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$15,000,000,000
GMAC LLC
SmartNotes
Due from 9 Months to 30 Years from Date of Issue
GMAC LLC may offer to sell up to $15,000,000,000 of its SmartNotes from time to time. The specific terms of each SmartNote will be set prior to the time of sale and described in a pricing supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable pricing supplement carefully before you invest.
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Treasury Rate |
Prime Rate |
LIBOR |
An investment in SmartNotes involves certain risks. Prospective investors in SmartNotes should consider carefully the risk factors described below and beginning on page 5 of this prospectus, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement, the SmartNotes will not be listed on any securities exchange, and there can be no assurance that the SmartNotes offered will be sold or that there will be a secondary market for the SmartNotes.
The Agents have advised us that they may from time to time purchase and sell SmartNotes in the secondary market, but the Agents are not obligated to make a market in the SmartNotes and may suspend or completely stop that activity without notice and at any time. No termination date for the offering of the SmartNotes has been established.
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Per Note |
Total
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Public Offering Price |
100%, unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement | $15,000,000,000 | ||
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Agents’ Discounts and Concessions |
.20%-2.5% | $30,000,000- $375,000,000 | ||
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Proceeds, before expenses, to GMAC LLC |
97.50%-99.80% | $14,625,000,000- $14,970,000,000 |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state 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.
LASALLE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
CITIGROUP
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MORGAN STANLEY
RBC DAIN RAUSCHER INC.
UBS INVESTMENT BANK
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
The date of this prospectus is May 17, 2007
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell our SmartNotes in one or more offerings. The aggregate initial offering price of all SmartNotes sold by us under this prospectus will not exceed $15,000,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the SmartNotes we may offer. Each time we sell SmartNotes, we will provide a pricing supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The pricing supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any pricing supplement together with additional information described below under “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” In this prospectus, we will sometimes refer to the SmartNotes as “Notes”.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying pricing supplement. We have not, and the Agents have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information or representations. If anyone provides you with different or additional information or representations, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the Agents are not, making an offer of these securities or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying pricing supplement, as well as information filed by us with the SEC and incorporated by reference in these documents, is accurate only as of their respective dates.
The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the SmartNotes may be restricted in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
The information in this prospectus is directed to you if you are a resident of the United States. We do not claim any responsibility to advise you if you are a resident of a country other than the United States with respect to any matters that may affect the purchase, sale, holding or receipt of payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Notes. If you are not a resident of the United States, you should consult your legal, tax and financial advisors with regard to these matters.
This section summarizes the legal and financial terms of the SmartNotes that are described in more detail in “Description of Notes” beginning on page 9. Final terms of any particular SmartNotes will be determined at the time of sale and will be contained in the pricing supplement relating to that SmartNotes. The terms in that pricing supplement may vary from and supersede the terms contained in this summary and in “Description of Notes.” In addition, you should read further information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the accompanying pricing supplement.
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Issuer |
GMAC LLC |
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Purchasing Agent |
LaSalle Financial Services, Inc. |
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Title |
SmartNotes |
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Amount |
We may issue up to $15,000,000,000 aggregate initial offering of SmartNotes under this prospectus. Additional Notes may be issued in the future without the consent of Noteholders. The Notes will not contain any limitations on our ability to issue additional indebtedness in the form of these Notes or otherwise. |
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Denomination |
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the authorized denominations of the Notes will be $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. |
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Ranking |
The Notes are our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally and ratably with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding (other than obligations preferred by mandatory provisions of law). |
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Maturity |
The Notes will mature from nine months to thirty years from the date of issue, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement. |
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Interest Rate |
As specified in the applicable pricing supplement, each Note will bear interest from the Issue Date at a fixed or floating rate, which may be zero in the case of a Fixed Rate Note issued without interest at an Issue Price representing a substantial discount from the principal amount payable upon the Maturity Date (a “Zero-Coupon Note”). |
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Interest Payment Date |
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, interest on each Fixed Rate Note (other than a Zero-Coupon Note) will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, payable either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually on each Interest Payment Date and on the Maturity Date. Interest on each Floating Rate Note will be calculated and payable as set forth in the applicable pricing supplement. Interest will also be paid on the date of redemption or repayment if a Note is redeemed or repurchased prior to its stated maturity in accordance with its terms. |
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Principal |
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement, the principal amount of the Notes will be payable on the Maturity Date of such Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at such other place as we may designate. |
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Redemption and Repayment |
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, we will not be permitted to redeem a Note and the holder will not be able to require us to repay the Note prior to its Maturity Date. The applicable pricing supplement will indicate whether the holder of a Note will have the right to require us to repay a Note prior to its Maturity Date upon the death of the owner of the Note. |
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Sinking Fund |
The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund. |
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Form of Notes, Sale and Clearance |
Notes will be issued in book-entry form only and will be represented by one or more global Notes in fully registered form, without coupons. We do not intend to issue Notes in certificated form. |
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The Notes will clear through The Depository Trust Company, or any successor thereto. Global Notes will be exchangeable for definitive Notes only in limited circumstances. See “Description of Notes—Book-Entry; Delivery and Form.” |
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We will sell Notes in the United States only. |
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Survivor’s Option |
Specific Notes may contain a provision permitting the optional repayment of those Notes prior to stated maturity, if requested by the authorized representative of the beneficial owner of those Notes within one year of the death of the beneficial owner of the Notes, so long as the Notes were owned by the beneficial owner at least six months prior to his or her death. This feature is referred to as a “Survivor’s Option.” Your Notes will not be repaid in this manner unless the pricing supplement for your Notes provides for the Survivor’s Option. The right to exercise the Survivor’s Option is subject to limits set by us on (1) the permitted dollar amount of total exercises by all holders of Notes in any calendar year, and (2) the permitted dollar amount of an individual exercise by a holder of a Note in any calendar year. Additional details on the Survivor’s Option are described in the section entitled “Description of Notes—Survivor’s Option” beginning on page 20. |
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Trustee |
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., Global Corporate Trust, 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020, Chicago, IL 60602, under an Indenture dated as of September 24, 1996, as amended. |
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Agents |
LaSalle Financial Services, Inc. |
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Banc of America Securities LLC |
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated |
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Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated |
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RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. |
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UBS Securities LLC |
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Wachovia Securities LLC |
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Selling Group Members |
The Agents and dealers comprising the selling group are broker-dealers and securities firms. The Agents, including the Purchasing Agent, have entered into a Selling Agent Agreement with us dated July 25, 2006. Broker-dealers and/or securities firms who are members of the selling group have executed a Master Selected Dealer Agreement with the Purchasing Agent. The Agents and the dealers have agreed to market and sell the Notes in accordance with the terms of those respective agreements and all other applicable laws and regulations. You may call 1-800-327-1546 for a list of Selling Group Members. |
Your investment in the Notes involves risks. In consultation with your own financial, tax and legal advisors, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the discussion of Risk Factors contained in the Company’s latest Form 10-K and any Form 10-Q or 8-K amending or supplementing such Risk Factors as well as the following discussion of risks before deciding whether an investment in the Notes is suitable for you. In addition, the Notes are not an appropriate investment for you if you are unsophisticated with respect to their significant components and/or financial matters. The risks described below are intended to highlight risks that are specific to us but are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks, including those generally affecting the industry in which we operate and risks that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business, the value of your investment and our ability to repay interest on, and redeem, repay or refinance the Notes.
Risks Related to the Notes
We cannot assure you that a market will develop for the Notes or what the market price will be.
We cannot assure you that a trading market for the Notes will develop or be maintained. Many factors independent of our creditworthiness affect the trading market. These factors include:
Also, because we have designed some Notes for specific investment objectives or strategies, these Notes have a more limited trading market and experience more price volatility. You should be aware that there may be few investors willing to buy when you decide to sell the Notes. This limited market may affect the price you receive for your Notes or your ability to sell the Notes. You should not purchase Notes unless you understand, and know you can bear, the investment risks.
Our ability to redeem the Notes at our option may adversely affect your return on the Notes.
If your Notes are redeemable at our option, we may choose to redeem the Notes at times when prevailing interest rates may be lower than the rate borne by the Notes. Accordingly, you will not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an interest rate as high as that of the Notes. If we have the right to redeem the Notes from you, you should consider the related reinvestment risk in light of other investments available to you at the time of your investment in the Notes.
If the accompanying pricing supplement provides that we have the right to redeem the Notes, our ability to redeem the Notes at our option is likely to affect the market value of the Notes. In particular, as the redemption date(s) approaches, the market value of the Notes generally will not rise substantially above the redemption price because of the optional redemption feature.
If your Notes include the Survivor’s Option, your ability to exercise this option will be subject to limitations.
If you hold Notes that include the Survivor’s Option, the authorized representative of your estate will only be able to exercise the Survivor’s Option if you have held the Notes for a period of at least six months prior to your death. A request to exercise the Survivor’s Option must be made within one year of the death of the beneficial owner of the Notes. In addition, the right to exercise the Survivor’s Option is subject to limits set by us on (1) the permitted dollar amount of total exercises by all holders of Notes in any calendar year, and (2) the permitted dollar amount of an individual exercise by the holder of a Note in any calendar year.
The Notes may be subject to laws of the State of New York that limit the amount of interest that can be charged and paid on such an investment. This could limit the amount of interest you may receive on the Notes.
The Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The State of New York has usury laws that limit the amount of interest that can be charged and paid on loans, which include debt securities like the Notes. Under present New York law, the maximum rate of interest, with certain exceptions, for any loan in an amount less than $250,000 is 16% and for any loan equal to or greater than $250,000, and less than $2,500,000 is 25% per annum on a simple interest basis. This limit may not apply to Notes in which $2,500,000 or more has been invested. While we believe that New York law would be given effect by a state or federal court sitting out of New York, state laws frequently regulate the amount of interest that may be charged to and paid by a borrower (including, in some cases, corporate borrowers). It is suggested that prospective investors consult their personal advisors with respect to the applicability of such laws. We covenant for the benefit of the beneficial owners of the Notes, to the extent permitted by law, not to claim voluntarily the benefits of any laws concerning usurious rates of interest against a beneficial owner of the Notes.
Our principal executive offices are located at 200 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265, and our telephone number is 313-556-5000.
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports and other information with the SEC. You can learn additional information concerning GMAC by reading these periodic reports. You may read and copy any document that we file at the Public Reference Room of the SEC located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also inspect our filings at the Regional Offices of the SEC located at 175 W. Jackson Boulevard, Suite 900, Chicago, Illinois 60604, and 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10279. You may also request copies of our documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically, including GMAC. We are not incorporating the contents of the SEC website into this prospectus. Reports and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits, the “registration statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) with respect to the Notes. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. Certain parts of the registration statement are omitted from the prospectus in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings made with the SEC by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including during the period after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, until we sell all of the securities (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K containing information furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report; we do incorporate the Current Reports on Form 8-K noted below and any filed (as compared to furnished) future Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC). These documents contain important information about GMAC and its finances.
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SEC Filings |
Period | |
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Annual Report |
Year ended December 31, 2006 | |
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Quarterly Report |
Quarter ended March 31, 2007 | |
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Current Reports |
Filed on February 16, 2007 and April 17, 2007 |
You may request a copy of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, except exhibits to such documents, unless those exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents, at no cost, by writing or telephoning the office of L.K. Zukauckas, Vice President and Corporate Controller, at the following address and telephone number:
GMAC LLC
200 Renaissance Center
Mail Code: 482-B08-A36
Detroit, Michigan 48265
Tel: (313) 665-4327
This prospectus may include or incorporate by reference “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this prospectus that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, references to future success and other matters are forward-looking statements, including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “continues,” “forecasts,” “designed,” “goal” or the negative of those words or other comparable words. In particular, statements regarding our plans, strategies, prospects and expectations regarding our business are forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions concerning future events, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including those risks and uncertainties set forth under the heading “Risk Factors”, beginning on page 4 of this prospectus.
In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. We do not, however, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
GMAC is a leading global financial services firm with operations in approximately 40 countries. Founded in 1919 as a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation, GMAC was originally established to provide GM franchised dealers with the automotive financing necessary for the dealers to acquire and maintain vehicle inventories and to provide retail customers the means by which to finance vehicle purchases through GM dealers.
On November 30, 2006, GM sold a 51% interest in us for approximately $7.4 billion (the “Sale Transactions”) to FIM Holdings LLC (“FIM Holdings”). FIM Holdings is an investment consortium led by Cerberus FIM Investors, LLC, the sole managing member, and also including, Citigroup Inc., Aozora Bank Ltd., and a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Our products and services have expanded beyond automotive financing as we currently operate in the following lines of business—Automotive Finance, Mortgage (ResCap) and Insurance.
The following table presents the ratio of our earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:
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Three Months |
Years Ended December 31, | |||||||||||
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2007 |
2006 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 | ||||||
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0.94(1) |
1.19 | 1.15 | 1.28 | 1.45 | 1.51(2) | 1.49(2) | ||||||
(1) The ratio calculation indicates a less than one-to-one coverage for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Earnings available for fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2007, is inadequate to cover total fixed charges. The deficient amount for the ratio is approximately $212 million.
(2) Revised to reflect restatements to selected financial data for these periods, as presented in Item 6 to our Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2006.
We will add the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to the general funds of GMAC and they will be available for general corporate purposes, which may include the purchase of receivables, the making of loans, the repayment or repurchase of existing indebtedness, the reduction of short-term borrowings or for investment in short-term securities.
The terms and conditions in this prospectus will apply to each Note unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement and in the Note. In the event the terms and conditions in this prospectus conflict with the terms and conditions in the applicable pricing supplement, the terms and conditions of the pricing supplement shall control. It is important for you to consider the information contained in this prospectus and the pricing supplement in making your investment decision.
The statements in this prospectus concerning the Notes and the Indenture are not complete and you should refer to the provisions in the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms, which are controlling. Provisions and defined terms in the Indenture are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the following descriptions are qualified in their entirety by these references.
General Terms of the Notes
Currency
References in this prospectus to “U.S. dollars” and “$” are to the currency of the United States of America.
Amount
The Notes will be limited to $15,000,000,000 aggregate initial offering price, on terms to be determined at the time of sale.
Indenture
We will issue the Notes under an Indenture dated as of September 24, 1996, as amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 1, 1998 and a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 30, 2006 (together, the “Indenture”) between us and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. The Indenture does not limit the amount of additional unsecured indebtedness ranking equally and ratably with the Notes that we may incur, and we may, from time to time, and without the consent of the holders of the Notes, issue additional Notes. The statements in this prospectus concerning the Notes and the Indenture are not complete and you should refer to the provisions in the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms, which are controlling. Provisions and defined terms in the Indenture are incorporated by reference in this prospectus as a part of the statements we are making, and these statements are qualified in their entirety by these references.
Ranking
The Notes will constitute our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and will rank equally and ratably with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding (other than obligations preferred by mandatory provisions of law).
Maturity
The Notes will mature on any day, nine months to thirty years from the Issue Date (as defined below), as selected by you and agreed to by us, unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement. The principal amount of the Notes will be payable at Maturity (as defined below) at the Global Corporate Trust office of The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020, Chicago, IL 60602, or at such other place as we may designate.
Interest
Each Note will bear interest from the Issue Date at either:
Denominations
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the authorized denominations of the Notes will be $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
Pricing Supplement
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement:
The “Amortized Face Amount” of a Discount Note is the amount equal to:
Note that has accrued at the yield to maturity set forth in the pricing supplement (computed in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles) at the date the Amortized Face Amount is calculated, but in no event will the Amortized Face Amount of the Discount Note exceed its stated principal amount. See also “United States Federal Taxation—Tax Consequences to Holders—Discount Notes.”
Glossary
You should refer to the Indenture and the form of Notes filed as exhibits to the registration statement to which this prospectus relates for the full definition of terms used in this prospectus and those capitalized terms which are undefined in this prospectus. We have set forth below a number of definitions of terms used in this prospectus with respect to the Notes.
“Business Day” with respect to any Note means, unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is:
“Interest Payment Date” with respect to any Note means a date, other than at Maturity, on which, under the terms of such Note, regularly scheduled interest shall be payable.
“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in deposits in the Index Currency are transacted in the London interbank market.
“Maturity” means the date on which the principal of a Note or an installment of principal becomes due and payable in full in accordance with its terms and the terms of the Indenture, whether at its Maturity Date (as defined below) or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption at our option, repayment at your option, or otherwise.
“Maturity Date” with respect to any Note means the date on which the Note will mature, as specified on the Note.
“Regular Record Date” with respect to:
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form
Global Notes
Upon issue, all Fixed Rate Notes having the same Issue Date, interest rate, if any, amortization schedule, if any, Maturity Date and other terms, if any, will be represented by one or more fully registered global Notes (the “Global Notes”) and all Floating Rate Notes having the same Issue Date, Initial Interest Rate, Base Rate, Interest Period, Interest Payment Dates, Index Maturity, Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, Minimum Interest Rate, if any, Maximum Interest Rate, if any, Maturity Date and other terms, if any, will be represented by one or more Global Notes; provided, that no single Global Note will exceed $500,000,000.
The Depositary
Each Global Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC or other depositary (DTC or such other depositary as is specified in the applicable pricing supplement is referred to as the “Depositary”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC”s nominee, or any other depositary”s nominee as specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee. Each such Global Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
The Depositary has advised as follows: it is a limited-purpose trust company which was created to hold securities for its participating organizations and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. Participants include:
Access to the Depositary's system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by the Depositary only through participants or indirect participants.
Ownership of Global Notes
The Depositary advises that pursuant to procedures established by it:
The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities which they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the Global Note is limited to such extent.
As long as the Depositary's nominee is the registered owner of the Global Note, such nominee for all purposes will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, you will not:
Neither we, the Trustee, any Paying Agent nor the Depositary will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Global Note, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Payments
Except as otherwise set forth in a pricing supplement, principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the Notes registered in the name of the Depositary”s nominee will be made by the Trustee to the Depositary”s nominee as the registered owner of the Global Note. Under the terms of the Indenture, we and the Trustee will treat the persons in whose names the Notes are registered as the owners of the Notes for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and for all other purposes whatsoever. Therefore, we do not have, and neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent has, any direct responsibility or liability for the payment of principal or interest on the Notes to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Note. The Depositary has advised us and the Trustee that its present practice is, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest, to immediately credit the accounts of the participants with such payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interests in the Global Note as shown on the records of the Depositary.
Payments by participants and indirect participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Note will be the responsibility of such participants and indirect participants and will be governed by their standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.”
Certificated Notes
Individual certificates in respect of Notes will not be issued in exchange for the Global Notes, except in very limited circumstances. If DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a clearing system in connection with a Global Note or, if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and we do not appoint a successor clearing system within 90 days after receiving such notice from DTC or on becoming aware that DTC is no longer so registered, we will issue or cause to be issued individual certificates in registered form on registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, book-entry interests in the Notes represented by the Global Note upon delivery of the Global Note for cancellation.
In addition, we may at any time determine not to have the Notes represented by the Global Note and, in such event, will issue Notes in definitive form in exchange for the Global Note. In either instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be entitled to have Notes equal in principal amount to the beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to physical delivery of the Notes in definitive form. Notes so issued in definitive form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the Notes, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Title
Title to book-entry interests in the Notes will pass by book-entry registration of the transfer within the records of DTC in accordance with its procedures. Book-entry interests in the Notes may be transferred within DTC in accordance with procedure established for this purpose by DTC.
Interest and Payments of Principal and Interest
General
We will pay you, as the owner of a beneficial interest in a Note, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and the participant, in effect from time to time as described under “Description of Notes—Book-Entry; Delivery and Form.”
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement:
We will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks for payments in immediately available funds, but you will bear any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed upon payments, including, without limitation, any withholding tax.
If a Note, such as a Discount Note, is considered issued with original issue discount for United States Federal income tax purposes, you must include the discount in income for United States Federal income tax purposes as it accrues at a constant rate, generally before the time that the cash attributable to that income is paid on the Note. See “United States Federal Taxation”Tax Consequences to Holders“Discount Notes.” Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, if the principal of any Discount Note is declared due and payable immediately as described under “Events of Default,” the amount of principal due and payable is limited to the aggregate principal amount of the Note multiplied by the sum (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) of its Issue Price plus the original issue discount amortized using the “interest method” (computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date of declaration) from the Issue Date to the date of declaration. Special considerations applicable to the Notes will be set forth in the applicable pricing supplement.
The Interest Payment Dates for Fixed Rate Notes are described below under “Fixed Rate Notes—Interest Periods and Payment Dates,” and the Interest Payment Dates for Floating Rate Notes are indicated in the applicable pricing supplement.
Fixed Rate Notes
Interest Periods and Payment Dates
Each Fixed Rate Note will bear interest from and including its Issue Date at the rate per annum set forth on the Note and in the applicable pricing supplement until we pay or make available for payment the principal amount of the Note in full. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, we will pay interest on each Note (other than a Zero-Coupon Note) either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually on each Interest Payment Date and at Maturity (or on the date of redemption or repayment if a Note is repurchased or repaid by us prior to Maturity pursuant to mandatory or optional redemption provisions or the Survivor’s Option). Interest will be payable to the person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date; provided, however, interest payable at Maturity, on a date of redemption or in connection with the exercise of the Survivor’s Option will be payable to the person to whom principal shall be payable.
Any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest required to be made on a Fixed Rate Note on a day which is not a Business Day does not have to be made on that day, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such day, and no additional interest will accrue as a result of the delayed payment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, any interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The interest rates that we will agree to pay on newly-issued Notes are subject to change without notice by us from time to time, but no such change will affect any Notes already issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by us.
The Interest Payment Dates for a Note that provides for fixed rate interest payments are as follows:
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Interest Payments |
Interest Payment Dates | |
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Monthly |
Fifteenth day of each calendar month (or the next Business Day), commencing in the first succeeding calendar month following the month in which the Note is issued. | |
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Quarterly |
Fifteenth day of every third month (or the next Business Day), commencing in the third succeeding calendar month following the month in which the Note is issued.> | |
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Semi-annually |
Fifteenth day of every sixth month (or the next Business Day), commencing in the sixth succeeding calendar month following the month in which the Note is issued. | |
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Annually |
Fifteenth day of every twelfth month (or the next Business Day), commencing in the twelfth succeeding calendar month following the month in which the Note is issued. See “United States Federal Taxation—Discount Notes” for a discussion of the tax treatment of Notes with one or more periods between Interest Payment Dates of more than one year. | |
The Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be the first day of the calendar month in which such Interest Payment Date occurs, except that the Regular Record Date with respect to the final Interest Payment Date is the final Interest Payment Date.
Each payment of interest on a Note includes accrued interest from and including the Issue Date or from and including the last day in respect of which interest has been paid (or duly provided for), to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date.
Floating Rate Notes
Interest Rates
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, each Floating Rate Note will bear interest at a rate determined by an interest rate base (the “Base Rate”), which may be adjusted by a Spread and/or a Spread Multiplier (each as defined below).
The “Spread” is the number of basis points (one basis point equals one hundredth of a percentage point) to be added to or subtracted from the Base Rate applicable to the interest rate for the Floating Rate Note.
The “Spread Multiplier” is the percentage of the Base Rate applicable to the Base Rate Note used to determine the interest rate on the Floating Rate Note. Each Floating Rate Note and the applicable pricing supplement will specify the Index Maturity and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any.
The “Index Maturity” for any Floating Rate Note is the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation from which the Base Rate is calculated and will be specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
We may change the Spread Multiplier, Index Maturity and other variable terms of the Floating Rate Notes from time to time, but no change will affect any Note already issued or for which we have accepted an offer to purchase.
The applicable pricing supplement will designate one of the following Base Rates for each Floating Rate Note:
As specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a Floating Rate Note may also have:
Interest rates on a Floating Rate Note may not be higher than the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application. Under present New York law, the maximum rate of interest, with certain exceptions, for any loan in an amount less than $250,000 is 16% and for any loan equal to or greater than $250,000 and less than $2,500,000 is 25% per annum on a simple interest basis. These limits do not apply to loans of $2,500,000 or more.
Interest Reset Dates
Each Floating Rate Note and the applicable pricing supplement will specify if the interest rate on the Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually (each an “Interest Reset Period”) and the date on which the interest rate will be reset (each an “Interest Reset Date”). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the Interest Reset Date will be, in the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset:
The interest rate in effect from the Issue Date to the first Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate (as defined below).
If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note is not a Business Day, the Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day. However, in the case of a LIBOR Note, if the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Reset Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. The interest rate or the formula for establishing the interest rate effective for a Floating Rate Note from the Issue Date to the first Interest Reset Date (the “Initial Interest Rate”) will be specified in the applicable pricing supplement.
Interest Payment Dates
Except as provided below, and unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, we will pay interest:
Subject to the last sentence of this paragraph, unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, if an Interest Payment Date (other than at Maturity) with respect to any Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day. In the case of LIBOR Notes, if the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. Any payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, required to be made on a Floating Rate Note at Maturity that is not a Business Day will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest will accrue as a result of any delayed payment.
Accrued Interest
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, we will pay interest on each Interest Payment Date or at Maturity for Floating Rate Notes equal to the interest accrued from and including the Issue Date or from and including the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date (an “Interest Period”).
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, accrued interest on a Floating Rate Note will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of the Floating Rate Note by an accrued interest factor. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the Interest Period for which accrued interest is being calculated. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable on such day by 360, in the cases of Prime Rate Notes and LIBOR Notes, or by the actual number of days in the year, in the case of Treasury Rate Notes. Except as set forth above, or in the applicable pricing supplement, the interest rate in effect on each day will be:
Rounding
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, all interest rates on a Floating Rate Note will be expressed as a percentage rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percent (.0000001), with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)). All U.S. dollar amounts related to interest on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest cent.
Interest Determination Dates
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the “Interest Determination Date” pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for Prime Rate Notes will be the second Business Day preceding the Interest Reset Date; the Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a LIBOR Note will be the second London Banking Day preceding the Interest Reset Date; and the Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a Treasury Rate Note will be the day of the week in which the Interest Reset Date falls on which direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury Bills”) of the applicable Index Maturity (as specified on the face of such Treasury Rate Note) are auctioned. Treasury Bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally held on the following Tuesday, except that the auction may be held on the preceding Friday. If, as the result of a legal holiday, an auction is held on the preceding Friday, that Friday will be the Interest Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next succeeding week.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the “Calculation Date,” where applicable, pertaining to an Interest Determination Date will be the earlier of:
The applicable pricing supplement shall specify a calculation agent (the “Calculation Agent”), which may be GMAC, with respect to any issue of Floating Rate Notes. Upon your request, the Calculation Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective on the next Interest Reset Date with respect to your Floating Rate Note. If at any time the Trustee is not the Calculation Agent, we will notify the Trustee of each determination of the interest rate applicable to any Floating Rate Note.
Base Rates on Floating Rate Notes
The interest rate in effect with respect to a Floating Rate Note from the Issue Date to the first Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate that is determined in the manner described in the applicable pricing supplement. The interest rate for each subsequent Interest Reset Date will be determined by the Calculation Agent as follows:
LIBOR Notes
LIBOR Notes will bear interest at the interest rate (calculated with reference to LIBOR and the Spread and/or the Spread Multiplier, if any, and subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any) specified in the LIBOR Notes and in the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, “LIBOR” means the rate determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions:
“Index Currency” shall be U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement as the currency for which LIBOR shall be calculated.
“Designated LIBOR Page” means either:
If neither LIBOR Reuters nor LIBOR Telerate is specified in the applicable pricing supplement, LIBOR for the applicable Index Currency will be determined as if LIBOR Telerate (and, if the U.S. dollar is the Index Currency, page 3750) had been specified.
Prime Rate Notes
Prime Rate Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the Prime Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable Prime Rate Notes and any applicable pricing supplement.
"Prime Rate" means:
“H.15 (519)” means the weekly statistical release designated as such, or any successor publication published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
“H.15 Daily Update” means the daily update of H.15 (519) available through the World Wide Web site of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/update or any successor site or publication.
“Reuters Screen US PRIME 1 Page” means the display on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service or any successor service on the “US PRIME 1” Page or other page as may replace the US PRIME 1 Page on such service for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major United States banks.
Treasury Rate Notes
Treasury Rate Notes will bear interest at the interest rate (calculated with reference to the Treasury Rate and the Spread and/or the Spread Multiplier, if any, and subject to the Minimum Interest Rate and the Maximum Interest Rate, if any) specified in the Treasury Rate Notes and in the applicable pricing supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date, the rate for the auction held on the Interest Determination Date of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury Bills”) having the Index Maturity designated in the applicable pricing supplement, under the heading “Investment Rate” on the display on Moneyline Telerate (or any successor service) on Page 56 (or any replacement page) (“Telerate Page 56”) or page 57 (or any replacement page) (“Telerate Page 57”). If the rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time on the Calculation Date pertaining to the Interest Determination Date, the rate will be the Bond Equivalent Yield (as defined below) of the rate for Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or another recognized electronic source displaying the rate, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High”. If the rate is not published in H.15 Daily Update or another electronic source by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the auction rate of the Treasury Bills as announced by the United States Department of the Treasury.
In the event that the results of the auction of Treasury Bills having the applicable Index Maturity designated in the applicable pricing supplement are not announced by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date or if no auction is held on the Interest Determination Date, then the Treasury Rate will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date of Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as published in H.15(519) under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”. If the rate is not yet published in H.15(519) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate will be the rate on the Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date of the Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or another recognized electronics source displaying the rate, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market.” If the rate is not yet published in H.15(519) H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source, then the Treasury Rate will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Interest Determination Date, of three leading primary United States government securities dealers selected by the Calculation Agent, after consultation with us, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity designated in the applicable pricing supplement. If the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting bid rates, the interest rate for the applicable period will be the interest rate in effect on such Interest Determination Date.
“Bond Equivalent Yield” means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated using the following formula:
| Bond Equivalent Yield | = |
D × N × 100 | ||
| 360 - (D × M) |
where “D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis, “N” refers to 365 or 366, as the case may be, and “M” refers to the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period.
Discount Notes
We may issue Notes at an issue price that is less than the stated redemption price at maturity of the Notes by more than a de minimis amount (0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity, or, in the case of a Note providing for payments prior to maturity of amounts other than qualified stated interest, the weighted average maturity). Such Notes will be treated as debt instruments with original issue discount for United States Federal income tax purposes. We refer to such Notes as Discount Notes. Discount Notes may currently pay no interest (in the case of a Discount Note that is a Zero Coupon Note) or interest at a rate which is below market rates at the time of issuance. Additional considerations relating to Discount Notes will be described in the applicable pricing supplement. See “United States Federal Taxation—Tax Consequences to Holders—Discount Notes” for certain United States Federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Discount Notes.
Redemption and Repayment
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement:
If applicable, the pricing supplement relating to each Note will indicate that the Note will be redeemable at our option or repayable at your option on a date or dates specified prior to its Maturity Date and, unless otherwise specified in the pricing supplement, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Note, together with accrued interest to the date of redemption or repayment, unless such Note was issued with original issue discount, in which case the pricing supplement will specify the amount payable upon such redemption or repayment.
We may redeem any of the Notes that are redeemable and remain outstanding either in whole or from time to time in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice.
Exercise of your repayment option is irrevocable. You may not exercise the repayment option except in principal amounts of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000. With respect to the Notes, the Depositary’s nominee is the holder of the Notes and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to repayment. See “Description of Notes”Book-Entry; Delivery and Form.“ In order to ensure that the Depositary”s nominee will timely exercise a right to repayment with respect to your beneficial interest in a Note, you, as the beneficial owner of the interest, must instruct the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which you hold a beneficial interest in the Note to notify the Depositary of your desire to exercise a right to repayment. Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers, and accordingly, you should consult the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which you hold an interest in a Note in order to ascertain the cut-off time by which you must give an instruction in order for timely notice to be delivered to the Depositary. Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to participants, by participants to indirect participants and by participants and indirect participants to you, as a beneficial owner of the Notes will be governed by agreements among you and them, subject to any statutory or regulated requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
If applicable, we will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with any repurchase.
We may repurchase Notes at any time (including those otherwise tendered for repayment by you or your duly authorized representative, pursuant to the Survivor’s Option, see “Repayment Upon Death”) at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise. Notes purchased by us may, at our discretion, be held or resold or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Repayment Upon Death—The Survivor’s Option
The “Survivor’s Option” is a provision in a Note pursuant to which we agree to repay that Note, if requested by the authorized representative of the beneficial owner of that Note (the “Representative”) following the death of the beneficial owner of the Note, so long as the Note was owned by that beneficial owner at least six months prior to his or her death. The pricing supplement relating to each offering of Notes will state whether the Survivor’s Option applies to those Notes.
If a Note is entitled to a Survivor’s Option, upon the valid exercise of the Survivor’s Option and the proper tender of that Note for repayment, we will re