k. RESTRICTION ON OFFERS AND SALES OF SECURITIES. Unless otherwise agreed upon between one or more Agents acting as principal and the Company, between the date of the agreement by such Agent(s) to purchase the related Notes from the Company and the Settlement Date with respect thereto, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of such Agent(s), issue, sell, offer or contract to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any debt securities of the Company (other than the Notes that are to be sold pursuant to such agreement or commercial paper in the ordinary course of business). l. USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the issuance and sale of the Notes in the manner specified in the Prospectus. m. SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS. The Company shall not be required to comply with the provisions of subsections (f), (g) or (h) of this Section 4 during any period from the time (i) the Agents shall have suspended solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes in their capacity as agents pursuant to a request from the Company and (ii) no Agent shall then hold any Notes purchased from the Company as principal, as the case may be, until the time the Company shall determine that solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes should be resumed or an Agent shall subsequently purchase Notes from the Company as principal. 12 13 5. CONDITIONS OF AGENTS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of one or more Agents to purchase Notes from the Company as principal and to solicit offers for the purchase of Notes as an agent of the Company, and the obligations of any purchasers of Notes sold through an Agent as an agent of the Company, will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company herein contained or contained in any certificate of an officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance and observance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following additional conditions precedent: a. EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Agents. b. LEGAL OPINIONS. On the date hereof, the Agents shall have received the following legal opinions, dated as of the date hereof and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents: (1) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY. The favorable opinion of Robert Rothberg, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to such further effect as the Agents may reasonably request. (2) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE AGENTS. The favorable opinion of Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, counsel for the Agents, with respect to the matters set forth in numbered paragraphs 1 (first sentence), 5, 6, 8 and 10 and the penultimate paragraph of Exhibit B hereto. c. OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE. On the date hereof, there shall not have been, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Agents shall have received a certificate of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of the chief financial officer and chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the date of such certificate, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the date of such certificate, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best of such officer's knowledge, are threatened by the Commission. d. COMFORT LETTER OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. On the date hereof, the Agents shall have received a letter from the independent certified public accountants who have certified the financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, dated as of the date hereof and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented. 13 14 e. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. On the date hereof, counsel to the Agents shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as such counsel may require for the purpose of enabling such counsel to pass upon the issuance and sale of Notes as herein contemplated and related proceedings, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of Notes as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agents and to counsel to the Agents. If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the applicable Agent or Agents by notice to the Company at any time and any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 10 hereof and except that Sections 8, 9, 11, 14 and 15 hereof shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect. 6. DELIVERY OF AND PAYMENT FOR NOTES SOLD THROUGH AN AGENT AS AGENT. Delivery of Notes sold through an Agent as an agent of the Company shall be made by the Company to such Agent for the account of any purchaser only against payment therefor in immediately available funds. In the event that a purchaser shall fail either to accept delivery of or to make payment for a Note on the date fixed for settlement, such Agent shall promptly notify the Company and deliver such Note to the Company and, if such Agent has theretofore paid the Company for such Note, the Company will promptly return such funds to such Agent. If such failure has occurred for any reason other than default by such Agent in the performance of its obligations hereunder, the Company will reimburse such Agent on an equitable basis for its loss of the use of the funds for the period such funds were credited to the Company's account. 7. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company further covenants and agrees with each Agent as follows: a. REAFFIRMATION OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes (whether to one or more Agents as principal or through an Agent as agent), and each delivery of Notes (whether to one or more Agents as principal or through an Agent as agent), shall be deemed to be an affirmation that the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and contained in any certificate theretofore delivered to the Agents pursuant hereto are true and correct at the time of such acceptance or sale, as the case may be, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct at the time of delivery to such Agent(s) or to the purchaser or its agent, as the case may be, of the Notes relating to such acceptance or sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of each such time (it being understood that such representations and warranties shall relate to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as amended and supplemented to each such time). b. SUBSEQUENT DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES. Each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an amendment or supplement providing solely for the determination of the variable terms of the Notes or relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Notes), (ii) [(if required in connection with the purchase of Notes from the Company by one or more Agents as principal)] the Company sells Notes to one or more Agents[, whether] as principal [or as agent] or (iii) the Company sells Notes in a form not previously certified to the Agents by the Company, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent(s), forthwith a certificate dated the date of filing with the Commission or the date of effectiveness of such amendment or supplement, as applicable, or the date of such sale, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to the Agent(s) to the effect that the statements contained 14 15 in the certificate referred to in Section 5(c) hereof which were last furnished to the Agents are true and correct at the time of the filing or effectiveness of such amendment or supplement, as applicable, or the time of such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such time) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 5(c) hereof, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate (it being understood that, in the case of clause (ii) above, any such certificate shall also include a certification that there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise since the date of the agreement by such Agent(s) to purchase Notes from the Company as principal). c. SUBSEQUENT DELIVERY OF LEGAL OPINIONS. Each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an amendment or supplement providing solely for the determination of the variable terms of the Notes or relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Notes), (ii) [(if required in connection with the purchase of Notes from the Company by one or more Agents as principal)] the Company sells Notes to one or more Agents[, whether] as principal [or as agent] or (iii) the Company sells Notes in a form not previously certified to the Agents by the Company, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Agent(s) and to counsel to the Agents the written opinion of Robert Rothberg, Esq., counsel to the Company, or other counsel satisfactory to the Agent(s), dated the date of filing with the Commission or the date of effectiveness of such amendment or supplement, as applicable, or the date of such sale, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent(s), of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 5(b)(1) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion or, in lieu of such opinion, counsel last furnishing such opinion to the Agents shall furnish the Agent(s) with a letter substantially to the effect that the Agent(s) may rely on such last opinion to the same extent as though it was dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that statements in such last opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such letter authorizing reliance). d. SUBSEQUENT DELIVERY OF COMFORT LETTERS. Each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional financial information (other than by an amendment or supplement relating solely to the issuance and/or offering of securities other than the Notes) or (ii) [(if required in connection with the purchase of Notes from the Company by one or more Agents as principal)] the Company sells Notes to one or more Agents [, whether] as principal [or as agent], the Company shall cause its independent public accountants forthwith to furnish to the Agent(s) a letter, dated the date of filing with the Commission or the date of effectiveness of such amendment or supplement, as applicable, or the date of such sale, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to the Agent(s), of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 5(d) hereof but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter. 8. INDEMNIFICATION. a. INDEMNIFICATION OF THE AGENTS. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and each person, if any, who controls such Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows: 15 16 i. against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; ii. against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, provided that (subject to Section 8(d) hereof) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and iii. against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this indemnity does not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). b. INDEMNIFICATION OF COMPANY, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Each Agent severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 8(a) hereof, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). c. ACTIONS AGAINST PARTIES; NOTIFICATION. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, to assume the defense thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party 16 17 similarly notified, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 8 or 9 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. d. SETTLEMENT WITHOUT CONSENT IF FAILURE TO REIMBURSE. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 8(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. 9. CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent(s), on the other hand, from the offering of the Notes that were the subject of the claim for indemnification or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent(s), on the other hand, in connection 17 18 with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent(s), on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Notes that were the subject of the claim for indemnification shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of such Notes (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total discount or commission received by each applicable Agent, as the case may be, bears to the aggregate initial offering price of such Notes. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the applicable Agent(s), on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the applicable Agent(s) and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the applicable Agent(s) were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 9. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 9 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any applicable untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, (i) no Agent shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount or commission received by such Agent in connection with the offering of the Notes that were the subject of the claim for indemnification exceeds the amount of any damages which such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any applicable untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In addition, in connection with an offering of Notes purchased from the Company by two or more Agents as principal, the respective obligations of such Agents to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of Notes that each such Agent has agreed to purchase from the Company. For purposes of this Section 9, each person, if any, who controls an Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Agent, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. 10. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: a. The preparation, filing, printing and delivery of the Registration Statement as originally filed and all amendments thereto and any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto; b. The preparation, printing and delivery of this Agreement and the Indenture; 18 19 c. The preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes, including any fees and expenses relating to the eligibility and issuance of Notes in book-entry form and the cost of obtaining CUSIP or other identification numbers for the Notes; d. The fees and disbursements of the Company's accountants, counsel and other advisors or agents (including any calculation agent or exchange rate agent) and of the Trustee and its counsel; e. The reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents incurred in connection with the establishment of the Program and incurred from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; f. The fees charged by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations for the rating of the Program and the Notes; g. The fees and expenses incurred in connection with any listing of Notes on a securities exchange; h. The filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents in connection with, the review, if any, by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and i. Any advertising and other out-of-pocket expenses of the Agents incurred with the approval of the Company. 11. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto or thereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents or any controlling person of an Agent, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive each delivery of and payment for the Notes. 12. TERMINATION. a. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement (excluding any agreement by one or more Agents to purchase Notes from the Company as principal) may be terminated for any reason, at any time by either the Company or an Agent, as to itself, upon the giving of 30 days' prior written notice of such termination to the other party hereto. b. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE NOTES AS PRINCIPAL. The applicable Agent(s) may terminate any agreement by such Agent(s) to purchase Notes from the Company as principal, immediately upon notice to the Company, at any time prior to the Settlement Date relating thereto, if (i) there has been, since the date of such agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or, if such Notes are denominated and/or payable in, or indexed to, one or more foreign or composite currencies, in the international financial markets, or any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development or event involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of such Agent(s), impracticable to market such Notes or enforce contracts for the sale of such Notes, or (iii) trading in any securities of the 19 20 Company has been suspended or limited by the Commission or a national securities exchange, or if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by either of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the NASD or any other governmental authority, or (iv) a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities or by the relevant authorities in the country or countries of origin of any foreign or composite currency in which such Notes are denominated and/or payable, or (v) the rating assigned by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization to the Program or any debt securities (including the Notes) of the Company as of the date of such agreement shall have been lowered or withdrawn since that date or if any such rating organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review its rating of the Program or any such debt securities, or (vi) there shall have come to the attention of such Agent(s) any facts that would cause such Agent(s) to believe that the Prospectus, at the time it was required to be delivered to a purchaser of such Notes, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time of such delivery, not misleading. c. GENERAL. In the event of any such termination, neither party will have any liability to the other party hereto, except that (i) the Agents shall be entitled to any commissions earned in accordance with the third paragraph of Section 3(b) hereof, (ii) if at the time of termination (a) any Agent shall own any Notes purchased by it from the Company as principal or (b) an offer to purchase any of the Notes has been accepted by the Company but the time of delivery to the purchaser or his agent of such Notes relating thereto has not occurred, the covenants set forth in Sections 4 and 7 hereof shall remain in effect until such Notes are so resold or delivered, as the case may be, and (iii) the covenant set forth in Section 4(i) hereof, the provisions of Section 10 hereof, the indemnity and contribution agreements set forth in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, and the provisions of Sections 11, 14 and 15 hereof shall remain in effect. 13. NOTICES. Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices required under the terms and provisions hereof shall be in writing, either delivered by hand, by mail or by telex, telecopier or telegram, and any such notice shall be effective when received at the address specified below. 20 21 If to the Company: Cabot Corporation 75 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Attention: Treasurer Telecopy No.: 617-342-6208 with a copy to: Cabot Corporation 75 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Attention: General Counsel Telecopy No.: 617-342-6039 If to the Agents: Merrill Lynch & Co. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated World Financial Center North Tower - 10th Floor New York, New York 10281-1310 Attention: MTN Product Management Telecopy No.: (212) 449-2234 Goldman, Sachs & Co. 85 Broad Street New York, NY 10004 Attention: Credit Department, Credit Control -- Medium-Term Notes Telecopy No.: (212) 346-2793 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. 60 Wall Street New York, New York 10260 Attention: Medium-Term Note Department Telecopy No.: (212) 648-5909 or at such other address as such party may designate from time to time by notice duly given in accordance with the terms of this Section 13. 14. PARTIES. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Agents and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Sections 8 and 9 hereof and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, and said controlling persons, 21 22 officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Notes shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase. 15. GOVERNING LAW; FORUM. THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES. ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY THE COMPANY AGAINST ANY AGENT IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT SOLELY IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 16. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. 17. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts hereof shall constitute a single instrument. 22 23 If the foregoing is in accordance with the Agents' understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Distribution Agreement, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Agents and the Company in accordance with its terms. Very truly yours, CABOT CORPORATION By: ____________________________ Name: Title: CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED By: _________________________________ Authorized Signatory GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. By: _________________________________ Authorized Signatory J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. By: _________________________________ Authorized Signatory 23 24 SCHEDULE A As compensation for the services of the Agents hereunder, the Company shall pay the applicable Agent, on a discount basis, a commission for the sale of each Note equal to the principal amount of such Note multiplied by the appropriate percentage set forth below: PERCENT OF MATURITY RANGES PRINCIPAL AMOUNT - --------------- ---------------- From 9 months to less than 1 year........................... .125% From 1 year to less than 18 months.......................... .150 From 18 months to less than 2 years......................... .200 From 2 years to less than 3 years........................... .250 From 3 years to less than 4 years........................... .350 From 4 years to less than 5 years........................... .450 From 5 years to less than 6 years........................... .500 From 6 years to less than 7 years........................... .550 From 7 years to less than 10 years.......................... .600 From 10 years to less than 15 years......................... .625 From 15 years to less than 20 years......................... .700 From 20 years to 30 years................................... .750 Greater than 30 years....................................... (1) - -------- (1) As agreed to by the Company and the applicable Agent at the time of sale. 24 25 EXHIBIT A PRICING TERMS Principal Amount: $_______ (or principal amount of foreign or composite currency) Interest Rate or Formula: If Fixed Rate Note, Interest Rate: Interest Payment Dates: If Floating Rate Note, Interest Rate Basis(es): If LIBOR, [ ] LIBOR Reuters Page: [ ] LIBOR Telerate Page: Designated LIBOR Currency: If CMT Rate, Designated CMT Telerate Page: If Telerate Page 7052: [ ] Weekly Average [ ] Monthly Average Designated CMT Maturity Index: Index Maturity: Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any: Initial Interest Rate, if any: Initial Interest Reset Date: Interest Reset Dates: Interest Payment Dates: Maximum Interest Rate, if any: Minimum Interest Rate, if any: Fixed Rate Commencement Date, if any: Fixed Interest Rate, if any: Day Count Convention: [ ] 30/360 for the period from _______ to ________ or [ ] Actual/360 for the period from _______ to ______ Calculation Agent: Redemption Provisions: Initial Redemption Date: Initial Redemption Percentage: Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if any: Repayment Provisions: Optional Repayment Date(s): Original Issue Date: Stated Maturity Date: Specified Currency: Exchange Rate Agent: Authorized Denomination: Purchase Price: ___%, plus accrued interest, if any, from ___________ Price to Public: ___%, plus accrued interest, if any, from __________ 25 26 Issue Price: Settlement Date and Time: Additional/Other Terms: Also, in connection with the purchase of Notes from the Company by one or more Agents as principal, agreement as to whether the following will be required: Officers' Certificate pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Distribution Agreement. Legal Opinion pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Distribution Agreement. Comfort Letter pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Distribution Agreement. 26 27 EXHIBIT B FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)(1) (1) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to issue and sell the Notes. The Company has been duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in, and is in good standing under the laws of, each jurisdiction (other than the State of Delaware) where the Company owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or failure to be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect upon the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (2) Each of the current subsidiaries of the Company which is a "significant subsidiary" (as defined in Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation (except with respect to any subsidiaries incorporated in jurisdictions where the concept of good standing is not recognized); and the Company owns of record or beneficially all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each such subsidiary, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances or claims. (3) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there is not pending or threatened any action, suit or proceeding before any court or governmental agency, authority or body involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries which either individually or in the aggregate may reasonably be foreseen to have a material adverse effect on the business or condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and the descriptions of the actions, suits and proceedings incorporated by reference in the Prospectus fairly describe, to the extent required by applicable Exchange Act provisions, such actions, suits or proceedings as of the date made and no materially adverse change has occurred with respect to such actions, suits or proceedings. (4) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities in connection with the Registration Statement. (5) The Distribution Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (6) The Notes have been duly authorized and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued in accordance with the Indenture and delivered by the Company, and paid for in accordance with the terms thereof, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or law), (iii) the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, (iv) requirements that a claim with respect to any Notes payable in a foreign or composite currency (or a foreign or composite currency judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law and (v) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States (collectively, the "Enforceability Limitations"). The Indenture and the Notes conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented through the date of such opinion. 27 28 (7) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to the Enforceability Limitations. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. (8) No authorization consent or approval under any law or by any regulatory authority is required for the valid issuance and sale of the Notes or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated in the Distribution Agreement (except under the so-called "blue sky" or securities laws of the several states, as to the applicability of which such counsel need express no opinion). (9) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Distribution Agreement and the Indenture, and the issuance and sale of the Notes, will not result in any violation of or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any term of (a) its charter or by-laws, (b) any statute or governmental rule or regulation or (c) to the best knowledge of such counsel, any license, permit, agreement, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or order, in each case applicable to it so as to materially and adversely affect the financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (10) Each of the documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, when it was filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. (11) The Registration Statement became effective under the Act on [_________], 1998; any required filing, as of the date hereof, of a prospectus or any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required thereby; and, to the best of my knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending under the Act. (12) The Registration Statement (including the Prospectus contained therein) as of its effective date, and the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement as of the date hereof, other than the financial statements and the related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and the Indenture complies as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. (13) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as required. In addition, such counsel shall state that, without passing upon or assuming any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, nothing has come to such counsel's attention that would lead such counsel to believe (a) that the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto (except for financial statements, supporting schedules and other financial data included therein or omitted therefrom and for the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need make no statement), at the time the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto (including the filing of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Commission) became effective or at the date of any agreement of the applicable Agent(s) to purchase Notes from the Company as principal, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (b) that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements, supporting schedules and other financial and statistical data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel need make no statement), at the time the Prospectus was 28 29 issued, at the time any such amended or supplemented prospectus was issued or at the date of such opinion, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In rendering this opinion, counsel for the Company may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of Delaware, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (dated and furnished to the Agents on the date of such counsel's opinion, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Agents) of other counsel that is familiar with the applicable laws and is reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Agents, and (B) as to matters of fact (but not as to legal conclusions), to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. The opinion of counsel to the Company, to the extent that it relies on such opinions, certificates or other written statements, shall state that the opinion of any such other counsel or any such certificate is in form satisfactory to such counsel and, in such counsel's opinion, such counsel and the Agents are justified in relying thereon. 29 30 CABOT CORPORATION ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR FIXED RATE AND FLOATING RATE MEDIUM-TERM NOTES (Dated as of _________, 199_) Medium-Term Notes Due Nine Months or More From Date of Issue (the "Notes") are to be offered on a continuous basis by Cabot Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to or through Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (each, an "Agent" and, collectively, the "Agents") pursuant to a Distribution Agreement, dated _______, 1998 (the "Distribution Agreement"), by and among the Company and the Agents. The Distribution Agreement provides both for the sale of Notes by the Company to one or more of the Agents as principal for resale to investors and other purchasers and for the sale of Notes by the Company directly to investors (as may from time to time be agreed to by the Company and the related Agent or Agents), in which case each such Agent will act as an agent of the Company in soliciting purchases of Notes. Unless otherwise agreed by the related Agent or Agents and the Company, Notes will be purchased by the related Agent or Agents as principal. Such purchases will be made in accordance with terms agreed upon by the related Agent or Agents and the Company (which terms shall be agreed upon orally, with written confirmation prepared by the related Agent or Agents and mailed to the Company). If agreed upon by any Agent or Agents and the Company, the Agent or Agents, acting solely as agent or agents for the Company and not as principal, will use reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Notes. Only those provisions in these Administrative Procedures that are applicable to the particular role to be performed by the related Agent or Agents shall apply to the offer and sale of the relevant Notes. The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1987, as supplemented and amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 17, 1992 and a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 31, 1997, and (collectively and as amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Indenture"), between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as successor trustee (the "Trustee"). The Company has filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") registering debt securities (which includes the Notes) (the "Registration Statement", which term shall include any additional registration statements filed in connection with the Notes). The most recent base prospectus deemed part of the Registration Statement, as supplemented with respect to the Notes, is herein referred to as "Prospectus." The most recent supplement to the Prospectus setting forth the purchase price, interest rate or formula, maturity date and other terms of the Notes (as applicable) is herein referred to as the "Pricing Supplement." 31 The Notes will either be issued (a) in book-entry form and represented by one or more fully registered Notes without coupons (each, a "Global Note") delivered to the Trustee, as agent for The Depository Company ("DTC"), and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC, or (b) in certificated form (each, a "Certificated Note") delivered to the investor or other purchaser thereof or a person designated by such investor or other purchaser. General procedures relating to the issuance of all Notes are set forth in Part I hereof. Additionally, Notes issued in book-entry form will be issued in accordance with the procedures set forth in Part II hereof and Certificated Notes will be issued in accordance with the procedures set forth in Part III hereof. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be. PART I: PROCEDURES OF GENERAL APPLICABILITY Date of Issuance/ Authentication: Each Note will be dated as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee. Each Note shall also bear an original issue date (each, an "Original Issue Date"). The Original Issue Date shall remain the same for all Notes subsequently issued upon transfer, exchange or substitution of an original Note regardless of their dates of authentication. Maturities: Each Note will mature on a date nine months or more from its Original Issue Date (the "Stated Maturity Date") selected by the investor or other purchaser and agreed to by the Company. Registration: Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Notes will be issued only in fully registered form. Denominations: Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Interest Rate Bases applicable to Floating Rate Notes: Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Floating Rate Notes will bear interest at a rate or rates determined by reference to the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR, the Prime Rate, the Treasury Rate, or such other interest rate basis or formula as may be set forth in applicable Pricing Supplement, or by reference to two or more such rates, as adjusted by the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, applicable to such Floating Rate Notes. 2 32 Redemption/Repayment: The Notes will be subject to redemption by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Notes, which will be fixed at the time of sale and set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If no Initial Redemption Date is indicated with respect to a Note, such Note will not be redeemable prior to its Stated Maturity Date. The Notes will be subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof in accordance with the terms of the Notes, which will be fixed at the time of sale and set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If no Optional Repayment Date is indicated with respect to a Note, such Note will not be repayable at the option of the Holder prior to its Stated Maturity Date. Calculation of Interest: In case of Fixed Rate Notes, interest (including payments for partial periods) will be calculated and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The interest rate on each Floating Rate Note will be calculated by reference to the specified Interest Rate Basis or Bases plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on each Floating Rate Note will be calculated by multiplying its principal amount by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day in the period for which accrued interest is being calculated. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for each such day is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360 if the CD Rate, Commercial Paper Rate, Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR or Prime Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, or by the actual number of days in the year if the CMT Rate or Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis. As provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for Notes for which the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases will be calculated in each period in the same manner as if only the lowest, highest or average of the applicable Interest Rate Bases applied. Interest: GENERAL. Each Note will bear interest in accordance with its terms. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing 3 33 Supplement, interest on each Note will accrue from and including the Original Issue Date of such Note for the first interest period or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for all subsequent interest periods to but excluding applicable Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity Date or date of earlier redemption or repayment, as the case may be (the Stated Maturity Date or date of earlier redemption or repayment is referred to herein as the "Maturity Date" with respect to the principal repayable on such date). If an Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date with respect to any Fixed Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined below), the required payment to be made on such day need not be made on such day, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such day, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such day to the next succeeding Business Day. If an Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date with respect to any Floating Rate Note would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, except that in the case of a Note for which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date with respect to any Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment to be made on such day need not be made on such day, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such day, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after the Maturity Date to the next succeeding Business Day. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York; provided, however, that, with respect to Notes the payment of which is to be made in a currency other than U.S. dollars or composite currencies (such currency or composite currency in which a Note is denominated is the "Specified Currency"), such day is also not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal Financial Center (as 4 34 defined below) of the country issuing such Specified Currency (or, in the case of European Currency Units ("ECUs"), is not a day that appears as an ECU non-settlement day on the display designated as "ISDE" on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service (or a day so designated by the ECU Banking Association) or, if ECU non-settlement days do not appear on that page (and are not so designated), is not a day on which payments in ECU cannot be settled in the international interbank market); provided, further, that, with respect to Notes for which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, such day is also a London Business Day (as defined below). "London Business Day" means (i) if the currency (including composite currencies) specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as the currency (the "Index Currency") for which LIBOR is calculated is other than ECU, any day on which dealings in such Index Currency are transacted in the London interbank market or (ii) if the Index Currency is ECU, any day that does not appear as an ECU non-settlement day on the display designated as "ISDE" on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service (or a day so designated by the ECU Banking Association) or, if ECU non-settlement days do not appear on that page (and are not so designated), is not a day on which payments in ECU cannot be settled in the international interbank market. It being understood that if no such currency or composite currency is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Index Currency shall be U.S. dollars. "Principal Financial Center" means the capital city of the country issuing the currency or composite currency in which any payment in respect of the Notes is to be made or, solely with respect to the calculation of LIBOR, the Index Currency, except that with respect to U.S. dollars, Australian dollars, Deutsche marks, Dutch guilders, Italian lire, Swiss francs and ECUs, the Principal Financial Center shall be The City of New York, Sydney, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, Zurich and Luxembourg, respectively. REGULAR RECORD DATES. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the "Regular Record Date" for a Note shall be the date 15 calendar days (whether or not a Business Day) preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. INTEREST PAYMENT DATES. Interest payments will be made on each Interest Payment Date commencing with the first Interest Payment Date following the Original Issue Date; provided, however, the first payment of interest on any Note originally 5 35 issued between a Regular Record Date and an Interest Payment Date will occur on the Interest Payment Date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest payments on Fixed Rate Notes will be made semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year and on the Maturity Date, while interest payments on Floating Rate Notes will be made as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Acceptance and Rejection of Offers from Solicitation as Agents: If agreed upon by any Agent and the Company, then such Agent acting solely as agent for the Company and not as principal will solicit purchases of the Notes. Each Agent will communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to purchase Notes solicited by such Agent on an agency basis, other than those offers rejected by such Agent. Each Agent has the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any proposed purchase of Notes, as a whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be a breach of such Agent's agreement contained in the Distribution Agreement. The Company has the sole right to accept or reject any proposed purchase of Notes, in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be a breach of the Company's agreement contained in the Distribution Agreement. Each Agent has agreed to make reasonable efforts to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Notes has been solicited by such Agent and accepted by the Company. Preparation of Pricing Supplement: If any offer to purchase a Note is accepted by the Company, the Company will promptly prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such Note. Information to be included in the Pricing Supplement shall include: i. the name of the Company; ii. the title of the Notes; iii. the date of the Pricing Supplement and the date of the Prospectus to which the Pricing Supplement relates; iv. the name of the Offering Agent (as defined below); 6 36 v. whether such Notes are being sold to the Offering Agent as principal or to an investor or other purchaser through the Offering Agent acting as agent for the Company; vi. with respect to Notes sold to the Offering Agent as principal, whether such Notes will be resold by the Offering Agent to investors and other purchasers at (i) a fixed public offering price of a specified percentage of their principal amount or (ii) at varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of resale to be determined by the Offering Agent; vii. with respect to Notes sold to an investor or other purchaser through the Offering Agent acting as agent for the Company, whether such Notes will be sold at (i) 100% of their principal amount or (ii) a specified percentage of their principal amount; viii. the Offering Agent's discount or commission; ix. Net proceeds to the Company; x. the Principal Amount, Specified Currency, Original Issue Date, Stated Maturity Date, Interest Payment Date(s), Authorized Denomination, Initial Redemption Date, if any, Initial Redemption Percentage, if any, Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if any, Optional Repayment Date(s), if any, Exchange Rate Agent, if any, Default Rate, if any, and, in the case of Fixed Rate Notes, the Interest Rate, and whether such Fixed Rate Note is an Original Issue Discount Note (and, if so, the Issue Price), and, in the case of Floating Rate Notes, the Interest Category, the Interest Rate Basis or Bases, the Day Count Convention, Index Maturity (if applicable), Initial Interest Rate, if any, Maximum Interest Rate, if any, Minimum Interest Rate, if any, Initial Interest Reset Date, Interest Reset Dates, Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, and Calculation Agent; and xi. any other additional provisions of the Notes material to investors or other purchasers of the Notes not otherwise specified in the Prospectus. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to send such Pricing Supplement by telecopy or overnight express (for delivery by the close of business on the applicable trade date, but in no event later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Business Day following the applicable trade date) to the Agent which made or presented the offer to purchase the applicable Note (in such capacity, the "Offering Agent") and the Trustee at the following 7 37 applicable address: if to Merrill Lynch & Co., to: Tritech Services, 44B Colonial Drive, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, Attention: Prospectus Operations/ Nachman Kimerling, (732) 885-2768, telecopier: (732) 885-2774/5/6; if to Goldman Sachs & Co., to: Credit Department, Credit Control -- Medium-Term Notes, Goldman Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York, 10004, (212) 902-0346, telecopier (212) 346-2793; if to J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260, Attention: Medium-Term Note Department, (212) 648-0591, telecopier (212) 648-5909; and if to the Trustee, to: State Street Bank and Trust Company, Two International Place, 4th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration--Cabot Corporation Medium-Term Notes, (617) 664-5414, telecopier: (617) 664-5371. For record keeping purposes, one copy of such Pricing Supplement shall also be mailed or telecopied to Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, World Financial Center, North Tower, 10th Floor, New York, New York, 10281-1310, Attention: MTN Product Management, (212) 449-7476, telecopier: (212) 449-2234, with a copy to Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, Attention: John O. Newell, Esq., (617) 570-1475, telecopier: (617) 570-8150. In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is prepared, the Offering Agent will provide a copy of such Pricing Supplement to each investor or purchaser of the relevant Notes or its agent. Pursuant to Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Pricing Supplement may be delivered separately from the Prospectus. Outdated Pricing Supplements (other than those retained for files) will be destroyed. Settlement: The receipt of immediately available funds by the Company in payment for a Note and the authentication and delivery of such Note shall, with respect to such Note, constitute "settlement." Offers accepted by the Company will be settled in three Business Days, or at such time as the purchaser, the applicable Agent and the Company shall agree, pursuant to the timetable for settlement set forth in Parts II and III hereof under "Settlement Procedure Timetable" with respect to Global Notes and Certificated Notes, respectively (each such date fixed for settlement is hereinafter referred to as a "Settlement Date"). If procedures A and B of the applicable Settlement Procedures with respect to a particular offer are not completed on or before the time set forth under the applicable "Settlement Procedures Timetable", such offer shall 8 38 not be settled until the Business Day following the completion of settlement procedures A and B or such later date as the purchaser and the Company shall agree. The foregoing settlement procedures may be modified with respect to any purchase of Notes by an Agent as principal if so agreed by the Company and such Agent. Procedure for Changing Rates or Other Variable Terms: When a decision has been reached to change the interest rate or any other variable term on any Notes being sold by the Company, the Company will promptly advise the Agents and the Trustee by facsimile transmission and the Agents will forthwith suspend solicitation of offers to purchase such Notes. The Agents will telephone the Company with recommendations as to the changed interest rates or other variable terms. At such time as the Company notifies the Agents and the Trustee of the new interest rates or other variable terms, the Agents may resume solicitation of offers to purchase such Notes. Until such time, only "indications of interest" may be recorded. Immediately after acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase Notes at a new interest rate or new variable term, the Company, the Offering Agent and the Trustee shall follow the procedures set forth under the applicable "Settlement Procedures." Suspension of Solicitation; Amendment or Supplement: The Company may instruct the Agents to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase Notes at any time. Upon receipt of such instructions, the Agents will forthwith suspend solicitation of offers to purchase from the Company until such time as the Company has advised the Agents that solicitation of offers to purchase may be resumed. If the Company decides to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than to establish or change interest rates or formulas, maturities, prices or other similar variable terms with respect to the Notes), it will promptly advise the Agents and will furnish the Agents and their counsel with copies of the proposed amendment or supplement. Copies of such amendment or supplement will be delivered or mailed to the Agents, their counsel and the Trustee in quantities which such parties may reasonably request at the following respective addresses: Merrill Lynch & Co., World Financial Center, North Tower, 10th Floor, New York, New 9 39 York 10281-1310, Attention: MTN Product Management, (212) 449-7476, telecopier: (212) 449-2234; Credit Department, Credit Control -- Medium-Term Notes, Goldman Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York, 10004, (212) 902-0346, telecopier (212) 346-2793; and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260, Attention: Medium-Term Note Department, (212) 648-0591, telecopier (212) 648-5909; State Street Bank and Trust Company, Two International Place, 4th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration--Cabot Corporation Medium-Term Notes, (617) 664-5414, telecopier: (617) 664- 5371. For record keeping purposes, one copy of each such amendment or supplement shall also be mailed or telecopied to Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, Attention: John O. Newell, Esq., (617) 570-1475, telecopier: (617) 570-8150. In the event that at the time the solicitation of offers to purchase from the Company is suspended (other than to establish or change interest rates or formulas, maturities, prices or other similar variable terms with respect to the Notes) there shall be any offers to purchase Notes that have been accepted by the Company which have not been settled, the Company will promptly advise the Offering Agent and the Trustee whether such offers may be settled and whether copies of the Prospectus as theretofore amended and/or supplemented as in effect at the time of the suspension may be delivered in connection with the settlement of such offers. The Company will have the sole responsibility for such decision and for any arrangements which may be made in the event that the Company determines that such offers may not be settled or that copies of such Prospectus may not be so delivered. Delivery of Prospectus and applicable Pricing Supplement: A copy of the most recent Prospectus and the applicable Pricing Supplement, which pursuant to Rule 434 may be delivered separately from the Prospectus, must accompany or precede the earlier of (a) the written confirmation of a sale sent to an investor or other purchaser or its agent and (b) the delivery of Notes to an investor or other purchaser or its agent. Authenticity of Signatures: The Agents will have no obligation or liability to the Company or the Trustee in respect of the authenticity of the signature of any 10 40 officer, employee or agent of the Company or the Trustee on any Note. Documents Incorporated by Reference: The Company shall supply the Agents with an adequate supply of all documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. 11 41 PART II: PROCEDURES FOR NOTES ISSUED IN BOOK-ENTRY FORM In connection with the qualification of Notes issued in book-entry form for eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by DTC, the Trustee will perform the custodial, document control and administrative functions described below, in accordance with its respective obligations under a Letter of Representations from the Company and the Trustee to DTC, dated ________________, 1998, and a Certificate Agreement, dated _________________, 19__, between the Trustee and DTC, as amended (the "Certificate Agreement"), and its obligations as a participant in DTC, including DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System ("SDFS"). Issuance: All Fixed Rate Notes issued in book-entry form having the same Original Issue Date, Specified Currency, Interest Rate, Default Rate, Interest Payment Dates, redemption and/or repayment terms, if any, and Stated Maturity Date (collectively, the "Fixed Rate Terms") will be represented initially by a single Global Note; and all Floating Rate Notes issued in book-entry form having the same Original Issue Date, Specified Currency, Interest Category, formula for the calculation of interest (including the Interest Rate Basis or Bases, which may be the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR, the Prime Rate or the Treasury Rate or any other interest rate basis or formula, and Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any), Day Count Convention, Initial Interest Rate, Default Rate, Index Maturity (if applicable), Minimum Interest Rate, if any, Maximum Interest Rate, if any, redemption and/or repayment terms, if any, Interest Payment Dates, Initial Interest Reset Date, Interest Reset Dates and Stated Maturity Date(collectively, the "Floating Rate Terms") will be represented initially by a single Global Note. For other variable terms with respect to the Fixed Rate Notes and Floating Rate Notes, see the Prospectus and the applicable Pricing Supplement. Owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes will be entitled to physical delivery of Certificated Notes equal in principal amount to their respective beneficial interests only upon certain limited circumstances described in the Prospectus. Identification: The Company has arranged with the CUSIP Service Bureau of Standard & Poor's Corporation (the "CUSIP Service Bureau") 12 42 for the reservation of one series of CUSIP numbers, which series consists of approximately 900 CUSIP numbers which have been reserved for and relating to Global Notes and the Company has delivered to each of the Trustee and DTC such list of such CUSIP numbers. The Company will assign CUSIP numbers to Global Notes as described below under Settlement Procedure B. DTC will notify the CUSIP Service Bureau periodically of the CUSIP numbers that the Company has assigned to Global Notes. The Trustee will notify the Company at any time when fewer than 100 of the reserved CUSIP numbers remain unassigned to Global Notes, and, if it deems necessary, the Company will reserve and obtain additional CUSIP numbers for assignment to Global Notes. Upon obtaining such additional CUSIP numbers, the Company will deliver a list of such additional numbers to the Trustee and DTC. Notes issued in book-entry form in excess of $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies) aggregate principal amount and otherwise required to be represented by the same Global Note will instead be represented by two or more Global Notes which shall all be assigned the same CUSIP number. Registration: Unless otherwise specified by DTC, each Global Note will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, on the register maintained by the Trustee under the Indenture. The beneficial owner of a Note issued in book-entry form (i.e., an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note) (or one or more indirect participants in DTC designated by such owner) will designate one or more participants in DTC (with respect to such Note issued in book-entry form, the "Participants") to act as agent for such beneficial owner in connection with the book-entry system maintained by DTC, and DTC will record in book-entry form, in accordance with instructions provided by such Participants, a credit balance with respect to such Note issued in book-entry form in the account of such Participants. The ownership interest of such beneficial owner in such Note issued in book-entry form will be recorded through the records of such Participants or through the separate records of such Participants and one or more indirect participants in DTC. Transfers: Transfers of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Note will be accomplished by book entries made by DTC and, in turn, by Participants (and in certain cases, one or more indirect participants in DTC) acting on behalf of beneficial transferors and transferees of such Global Note. 13 43 Exchanges: The Trustee may deliver to DTC and the CUSIP Service Bureau at any time a written notice specifying (a) the CUSIP numbers of two or more Global Notes outstanding on such date that represent Global Notes having the same Fixed Rate Terms or Floating Rate Terms, as the case may be (other than Original Issue Dates), and for which interest has been paid to the same date; (b) a date, occurring at least 30 days after such written notice is delivered and at least 30 days before the next Interest Payment Date for the related Notes issued in book-entry form, on which such Global Notes shall be exchanged for a single replacement Global Note; and (c) a new CUSIP number, obtained from the Company, to be assigned to such replacement Global Note. Upon receipt of such a notice, DTC will send to its Participants (including the Trustee) a written reorganization notice to the effect that such exchange will occur on such date. Prior to the specified exchange date, the Trustee will deliver to the CUSIP Service Bureau written notice setting forth such exchange date and the new CUSIP number and stating that, as of such exchange date, the CUSIP numbers of the Global Notes to be exchanged will no longer be valid. On the specified exchange date, the Trustee will exchange such Global Notes for a single Global Note bearing the new CUSIP number and the CUSIP numbers of the exchanged Notes will, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be canceled and not immediately reassigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Global Notes to be exchanged exceed $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies) in aggregate principal amount, one replacement Note will be authenticated and issued to represent each $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies) in aggregate principal amount of the exchanged Global Notes and an additional Global Note or Notes will be authenticated and issued to represent any remaining principal amount of such Global Notes (See "Denominations" below). Denominations: Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, Notes issued in book-entry form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Global Notes will not be denominated in excess of $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies) aggregate principal amount. If one or more Notes are issued in book-entry form in excess of $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies) aggregate principal amount and would, but for the preceding sentence, be represented by a single Global Note, then one Global Note will be issued to 14 44 represent each $200,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies) in aggregate principal amount of such Notes issued in book-entry form and an additional Global Note or Notes will be issued to represent any remaining aggregate principal amount of such Note or Notes issued in book-entry form. In such a case, each of the Global Notes representing Notes issued in book-entry form shall be assigned the same CUSIP number. Payments of Principal and Interest: PAYMENTS OF INTEREST ONLY. Promptly after each Regular Record Date, the Trustee will deliver to the Company and DTC a written notice specifying by CUSIP number the amount of interest to be paid on each Global Note on the following Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date coinciding with the Maturity Date) and the total of such amounts. DTC will confirm the amount payable on each Global Note on such Interest Payment Date by reference to the daily bond reports published by Standard & Poor's Corporation. On such Interest Payment Date, the Company will pay to the Trustee in immediately available funds an amount sufficient to pay the interest then due and owing on the Global Notes, and upon receipt of such funds from the Company, the Trustee in turn will pay to DTC such total amount of interest due on such Global Notes (other than on the Maturity Date) which is payable in U.S. dollars, at the times and in the manner set forth below under "Manner of Payment." The Trustee shall make payment of that amount of interest due and owing on any Global Notes that Participants have elected to receive in foreign or composite currencies directly to such Participants. NOTICE OF INTEREST RATES. Promptly after each Interest Determination Date or Calculation Date, as the case may be, for Floating Rate Notes issued in book-entry form, the Trustee will notify each of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Corporation of the interest rates determined as of such Interest Determination Date. PAYMENTS AT MATURITY. On or about the first Business Day of each month, the Trustee will deliver to the Company and DTC a written list of principal, premium, if any, and interest to be paid on each Global Note maturing or otherwise becoming due in the following month. The Trustee, the Company and DTC will confirm the amounts of such principal, premium, if any, and interest payments with respect to each such Global Note on or 15 45 about the fifth Business Day preceding the Maturity Date of such Global Note. On the Maturity Date, the Company will pay to the Trustee in immediately available funds an amount sufficient to make the required payments, and upon receipt of such funds the Trustee in turn will pay to DTC the principal amount of Global Notes, together with premium, if any, and interest due on the Maturity Date, which are payable in U.S. dollars, at the times and in the manner set forth below under "Manner of Payment." The Trustee shall make payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest to be paid on the Maturity Date of each Global Note that Participants have elected to receive in foreign or composite currencies directly to such Participants. Promptly after (i) payment to DTC of the principal, premium, if any, and interest due on the Maturity Date of such Global Note which are payable in U.S. dollars and (ii) payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest due on the Maturity Date of such Global Note to those Participants who have elected to receive such payments in foreign or composite currencies, the Trustee will cancel such Global Note and deliver it to the Company with an appropriate debit advice. On the first Business Day of each month, the Trustee will deliver to the Company a written statement indicating the total principal amount of outstanding Global Notes as of the close of business on the immediately preceding Business Day. MANNER OF PAYMENT. The total amount of any principal, premium, if any, and interest due on Global Notes on any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be, which is payable in U.S. dollars shall be paid by the Company to the Trustee in funds available for use by the Trustee no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date. The Company will make such payment on such Global Notes to an account specified by the Trustee. Upon receipt of such funds, the Trustee will pay by separate wire transfer (using Fedwire message entry instructions in a form previously specified by DTC) to an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York previously specified by DTC, in funds available for immediate use by DTC, each payment in U.S. dollars of principal, premium, if any, and interest due on Global Notes on such date. Thereafter on such date, DTC will pay, in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then in effect, such amounts in funds available for immediate use to the respective Participants in whose names the beneficial interests in such Global Notes are recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC. Neither the Company 16 46 nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for the payment in U.S. dollars by DTC of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Global Notes. The Trustee shall make all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on each Global Note that Participants have elected to receive in foreign or composite currencies directly to such Participants. WITHHOLDING TAXES. The amount of any taxes required under applicable law to be withheld from any interest payment on a Global Note will be determined and withheld by the Participant, indirect participant in DTC or other Person responsible for forwarding payments and materials directly to the beneficial owner of such Global Note. Settlement Procedures: Settlement Procedures with regard to each Note in book-entry form sold by an Agent, as agent of the Company, or purchased by an Agent, as principal, will be as follows: a. The Offering Agent will advise the Company by telephone, confirmed by facsimile, of the following settlement information: i. Principal amount, Authorized Denomination, and Specified Currency. ii. Exchange Rate Agent, if any. iii. (1) Fixed Rate Notes: (a) Interest Rate. (b) Interest Payment Dates. (c) Whether such Note is being issued with Original Issue Discount and, if so, the terms thereof. (2) Floating Rate Notes: (a) Interest Category. (b) Interest Rate Basis or Bases. (c) Initial Interest Rate. (d) Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any. 17 47 (e) Initial Interest Reset Date or Interest Reset Dates. (f) Interest Payment Dates. (g) Index Maturity, if any. (h) Maximum and/or Minimum Interest Rates, if any. (i) Day Count Convention. (j) Calculation Agent. iv. Price to public, if any, of such Note (or whether such Note is being offered at varying prices relating to prevailing market prices at time of resale as determined by the Offering Agent). v. Trade Date. vi. Settlement Date (Original Issue Date). vii. Stated Maturity Date. viii. Redemption provisions, if any. ix. Repayment provisions, if any. x. Default Rate, if any. xi. Net proceeds to the Company. xii. The Offering Agent's discount or commission. xiii. Whether such Note is being sold to the Offering Agent as principal or to an investor or other purchaser through the Offering Agent acting as agent for the Company. xiv. Such other information specified with respect to such Note (whether by Addendum or otherwise). b. The Company will assign a CUSIP number to the Global Note representing such Note and then advise the Trustee by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission of the above settlement information received from the Offering Agent, such CUSIP number and the name of the Offering Agent. The Company 18 48 will also advise the Offering Agent of the CUSIP number assigned to the Global Note. c. The Trustee will communicate to DTC and the Offering Agent through DTC's Participant Terminal System a pending deposit message specifying the following settlement information: i. The information set forth in the Settlement Procedure A. ii. Identification numbers of the participant accounts maintained by DTC on behalf of the Trustee and the Offering Agent. iii. Identification of the Global Note as a Fixed Rate Global Note or Floating Rate Global Note. iv. Initial Interest Payment Date for such Note, number of days by which such date succeeds the related record date for DTC purposes (or, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset daily or weekly, the date five calendar days preceding the Interest Payment Date) and, if then calculable, the amount of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date (which amount shall have been confirmed by the Trustee). v. CUSIP number of the Global Note representing such Note. vi. Whether such Global Note represents any other Notes issued or to be issued in book-entry form. DTC will arrange for each pending deposit message described above to be transmitted to Standard & Poor's Corporation, which will use the information in the message to include certain terms of the related Global Note in the appropriate daily bond report published by Standard & Poor's Corporation. d. The Trustee will complete and authenticate the Global Note representing such Note. e. DTC will credit such Note to the participant account of the Trustee maintained by DTC. f. The Trustee will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant Terminal System instructing DTC (i) to debit such Note to the Trustee's participant account and credit such Note to the participant account of the Offering Agent maintained by DTC and (ii) to debit the settlement account of the Offering Agent and credit the settlement account of the Trustee maintained 19 49 by DTC, in an amount equal to the price of such Note less such Offering Agent's discount or underwriting commission, as applicable. Any entry of such a deliver order shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Trustee to DTC that (i) the Global Note representing such Note has been issued and authenticated and (ii) the Trustee is holding such Global Note pursuant to the Certificate Agreement. g. In the case of Notes in book-entry form sold through the Offering Agent, as agent, the Offering Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant Terminal System instructing DTC (i) to debit such Note to the Offering Agent's participant account and credit such Note to the participant account of the Participants maintained by DTC and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts of such Participants and credit the settlement account of the Offering Agent maintained by DTC in an amount equal to the initial public offering price of such Note. h. Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders described in Settlement Procedures F and G will be settled in accordance with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement Date. i. Upon receipt, the Trustee will pay the Company, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by the Company to the Trustee from time to time, the amount transferred to the Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure F. j. The Trustee will send a copy of the Global Note by first class mail to the Company together with a statement setting forth the principal amount of Notes Outstanding as of the related Settlement Date after giving effect to such transaction and all other offers to purchase Notes of which the Company has advised the Trustee but which have not yet been settled. k. If such Note was sold through the Offering Agent, as agent, the Offering Agent will confirm the purchase of such Note to the investor or other purchaser either by transmitting to the Participant with respect to such Note a confirmation order through DTC's Participant Terminal System or by mailing a written confirmation to such investor or other purchaser. Settlement Procedures Timetable: For offers to purchase Notes accepted by the Company, Settlement Procedures A through K set forth above shall be completed as soon as possible following the trade but not later than the respective times (New York City time) set forth below: 20 50 Settlement Procedure Time ---------- ---- A 11:00 a.m. on the trade date or within one hour following the trade B 12:00 noon on the trade date or within one hour following the trade C No later than the close of business on the trade date D 9:00 a.m. on Settlement Date E 10:00 a.m. on Settlement Date F-G No later than 2:00 p.m. on Settlement Date H 4:00 p.m. on Settlement Date I-K 5:00 p.m. on Settlement Date Settlement Procedure H is subject to extension in accordance with any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement Date. If settlement of a Note issued in book-entry form is rescheduled or canceled, the Trustee will deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, a cancellation message to such effect by no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the scheduled Settlement Date. Failure to Settle: If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with respect to a Note issued in book-entry form pursuant to Settlement Procedure F, the Trustee may deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, as soon as practicable a withdrawal message instructing DTC to debit such Note to the participant account of the Trustee maintained at DTC. DTC will process the withdrawal message, provided that such participant account contains a principal amount of the Global Note representing such Note that is at least equal to the principal amount to be debited. If withdrawal messages are processed with respect to all the Notes represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will mark such Global Note "canceled", make appropriate entries in its records and send certification of destruction of such canceled Global Note to the Company. The CUSIP number assigned to such Global Note shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be canceled and not immediately reassigned. If withdrawal messages are processed with respect to a portion of 21 51 the Notes represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will exchange such Global Note for two Global Notes, one of which shall represent the Global Notes for which withdrawal messages are processed and shall be canceled immediately after issuance and the other of which shall represent the other Notes previously represented by the surrendered Global Note and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Note. In the case of any Note in book-entry form sold through the Offering Agent, as agent, if the purchase price for any such Note is not timely paid to the Participants with respect thereto by the beneficial investor or other purchaser thereof (or a person, including an indirect participant in DTC, acting on behalf of such investor or other purchaser), such Participants and, in turn, the related Offering Agent may enter SDFS deliver orders through DTC's Participant Terminal System reversing the orders entered pursuant to Settlement Procedures F and G, respectively. Thereafter, the Trustee will deliver the withdrawal message and take the related actions described in the preceding paragraph. If such failure shall have occurred for any reason other than default by the applicable Offering Agent to perform its obligations hereunder or under the Distribution Agreement, the Company will reimburse such Offering Agent on an equitable basis for its reasonable loss of the use of funds during the period when the funds were credited to the account of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with respect to a Note in book-entry form, DTC may take any actions in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then in effect. In the event of a failure to settle with respect to a Note that was to have been represented by a Global Note also representing other Notes, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedure D, for the authentication and issuance of a Global Note representing such remaining Notes and will make appropriate entries in its records. 22 52 PART III: PROCEDURES FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES Denominations: Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Certificated Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Payments of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest: Upon presentment and delivery of the Certificated Note, the Trustee upon receipt of immediately available funds from the Company will pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, each Certificated Note on the Maturity Date in immediately available funds. All interest payments on a Certificated Note, other than interest due on the Maturity Date, will be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; provided, however, that Holders of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes (whether having identical or different terms and provisions) shall be entitled to receive such interest payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date. The Trustee will provide monthly to the Company a list of the principal, premium, if any, and interest to be paid on Certificated Notes maturing in the next succeeding month. The Trustee will be responsible for withholding taxes on interest paid as required by applicable law. Certificated Notes presented to the Trustee on the Maturity Date for payment will be canceled by the Trustee. All canceled Certificated Notes held by the Trustee shall be destroyed, and the Trustee shall furnish to the Company a certificate with respect to such destruction. Settlement Procedures: Settlement Procedures with regard to each Certificated Note purchased by an Agent, as principal, or through an Agent, as agent, shall be as follows: l. The Offering Agent will advise the Company by telephone of the following Settlement information with regard to each Certificated Note: 23 53 m. i. exact name in which the Certificated Note(s) is to be registered (the "Registered Owner"). ii. Exact address or addresses of the Registered Owner for delivery, notices and payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest. iii. Taxpayer identification number of the Registered Owner. iv. Principal amount, Authorized Denomination and Specified Currency. v. Exchange Rate Agent, if any. vi. (1) Fixed Rate Notes: (a) Interest Rate. (b) Interest Payment Dates. (c) Whether such Note is being issued with Original Issue Discount and, if so, the terms thereof. (2) Floating Rate Notes: (a) Interest Category. (b) Interest Rate Basis or Bases. (c) Initial Interest Rate. (d) Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any. (e) Initial Interest Reset Date and Interest Reset Dates. (f) Interest Payment Dates. (g) Index Maturity, if any. (h) Maximum and/or Minimum Interest Rates, if any. (i) Day Count Convention. (j) Calculation Agent. 24 54 vii. Price to public of such Certificated Note (or whether such Note is being offered at varying prices relating to prevailing market prices at time of resale as determined by the Offering Agent). viii. Trade Date. ix. Settlement Date (Original Issue Date). x. Stated Maturity Date. xi. Redemption provisions, if any. xii. Repayment provisions, if any. xiii. Default Rate, if any. xiv. Net proceeds to the Company. xv. The Offering Agent's discount or commission. xvi. Whether such Note is being sold to the Offering Agent as principal or to an investor or other purchaser through the Offering Agent acting as agent for the Company. xvii. Such other information specified with respect to such Note (whether by Addendum or otherwise). n. After receiving such settlement information from the Offering Agent, the Company will advise the Trustee of the above settlement information by facsimile transmission confirmed by telephone. The Company will cause the Trustee to issue, authenticate and deliver the Certificated Note. o. The Trustee will complete the Certificated Note in the form approved by the Company and the Offering Agent, and will make three copies thereof (herein called "Stub 1", "Stub 2" and "Stub 3"): i. Certificated Note with the Offering Agent's confirmation, if traded on a principal basis, or the Offering Agent's customer confirmation, if traded on an agency basis. ii. Stub 1 for Trustee. iii. Stub 2 for Offering Agent. 25 55 iv. Stub 3 for the Company. p. With respect to each trade, the Trustee will deliver the Certificated Note and Stub 2 thereof to the Offering Agent at the following applicable address: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Merrill Lynch Money Markets Clearance, 55 Water Street, Concourse Level, N.S.C.C. Window, New York, New York 10041, Attention: Patti Lewis, (212) 558-2405, telecopier: (212) 558-2457; Credit Department, Credit Control -- Medium-Term Notes, Goldman Sachs & Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York, 10004, (212) 902-0346, telecopier (212) 346-2793; and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10260, Attention: Medium-Term Note Department, (212) 648-0591, telecopier (212) 648-5909; and the Trustee will keep Stub 1. The Offering Agent will acknowledge receipt of the Certificated Note through a broker's receipt and will keep Stub 2. Delivery of the Certificated Note will be made only against such acknowledgment of receipt. Upon determination that the Certificated Note has been authorized, delivered and completed as aforementioned, the Offering Agent will wire the net proceeds of the Certificated Note after deduction of its applicable commission to the Company pursuant to standard wire instructions given by the Company. q. In the case of a Certificated Note sold through the Offering Agent, as agent, the Offering Agent will deliver such Certificated Note (with the confirmation) to the purchaser against payment in immediately available funds. r. The Trustee will send Stub 3 to the Company. Settlement Procedures Timetable: For offers to purchase Certificated Notes accepted by the Company, Settlement Procedures A through F set forth above shall be completed as soon as possible following the trade but not later than the respective times (New York City time) set forth below: Settlement Procedure Time ---------- ---- A 11:00 a.m. on the trade date or within one hour following the trade B 12:00 noon on the trade date or within one hour following the trade C-D 2:15 p.m. on Settlement Date E 3:00 p.m. on Settlement Date F 5:00 p.m. on Settlement Date 26 56 Failure to Settle: In the case of Certificated Notes sold through the Offering Agent, as agent, if an investor or other purchaser of a Certificated Note from the Company shall either fail to accept delivery of or make payment for such Certificated Note on the date fixed for settlement, the Offering Agent will forthwith notify the Trustee and the Company by telephone, confirmed in writing, and return such Certificated Note to the Trustee. The Trustee, upon receipt of such Certificated Note from the Offering Agent, will immediately advise the Company and the Company will promptly arrange to credit the account of the Offering Agent in an amount of immediately available funds equal to the amount previously paid to the Company by such Offering Agent in settlement for such Certificated Note. Such credits will be made on the Settlement Date if possible, and in any event not later than the Business Day following the Settlement Date; provided that the Company has received notice on the same day. If such failure shall have occurred for any reason other than failure by such Offering Agent to perform its obligations hereunder or under the Distribution Agreement, the Company will reimburse such Offering Agent on an equitable basis for its reasonable loss of the use of funds during the period when the funds were credited to the account of the Company. Immediately upon receipt of the Certificated Note in respect of which the failure occurred, the Trustee will cancel and destroy such Certificated Note, make appropriate entries in its records to reflect the fact that such Certificated Note was never issued, and accordingly notify in writing the Company. 27
1 EXHIBIT 5.1 September 29, 1998 Cabot Corporation 75 State Street Boston, MA 02109 Re: Legality of Debt Securities to be Registered Under Registration Statement on Form S-3 Ladies and Gentlemen: This opinion is delivered in my capacity as General Counsel to Cabot Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Company's registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed on September __, 1998 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), relating to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities. The Registration Statement provides that the Debt Securities may be offered separately or together, in separate series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements (each a "Prospectus Supplement") to the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement. In connection with rendering this opinion, I have examined the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to the date hereof and on file with the Delaware Secretary of State, the Bylaws of the Company, such records of corporate proceedings of the Company as I have deemed appropriate for the purposes of this opinion, and the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. I express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdictions other than the laws of the United States of America and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Delaware General Corporation Law. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that, when specifically authorized for issuance by the Company's Board of Directors or an authorized committee thereof (the "Authorizing Resolution") and when issued as described in the Registration Statement and a Prospectus Supplement that is consistent with the Authorizing Resolution, and upon receipt by the Company of the consideration provided for in the Authorizing Resolution, the Debt Securities will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and valid and binding obligations of the Company. The foregoing assumes that all requisite steps will be taken to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable requirements of state laws regulating the offer and sale of securities. I hereby consent to being named as counsel to the Company in the Registration Statement, to the references therein to me under the caption "Legal Matters" and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, Robert Rothberg Vice President and General Counsel
1 EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement on Form S-3 of our report dated October 23, 1997, except with respect to Note B thereto as to which our report is dated December 18, 1997, on our audit of the consolidated financial statements of Cabot Corporation as of September 30, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the years in the three year period ended September 30, 1997. In addition, we consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption "Experts." /S/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Boston, Massachusetts September 29, 1998
1 EXHIBIT 24.1 POWER OF ATTORNEY We, the undersigned directors and officers of Cabot Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint Robert Rothberg, Charles D. Gerlinger and Sarah W. Saunders, and each of them, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the purpose of registering up to an aggregate of $500,000,000 principal amount of debt securities, any and all amendments thereto (the "Registration Statement"), hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to the Registration Statement. WITNESS our hands and common seal on the date set forth below. Signature Title Date - --------- ----- ---- /s/ Samuel W. Bodman Director, Chairman January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- Chief Executive Officer /s/ Kennett F. Burnes Director and President January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Robert L. Culver Executive Vice President and January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- Chief Financial Officer /s/ William T. Anderson Controller January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Jane C. Bradley Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ John G.L. Cabot Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Arthur L. Goldstein Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Robert P. Henderson Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Arnold S. Hiatt Director January 14, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ John H. McArthur Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ John F. O'Brien Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ David V. Ragone Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Charles P. Siess, Jr. Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Morris Tannenbaum Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Lydia W. Thomas Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- /s/ Mark S. Wrighton Director January 9, 1998 - ------------------------- 2 POWER OF ATTORNEY I, the undersigned director of Cabot Corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Robert Rothberg, Charles D. Gerlinger and Sarah W. Saunders, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys with full power to sign for me and in my name in the capacity indicated below, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the purpose of registering up to an aggregate of $500,000,000 principal amount of debt securities, and any and all amendments thereto (the "Registration Statement"), hereby ratifying and confirming my signatures as it may be signed by my said attorneys, or any of them, to the Registration Statement. WITNESS my hand and seal on the date set forth below. Signature Title Date - --------- ----- ---- /s/ John S. Clarkeson Director June 2, 1998 - ------------------------- 3 POWER OF ATTORNEY I, the undersigned director of Cabot Corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Robert Rothberg, Charles D. Gerlinger and Sarah W. Saunders, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys with full power to sign for me and in my name in the capacity indicated below, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the purpose of registering up to an aggregate of $500,000,000 principal amount of debt securities, and any and all amendments thereto (the "Registration Statement"), hereby ratifying and confirming my signatures as it may be signed by my said attorneys, or any of them, to the Registration Statement. WITNESS my hand and seal on the date set forth below. Signature Title Date - --------- ----- ---- /s/ Gautam S. Kaji Director September 11, 1998 - ------------------------- 4 POWER OF ATTORNEY I, the undersigned director of Cabot Corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Robert Rothberg, Charles D. Gerlinger and Sarah W. Saunders, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys with full power to sign for me and in my name in the capacity indicated below, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the purpose of registering up to an aggregate of $500,000,000 principal amount of debt securities, and any and all amendments thereto (the "Registration Statement"), hereby ratifying and confirming my signatures as it may be signed by my said attorneys, or any of them, to the Registration Statement. WITNESS my hand and seal on the date set forth below. Signature Title Date - --------- ----- ---- /s/ Roderick C.G. MacLeod Director June 2, 1998 - -------------------------