Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-159479

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED May 26, 2009

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus Dated May 26, 2009)

 

 

$300,000,000

 

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated

 

% Senior Notes due 2019

 

 

 

 

The notes will bear interest at the rate of     % per year. Interest on the notes is payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 each year, beginning on December 1, 2009. The notes will mature on June 1, 2019. We may redeem the notes at any time and from time to time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, by paying a “make-whole” premium. See “Description of Notes — Optional Redemption” beginning on page S-30 of this prospectus supplement. If we undergo a change of control repurchase event, holders may request us to repurchase the notes in whole or in part for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

 

The notes will be our unsecured senior obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness.

 

Concurrent with the offering of notes pursuant to this prospectus supplement, we are also offering by a separate prospectus supplement $350 million aggregate principal amount of     % Convertible Notes due 2014 (or $402.5 million if the underwriters of the convertible notes exercise in full their option to purchase additional convertible notes). On May 26, 2009, we announced that we had commenced a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of our outstanding 8.375% Notes due 2011, of which $300 million in aggregate principal amount was outstanding as of March 31, 2009, at a purchase price of $1,060 per $1,000 principal amount of 8.375% notes plus accrued and unpaid interest.

 

 

 

 

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and page 2 of the accompanying prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the related prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on the notes will accrue from          , 2009.

 

 

 

 

We expect delivery of the notes will be made to investors in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, societé anonyme, and Euroclear Banking, S.A./N.V., on or about        , 2009.

 

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

 

 

 

Joint Lead Manager

 

Banc of America Securities LLC

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is  , 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front covers of these documents.

 

You should carefully review the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on our management’s expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

You can identify these forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “would,” “should,” “will,” “will likely result,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “projects,” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

 

We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will be realized, although we believe that we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Among others, the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and any of our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and “Risk Factors” could cause actual results to differ from those in forward-looking statements included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or that we otherwise make. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: (a) material adverse changes in economic or industry conditions generally, including credit market conditions and related issues, and global supply and demand conditions and prices for our specialty metals; (b) material adverse changes in the markets we serve, including the aerospace and defense, construction and mining, automotive, electrical energy, chemical process industry, oil and gas, medical and other markets; (c) our inability to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, synergies, growth or other benefits anticipated by management, including those anticipated from strategic investments and the integration of acquired businesses, whether due to significant increases in energy, raw materials or employee benefits costs, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, or other factors; (d) volatility of prices and availability of supply of the raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of our products; (e) declines in the value of our defined benefit pension plan assets or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding; (f) significant legal proceedings or investigations adverse to us; (g) other risk factors summarized in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove to be inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. You should bear this in mind as you consider any forward-looking statements.

 

We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. You are advised, however, to consider any additional disclosures that we may make on related subjects in future filings with the SEC. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all factors that could cause our actual results to differ. Consequently, you should not consider any list of factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

 

Available Information

 

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information that we file with the SEC can be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 to obtain further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The SEC’s internet address is http://www.sec.gov. In addition, our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and our reports and other information can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Our Internet website is www.alleghenytechnologies.com. Information contained on our website is not part of, and should not be construed as being incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. Any information we incorporate in this manner is considered part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus except to the extent updated and superseded by information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Some information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC and any filings that we make with the SEC in the future under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus supplement, including between the date of this prospectus supplement and the date on which the offering of the securities under this prospectus supplement is terminated, except as noted in the paragraph below:

 

 

Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and we are not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 with respect to information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. We are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act or into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

Statements contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus do not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to the particular provisions of that contract, agreement or other document, those references are qualified in all respects by reference to all of the provisions contained in that contract or other document. For a more complete understanding and description of each such contract, agreement or other document, we urge you to read the documents contained in the exhibits to the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, therein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

We will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and a copy of any or all other contracts, agreements or documents which are referred to in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Requests should be directed to: Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, 1000 Six PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5479, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone number: (412) 394-2800. You also may review a copy of the registration statement and its exhibits at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s internet site.

 

SUMMARY

Issuer		Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.
Notes Offered		$300 million aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2019.
Maturity		June 1, 2019.
Interest Payment Dates		June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2009.
Ranking		The notes will be:
		• our unsecured senior obligations;
		• pari passu in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior debt; and
		• senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated obligations.
		After giving effect to this offering, the convertible notes offering and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” including to purchase our 8.375% notes pursuant to the tender offer (assuming all the outstanding 8.375% notes are purchased pursuant to the tender offer), as of March 31, 2009, we would have had an aggregate of approximately $836.9 million of indebtedness outstanding ($889.4 million if the underwriters of the convertible notes exercise in full their option to purchase additional convertible notes). If fewer than all the 8.375% notes are purchased in the tender offer, our indebtedness will be higher.
Optional Redemption		We may redeem the notes at any time and from time to time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, by paying a “make-whole” premium based on U.S. Treasury rates as specified in this prospectus supplement under “Description of Notes — Optional Redemption.”
Certain Covenants		We will issue the notes under a senior indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The senior indenture will include covenants that limit:
		• our ability and the ability of our domestic subsidiaries to create or permit liens;
		• our ability and the ability of our domestic subsidiaries to enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
		• the ability of our domestic subsidiaries to guarantee our indebtedness; and
		• our ability to consolidate or merge with or into other companies or sell all or substantially all of our assets.
		These covenants will be subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications described under “Description of Notes — Certain Covenants” and “— Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.”
Change of Control		Under certain circumstances, following a change of control and a decline in the credit rating of the notes, we will be required to make an offer to purchase all of the notes at a purchase price of 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.

Use of Proceeds		We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering plus, if necessary, cash on hand to purchase our 8.375% Notes due 2011 that are tendered pursuant to the tender offer. Any net proceeds of this offering not used to purchase our 8.375% notes will be used for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Risk Factors		You should carefully consider the information set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and the other information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in deciding whether to purchase the notes.
Governing Law		State of New York.

														Three Months Ended
		Year Ended December 31,												March 31,
		2006				2007				2008				2008				2009
		(Dollars in millions)
														(Unaudited)
Statement of income data:
Sales:
High Performance Metals		$	1,806.6			$	2,067.6			$	1,944.9			$	481.0			$	387.9
Flat-Rolled Products			2,697.3				2,951.9				2,909.1				746.9				378.2
Engineered Products			432.7				433.0				455.7				115.5				65.5
Total sales			4,936.6				5,452.5				5,309.7				1,343.4				831.6
Operating profit (loss):
High Performance Metals			657.2				729.1				539.0				131.4				54.3
Flat-Rolled Products			356.1				512.0				385.0				102.9				7.7
Engineered Products			56.7				32.1				20.9				5.7				(6.1	)
Total operating profit			1,070.0				1,273.2				944.9				240.0				55.9
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			880.7				1,154.1				867.7				221.6				0.3
Net income attributable to ATI			574.1				747.1				565.9				142.0				5.9
Balance sheet data (at end of period):
Working capital		$	1,344.8			$	1,544.7			$	1,235.5			$	1,486.9			$	1,200.3
Total assets			3,280.5				4,095.6				4,170.4				4,276.4				4,033.3
Long-term debt			529.9				507.3				494.6				503.5				488.8
Total debt			553.6				528.2				509.8				524.4				503.5
Cash and cash equivalents			502.3				623.3				469.9				468.0				506.0
Stockholders’ equity			1,540.4				2,279.2				2,029.0				2,346.3				2,022.3
Cash flow information:
Cash flow provided by operating activities		$	303.3			$	701.5			$	754.5			$	66.0			$	168.9
Cash flow used in investing activities			(235.8	)			(451.7	)			(513.9	)			(111.7	)			(109.2	)
Cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities			72.1				(128.8	)			(394.0	)			(109.6	)			(23.6	)
Other Data:
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)			18.1	x			25.0	x			19.4	x			20.1	x			1.8	x
EBITDA(2)		$	966.9			$	1,257.0			$	986.5			$	248.9			$	32.6

(1)		For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” represents income before income tax provision (benefit) and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle plus (income) loss recognized on less than fifty percent owned persons plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, the portion of rents deemed to be interest, capitalized interest and amortization of debt expense.

(2)		We define EBITDA as income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies and, accordingly, is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure of performance relative to other companies. We have presented EBITDA in this prospectus supplement solely as a supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of our results of operations. We believe that EBITDA is useful to investors because EBITDA is commonly used to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance, leverage and liquidity. Furthermore, analogous measures are used by industry analysts to evaluate operating performance. EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow for management’s discretionary use, as it does not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and capital expenditures. EBITDA is not intended to represent, and should not be considered more meaningful than, or as an alternative to, a measure of operating performance as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This definition of EBITDA will differ from the amounts calculated under the definition of EBITDA that will be contained in our amended revolving credit facilities. We do not intend to provide EBITDA information for future periods in earnings press releases, filings with the SEC or in response to inquiries. EBITDA is calculated as follows:

														Three Months Ended
		Year Ended December 31,												March 31,
		2006				2007				2008				2008				2009
		(Dollars in millions)
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		$	880.7			$	1,154.1			$	867.7			$	221.6			$	0.3
Depreciation and amortization			86.2				102.9				118.8				27.3				32.3
EBITDA		$	966.9			$	1,257.0			$	986.5			$	248.9			$	32.6

 

An investment in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described below and other information set forth in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision. The risks and uncertainties described below, in the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations and financial performance. Should one or more of any of these risks materialize, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. This could cause a decline in the trading price of our securities, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

Cyclical Demand for Products.

 

The cyclical nature of the industries in which our customers operate causes demand for our products to be cyclical, creating potential uncertainty regarding future profitability. Various changes in general economic conditions may affect the industries in which our customers operate. These changes could include decreases in the rate of consumption or use of our customers’ products due to economic downturns. Other factors that may cause fluctuation in our customers’ positions are changes in market demand, lower overall pricing due to domestic and international overcapacity, currency fluctuations, lower priced imports and increases in use or decreases in prices of substitute materials. As a result of these factors, our profitability has been and may in the future be subject to significant fluctuation.

 

Worldwide economic conditions have recently deteriorated significantly and may remain depressed, or could worsen, in the foreseeable future. These conditions have had, and may continue to have, a material adverse effect on demand for our customers’ products and, in turn, on demand for our products. If these conditions persist or worsen, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

 

Product Pricing.

 

From time-to-time, reduced demand, intense competition and excess manufacturing capacity have resulted in reduced prices, excluding raw material surcharges, for many of our products. These factors have had and may have an adverse impact on our revenues, operating results and financial condition.

 

Although inflationary trends in recent years have been moderate, during most of the same period certain critical raw material costs, such as nickel, titanium sponge, chromium, and molybdenum and scrap containing iron, nickel, titanium, chromium, and molybdenum have been volatile and at historically high levels. While we have been able to mitigate some of the adverse impact of rising raw material costs through raw material surcharges or indices to customers, rapid increases in raw material costs may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We change prices on certain of our products from time-to-time. The ability to implement price increases is dependent on market conditions, economic factors, raw material costs and availability, competitive factors, operating costs and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. The benefits of any price increases may be delayed due to long manufacturing lead times and the terms of existing contracts.

 

Risks Associated with Commercial Aerospace.

 

A significant portion of the sales of our High Performance Metals segment represents products sold to customers in the commercial aerospace industry. The commercial aerospace industry has historically been cyclical due to factors both external and internal to the airline industry. These factors include general economic conditions, airline profitability, consumer demand for air travel, varying fuel and labor costs, price competition, and international and domestic political conditions such as military conflict and the threat of terrorism. The length and degree of cyclical fluctuation are influenced by these factors and therefore are difficult to predict with certainty. Demand for our products in this segment is subject to these cyclical trends. For example, the average price per pound for our titanium mill products was $11.89 for the period 2002 through 2004, $22.75 in 2005, $33.83 in 2006, $30.14 in 2007 and $25.60 in 2008, and the average price per pound for our nickel-based and specialty alloys was $7.19 for the period 2002 through 2004, $11.25 in 2005, $14.35 in 2006, $19.16 in 2007 and $18.14 in 2008. A downturn in the commercial aerospace industry has had, and may in the

future have, an adverse effect on the prices at which we are able to sell these and other products, and our results of operations, business and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

 

Risks Associated with Strategic Capital Projects.

 

From time-to-time, we undertake strategic capital projects in order to enhance, expand and/or upgrade our facilities and operational capabilities. For instance, in 2006, 2007 and 2008 we announced major expansions of our titanium and premium-melt nickel-based alloy, superalloy and specialty alloy production capabilities and a new advanced specialty metals hot rolling and processing facility. Our ability to achieve the anticipated increased revenues or otherwise realize acceptable returns on these investments or other strategic capital projects that we may undertake is subject to a number of risks, many of which are beyond our control, including a variety of market, operational, permitting, and labor related factors. In addition, the cost to implement any given strategic capital project ultimately may prove to be greater than originally anticipated. If we are not able to achieve the anticipated results from the implementation of any of our strategic capital projects, or if we incur unanticipated implementation costs, our results of operations and financial position may be materially adversely affected.

 

Dependence on Critical Raw Materials Subject to Price and Availability Fluctuations.

 

We rely to a substantial extent on third parties to supply certain raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of our products. Purchase prices and availability of these critical raw materials are subject to volatility. At any given time we may be unable to obtain an adequate supply of these critical raw materials on a timely basis, on price and other terms acceptable, or at all.

 

If suppliers increase the price of critical raw materials, we may not have alternative sources of supply. In addition, to the extent that we have quoted prices to customers and accepted customer orders for products prior to purchasing necessary raw materials, or have existing contracts, we may be unable to raise the price of products to cover all or part of the increased cost of the raw materials.

 

The manufacture of some of our products is a complex process and requires long lead times. As a result, we may experience delays or shortages in the supply of raw materials. If unable to obtain adequate and timely deliveries of required raw materials, we may be unable to timely manufacture sufficient quantities of products. This could cause us to lose sales, incur additional costs, delay new product introductions, or suffer harm to our reputation.

 

We acquire certain important raw materials that we use to produce specialty materials, including nickel, chromium, cobalt, and titanium sponge, from foreign sources. Some of these sources operate in countries that may be subject to unstable political and economic conditions. These conditions may disrupt supplies or affect the prices of these materials.

 

Volatility of Raw Material Costs.

 

The prices for many of the raw materials we use have been extremely volatile. Since we value most of our inventory utilizing the last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory costing methodology, a rapid rise in raw material costs has a negative effect on our operating results. Under the LIFO inventory valuation method, changes in the cost of raw materials and production activities are recognized in cost of sales in the current period even though these material and other costs may have been incurred at significantly different values due to the length of time of our production cycle. For example, in 2008 and 2007, the effect of falling raw material costs on our LIFO inventory valuation method resulted in cost of sales which were $169.0 million and $92.1 million, respectively, lower than have been recognized had we utilized the first-in, first-out (FIFO) methodology to value our inventory. Conversely in 2006, the increase in raw material costs on the LIFO inventory valuation method resulted in cost of sales which was $197.0 million higher than would have been recognized if we utilized the FIFO methodology to value our inventory. In a period of rising raw material prices, cost of sales expense recognized under LIFO is generally higher than the cash costs incurred to acquire the inventory sold. However, in a period of declining raw material prices, cost of sales recognized under LIFO is generally lower than cash costs incurred to acquire the inventory sold.

 

Availability of Energy Resources.

 

We rely upon third parties for our supply of energy resources consumed in the manufacture of our products. The prices for and availability of electricity, natural gas, oil and other energy resources are subject to volatile market conditions. These market conditions often are affected by political and economic factors beyond our control. Disruptions in the supply of energy resources could temporarily impair the ability to manufacture products for customers. Further, increases in energy costs, or changes in costs relative to energy

costs paid by competitors, has and may continue to adversely affect our profitability. To the extent that these uncertainties cause suppliers and customers to be more cost sensitive, increased energy prices may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Risks Associated with Environmental Matters.

 

We are subject to various domestic and international environmental laws and regulations that govern the discharge of pollutants and disposal of wastes, and which may require that we investigate and remediate the effects of the release or disposal of materials at sites associated with past and present operations. We could incur substantial cleanup costs, fines and civil or criminal sanctions, third party property damage or personal injury claims as a result of violations or liabilities under these laws or non-compliance with environmental permits required at our facilities. We are currently involved in the investigation and remediation of a number of our current and former sites as well as third party sites.

 

With respect to proceedings brought under the federal Superfund laws, or similar state statutes, we have been identified as of December 31, 2008 as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at approximately 35 of such sites, excluding those at which we believe we have no future liability. Our involvement is limited or de minimis at approximately 27 of these sites, and the potential loss exposure with respect to any of the remaining 8 individual sites is not considered to be material.

 

We are a party to various cost-sharing arrangements with other PRPs at the sites. The terms of the cost-sharing arrangements are subject to non-disclosure agreements as confidential information. Nevertheless, the cost-sharing arrangements generally require all PRPs to post financial assurance of the performance of the obligations or to pre-pay into an escrow or trust account their share of anticipated site-related costs. In addition, the Federal government, through various agencies, is a party to several such arrangements.

 

We believe that we operate our businesses in compliance in all material respects with applicable environmental laws and regulations. However, from time-to-time, we are a party to lawsuits and other proceedings involving alleged violations of, or liabilities arising from, environmental laws. When our liability is probable and we can reasonably estimate our costs, we record environmental liabilities in our financial statements. In many cases, we are not able to determine whether we are liable, or if liability is probable, to reasonably estimate the loss or range of loss. Estimates of our liability remain subject to additional uncertainties, including the nature and extent of site contamination, available remediation alternatives, the extent of corrective actions that may be required, and the participation, number and financial condition of other PRPs, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation. We intend to adjust our accruals to reflect new information as appropriate. Future adjustments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in a given period, but we cannot reliably predict the amounts of such future adjustments. At March 31, 2009, our reserves for environmental matters totaled approximately $18 million. Based on currently available information, we do not believe that there is a reasonable possibility that a loss exceeding the amount already accrued for any of the sites with which we are currently associated (either individually or in the aggregate) will be an amount that would be material to a decision to buy or sell our securities. Future developments, administrative actions or liabilities relating to environmental matters, however, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Risks Associated with Current or Future Litigation and Claims.

 

A number of lawsuits, claims and proceedings have been or may be asserted against us relating to the conduct of our currently and formerly owned businesses, including those pertaining to product liability, patent infringement, commercial, government contracting work, employment, employee benefits, taxes, environmental, health and safety and occupational disease, and stockholder matters. Due to the uncertainties of litigation, we can give no assurance that we will prevail on all claims made against us in the lawsuits that we currently face or that additional claims will not be made against us in the future. While the outcome of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and some of these lawsuits, claims or proceedings may be determined adversely to us, we do not believe that the disposition of any such pending matters is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity, although the resolution in any reporting period of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for that period. Also, we can give no assurance that any other matters brought in the future will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations.

Labor Matters.

 

We have approximately 9,600 full-time employees. A portion of our workforce is covered by various collective bargaining agreements, principally with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (the “USW”), including: approximately 2,745 Allegheny Ludlum production, office and maintenance employees covered by collective bargaining agreements, which are effective through June 2011; approximately 390 Allvac Albany, Oregon (Oremet) employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which is effective through June 2011; approximately 650 Wah Chang employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which is effective through March 2013; approximately 270 employees at the Casting Service facility in LaPorte, Indiana, covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which is effective through December 2011; approximately 140 employees at our Rome Metals facilities in western Pennsylvania, covered by a collective bargaining agreement which is effective through May 2013; and approximately 250 employees at our Portland Forge facility in Portland, Indiana, covered by collective bargaining agreements with three unions which are effective through April 2013.

 

Generally, collective bargaining agreements that expire may be terminated after notice by the union. After termination, the union may authorize a strike. A strike by the employees covered by one or more of the collective bargaining agreements could have a materially adverse effect on our operating results. There can be no assurance that we will succeed in concluding collective bargaining agreements with the unions to replace those that expire.

 

Export Sales.

 

We believe that export sales will continue to account for a significant percentage of our future revenues. Risks associated with export sales include: political and economic instability, including weak conditions in the world’s economies; accounts receivable collection; export controls; changes in legal and regulatory requirements; policy changes affecting the markets for our products; changes in tax laws and tariffs; and exchange rate fluctuations (which may affect sales to international customers and the value of profits earned on export sales when converted into dollars). Any of these factors could materially adversely affect our results for the period in which they occur.

 

Risks Associated with Retirement Benefits.

 

Our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan was underfunded as of December 31, 2008. In accordance with current funding regulations, we are not required to make a contribution to this pension plan in 2009. However, we may be required to fund the U.S. defined benefit pension plan in the years beyond 2009 depending upon the value of plan investments and obligations in the future and changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding. Depending on the timing and amount, a requirement that we fund our defined benefit pension plan could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Risks Associated with Acquisition and Disposition Strategies.

 

We intend to continue to strategically position our businesses in order to improve our ability to compete. Strategies we employ to accomplish this may include seeking new or expanding existing specialty market niches for our products, expanding our global presence, acquiring businesses complementary to existing strengths and continually evaluating the performance and strategic fit of our existing business units. From time-to-time, management holds discussions with management of other companies to explore acquisition, joint ventures, and other business combination opportunities as well as possible business unit dispositions. As a result, the relative makeup of the businesses comprising our Company is subject to change. Acquisitions, joint ventures, and other business combinations involve various inherent risks, such as: assessing accurately the value, strengths, weaknesses, contingent and other liabilities and potential profitability of acquisition or other transaction candidates; the potential loss of key personnel of an acquired business; our ability to achieve identified financial and operating synergies anticipated to result from an acquisition or other transaction; and unanticipated changes in business and economic conditions affecting an acquisition or other transaction. International acquisitions and other transactions could be affected by export controls, exchange rate fluctuations, domestic and foreign political conditions and a deterioration in domestic and foreign economic conditions.

 

Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that

controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Insurance.

 

We have maintained various forms of insurance, including insurance covering claims related to our properties and risks associated with our operations. Our existing property and liability insurance coverages contain exclusions and limitations on coverage. From time-to-time, in connection with renewals of insurance, we have experienced additional exclusions and limitations on coverage, larger self-insured retentions and deductibles and significantly higher premiums. As a result, in the future our insurance coverage may not cover claims to the extent that it has in the past and the costs that we incur to procure insurance may increase significantly, either of which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Political and Social Turmoil.

 

The war on terrorism and recent political and social turmoil, including terrorist and military actions and the implications of the military actions in Iraq and elsewhere, could put pressure on economic conditions in the United States and worldwide. These political, social and economic conditions could make it difficult for us, our suppliers and our customers to forecast accurately and plan future business activities, and could adversely affect the financial condition of our suppliers and customers and affect customer decisions as to the amount and timing of purchases from us. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

Risks Associated with Government Contracts.

 

Some of our operating companies directly perform contractual work for the U.S. Government. Various claims (whether based on U.S. Government or Company audits and investigations or otherwise) could be asserted against us related to our U.S. Government contract work. Depending on the circumstances and the outcome, such proceedings could result in fines, penalties, compensatory and treble damages or the cancellation or suspension of payments under one or more U.S. Government contracts. Under government regulations, a company, or one or more of its operating divisions or units, can also be suspended or debarred from government contracts based on the results of investigations. Currently, there is no material portion of our business with the U.S. Government which might be subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts at the election of the U.S. Government.

 

Risks Relating to the Notes

 

Repayment of our debt, including the notes, is dependent on cash flow generated by our subsidiaries.

 

Our subsidiaries own a significant portion of our assets and conduct a significant portion of our operations. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness, including the notes, is dependent, to a significant extent, on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us, by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. None of our subsidiaries initially will be required to guarantee the notes. Unless they are guarantors of the notes, our subsidiaries do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the notes or to make funds available for that purpose. Our subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness, including the notes. Each subsidiary is a distinct legal entity and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. In the event that we do not receive distributions from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to make required principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, including the notes.

 

The notes will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries.

 

The notes will initially not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries and are therefore structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. These subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the notes, or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans, distributions or other payments. Any right that we have to receive any assets of any of the subsidiaries upon the liquidation or reorganization of those subsidiaries, and the consequent rights of holders of notes to realize proceeds from the sale of any of those subsidiaries’ assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of those subsidiaries’ creditors, including trade creditors and holders of preferred equity interests of those subsidiaries. Accordingly, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or

reorganization of any of our subsidiaries, these subsidiaries will pay the holders of their debts, holders of preferred equity interests and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us.

 

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control repurchase event.

 

Upon a change of control repurchase event as defined in the senior indenture, we will be required to make an offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the notes that are tendered upon a change of control repurchase offer. A failure to make the change of control repurchase offer or to pay the change of control repurchase price when due would result in a default under the senior indenture. The occurrence of a change of control would also constitute an event of default under our revolving credit facility and may constitute an event of default under the terms of the agreements governing our other indebtedness or require us to offer to repurchase such other indebtedness. See “Description of Notes — Purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.”

 

There may be no active trading market for the notes.

 

The notes are a new issue of securities for which there is no established market. Accordingly, any or all of the following may occur:

 

 

If a public market were to exist, the notes could trade at prices that may be higher or lower than their principal amount or purchase price, depending on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the market for similar notes, and our financial performance. We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange or to seek approval for quotations through any automated quotation system. No active market for the notes is currently anticipated.

 

We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from this offering will be approximately $298.1 million after deducting the underwriters’ discount and estimated offering expenses. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering plus, if necessary, cash on hand to fund the purchase of our 8.375% Notes due 2011 in the tender offer. Any net proceeds of this offering not used to fund the purchase of our 8.375% notes in the tender offer will be used for general corporate purposes. The outstanding 8.375% notes, which, as of March 31, 2009, totaled $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount, are schedule to mature on December 15, 2011.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from our convertible notes offering, which we estimate to be approximately $339.8 million ($390.9 million if the underwriters of the convertible notes exercise their option to purchase additional convertible notes in full) after deducting the underwriters’ discount and estimated offering expenses, to manage our liabilities and other obligations, such as by making contributions to our defined benefit pension trust and contributions to trusts established to fund retiree medical benefits, and the balance for general corporate purposes. Completion of this offering is not conditioned upon any minimum level of acceptance in the tender offer. Neither this offering nor the convertible notes offering is conditioned upon completion of the other offering.

 

Until the net proceeds from this offering and the convertible notes offering are applied to the purchase of the 8.375% notes, to manage our pension and retiree medical benefits liabilities or to other general corporate purposes, we may invest proceeds in short-term, investment grade interest-bearing securities or in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government.

 

The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization at March 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

We derived the selected consolidated financial data shown below as of December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 and for each of the years then ended from our audited consolidated financial statements and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. The selected consolidated financial data for periods prior to 2009 reflect the retrospective application of FASB Statement No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements”, which we adopted, as required, on January 1, 2009. The unaudited financial statements from which we derived this data were prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial data and include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly our results of operations and financial condition as of the periods presented. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any future period. You should read the following financial information in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

Allegheny Technologies is one of the largest and most diversified specialty metals producers in the world. We use innovative technologies to offer growing global markets a wide range of specialty metals solutions. Our products include titanium and titanium alloys, nickel-based alloys and superalloys, zirconium, hafnium and niobium, stainless and specialty steel alloys, grain-oriented electrical steel, tungsten-based materials and cutting tools, carbon alloy impression die forgings, and large grey and ductile iron castings. Our specialty metals are produced in a wide range of alloys and product forms and are selected for use in applications that demand metals having exceptional hardness, toughness, strength, resistance to heat, corrosion or abrasion, or a combination of these characteristics.

 

We focus our technological and unsurpassed manufacturing capabilities to serve global end use markets with highly diversified and specialized product offerings. Strategic end use markets for our products include:

 

Aerospace and Defense

 

We are a world leader in the production of premium titanium alloys, nickel-based and cobalt-based alloys and superalloys, and vacuum-melted specialty alloys used in the manufacture of both commercial and military jet engines, as well as replacement parts for those engines. We also produce titanium alloys, vacuum-melted specialty alloys, and high-strength stainless alloys for use in commercial and military airframes, airframe components and missiles. ATI produces unique titanium and high-hard steel alloys as well as engineered parts and castings for the current and next-generation armor vehicles.

 

Titanium and titanium alloys are critical metals in aerospace and defense applications. Titanium and titanium alloys possess an extraordinary combination of properties, including superior strength-to-weight ratio, good elevated temperature resistance, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and extreme corrosion resistance. These metals are used to produce jet engine components such as blades, vanes, discs, and casings, and airframe components such as structural members, landing gear, hydraulic systems, and fasteners. The latest and next-generation airframes and jet engines use even more titanium and titanium alloys in component parts in order to minimize weight and maximize fuel efficiency.

 

Our nickel-based alloys and superalloys and specialty alloys are also widely used in aerospace and defense applications. Nickel-based alloys and superalloys remain extremely strong at high temperatures and resist degradation under extreme conditions. Typical aerospace applications for nickel-based alloys and superalloys include jet engine shafts, discs, blades, vanes, rings and casings.

 

Our specialty alloys include vacuum-melted maraging steels used in the manufacture of aircraft landing gear and structural components, as well as jet engine components.

 

We continuously seek to develop new alloys to better serve the needs of this end use market. For example, we have developed ATI 425^® titanium, a new cold-rollable alloy, as a lower cost alternative to the most popular high-strength titanium alloys, for use in airframe components. We have also developed Allvac^® 718 Plus^® alloy, a new nickel-based superalloy that can withstand higher temperatures than the standard 718 superalloy, for use in the next generation of fuel efficient jet engines. ATI 425^® — MIL cold-rollable titanium is an innovative new armor alloy that has the advantage of superior formability as compared to conventional high-strength titanium alloys. ATI 500^tm — MIL high-hard steel armor is an innovative armor material that meets the demanding specifications for superior ballistic performance and is easier to fabricate than similar armor materials.

 

Demand for our products by the aerospace and defense market has increased significantly over the last several years. Based on current forecasts and existing backlogs reported by the two manufacturers of large commercial aircraft, we expect demand in this market to remain strong over the next several years. However, near-term growth could be limited due to the weakening global economy, which resulted in a significant decline in our aerospace and defense sales in the quarter ended March 31, 2009. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Results of Operations” in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

Chemical Process Industry and Oil and Gas

 

The environments in which oil and gas can be found in commercial quantities have become more challenging, involving deep offshore wells, high pressure and temperature conditions, sour wells and unconventional sources, such as oil sands. There is also increased interest in biofuels, such as ethanol, as an

alternative or supplement to gasoline and other fossil fuels. Ethanol is corrosive and our specialty alloys are used in its manufacture and storage.

 

All of our business segments produce metals that are critical to the chemical process industry and oil and gas industry. Our specialty metals, including titanium and titanium alloys, nickel-based alloys, zirconium alloys, stainless steel alloys and other specialty alloys, have the strength and corrosion resistant properties necessary in the chemical process industry, and global demand for these materials has been increasing in recent years, particularly in growing industrial markets in Asia. We also provide advanced specialty metals used in offshore oil and gas production, including offshore piping systems and subsea oil and gas fields.

 

We continuously seek to develop new alloys to better serve the needs of this end use market. For example, we have developed AL 2003^tm lean duplex alloy for use in deep-water oil and gas applications. ATI 2003 lean duplex stainless, ATI 2205^tm duplex stainless, and AL-6XN^® superaustenitic stainless steel in strip and plate product forms are NORSOK qualified. ATI’s titanium castings are also qualified under NORSOK standards. The NORSOK standards are developed by the Norwegian petroleum industry and are intended to identify metals used in oil and gas applications that are safe and cost-effective.

 

Tungsten is the most dense and heat resistant metal commercially available. One application for our tungsten products is oil and gas drill bit inserts. As drilling methods, including directional drilling, become more complex, our advanced tungsten carbide and diamond matrix materials are often utilized in order to enable faster drilling and longer drill bit life.

 

Electrical Energy

 

Our specialty metals are widely used in the global electric power generation and distribution industry. We believe that U.S. and European energy needs and environmental policies and the electrification of developing countries will continue to drive demand for our specialty metals products that we sell for use in this industry.

 

Coal-fired power plants account for more than one-half of the electricity produced in the United States. Under the Clean Air Interstate Rule adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), power plants in several eastern states will be required, in stages through 2015, to dramatically reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide generated from the burning of coal. Most of these plants will be required to install additional filtration systems, or “scrubbers”, which are made of specialty metals we produce, on their smokestacks to comply with the rule. Demand for our specialty metals for pollution control systems is also significant in growing industrial economies, including China. We supply a broad range of alloys, including many proprietary alloys, for these applications. AL-6XN alloy, a 6-molybdenum super-austenitic alloy, is used in absorber towers, piping, damper doors, ducting and vessels. The nickel-based ATI 22^tm and ATI 276^tm alloys are used in the absorber inlet, absorber outlet ducting, damper door seals, and expansion joints.

 

Nuclear power plants are a sustainable source of electrical energy, and plans to construct and refurbish nuclear power plants have been announced in many areas of the world. ATI is a premier supplier of certified nuclear-grade alloys and specialty alloys for applications that range from the reactor core to steam water systems to spent-fuel storage, transportation and repository activities. ATI has a track record in the nuclear energy market that dates to the first commercial nuclear energy reactor built in the United States. We are investing to expand our production capabilities and capacity to support expected growth of the nuclear energy market. We are expanding our zirconium sponge capacity, which yields hafnium as a byproduct. Zirconium alloys are used for fuel cladding, end pins, fuel bundle components, and core pressure tubes.

 

For electrical power generation, our specialty metals and corrosion resistant alloys (CRAs) and ductile iron castings are used in coal, nuclear, natural gas, and wind power applications. In coal-fired plants, our CRAs are used for pipe, tube, and heat exchanger applications in water systems in addition to the pollution control scrubbers mentioned above. For nuclear power plants, we are an industry pioneer in producing reactor-grade zirconium and hafnium alloys nuclear fuel cladding and structural components. Our CRAs are also used in water systems for nuclear power plants. We are a technology leader for large diameter nickel-based superalloys used in natural gas turbines for power generation. We are also one of a few producers of very large ductile iron castings used for wind turbines.

 

For electrical power distribution, our grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) is used in large and small power transformers, where electrical conductivity and magnetic properties are important. We believe that demand for these advanced specialty metals is in the early stage of an expected long growth cycle as the U.S. rebuilds its electrical energy distribution grid and as developing countries, such as China and India, electrify and build electrical power distribution grids. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published its

final rule on distribution transformer efficiency on October 12, 2007, regarding minimum energy efficiency standard levels for electrical energy distribution transformers beginning January 1, 2010. This DOE rule establishes requirements for more efficient transformers, which increases premium grade GOES usage per transformer. ATI is a leading producer of these premium grades of GOES.

 

Medical

 

ATI’s advanced specialty metals are used in medical device products that save and enhance the quality of lives.

 

Our zirconium-niobium, titanium-and cobalt-based alloys are used for knees, hips and other prosthetic devices. These replacement devices offer the potential of lasting much longer than previous implant options.

 

Our biocompatible nickel-titanium shape memory alloy is used for stents to support collapsed or clogged blood vessels. Reduced in diameter for insertion, these stents expand to the original tube-like shape due to the metal’s superelasticity. Our ultra fine diameter (0.002 inch/0.051 mm) titanium wire is used for screens to prevent blood clots from entering critical areas of the body. In addition, our titanium bar and wire are used to make surgical screws for bone repairs.

 

Manufacturers of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices rely on our niobium superconducting wire to help produce electromagnetic fields that allow physicians to safely scan the body’s soft tissue. In addition, our tungsten heavy alloy materials are used for shielding applications in MRI devices.

 

Enhancing and Expanding Our Manufacturing Capabilities and Capacity

 

Demand for our products from the aerospace and defense and chemical process industry and oil and gas, electrical energy, and medical markets increased significantly over the last several years. We are currently undertaking a multi-phase program to enhance and expand our capabilities and capacities to produce premium specialty metals aimed at these strategic markets. Over the last four years we have invested approximately $1.3 billion of internally generated funds to renew and expand our annual titanium sponge production capabilities to approximately 46 million pounds; expand our premium titanium alloy melt and remelt capacity; expand our nickel-based alloy and superalloy melt and remelt capacity; expand our titanium and specialty alloy plate capacity; and expand our premium titanium and nickel-based superalloy forging capacity. We believe these investments will strengthen and enhance ATI’s leadership position in the production of high technology specialty metals.

 

Business Segments

 

We operate in the following three business segments, which accounted for the following percentages of total revenues of $5.3 billion, $5.5 billion, and $4.9 billion for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively:

 

 

High Performance Metals Segment

 

Our High Performance Metals segment produces, converts and distributes a wide range of high performance alloys, including nickel- and cobalt-based alloys and superalloys, titanium and titanium-based alloys, exotic metals such as zirconium, hafnium, niobium, nickel-titanium, and their related alloys, and other specialty alloys, primarily in long product forms such as ingot, billet, bar, shapes and rectangles, rod, wire, seamless tube, and castings. We are integrated from raw materials (sponge) to melt, remelt, and finish processing in our titanium and titanium alloys, and zirconium and hafnium alloys products. The major end markets served by our High Performance Metals segment are aerospace and defense, chemical process industry, oil and gas, electrical energy, and medical. Most of the products in our High Performance Metals segment are sold directly to end-use customers. A significant portion of our High Performance Metals segment products are sold under multi-year agreements. The operating units in this segment are ATI Allvac, ATI Allvac Ltd (U.K.) and ATI Wah Chang.

 

Approximately 70% of High Performance Metals segment revenue is derived from the aerospace and defense market. Demand for our products is driven primarily by the commercial aerospace cycle and the

growing use of our specialty metals, particularly titanium alloys, in the latest and future generations of airframes and jet engines. Large aircraft and aircraft engines are manufactured by a small number of companies, such as The Boeing Company, Airbus S.A.S (an EADS company), Bombardier Aerospace (a division of Bombardier Inc.), Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A.) for airframes, and GE — Aviation (a division of General Electric Company), Pratt & Whitney (a United Technologies Corp. company), Rolls-Royce, Snecma, SAFRAN Group, and joint ventures for jet engines. These companies and their suppliers form a substantial part of our customer base in this business segment. ATI supplies the aerospace and defense supply chain with nickel- and cobalt-based alloys, titanium alloys, and vacuum-melted specialty alloys for commercial and military jet engines, both original engines and spare parts. For commercial and military airframe and structural parts, ATI manufactures titanium alloys, vacuum-melted specialty alloys, and high-strength stainless alloys. The loss of one or more of our customers in the aerospace and defense market could have a material adverse effect on ATI’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

Flat-Rolled Products Segment

 

Our Flat-Rolled Products segment produces, converts and distributes stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, titanium and titanium-based alloys and specialty alloys, in a variety of product forms, including plate, sheet, engineered strip, and Precision Rolled Strip^® products, as well as grain-oriented electrical steel sheet. The major end markets for our flat-rolled products are chemical process industry, oil and gas, electrical energy, automotive, food equipment and appliances, machine and cutting tools, construction and mining, aerospace and defense, and electronics, communication equipment and computers. The operations in this segment are ATI Allegheny Ludlum, our 60% interest in the Chinese joint venture company known as Shanghai STAL Precision Stainless Steel Company Limited (STAL), and our 50% interest in the industrial titanium joint venture known as Uniti LLC. The remaining 40% interest in STAL is owned by the Baosteel Group, a state authorized investment company whose equity securities are publicly traded in the People’s Republic of China. The remaining 50% interest in Uniti LLC is held by Verkhnaya Salda Metallurgical Production Association (VSMPO), a Russian producer of titanium, aluminum, and specialty steel products.

 

Stainless steel, nickel-based alloys and titanium sheet products are used in a wide variety of industrial and consumer applications. In 2008, approximately 60% by volume of our stainless sheet products were sold to independent service centers, which have slitting, cutting or other processing facilities, with the remainder sold directly to end-use customers.

 

Engineered strip and very thin Precision Rolled Strip products are used by customers to fabricate a variety of products primarily in the automotive, construction, and electronics markets. In 2008, approximately 85% by volume of our engineered strip and Precision Rolled Strip products were sold directly to end-use customers or through our own distribution network, with the remainder sold to independent service centers.

 

Stainless steel, nickel-based alloy and titanium plate products are primarily used in industrial markets. In 2008, approximately 50% by volume of our plate products were sold to independent service centers, with the remainder sold directly to end-use customers.

 

Grain-oriented electrical steel is used in power transformers where electrical conductivity and magnetic properties are important. Nearly all of our grain-oriented electrical steel products are sold directly to end-use customers.

 

Engineered Products Segment

 

The principal business of our Engineered Products segment includes the production of tungsten powder, tungsten heavy alloys, tungsten carbide materials, and tungsten carbide cutting tools. We are now integrated from the raw materials (ammonium paratungstate (APT)) to the manufacture of finished cutting tools. The segment also produces carbon alloy steel impression die forgings, and large grey and ductile iron castings, and provides precision metals processing services. The operating units in this segment are ATI Metalworking Products, ATI Portland Forge, ATI Casting Service and ATI Rome Metals.

 

We produce a line of sintered tungsten carbide products that approach diamond hardness for industrial markets including automotive, chemical process industry, oil and gas, machine and cutting tools, aerospace, construction and mining, and other markets requiring tools with extra hardness. Technical developments related to ceramics, coatings and other disciplines are incorporated in these products. We also produce tungsten and tungsten carbide powders.

We forge carbon alloy steels into finished forms that are used primarily in the transportation and construction equipment markets. We also cast grey and ductile iron metals used in the transportation, wind power generation and automotive markets. We have precision metals processing capabilities that enable us to provide process services for most high-value metals from ingots to finished product forms. Such services include grinding, polishing, blasting, cutting, flattening, and ultrasonic testing.

 

Competition

 

Markets for our products and services in each of our three business segments are highly competitive. We compete with many producers and distributors who, depending on the product involved, range from large diversified enterprises to smaller companies specializing in particular products. Factors that affect our competitive position are the quality of our products, services and delivery capabilities, our capabilities to produce a wide range of specialty materials in various alloys and product forms, our technological capabilities including our research and development efforts, our marketing strategies, the prices for our products and services, our manufacturing costs, and industry manufacturing capacity.

 

We face competition from both domestic and foreign companies. Some of our foreign competitors are either directly or indirectly government subsidized. In 1999, the United States imposed antidumping and countervailing duties on dumped and subsidized imports of stainless steel sheet and strip in coils and stainless steel plate in coils from companies in ten foreign countries. These duties were reviewed by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2005 and generally remain in effect. We continue to monitor unfairly traded imports from foreign producers for appropriate action.

 

Major Competitors

 

Nickel-based alloys and superalloys and specialty steel alloys

 

 

Titanium and titanium-based alloys

 

 

Exotic alloys

 

 

Stainless steel

 

 

 

 

Tungsten and tungsten carbide products

 

 

KEY — A = Primarily High Performance Metals segment, B = Primarily Flat-Rolled Products segment, C = Both High Performance Metals and Flat-Rolled Products segments, D = Primarily Engineered Products segment

 

Raw Materials and Supplies

 

Substantially all raw materials and supplies required in the manufacture of our products are available from more than one supplier and presently the sources and availability of raw materials essential to our businesses are adequate. The principal raw materials we use in the production of our specialty metals are scrap (including iron-, nickel-, chromium-, titanium-, molybdenum-, and tungsten-bearing scrap), nickel, titanium sponge, zirconium sand and sponge, ferrochromium, ferrosilicon, molybdenum and molybdenum alloys, manganese and manganese alloys, cobalt, niobium, vanadium and other alloying materials.

 

Purchase prices of certain principal raw materials have been volatile. As a result, our operating results may be subject to significant fluctuation. We use raw materials surcharge and index mechanisms to offset the impact of increased raw material costs; however, competitive factors in the marketplace may limit our ability to institute such mechanisms, and there can be a delay between the increase in the price of raw materials and the realization of the benefit of such mechanisms. For example, in 2008 we used approximately 80 million pounds of nickel; therefore a hypothetical increase of $1.00 per pound in nickel prices would result in increased costs of approximately $80 million. We also used approximately 500 million pounds of ferrous scrap in the production of our flat-rolled products in 2008 so that a hypothetical increase of $0.01 per pound in ferrous scrap prices would result in increased costs of approximately $5 million.

 

While we are increasing our manufacturing capacity to produce titanium sponge, the major raw material for our titanium products, a portion of our needs, together with certain other raw materials, such as nickel, cobalt, and ferrochromium, are available to us and our specialty metals industry competitors primarily from foreign sources. Some of these foreign sources are located in countries that may be subject to unstable political and economic conditions, which might disrupt supplies or affect the price of these materials.

 

We purchase our nickel requirements principally from producers in Australia, Canada, Norway, Russia, and the Dominican Republic. Zirconium sponge is purchased from a source in France, while zirconium sand is purchased from both U.S. and Australian sources. Cobalt is purchased primarily from producers in Canada. More than 80% of the world’s reserves of ferrochromium are located in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Albania, and Kazakhstan. We also purchase titanium sponge from sources in Kazakhstan and Japan.

 

Export Sales and Foreign Operations

 

Direct international sales represented approximately 28% of our total annual sales in 2008, 27% of our total sales in 2007, and 24% of our total sales in 2006. These figures include direct export sales by our U.S.-based operations to customers in foreign countries, which accounted for approximately 21% of our total sales in 2008, 19% of our total sales in 2007, and 16% of our total sales in 2006. Our overseas sales, marketing and distribution efforts are aided by our international marketing and distribution offices, ATI Europe, ATI Europe Distribution, and ATI Asia, or by independent representatives located at various locations throughout the world. We believe that nearly 50% of ATI’s 2008 sales were driven by global markets when we consider exports of our customers.

Direct sales by geographic area in 2008, and as a percentage of total sales, were as follows:

 

 

ATI Allvac Ltd has manufacturing capabilities for melting, remelting, forging and finishing nickel-based alloys and specialty alloys in the United Kingdom. ATI Metalworking Products, which has manufacturing capabilities in the United Kingdom and Switzerland, sells high precision threading, milling, boring and drilling components, tungsten carbide burrs, rotary tooling and specialty abrasive wheels and discs for the European market from locations in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Our STAL joint venture in the People’s Republic of China produces Precision Rolled Strip products, which enables us to offer these products more effectively to markets in China and other Asian countries. Our Uniti LLC joint venture allows us to offer titanium products to industrial markets more effectively worldwide.

 

Backlog, Seasonality and Cyclicality

 

Our backlog of confirmed orders was approximately $1.3 billion at December 31, 2008 and $1.0 billion at December 31, 2007. We expect that approximately 95% of confirmed orders on hand at December 31, 2008 will be filled during the year ending December 31, 2009. Backlog of confirmed orders of our High Performance Metals segment was approximately $674 million at December 31, 2008 and $683 million at December 31, 2007. We expect that approximately 93% of the confirmed orders on hand at December 31, 2008 for this segment will be filled during the year ending December 31, 2009. Backlog of confirmed orders of our Flat-Rolled Products segment was approximately $0.5 billion at December 31, 2008 and $0.2 billion at December 31, 2007. We expect that all of the confirmed orders on hand at December 31, 2008 for this segment will be filled during the year ending December 31, 2009.

 

Generally, our sales and operations are not seasonal. However, demand for our products is cyclical over longer periods because specialty metals customers operate in cyclical industries and are subject to changes in general economic conditions and other factors both external and internal to those industries.

 

Research, Development and Technical Services

 

We believe that our research and development capabilities give ATI an advantage in developing new products and manufacturing processes that contribute to the profitable growth potential of our businesses on a long-term basis. We conduct research and development at our various operating locations both for our own account and, on a limited basis, for customers on a contract basis. Research and development expenditures for each of our three segments for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 included the following:

 

 

Our research, development and technical service activities are closely interrelated and are directed toward cost reduction and process improvement, process control, quality assurance and control, system development,

the development of new manufacturing methods, the improvement of existing manufacturing methods, the improvement of existing products, and the development of new products.

 

We own hundreds of United States patents, many of which are also filed under the patent laws of other nations. Although these patents, as well as our numerous trademarks, technical information, license agreements, and other intellectual property, have been and are expected to be of value, we believe that the loss of any single such item or technically related group of such items would not materially affect the conduct of our business.

 

Environmental, Health and Safety Matters

 

We are subject to various domestic and international environmental laws and regulations that govern the discharge of pollutants, and disposal of wastes, and which may require that we investigate and remediate the effects of the release or disposal of materials at sites associated with past and present operations. We could incur substantial cleanup costs, fines, civil or criminal sanctions, third party property damage or personal injury claims as a result of violations or liabilities under these laws or non-compliance with environmental permits required at our facilities. We are currently involved in the investigation and remediation of a number of our current and former sites as well as third party sites.

 

We consider environmental compliance to be an integral part of our operations. We have a comprehensive environmental management and reporting program that focuses on compliance with all federal, state, regional and local environmental laws and regulations. Each operating company has an environmental management system that includes mechanisms for regularly evaluating environmental compliance and managing changes in business operations while assessing environmental impact.

 

Our Corporate Guidelines for Business Conduct and Ethics address compliance with environmental laws as well as employment and workplace safety laws, and also describe our commitment to equal opportunity and fair treatment of employees. We continued to realize significant progress in safety across ATI’s operations. As a result of our continuing focus on and commitment to safety, in 2008 our OSHA Total Recordable Incident Rate improved by 17% to 2.51 and our Lost Time Case Rate improved by 35% to 0.34, which we believe to be competitive with world class performance.

 

Employees

 

We have approximately 9,600 full-time employees. A portion of our workforce is covered by various collective bargaining agreements, principally with the USW, including: approximately 2,745 Allegheny Ludlum production, office and maintenance employees covered by collective bargaining agreements that are effective through June 2011, approximately 390 Allvac Albany, Oregon (Oremet) employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement that is effective through June 2011, approximately 650 Wah Chang employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement that continues through March 2013, approximately 270 employees at our Casting Service facility in LaPorte, Indiana, covered by a collective bargaining agreement that is effective through December 2011, approximately 140 employees at our Rome Metals facilities in western Pennsylvania, covered by a collective bargaining agreement that is effective through May 2013, and approximately 250 employees at our Portland Forge facility in Portland, Indiana, covered by collective bargaining agreements with three unions that are effective through April 2013.

 

The Company’s executive officers under the federal securities laws and members of the Company’s management executive committee as of March 31, 2009 are as follows:

 

 

* Such individuals are subject to the reporting and other requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

Set forth below are descriptions of the business background for the past five years of the Company’s executive management.

 

L. Patrick Hassey has been President and Chief Executive Officer since October 1, 2003. He was elected to the Company’s Board of Directors in July 2003 and has served as Chairman since May 2004. Prior to this position, he worked as an outside management consultant to Allegheny Technologies’ executive management team. Mr. Hassey was Executive Vice President and a member of the corporate executive committee of Alcoa, Inc. at the time of his early retirement in February 2003. He had served as Executive Vice President of Alcoa and Group President of Alcoa Industrial Components from May 2000 to October 2002. Prior to May 2000, he served as Executive Vice President of Alcoa and President of Alcoa Europe, Inc.

 

Richard J. Harshman has served as Executive Vice President, Finance since October 2003 and Chief Financial Officer since December 2000. Mr. Harshman was Senior Vice President, Finance from December 2001 to October 2003 and Vice President, Finance from December 2000 to December 2001. Previously, he had served in a number of financial management roles for Allegheny Technologies Incorporated and Teledyne, Inc.

 

Jon D. Walton has been Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since October 2003. Mr. Walton was Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer from July 2001 to October 2003. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.

 

Dale G. Reid has served as Vice President, Controller, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer since December 2003. Mr. Reid was Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from December 2000 through November 2003.

 

Hunter R. Dalton has served as Group President, ATI Long Products since October 2008, and as ATI Allvac Business Unit President since April 2008. Mr. Dalton previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ATI Allvac since November 2003.

 

Lynn D. Davis has served as Group President, ATI Primary Metals and Exotic Alloys since October 2008. Mr. Davis was ATI Wah Chang Business Unit President from September 2000 to October 2008.

 

Terry L. Dunlap has served as Group President, Flat-Rolled Products since October 2008, and as ATI Allegheny Ludlum Business Unit President since November 2002.

 

David M. Hogan has served as Group President, Engineered Products since April 2007, and as ATI Metalworking Products Business Unit President since 1997.

 

The following description of the particular terms of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.”

 

In this Description of Notes, the terms “ATI,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and similar words refer only to Allegheny Technologies Incorporated and not to any of its subsidiaries. The notes constitute a separate series of debt securities under the senior indenture.

 

The notes will be issued under a senior indenture to be dated as of          , 2009, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture to be dated as of          , 2009 (as so supplemented, the “senior indenture”). The senior indenture is subject to and is governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have filed a form of the senior indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus forms a part. The following description summarizes selected provisions of the senior indenture and the notes. It does not restate the senior indenture or the terms of the notes in their entirety. We urge you to read the forms of the senior indenture and the notes because the senior indenture and the notes, and not this description, define the rights of noteholders.

 

General

 

The notes:

 

 

Interest on the notes will:

 

 

If any interest payment date or maturity date falls on a day that is not a business day, the required payment of principal or interest will be made on the next business day as if made on the date that payment was due, and no interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after the interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be, to the date of the payment on the next business day.

 

Ranking

 

The notes will be our senior and unsecured indebtedness and will rank equally with all of our other existing and future senior and unsecured indebtedness. The notes will effectively rank junior to any of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness, and will be structurally subordinated to any indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. Indebtedness of our subsidiaries and obligations and liabilities of our subsidiaries are structurally senior to the notes since, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or other winding up, the assets of our subsidiaries will be available to pay the notes only after the subsidiaries’ indebtedness and other obligations

and liabilities are paid in full. If that happens, we may not have sufficient assets remaining to pay the amounts due on any or all of the notes then outstanding. Because we generally stand as an equity holder, rather than a creditor, of our subsidiaries, creditors of those subsidiaries will have their debt satisfied out of the subsidiaries’ assets before our creditors, including the noteholders.

 

As of March 31, 2009, we had an aggregate of approximately $503.5 million of indebtedness outstanding. After giving effect to this offering, the convertible notes offering and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds,” including to purchase our 8.375% notes pursuant to the tender offer (assuming all the outstanding 8.375% notes are purchased pursuant to the tender offer), as of March 31, 2009, we would have had an aggregate of approximately $      million of indebtedness outstanding ($      million if the underwriters of the convertible notes exercise in full their option to purchase additional convertible notes). Neither this offering nor the convertible notes offering is conditioned upon any minimum level of acceptance in the tender offer. If fewer than all the 8.375% notes are purchased in the tender offer, our indebtedness will be higher. Neither this offering nor the convertible notes offering is conditioned upon the other offering.

 

Additional Issuances

 

We may issue additional notes, without limitation and without your consent, provided that such additional notes must be part of the same issue as the notes offered hereby for United States federal income tax purposes. If we issue additional notes of the series offered by this prospectus supplement under the senior indenture, they will have the same terms and conditions as the notes being offered by this prospectus supplement in all respects (except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of the additional notes) so that the additional notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the notes issued under this prospectus supplement.

 

Optional Redemption

 

We may redeem the notes, at our option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a price equal to the greater of:

 

 

The notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. Notices of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the notes will state the amount to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on any notes that are redeemed. If less than all of the notes are redeemed at any time, the trustee will select notes on a pro rata basis or by any other method the trustee deems fair and appropriate.

 

For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

 

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

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by us for that redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or, if we are unable to obtain at least four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by us.

 

“Independent Investment Banker” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as selected by us or, if such firms are unwilling or unable to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by us.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective successors and at least two other primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City

(each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) selected by the Independent Investment Banker; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, we shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date for the notes, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the trustee by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

 

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

 

The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

Purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event

 

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes as described under the caption “— Optional Redemption”, we will be required to make an offer to each holder of the notes to repurchase all or any part (in excess of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000) of that holder’s notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, we will mail a notice to each holder, with a copy to the trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase the notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the notes, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflict.

 

On the repurchase date following a Change of Control Repurchase Event, we will, to the extent lawful:

 

(1) accept for payment all the notes or portions of the notes properly tendered pursuant to our offer;

 

(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all the notes or portions of the notes properly tendered; and

 

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes being purchased by the Company.

 

The paying agent will promptly deliver to each holder of notes properly tendered, the purchase price for the notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any notes surrendered.

We will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

 

The Change of Control Repurchase Event feature of the notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a sale or takeover of ATI and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control Repurchase Event feature is a result of negotiations between us and the underwriters. We have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. As contemplated by the definition of Change of Control, we could enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the senior indenture, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings of the notes. Restrictions on our ability to incur liens and enter into sale and leaseback transactions and on the ability of our domestic subsidiaries to guarantee our indebtedness are contained in the covenants described under the caption “— Covenants — Limitation on Liens”, “— Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” and “— Limitations on Guarantees”. Except for the limitations contained in such covenants and the covenant relating to repurchases upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the senior indenture will not contain any covenants or provisions that may afford holders of the notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.

 

We may not have sufficient funds to repurchase all the notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event. Even if we have sufficient funds, we may be prohibited from repurchasing the notes under the terms of our existing or future debt instruments. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to the Notes — We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control repurchase event.”

 

For purposes of the foregoing discussion of a repurchase at the option of holders, the following definitions are applicable:

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following:

 

(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)) other than to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries;

 

(2) the consummation of any transaction (including without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person (including any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act)) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares;

 

(3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

 

(4) the first day on which the majority of the members of the board of directors of the Company cease to be Continuing Directors; or

 

(5) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Event.

 

“Continuing Director” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the board of directors of the Company who (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of the senior indenture; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election.

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of Moody’s), a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of S&P) and the equivalent Investment Grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service Inc.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

 

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of the control of the Company, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-l(e)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

 

“Rating Category” means (i) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); (ii) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and (iii) the equivalent of any such category of S&P or Moody’s used by another Rating Agency. In determining whether the rating of the notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories (+ and - for S&P; 1, 2 and 3 for Moody’s; or the equivalent gradations for another Rating Agency) shall be taken into account (e.g., with respect to S&P, a decline in a rating from BB+ to BB, as well as from BB-to B+, will constitute a decrease of one gradation).

 

“Rating Date” means the date that is 60 days prior to the earlier of (i) a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or of the intention by the Company to effect a Change of Control.

 

“Ratings Event” means the occurrence of the events described in (a) or (b) of this definition on, or within 60 days after the earlier of, (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention by the Company to effect a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies): (a) if the notes are rated by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date as Investment Grade, the rating of the notes shall be reduced so that the Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies, or (b) if the notes are rated below Investment Grade by at least one Rating Agency, the ratings of the notes by both Rating Agencies shall be decreased by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories, as well as between Rating Categories) and the notes are then rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 

“Voting Stock” of any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date means the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

 

Covenants

 

Except as described in “— Limitation on Liens,” “— Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” and “— Limitation on Guarantees,” neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will be restricted by the senior indenture from:

 

 

In addition, we will not be required to maintain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity or to repurchase or redeem or otherwise modify the terms of any of the notes upon a change of control or other events involving us or any of our subsidiaries which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the notes, except to the limited extent described under the caption “— Purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.” Among other things, the senior indenture will not contain covenants designed to afford holders of the notes any protections in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction involving us

that may adversely affect holders of the notes, except to the limited extent described following the caption “— Purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.”

 

Limitations on Liens

 

We will not, and will not permit any of our Domestic Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to issue, assume or guarantee any Debt if that Debt is secured by any Lien upon any Principal Property (or portion thereof) of ours or of any Domestic Subsidiary or any shares of stock or Debt of any Domestic Subsidiary, whether owned at the issue date of the notes or thereafter acquired, without effectively securing the notes equally and ratably with that Debt, so long as such Debt is so secured. The foregoing restriction does not apply to:

 

(1) Liens on any property acquired, constructed or improved by us or any Domestic Subsidiary after the issue date of the notes, which are created or assumed contemporaneously with or within three years after its acquisition, or completion of construction or improvement (or within six months thereafter pursuant to a firm commitment for financing arrangements entered into within that three-year period) to secure or provide for the payment of the purchase price or cost thereof, or Liens existing on any property at the time of its acquisition;

 

(2) Liens existing on any property, shares of stock or indebtedness acquired from a Person merged with or into us or a Domestic Subsidiary after the issue date of the notes;

 

(3) with respect to any corporation that becomes a Domestic Subsidiary after the issue date of the notes, Liens on property of, or shares of stock or indebtedness issued by, any such corporation existing at the time it becomes a Domestic Subsidiary and not incurred in connection with or in anticipation of such corporation becoming a Domestic Subsidiary;

 

(4) Liens to secure Debt of a Domestic Subsidiary owed to us or Debt of one of our Domestic Subsidiaries owed to another Domestic Subsidiary;

 

(5) Liens in favor of governmental bodies to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute;

 

(6) any Lien existing on the issue date of the notes; or

 

(7) Liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing Debt, in whole or in part, secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) to (6), inclusive, provided, however, that the principal amount of Debt secured by that Lien shall not exceed the principal amount of Debt so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to the property that secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).

 

The limitation on liens shall not apply to the issuance, assumption or guarantee by us or any Domestic Subsidiary of Debt secured by a Lien which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions up to an aggregate amount which, together with all other Debt of ours and our Domestic Subsidiaries secured by Liens (not including Liens permitted under the foregoing exceptions) and the Attributable Debt with respect to Sale and Leaseback Transactions existing at that time (other than Sale and Leaseback Transactions in which the property involved would have been permitted to be subject to a Lien under clause (1) above) does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

 

We and our Domestic Subsidiaries are prohibited from entering into Sale and Leaseback Transactions unless:

 

(a) we or such Domestic Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Debt secured by a Lien on the Principal Property to be leased without equally and ratably securing the notes, pursuant to clauses (1)-(7) under “Limitations on Liens”; or the Attributable Debt with respect thereto would be an amount permitted under the last paragraph under “— Limitations on Liens”; or

 

(b) we or such Domestic Subsidiary shall, within 180 days of the effective date of any such arrangement apply an amount equal to the proceeds from such Sale and Leaseback Transaction to the payment or other retirement of Debt that ranks senior to or equal with the notes (other than, in either case, Debt owed by us or any Subsidiary); or to the purchase of other Principal Property.

Limitation on Guarantees

 

We and our Domestic Subsidiaries are prohibited from entering into any agreement pursuant to which any such Domestic Subsidiary guarantees the payment of Debt incurred by us without providing that the notes be equally and ratably guaranteed by such Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Certain Definitions

 

For purposes of “— Limitation on Liens,” “— Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions,” and “— Limitation on Guarantees,” the following definitions are applicable:

 

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, as of any particular time, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the terms of the lease involved in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as determined by us in good faith) of the obligation of the lessee thereunder for net rental payments (excluding, however, any amounts required to be paid by the lessee, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of maintenance and repairs, services, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges and any amounts required to be paid by the lessee thereunder contingent upon monetary inflation or the amount of sales, maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges) during the remaining term of that lease (including any period for which that lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total of all the assets appearing on the Consolidated Balance Sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, less the following: (A) current liabilities; (B) intangible assets such as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents, and unamortized debt discount and expense; and (C) appropriate adjustments on account of minority interests of other persons holding stock in any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Debt” means indebtedness for money borrowed.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary formed under the laws of, or conducting its principal operations within, the United States or any State or territory thereof.

 

“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against lost in respect thereof, in whole or in part; provided that the term “Guarantee” does not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge or security interest of any kind, excluding certain liens relating to taxes, easements and similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

“Principal Property” means any manufacturing plant or other similar facility owned by the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary, the book value of the real property, plant and equipment of which (as shown, without deduction of any depreciation reserves, on the books of the owner or owners) is not less than two percent of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets except (A) any such plant or facility which our Board of Directors determines is not of material importance to the total business conducted, or assets owned, by the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries as an entirety, or (B) any portion of any such plant or facility which our Board of Directors determines not to be of material importance to the use or operation thereof.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing to the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary of any Principal Property or portion thereof (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal thereof, of not more than 36 months and except for leases between the Company and a Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries), which Principal Property (or portion thereof) has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Domestic Subsidiary to such Person.

 

“Subsidiary” means with respect to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or combination thereof). Unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

 

The provisions of the senior indenture described under the caption “Description of Debt Securities — Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” in the accompanying prospectus will be applicable to the notes.

 

Events of Default

 

The events of default with respect to the notes will be those events described under the caption “Description of Debt Securities — Events of Default” in the accompanying prospectus, except that each of the following will also be events of default:

 

 

For a description of the remedies available to holders of the notes as a result of an event of default, see “Description of Debt Securities — Events of Default” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

The provisions of the senior indenture described under the caption “Description of Debt Securities — Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus will be applicable to the notes.

 

Exchange and Transfer

 

You may exchange or transfer the notes in accordance with the senior indenture. You will not be required to pay a service charge to exchange or transfer the notes, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The exchange or transfer will only be made if the transfer agent is satisfied with your proof of ownership. See “— Book-entry Issuance.”

 

Trustee and Paying Agent

 

The Bank of New York will act as our trustee and paying agent for the notes. We may choose to pay interest by mailing checks or making wire transfers, provided that we will make all payments in respect of global notes by wire transfer of same-day funds. Regardless of who acts as the paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to note holders will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, you may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else. We may also arrange for additional payment offices, and may cancel or change these offices, including any use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. We may appoint or change any paying agent without prior notice to any note holder.

 

Governing Law

 

The laws of the State of New York will govern the senior indenture and the notes.

 

Book-entry Issuance

 

We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream Banking S.A., or “Clearstream,” and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or “Euroclear,” and the book-entry system and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

 

The notes will be issued as fully-registered global notes which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered, at the request of DTC, in the name of Cede & Co. Beneficial interests in the global notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold their interests in the global notes through either DTC (in the United States) or (in Europe) through Clearstream or through Euroclear. Investors may hold their interests in the global notes directly if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems. Interests held through Clearstream and Euroclear will be

recorded on DTC’s books as being held by the U.S. depositary for each of Clearstream and Euroclear (the “U.S. Depositaries”), which U.S. Depositaries will, in turn, hold interests on behalf of their participants’ customers’ securities accounts. Beneficial interests in the global notes will be held in denominations of $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.

 

Notes represented by a global note can be exchanged for definitive securities in registered form only if:

 

 

A global note that can be exchanged as described in the preceding sentence will be exchanged for definitive securities issued in authorized denominations in registered form for the same aggregate amount. The definitive securities will be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in the global note as directed by DTC.

 

We will make principal and interest payments on all notes represented by a global note to the paying agent which in turn will make payment to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole holder of the notes represented by a global note for all purposes under the indenture. Accordingly, we, the trustee and any paying agent will have no responsibility or liability for:

 

 

DTC has advised us that its current practice is to credit participants’ accounts on each payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global note as shown on DTC’s records, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information. The underwriters will initially designate the accounts to be credited. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global note will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants. Book-entry notes may be more difficult to pledge because of the lack of a physical note.

 

DTC

 

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global note, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the notes represented by that global note for all purposes of the notes. Owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered owners or holders of notes under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global note must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of notes. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global note. Beneficial owners may experience delays in receiving distributions on their notes since distributions will initially be made to DTC and must then be transferred through the chain of intermediaries to the beneficial owner’s account.

We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request holders to take any action, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global note desires to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the indenture, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through such participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

 

Beneficial interests in a global note will be shown on, and transfers of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants for that global note. The conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its participants and by its participants to owners of beneficial interests in the notes will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect.

 

DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York banking law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York banking law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act.

 

DTC holds the securities of its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The electronic book-entry system eliminates the need for physical certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of which, and/or their representatives, own DTC. Banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly, also have access to DTC’s book-entry system. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

 

DTC has advised us that the above information with respect to DTC has been provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

 

Clearstream

 

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

 

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

 

Euroclear

 

Euroclear has advised us that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear, or “Euroclear Participants,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear performs various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interacts with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the “Euroclear Operator,” under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear

Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank. As such it is regulated by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission.

 

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

 

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

 

Euroclear has further advised us that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the notes by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global notes.

 

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

If the notes are cleared only through Euroclear and Clearstream (and not DTC), you will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make

a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, U.S. investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date.

 

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

The following summary describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes, as of the date of this offering memorandum. This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable Treasury regulations and administrative and judicial decisions. Legislative, judicial and administrative changes may occur, possibly with retroactive effect, that could affect the accuracy of the statements described herein. This summary generally is addressed only to purchasers of the notes on original issue for their original offering price, deals only with notes held as capital assets and does not purport to address all United States federal income tax matters that may be relevant to investors in special tax situations, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities that elect to mark to market, holders of notes that are held as a hedge or as part of a hedging, straddle or conversion transaction, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, persons liable for alternative minimum tax, “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” or U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. Persons considering the purchase of the notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of U.S. federal income tax laws, as well as the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdictions and the application of any U.S. federal tax other than the income tax, including, but not limited to the U.S. federal gift tax and estate tax, to their particular situations.

 

If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds a note, the treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. A holder of a note that is a partnership, and the partners in such a partnership, should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and disposing of the notes.

 

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

 

As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is (i) a citizen or individual resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of the note regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more “United States persons” (as defined under the Code) are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust (or certain trusts that have made a valid election to be treated as a United States person).

 

Payments of Stated Interest.  Payments of interest on a note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time the interest accrues or is received, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

If we are required to repurchase the notes in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event, we must pay a 1% premium to the redeemed holders. See “Description of Notes — Purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event”. The obligation to pay this premium may implicate the provisions of the Treasury regulations relating to contingent payment debt instruments (“CPDIs”). We intend to take the position that the possibility, as of the date the notes are issued, of the payment of such premium does not result in the notes being treated as CPDIs under the applicable Treasury regulations. Our determination is not, however, binding on the IRS, which could challenge this position. If such challenge were successful, a U.S. Holder might be required to accrue income on the notes in excess of stated interest, and would be required to treat as ordinary income rather than capital gain any income realized on the taxable disposition of a note. In the event a contingent premium payment actually occurs, it would affect the amount and timing on the income a U.S. Holder will recognize. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes are not treated as CPDIs.

 

Sale, Exchange, Redemption or Other Taxable Disposition of the Notes.  Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note (including any purchase of notes by us in the case of a fundamental change), a U.S. Holder will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. For these purposes, the amount realized does not include any amount attributable to accrued and unpaid interest, which will be taxed as ordinary income to the extent that a U.S. Holder has not previously recognized this amount. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note will generally equal the amount that the U.S. Holder paid for the note. Gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange, redemption or other

taxable disposition of a note will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange or retirement the note has been held for more than one year. Under current law, long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers are, under certain circumstances, taxed at lower rates than items of ordinary income. The deductibility of capital losses may be subject to limitations.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting.  Information returns will be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) in connection with payments on the notes, and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the notes. A U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. backup withholding on these payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide its taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and comply with certain certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

 

As used herein, a “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner (other than a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of a note that is not a U.S. Holder. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax, U.S. federal gift tax and estate tax, as well as state and local tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, and conversion and taxable disposition of the notes under their particular situations.

 

Payments of Stated Interest.  Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, payments of interest (including original issue discount, if any) on the notes by us or any paying agent to any Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding or income tax, provided that:

 

 

If a Non-U.S. Holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above and the interest paid on the notes is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the U.S., payments of interest made to it will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless the Non-U.S. Holder qualifies for the benefits of an applicable tax treaty under which such payments of interest are either exempt from, or subject to a reduced rate of, U.S. federal withholding tax and such Non-U.S. Holder certifies that it is entitled to such treaty benefits by providing an IRS Form W-8BEN.

 

In addition, if interest on the notes is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by a Non-U.S. Holder, such Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to withholding if it complies with applicable IRS certification requirements (i.e., by delivering a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI) and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis at regular graduated rates in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder. If a Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty between the U.S. and its country of residence, and the Non-U.S. Holder claims the benefits of the treaty by properly submitting on IRS Form W-8BEN, any interest income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the manner specified by the treaty. If a Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, effectively connected income also may be subject to the additional branch profits tax, which is imposed on a foreign corporation on the deemed repatriation from the U.S. of effectively connected earnings and profits at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be prescribed by an applicable tax treaty).

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Notes.  Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on a sale, exchange or other disposition of notes, unless:

 

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting.  Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments on the notes. Unless the Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person, information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the notes and the Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to U.S. backup withholding on payments on the notes or on the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the notes. The certification procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax on interest (including original issue discount, if any), described above will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding tax as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

THE ABOVE SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF ALL TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP, OR DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES, AND HOLDERS SHOULD, CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM IN THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as joint bookrunning managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.

 

 

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

 

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

 

The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the notes).

 

 

We estimate that our total expenses for this offering will be $575,000.

 

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. Purchases and sales in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases.

 

 

Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. They may also cause the price of the notes to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

 

Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates have performed commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for us from time to time for which they have received customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. The underwriters may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In addition, affiliates of some of the underwriters are lenders, and in some cases agents or managers for the lenders, under our credit facility.

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

 

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), an offer of notes described in this prospectus supplement may not be made to the public in that relevant member state prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the notes that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the relevant implementation date, an offer of securities may be offered to the public in that relevant member state at any time:

 

 

Each purchaser of notes described in this prospectus supplement located within a relevant member state will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.

 

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

 

The sellers of the notes have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of notes through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the notes as contemplated in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, no purchaser of the notes, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the notes on behalf of the sellers or the underwriters.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

 

This prospectus supplement is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (each such person being referred to as a “relevant person”). This prospectus supplement and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in France

 

Neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering material relating to the notes described in this prospectus supplement has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or of the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus supplement nor any other offering material relating to the notes has been or will be:

 

 

 

Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:

 

 

The notes may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.

 

The validity of the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by K&L Gates LLP, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The underwriters have been represented in connection with the offering by Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, New York, New York.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) appearing in Allegheny Technologies Incorporated’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2008 and ATI’s effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and ATI’s effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated

 

Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Purchase Units
Depositary Shares

 

 

We may offer from time to time, in one or more offerings:

 

 

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

 

We will provide the specific terms of any securities we offer in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The securities may be offered separately or together in any combination and as separate series. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers, on a delayed or continuous basis. If any offering involves underwriters, dealers or agents, arrangements with them will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to that offering.

 

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities, the specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus or in one or more reports which we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that contains a description of those securities. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

We urge you to read carefully the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors you should consider before deciding to invest in any securities offered by this prospectus, including the information under “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this Prospectus is May 26, 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using an automatic shelf registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information in that registration statement. For further information about our business and the securities that may be offered under this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. The exhibits to the registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents that we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we may offer, you should review the full text of these contracts and documents. These summaries are qualified in all respects by reference to all of the provisions contained in the applicable contract or document. The registration statement and its exhibits can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated herein by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

 

Available Information

 

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information that we file with the SEC can be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 to obtain further

information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The SEC’s internet address is http://www.sec.gov. In addition, our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and our reports and other information can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Our Internet website is www.alleghenytechnologies.com. Information contained on our website is not part of, and should not be construed as being incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents. Any information we incorporate in this manner is considered part of this prospectus except to the extent updated and superseded by information contained in this prospectus. Some information that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC and any filings that we make with the SEC in the future under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we sell all of the securities covered by this prospectus, including between the date of this prospectus and the date on which the offering of the securities under this prospectus is terminated, except as noted in the paragraph below:

 

 

Pursuant to General Instruction B of Form 8-K, any information submitted under Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition, or Item 7.01, Regulation FD Disclosure, of Form 8-K is not deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and we are not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 with respect to information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K. We are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act or into this prospectus.

 

Statements contained in prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to in this prospectus do not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to the particular provisions of that contract, agreement or other document, those references are qualified in all respects by reference to all of the provisions contained in that contract or other document. For a more complete understanding and description of each such contract, agreement or other document, we urge you to read the documents contained in the exhibits to the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, therein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

We will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and a copy of any or all other contracts, agreements or documents which are referred to in this prospectus. Requests should be directed to: Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, 1000 Six PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5479, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone number: (412) 394-2800. You also may review a copy of the registration statement and its exhibits at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s internet site.

 

SUMMARY

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before deciding to purchase any of our securities, you should carefully consider the discussion of risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and under similar headings in our subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as the other risks and uncertainties described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See the information under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties we discuss in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus are those we currently believe may materially affect our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

You should carefully review the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In this prospectus, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on our management’s expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

You can identify these forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “would,” “should,” “will,” “will likely result,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “projects,” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

 

We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statements will be realized, although we believe that we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Among others, the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and any of our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q could cause actual results to differ from those in forward-looking statements included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or that we otherwise make. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove to be inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. You should bear this in mind as you consider any forward-looking statements.

 

We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. You are advised, however, to consider any additional disclosures that we may make on related subjects in future filings with the SEC. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all factors that could cause our actual results to differ. Consequently, you should not consider any list of factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

 

The following table sets forth the ratio of our earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

 

For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” represents income before income tax provision (benefit) and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle plus (income) loss

recognized on less than fifty percent owned persons plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. “Fixed Charges” consists of interest expense, the portion of rents deemed to be interest, capitalized interest and amortization of debt expense.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific issuance of securities. Our general corporate purposes include, but are not limited to, repayment, redemption or refinancing of debt, capital expenditures, investments in or loans to subsidiaries and joint ventures, funding of possible acquisitions, working capital, contributions to one or more of our pension plans, satisfaction of other obligations and repurchase of our outstanding equity securities. Pending any such use, the net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities may be invested in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing instruments. We will include a more detailed description of the use of proceeds of any specific offering in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of debt securities under this prospectus.

 

The following is a general description of the debt securities that we may offer from time to time under this prospectus. The particular terms of the debt securities offered under this prospectus and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions described below may apply will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act Report. Although our securities include securities denominated in U.S. dollars, we may choose to issue securities in any other currency, including the euro.

 

The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We will issue the senior debt securities under a senior indenture between us and a trustee. We will issue the subordinated debt securities under a subordinated indenture between us and the same or another trustee. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the indentures, and each of the trustee under the senior indenture and the trustee under the subordinated indenture are referred to in this prospectus as the trustee. Any debt securities issued by us may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries.

 

The following description is only a summary of the material provisions of the indentures. We urge you to read the appropriate indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the applicable debt securities. See the information under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain a copy of the appropriate indenture. The following description also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of the debt securities and the relevant indenture described in the related prospectus supplement, including definitions used in the relevant indenture. The particular terms of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus and the relevant indenture may vary from the terms described below.

 

General

 

The senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations, will rank equally with all other unsubordinated debt obligations of ours and, unless otherwise indicated in the related prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act Report, will be unsecured. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment to any senior debt securities. A description of the subordinated debt securities is provided below under “— Subordinated Debt Securities.” The specific terms of any subordinated debt securities will be provided in the related prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act Report. For a complete understanding of the provisions pertaining to the subordinated debt securities, you should refer to the form of subordinated indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part. Unless we elect or are required to secure the debt securities, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to any of our existing and future secured debt to the extent of the assets securing that debt.

Our primary sources of payment for our payment obligations under the debt securities will be revenues from our operations and investments and cash distributions from our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation whatsoever to pay any amounts due on debt securities issued by us or to make funds available to us. Our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to us will depend upon their operating results and will be subject to applicable laws and contractual restrictions. The indentures do not restrict our subsidiaries from entering into agreements that prohibit or limit their ability to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to us.

 

To the extent that we must rely on cash from our subsidiaries to pay amounts due on the debt securities, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all our subsidiaries’ liabilities, including their trade payables. This means that our subsidiaries may be required to pay all of their creditors in full before their assets are available to us. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of our subsidiaries, our claims would be effectively subordinated to any security interests in their assets and also could be subordinated to some or all other claims on their assets and earnings.

 

In addition to the debt securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus, we may issue other debt securities in public or private offerings from time to time. These other debt securities may be issued under other indentures or documentation that are not described in this prospectus, and those debt securities may contain provisions materially different from the provisions applicable to one or more issues of debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Terms

 

The indentures will not limit the principal amount of debt, including unsecured debt, or other securities that we or our subsidiaries may issue.

 

We may issue notes or bonds in traditional paper form, or we may issue a global security. The debt securities of any series may be issued in definitive form or, if provided in the related prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act Report, may be represented in whole or in part by a global security or securities, registered in the name of a depositary designated by us. Each debt security represented by a global security is referred to as a “Book-Entry Security.”

 

Debt securities may be issued from time to time pursuant to this prospectus and will be offered on terms determined by market conditions at the time of sale. Debt securities may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities and may be sold at par, a premium or an original issue discount. Debt securities sold at an original issue discount may bear no interest or interest at a rate that is below market rates. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act Report, debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

 

Please refer to the related prospectus supplement or Exchange Act Report for the specific terms of the debt securities offered, including the following:

 

 

 

Except with respect to book-entry securities, debt securities may be presented for exchange or registration of transfer, in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt securities and the related prospectus supplement or Exchange Act Report. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the limitations provided in the indentures.

 

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

 

The Company will not, in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into any other person, or, directly or indirectly, sell or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to another person or group of affiliated persons, except that the Company may consolidate or merge with, or sell or convey substantially all of its assets to another person if (i) the Company is the continuing person or the successor person (if other than the Company) is organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and such person expressly assumes all obligations of the Company under the indenture, including payment of the principal and interest on the debt securities, and the performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed by the Company and (ii) there is no default under the indenture. Upon such a succession, the Company will be relieved from any further obligations under the indenture.

 

Events of Default

 

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act Report, an event of default shall occur with respect to any series of debt securities when:

 

 

 

We will be required annually to deliver to the trustee officers’ certificates stating whether or not the officers signing such certificates have any knowledge of any default in the performance by us of our obligations under the applicable indenture.

 

If an event of default shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series (other than an event of default described in the fifth bullet point of the first paragraph above under “— Events of Default”), the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding (or, if any securities of that series are original issue discount securities, the portion of the principal amount of such securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) may declare the debt securities of such series to be immediately due and payable. If an event of default described in the fifth bullet point of the first paragraph above under “— Events of Default” occurs with respect to any series of debt securities, the principal amount of all debt securities of that series (or, if any securities of that series are original issue discount securities, the portion of the principal amount of such securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) will automatically become due and payable without any declaration by the trustee or the holders. The trustee is required to give holders of the debt securities of any series written notice of a default with respect to such series as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act. As used in this paragraph, a “default” means an event described in the first paragraph under “— Events of Default” without including any applicable grace period.

 

If at any time after the debt securities of such series have been declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the moneys due has been obtained or entered, we pay or deposit with the trustee amounts sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon the debt securities of such series and the principal of all debt securities of such series which shall have become due, otherwise than by acceleration, together with interest on such principal and, to the extent legally enforceable, on such overdue installments of interest and all other amounts due under the applicable indenture shall have been paid, and any and all defaults with respect to such series under that indenture shall have been remedied, then the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration that the debt securities of such series are due and payable.

 

In addition, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series may waive any past default and its consequences with respect to such series, except a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of such series or a default in the performance of a covenant that cannot be modified under the applicable indenture without the consent of the holder of each affected debt security.

 

The trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the indentures at the request, order or direction of any of the holders of debt securities, unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee and certain limitations contained in the indentures, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such series.

No holder of debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the applicable indenture, for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy under the indenture unless:

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and, subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture regarding the payment of default interest, interest on that debt security on the due dates expressed in that security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.

 

Modification of the Indentures

 

Each indenture will contain provisions permitting us and the trustee to modify that indenture or enter into or modify any supplemental indenture without the consent of the holders of the debt securities for any of the following purposes:

 

 

We and the trustee may otherwise modify each indenture or any supplemental indenture with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of debt securities affected thereby at the time outstanding, except that no such modifications shall:

 

 

 

With respect to any vote of holders of a series of debt securities, we generally will be entitled to set any date as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act report, each indenture shall be satisfied and discharged if (i) we shall deliver to the trustee all debt securities then outstanding for cancellation or (ii) all debt securities not delivered to the trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, are to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year and we shall deposit an amount sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of maturity, redemption or deposit (in the case of debt securities that have become due and payable), provided that in either case we shall have paid all other sums payable under that indenture.

 

Each indenture will provide, if such provision is made applicable to the debt securities of a series, that we may elect either (A) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to any debt security of such series, or “defeasance,” or (B) to be released from our obligations with respect to such debt security under certain of the covenants and events of default under that indenture together with additional covenants that may be included for a particular series and that certain events of default shall not be events of default under that indenture with respect to such series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the trustee (or other qualifying trustee), in trust for such purpose, of money or certain U.S. government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such debt security, on the scheduled due dates.

 

In the case of defeasance or covenant defeasance, the holders of such debt securities will be entitled to receive payments in respect of such debt securities solely from such trust. Such a trust may only be established if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the indentures) to the effect that the holders of the debt securities affected thereby will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (A) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable Federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable indenture.

Record Dates

 

The indentures will provide that in certain circumstances we may establish a record date for determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of a series entitled to join in the giving of notice or the taking of other action under the applicable indenture by the holders of the debt securities of such series.

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate, in right of payment, to all senior debt. Senior debt is defined to mean, with respect to us, the principal, premium, if any, interest, fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and other amounts owing on the following:

 

 

Upon any distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated, to the extent provided in the subordinated debt indenture, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior debt. Our obligation to make payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. In addition, no payment on account of principal and premium, if any, sinking fund or interest, if any, may be made on the subordinated debt securities at any time unless full payment of all amounts due in respect of the principal and premium, if any, sinking fund and interest, if any, on our senior debt has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless all of our senior debt has been paid in full, in the event that any payment or distribution made by us is received by the trustee or the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities, such payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of our senior debt or a person acting on their behalf, to be applied toward the payment of all our senior debt remaining unpaid until all the senior debt has been paid in full. Subject to the payment in full of all of our senior debt, the rights of the holders of our subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of our senior debt.

 

By reason of this subordination, in the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, certain of our general creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of our subordinated debt securities.

 

Governing Law

 

The laws of the State of New York will govern each indenture and will govern the debt securities.

 

“Street Name” and Other Indirect Holders

 

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

legally required to do so. If you hold debt securities in “street name,” you should check with your own institution to find out, among other things:

 

 

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

 

Book-Entry Securities

 

The following description of book-entry securities will apply to any series of debt securities issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities except as otherwise described in the related prospectus supplement or in an Exchange Act Report.

 

Book-entry securities of like tenor and having the same date will be represented by one or more global securities deposited with and registered in the name of a depositary that is a clearing agent registered under the Exchange Act. Beneficial interests in book-entry securities will be limited to institutions that have accounts with the depositary, or “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants.

 

Ownership of beneficial interests by participants will only be evidenced by, and the transfer of that ownership interest will only be effected through, records maintained by the depositary. Ownership of beneficial interests by persons that hold through participants will only be evidenced by, and the transfer of that ownership interest within such participant will only be effected through, records maintained by the participants. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Payment of principal of and any premium and interest on book-entry securities represented by a global security registered in the name of or held by a depositary will be made to the depositary, as the registered owner of the global security. Neither we, the trustee nor any agent of ours or the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary’s records or any participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the depositary’s records or any participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through such participants will be governed by the depositary’s procedures, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of such participants.

 

A global security representing a book-entry security is exchangeable for definitive debt securities in registered form, of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount registered in the name of, or is transferable in whole or in part to, a person other than the depositary for that global security, only if (a) the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice, (b) at any time the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and we do not appoint a successor

depositary within 90 days after becoming aware that the depositary has ceased to be registered as a clearing agency, (c) we in our sole discretion determine that that the global security is so transferable or will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form and, in each case, notify the trustee of our decision, (d) an event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing or (e) other circumstances exist that have been specified in the terms of the debt securities of that series. Any global security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be registered in the name or names of such person or persons as the depositary shall instruct the trustee. It is expected that such instructions may be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such global security.

 

Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the holders thereof for any purpose under the indentures, and no global security shall be exchangeable, except for a security registered in the name of the depositary. This means each person owning a beneficial interest in such global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indentures. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or an owner of a beneficial interest in such global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indentures, the depositary would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take such action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participant to give or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

 

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any warrants, purchase contracts, units or depositary shares that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Common Stock

 

We may issue, either separately or together with other securities, including as a part of units, shares of our common stock. Shares of common stock issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. Under our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of our common stock. As of April 28, 2009, we have 98,017,737 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and have reserved 2,338,720 additional shares of common stock for issuance under our stock compensation plans.

 

A prospectus supplement relating to an offering of common stock or other securities convertible or exchangeable for, or exercisable into, common stock, or the settlement of which may result in the issuance of common stock, will describe the relevant terms, including the number of shares offered, any initial offering price and market price and dividend information, as well as, if applicable, information on other related securities.

 

The following summary is not complete and is not intended to give full effect to provisions of statutory or common law. You should refer to the applicable provisions of the following:

 

 

Dividends.  The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available for their payment subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock.

 

Voting Rights.  The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.

 

Rights upon Liquidation.  In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to share equally in any of our assets available for distribution after the payment in full of all debts and distributions and after the holders of all series of our outstanding preferred stock have received their liquidation preferences in full.

 

Miscellaneous.  The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of common stock are not entitled to preemptive or redemption rights. Shares of common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital stock. Mellon Investor Services LLC is the transfer agent and registrar for the common stock.

 

Preferred Stock

 

We may elect to issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue shares of preferred stock separately or as a part of units, and any such shares issued as part of units may be attached to or separate from any other securities part of those units. Shares of our preferred stock may have dividend, redemption, voting and liquidation rights taking priority over our common stock, and shares of our preferred stock may be convertible into our common stock.

 

Our Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series. In addition, our Board of Directors is authorized to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series of preferred stock and to fix the designation, powers (including but not limited to voting powers, if any), preferences and rights of the shares of each series of preferred stock and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each series of preferred stock. The number of authorized shares of preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common stock, without a vote of the holders of the preferred stock, or of any series of preferred stock, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any preferred stock.

 

Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series. As of the date of this prospectus, no shares of preferred stock have been issued. We have 6,000,000 shares of preferred designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in connection with our prior rights agreement, leaving 44,000,000 shares of preferred stock remaining available for designation and issuance.

 

The particular terms of any series of preferred stock being offered by us under this prospectus will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:

 

 

 

If the terms of any series of preferred stock being offered differ from the terms set forth in this prospectus, the definitive terms will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The summary in this prospectus is not complete. You should refer to the applicable Certificate of Amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation or certificate of designations, as the case may be, establishing a particular series of preferred stock, in either case which will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the SEC in connection with an offering of preferred stock.

 

The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Dividend Rights.  The preferred stock will be preferred over our common stock as to payment of dividends. Before any dividends or distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in common stock) on our common stock will be declared and set apart for payment or paid, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors. We will pay those dividends either in cash, shares of common stock or preferred stock or otherwise, at the rate and on the date or dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. With respect to each series of preferred stock, the dividends on each share of the series will be cumulative from the date of issue of the share unless another date is set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the series. Accruals of dividends will not bear interest.

 

Rights upon Liquidation.  The preferred stock will be preferred over our common stock as to assets so that the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to be paid, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up and before any distribution is made to the holders of common stock, the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, in this case the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to any other or further payment. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up our net assets are insufficient to permit the payment in full of the respective amounts to which the holders of all outstanding preferred stock are entitled, our entire remaining net assets will be distributed among the holders of each series of preferred stock in amounts proportional to the full amounts to which the holders of each series are entitled.

 

Redemption.  All shares of any series of preferred stock will be redeemable to the extent set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. All shares of any series of preferred stock will be convertible into shares of our common stock or into shares of any other series of our preferred stock to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Voting Rights.  Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holders of preferred stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of preferred stock held by them on all matters properly presented to stockholders. The holders of common stock and the holders of all series of preferred stock will vote together as one class.

 

Additional Series of Preferred Stock.  In the event of a proposed merger or tender offer, proxy contest or other attempt to gain control of us and not approved by our board of directors, it would be possible for the board to authorize the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock with voting rights or other rights and preferences which would impede the success of the proposed merger, tender offer, proxy contest or other attempt to gain control of us. This authority may be limited by applicable law, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as it may amended or restated from time to time, and the applicable rules of the stock exchanges upon which the common stock is listed. The consent of our stockholders would not be required for any such issuance of preferred stock.

Special Charter Provisions.  Our Restated Certificate of Incorporate provides that: