As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2001
                                                           Registration No. 333-

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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                               -----------------

                                   FORM S-3
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               -----------------

                           Colgate-Palmolive Company
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                        Delaware               No. 13-1815595
              (State or Other Jurisdiction    (I.R.S. Employer
                    of Incorporation)       Identification Number)

                                300 Park Avenue
                           New York, New York 10022
                                (212) 310-2000
   (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
                      of Registrant's Executive Offices)

                               -----------------

                               ANDREW D. HENDRY
                            Senior Vice President,
                         General Counsel and Secretary
                           Colgate-Palmolive Company
                                (212) 310-2000
           (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
                  Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

    Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale to the Public: From time
to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

    If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [_]

    If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act,
other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

    If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]

    If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [_]

    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]

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                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


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Proposed Maximum Proposed Title of each Class of Amount to be Offering Price Maximum Aggregate Amount of Securities to be Registered Registered Per Unit(1) Offering Price(1) Registration Fee --------------------------- ----------------- -------------- ----------------- ---------------- Debt Securities...... $1,400,000,000(2) 100% $1,400,000,000(2) $350,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1)Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act. (2)In United States dollars or the equivalent thereof in foreign or composite currencies. Such amount shall be increased, if any Debt Securities are issued at an original issue discount, to such higher principal amount as may be sold for an initial public offering price of up to $1,400,000,000. ----------------- The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 26, 2001 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT (To prospectus dated October , 2001) $1,400,000,000 LOGO Medium-Term Notes, Series E Due One Year or More from Date of Issue The notes: .We will offer notes from time to time and specify the .The notes may bear interest at fixed or floating terms and conditions of each issue of notes in a rates or may not bear any interest. If the notes pricing supplement. bear interest at a floating rate, the floating rate may be based on one or more indices or .The notes will be senior unsecured debt securities formulas. of Colgate. .We will specify in the applicable pricing .The notes will have stated maturities of one year or supplement whether the notes can be redeemed more from the date they are originally issued. or repaid before their maturity and whether they are subject to mandatory redemption, .We will pay amounts due on the notes in U.S. redemption at the option of Colgate or dollars or any other consideration described repayment at the option of the holder of the in the applicable pricing supplement. notes.
----------------- Investing in the notes involves certain risks. See "Risk Factors" on page S-3. ----------------- Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any pricing supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. We may sell notes to the agents referred to below as principals for resale at varying or fixed offering prices or through the agents as agents using their reasonable efforts on our behalf. We may also sell notes without the assistance of the agents, whether acting as principal or as agent. If we sell other securities referred to in the accompanying prospectus, the amount of notes that we may offer and sell under this prospectus supplement may be reduced. ----------------- Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Goldman, Sachs & Co. JPMorgan Merrill Lynch & Co. Morgan Stanley Salomon Smith Barney ----------------- The date of this prospectus supplement is October , 2001. TABLE OF CONTENTS Prospectus Supplement
Page ---- Risk Factors........................................... S-3 Description of the Notes............................... S-5 Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes.. S-26 Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations S-28 Plan of Distribution................................... S-36 Validity of the Notes.................................. S-37
Prospectus
Page ---- About This Prospectus............................ 2 Colgate-Palmolive Company........................ 2 Use of Proceeds.................................. 2 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............... 3 Description of Debt Securities................... 3 Plan of Distribution............................. 10 Where You Can Find More Information.............. 11 Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC 11 Experts.......................................... 12
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement. Neither we nor any agent acting on our behalf has authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor any agent acting on our behalf is making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any pricing supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of the applicable pricing supplement. References in this prospectus supplement to "Colgate," "we," "us" and "our" are to Colgate-Palmolive Company. References in this prospectus supplement to "agent" or "agents" are to any or all, respectively, of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Salomon Smith Barney Inc. or any other agent appointed by us. S-2 RISK FACTORS Your investment in the notes is subject to certain risks, especially if the notes involve in some way a foreign currency. This prospectus supplement does not describe all of the risks of an investment in the notes, whether arising because the notes are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars or because the return on the notes is linked to one or more interest rate or currency indices or formulas. You should consult your own financial and legal advisors about the risks entailed by an investment in the notes and the suitability of your investment in the notes in light of your particular circumstances. The notes are not an appropriate investment for you if you are unsophisticated with respect to transactions involving an index or formula used to determine amounts payable or transactions in which foreign currencies are involved. Before investing in the notes, you should consider carefully, among other factors, the matters described below. Structure Risks of Notes Indexed to Interest Rate, Currency or Other Indices or Formulas If you invest in notes indexed to one or more interest rate, currency or other indices or formulas, there will be significant risks not associated with a conventional fixed rate or floating rate debt security. Indexation of the interest rate of a note may result in lower (or no) interest compared to a conventional fixed rate debt security issued at the same time. Indexation of the principal of a note may result in the payment of a lower amount of principal compared to the original purchase price of the note. The value of an index can fluctuate based on a number of interrelated factors, including economic, financial and political events over which we have no control. Additionally, if the formula that we specify to determine the amount of principal, and/or interest payable with respect to indexed notes contains a multiplier or leverage factor, that feature will magnify the effect of any change in the index. You should not view the historical experience of an index as an indication of its future performance. Redemption May Adversely Affect Your Return on the Notes If your notes are redeemable at our option or are otherwise subject to mandatory redemption, we may, in the case of optional redemption, or must, in the case of mandatory redemption, choose to redeem your notes at times when prevailing interest rates may be relatively low. Accordingly, you generally will not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as that of the notes. There May Be an Uncertain Trading Market for Your Notes; Many Factors Affect the Trading Value of Your Notes We cannot assure you that a trading market for your notes will ever develop or be maintained. Many factors independent of our creditworthiness may affect the trading market of your notes. These factors include: . the complexity and volatility of the index or formula applicable to the notes, . the method of calculating the principal, premium and interest in respect of the notes, . the time remaining to the maturity of the notes, . the outstanding amount of the notes, . the redemption features of the notes, . the amount of other securities linked to the index or formula applicable to the notes, and . the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally. In addition, because some notes were designed for specific investment objectives or strategies, these notes will have a more limited trading market and experience more price volatility. There may be a limited number of buyers for these notes. This may affect the price you receive for these notes or your ability to sell these notes at all. You should not purchase these notes unless you understand and know you can bear the related investment risks. S-3 Our Credit Ratings May Not Reflect All Risks of an Investment in the Notes Our credit ratings are an assessment of our ability to pay our obligations. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of your notes. Our credit ratings, however, may not reflect the potential impact of risks related to structure, market or other factors discussed above on the value of your notes. Exchange Rates and Exchange Controls May Affect the Value of Foreign Currency Notes If you invest in notes that are denominated and/or payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars, there will be significant risks not associated with an investment in a debt security denominated and payable in U.S. dollars, including the possibility of material changes in the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and your payment currency and the imposition or modification of exchange controls by the applicable governments. We have no control over the factors that generally affect these risks, such as economic, financial and political events and the supply and demand for the applicable currencies. Moreover, if payments on your foreign currency notes are determined by reference to a formula containing a multiplier or leverage factor, the effect of any change in the exchange rates between the applicable currencies will be magnified. In recent years, exchange rates between certain currencies have been highly volatile and volatility between such currencies or with other currencies may be expected in the future. Fluctuations between currencies in the past are not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations that may occur in the future. Depreciation of your payment currency would result in a decrease in the U.S. dollar equivalent yield of your foreign currency notes, in the U.S. dollar equivalent value of the principal and any premium payable at maturity or earlier redemption of your foreign currency notes and, generally, in the U.S. dollar equivalent market value of your foreign currency notes. Governmental exchange controls could affect exchange rates and the availability of your payment currency on a required payment date. Even if there are no exchange controls, it is possible that your payment currency will not be available on a required payment date because of circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, we will be allowed to satisfy our obligations in respect of your foreign currency notes in U.S. dollars. You should consult your financial and legal advisors about the risks associated with foreign currency notes. You should not purchase such notes if you are unsophisticated with regard to foreign currency transactions. Exchange Rates May Affect the Value of a Judgment of a U.S. Court Involving Foreign Currency Notes The indenture and the notes, including foreign currency notes, except to the extent that we specify otherwise in a pricing supplement, will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. As a holder of notes, you may bring an action based upon an obligation payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars in courts in the United States. However, courts in the United States have not customarily rendered judgments for money damages denominated in any currency other than U.S. dollars. In addition, it is not clear whether in granting such a judgment, the rate of conversion would be determined with reference to the date of default, the date judgment is rendered or any other date. The Judiciary Law of the State of New York provides, however, that an action based upon an obligation payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be rendered in the foreign currency of the underlying obligation and converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on the date the judgment or decree is entered. In these cases, holders of foreign currency notes would bear the risk of exchange rate fluctuations between the time the dollar amount of the judgment is calculated and the time U.S. dollars were paid to the holders. S-4 DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES The notes will be issued as a new series of debt securities under a senior indenture, dated as of November 15, 1992 (the "indenture"), between Colgate and The Bank of New York, as trustee. The term "senior debt securities," as used in this prospectus supplement, refers to all securities issued and issuable from time to time under the indenture and includes the notes. The senior debt securities and the indenture are more fully described in the accompanying prospectus. The following summary of the material provisions of the notes and of the indenture is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indenture, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part. The following description of notes will apply unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Terms of the Notes All senior debt securities, including the notes, issued and to be issued under the indenture will be unsecured general obligations of Colgate and will rank equally with all the other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Colgate from time to time outstanding. The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities which we may issue. We may issue our senior debt securities from time to time as a single series or in two or more separate series up to the aggregate principal amount from time to time as we may authorize for each series. We may, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes, provide for the issuance of notes or other senior debt securities under the indenture in addition to the $1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of notes offered by this prospectus supplement. As of September 30, 2001, we had $1.68 billion aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities issued and outstanding. The notes will be offered on a continuing basis and will mature on a day one year or more from the date of issue, as selected by the purchaser and agreed to by us. Interest-bearing notes will bear interest at either fixed or floating rates as specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Some notes may not bear interest. Notes may be issued at significant discounts from their principal amount payable at maturity, which will be either the stated maturity date or any date before the stated maturity date on which the principal or an installment of principal of a note becomes due and payable, whether by the declaration of acceleration, call for redemption at our option, repayment at the option of the holder or otherwise. The stated maturity date or such prior date, as the case may be, is referred to as the "Maturity Date" with respect to the principal, and premium, if any, repayable on that date. For further information regarding such discount notes, see "--Original Issue Discount Notes" and "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations--U.S. Holders--Original Issue Discount". Unless otherwise indicated in a note and in the applicable pricing supplement, the notes will be denominated in United States dollars and we will make payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the notes in United States dollars. For further information regarding foreign currency notes, see "Risk Factors" and "Special Provisions Relating to Foreign Currency Notes". Each note will be issued in fully registered book-entry form or certificated form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000, unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Notes in book-entry form may be transferred or exchanged only through a participating member of The Depository Trust Company, also known as DTC, or any other depository as is identified in the applicable pricing supplement. See "--Book-Entry Notes". Registration of transfer of notes in certificated form will be made at the corporate trust office of the trustee. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but we may require payment of a S-5 sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange, other than exchanges pursuant to the indenture not involving any transfer. The pricing supplement relating to a note will describe the following terms: . whether the note will bear interest at a fixed rate or at a floating rate, or will not bear any interest; . the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which the note will be issued; . the date on which the note will be issued; . the date on which the note will mature; . if the note is a fixed rate note, the rate per annum at which the note will bear interest and the interest payment dates; . if the note is a floating rate note, the terms relating to the determination and payment of the variable interest rate and the interest payment dates; . if the note may be redeemed at our option, or repaid at the option of the holder, prior to the stated maturity, a description of the provisions relating to the redemption or repayment; . any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption provisions applicable to the note; . if the note will be issued as a certificated note, a statement to that effect; . any other terms of the note not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture; . the identity of any additional agent through or to whom the note is being sold; and . the amount of discounts or commissions to be paid to an agent if different from those specifically set forth in the distribution agreement which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part. The interest rates we offer with respect to the notes may differ depending upon, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of notes purchased in any single transaction. We may change interest rates or formulas and other terms of the notes from time to time, but no change will affect any note already issued or as to which we have accepted an offer to purchase. We may offer notes with similar variable terms other than interest rates concurrently at any time. We may also concurrently offer notes having different variable terms to different investors. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest We will make payments of principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on notes in book-entry form through the trustee to the depository or its nominee. See "--Book-Entry Notes". In the case of notes in certificated form, we will make payment of principal and premium, if any, at the maturity of each note in immediately available funds upon presentation and surrender of the note and, in the case of any repayment on an optional repayment date, upon submission of a duly completed election form if and as required by the provisions described below, at the corporate trust office of the trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or at any other place as we may designate. Payment of interest, if any, due at maturity will be made to the person to whom payment of the principal and premium, if any, of the note in certificated form will be made. Payment of interest, if any, due on notes in certificated form other than at maturity will be made at the corporate trust office of the trustee or, at our option by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to S-7 receive payment as the address shall appear in the security register. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, a holder of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of notes in certificated form, whether having identical or different terms and provisions, having the same interest payment dates will, at our option, be entitled to receive interest payments, other than at maturity, if any, by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the trustee not less than 15 days prior to the applicable interest payment date. Any wire instructions received by the trustee shall remain in effect until revoked by the holder. Redemption at the Option of Colgate Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement, the notes will not be subject to any sinking fund. We may redeem the notes at our option prior to their stated maturity only if an initial redemption date is specified in the applicable notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. If so indicated in the applicable pricing supplement, on and after the initial redemption date, we may redeem the related note at any time in whole or from time to time in part at our option at the applicable redemption price referred to below together with interest on the principal of the applicable note payable to the redemption date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, we must provide notice of a redemption not more than 60 nor less than 30 days before the redemption date. We will redeem the notes in increments of $1,000, provided that any remaining principal amount will be an authorized denomination of the applicable note. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the redemption price with respect to a note will initially mean a percentage (i.e. the initial redemption percentage), of the principal amount of the note to be redeemed specified in the applicable pricing supplement and shall decline at each anniversary of the initial redemption date by a percentage specified in the applicable pricing supplement (i.e. the annual redemption percentage reduction) of the principal amount to be redeemed until the redemption price is 100% of the principal amount. Repayment at the Option of the Holder If so indicated in the applicable pricing supplement, we will repay the notes in whole or in part at the option of the holders of the notes on any optional repayment date specified in the applicable pricing supplement. If no optional repayment date is indicated with respect to a note, it will not be repayable at the option of the holder before its stated maturity date. Any repayment in part will be in an amount equal to $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000, provided that any remaining principal amount will be an authorized denomination of the applicable note. The repurchase price for any note so repurchased will be 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with any unpaid interest on the principal of the applicable note payable to the date of repayment. For any note to be repaid, the trustee must receive, at its office maintained for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the corporate trust office of the trustee, not more than 60 nor less than 30 days before the optional repayment date: . in the case of a note in certificated form, the note and the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" duly completed, or . in the case of a note in book-entry form, instructions to that effect from the applicable beneficial owner of the global security representing the notes to the depository and forwarded by the depository. Any notice of election from a holder to exercise the repayment option must be received by the trustee by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the last day for giving such notice. Exercise of the repayment option by the holder of a note will be irrevocable. Only the depository may exercise the repayment option in respect of global securities representing notes in book-entry form. Accordingly, beneficial owners that desire to have all or any S-8 portion of their notes in book-entry form represented by global securities repaid must instruct the participant through which they own their interest to direct the depository to exercise the repayment option on their behalf by forwarding the repayment instructions to the trustee as discussed above. In order to ensure that the instructions are received by the trustee on a particular day, the applicable beneficial owner must so instruct the participant through which it owns its interest before that participant's deadline for accepting instructions for that day. Different firms may have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers. Accordingly, beneficial owners of notes in book-entry form should consult the participants through which they own their interest for the respective deadlines. All instructions given to participants from beneficial owners of notes in book-entry form relating to the option to elect repayment will be irrevocable. In addition, at the time instructions are given, each beneficial owner will cause the participant through which it owns its interest to transfer its interest in the global security or securities representing the related notes in book-entry form, on the depository's records, to the trustee. See "--Book-Entry Notes". If applicable, we will comply with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules promulgated thereunder and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with any repayment at the option of the holder. We may at any time purchase notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise. Notes that we purchase may, at our discretion, be held, resold or surrendered to the trustee for cancellation. Interest and Interest Rates Unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement, each interest-bearing note will bear interest from the date of issue at the rate per annum or, in the case of a floating rate note, pursuant to the interest rate formula, stated in the applicable note and in the applicable pricing supplement until the principal of the note is paid or made available for payment. Interest payments on fixed rate notes and floating rate notes will equal the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding interest payment date in respect of which interest has been paid or made available for payment or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has been paid or made available for payment with respect to the note, to, but excluding, the related interest payment date or Maturity Date, as the case may be. We will pay interest in arrears on each interest payment date specified in the applicable pricing supplement on which an installment of interest is due and payable and on the Maturity Date. We will pay interest to the persons in whose names the notes are registered as of the regular record date. However, interest that we pay on the Maturity Date, if any, will be payable to the persons to whom the principal will be payable. If any note is originally issued between a regular record date and the related interest payment date, we will make the first payment of interest on that note on the interest payment date immediately following the next succeeding regular record date to the registered holder on that next succeeding regular record date. The regular record date will be the fifteenth calendar day, whether or not a Business Day, immediately preceding the related interest payment date. "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York; provided, however, that, with respect to non-United States dollar-denominated notes, the day is also not a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal Financial Center, as defined below, of the country issuing the specified currency or, if the specified currency is euro, the day is also a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System is open; provided, further, that, with respect to floating rate notes as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, the day is also a London Banking Day, as defined below, and that, with respect to floating rate notes as to which EURIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, the day is also a day on which the TARGET System is open. S-8 "London Banking Day" means a day on which commercial banks are open for business, including dealings in the Designated LIBOR Currency, as defined below under "--Floating Rate Notes--LIBOR", in London. "Principal Financial Center" means, unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, (1) the capital city of the country issuing the specified currency, or (2) the capital city of the country to which the Designated LIBOR Currency relates, except, in each case, that with respect to United States dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Deutsche marks, Dutch guilders, Italian lire, Portuguese escudos, South African rand and Swiss francs, the "Principal Financial Center" will be The City of New York, Sydney, Toronto, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, London (solely in the case of the Designated LIBOR Currency), Johannesburg and Zurich, respectively. Fixed Rate Notes Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, interest on fixed rate notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and will be payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year and on the Maturity Date. If any interest payment date or the Maturity Date of a fixed rate note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the related payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date the applicable payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount payable for the period from and after the interest payment date or Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment on the next succeeding Business Day. Floating Rate Notes Interest on floating rate notes will be determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Interest Rate Bases, which may be one or more of the following: . the CD Rate, . the CMT Rate, . the Commercial Paper Rate, . the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, . the Federal Funds Rate, . LIBOR, . EURIBOR, . the Prime Rate, . the Treasury Rate or . any other Interest Rate Basis or interest rate formula that is specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Terms. Each applicable pricing supplement will specify the terms of the floating rate note being delivered, including the following: . whether the floating rate note is . a "Regular Floating Rate Note", S-9 . a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note", or . an "Inverse Floating Rate Note", . the Interest Rate Basis or Bases, . the Initial Interest Rate, . the Interest Reset Dates, . the Interest Payment Dates, . the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation with respect to which the Interest Rate Basis or Bases will be calculated (the "Index Maturity"), . the Maximum Interest Rate and Minimum Interest Rate, if any, . the number of basis points to be added to or subtracted from the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases (the "Spread"), . the percentage of the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases by which the Interest Rate Basis or Bases will be multiplied to determine the applicable interest rate (the "Spread Multiplier"), . if one or more of the specified Interest Rate Bases is LIBOR, the Designated LIBOR Currency and the Designated LIBOR Page, and . if one or more of the specified Interest Rate Bases is the CMT Rate, the CMT Telerate Page and the weekly average or the monthly average. The interest rate borne by the floating rate notes will be determined as follows: Regular Floating Rate Notes. Unless a floating rate note is designated as a Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note, an Inverse Floating Rate Note or as having an Addendum attached or as having "other provisions" apply relating to a different interest rate formula, it will be a "Regular Floating Rate Note" and, except as described below or in the applicable pricing supplement, will bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases: . plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or . multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the first Interest Reset Date, as defined below, the rate at which interest on the Regular Floating Rate Note will be payable will be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from the date of issue to the first Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate. Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Notes. If a floating rate note is designated as a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note", it will bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases: . plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or . multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the first Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on the applicable Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note will be payable will be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that: . the interest rate in effect for the period from the date of issue to the first Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate, and . the interest rate in effect commencing on, and including, the date on which interest begins to accrue on a fixed rate basis to maturity will be the Fixed Interest Rate specified in the S-10 applicable pricing supplement, or if no Fixed Interest Rate is specified, the interest rate in effect on the Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note on the day immediately preceding the date on which interest begins to accrue on a fixed rate basis. Inverse Floating Rate Notes. If a floating rate note is designated as an "Inverse Floating Rate Note", except as described below, it will bear interest equal to the Fixed Interest Rate specified in the applicable pricing supplement minus the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases: . plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or . multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any; provided, however, that the interest rate on the applicable Inverse Floating Rate Note will not be less than zero percent. Commencing on the first Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on the applicable Inverse Floating Rate Note is payable will be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from the date of issue to the first Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate. Each Interest Rate Basis shall be the rate determined in accordance with the applicable provisions below. Except as set forth above or in the applicable pricing supplement, the interest rate in effect on each day will be: . if the day is an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date (as defined below) immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date, or . if the day is not an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding the most recent Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from the date of issue to the first Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Interest Reset Dates. The applicable pricing supplement will specify the dates on which the interest rate on the related floating rate note will be reset (each, an "Interest Reset Date"). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the Interest Reset Dates will be, in the case of floating rate notes which reset: . daily--each Business Day; . weekly--the Wednesday of each week, with the exception of weekly reset floating rate notes as to which the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, which will reset the Tuesday of each week, except as described below; . monthly--the third Wednesday of each month, with the exception of monthly reset floating rate notes as to which the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, which will reset on the first calendar day of the month; . quarterly--the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; . semiannually--the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the applicable pricing supplement; and . annually--the third Wednesday of the month specified in the applicable pricing supplement; provided, however, that with respect to Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Notes, the rate of interest will not reset after the applicable date on which interest on a fixed rate basis begins to accrue. S-12 If any Interest Reset Date for any floating rate note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, the applicable Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a floating rate note as to which LIBOR or EURIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, if the Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, then the Interest Reset Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. In addition, in the case of a floating rate note for which the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, if the Interest Determination Date would otherwise fall on an Interest Reset Date, then the applicable Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day. Maximum and Minimum Interest Rates. A floating rate note may also have either or both of the following: . a maximum numerical limitation, or ceiling, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest period (a "Maximum Interest Rate"), and . a minimum numerical limitation, or floor, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any period (a "Minimum Interest Rate"). The indenture is, and any notes issued under the indenture will be, governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Under present New York law, the maximum rate of interest is 25% per annum on a simple interest basis. This limit may not apply to securities 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 outside 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. We suggest that prospective investors consult their personal advisors with respect to the applicability of these laws. We have agreed 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 or interest against a beneficial owner of the notes. Interest Payments. Each applicable pricing supplement will specify the dates on which interest will be payable. Each floating rate note will bear interest from the date of issue at the rates specified in the applicable floating rate note until the principal of the applicable note is paid or otherwise made available for payment. Except as provided below or in the applicable pricing supplement, the interest payment dates with respect to floating rate notes will be, in the case of floating rate notes which reset: . daily, weekly or monthly--the third Wednesday of each month or on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement; . quarterly--the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; . semiannually--the third Wednesday of the two months of each year specified in the applicable pricing supplement; . annually--the third Wednesday of the month of each year specified in the applicable pricing supplement; and . the Maturity Date. If any interest payment date for any floating rate note, other than an interest payment date on the Maturity Date, would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, the interest payment date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day except that in the case of a floating rate note as to which LIBOR or EURIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, if the Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, the applicable interest payment date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date of a floating rate note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after the Maturity Date to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day. S-13 All percentages resulting from any calculation on floating rate notes will be rounded to the nearest one hundred thousandth of a percentage point, with five one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards. For example, 9.876545%, or .09876545, would be rounded to 9.87655%, or .0987655. All dollar amounts used in or resulting from any calculation on floating rate notes will be rounded to the nearest cent with one half cent being rounded upward. With respect to each floating rate note, accrued interest is calculated by multiplying its principal amount by an accrued interest factor. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day in the period for which accrued interest is being calculated. . In the case of notes for which the Interest Rate Basis is the CD Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR, EURIBOR or the Prime Rate, the interest factor for each day will be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to each day by 360. . In the case of notes for which the Interest Rate Basis is the CMT Rate or the Treasury Rate, the interest factor for each day will be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to each day by the actual number of days in the year. . The interest factor for floating rate notes for which the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases will be calculated in each period in the same manner as if only one of the applicable Interest Rate Bases applied. Interest Determination Dates. The interest rate applicable to each interest reset period commencing on the related Interest Reset Date will be the rate determined as of the applicable "Interest Determination Date" and calculated on or prior to the calculation date, as defined below. . The Interest Determination Date with respect to the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate and EURIBOR will be the second Business Day preceding each Interest Reset Date for the related note. . The Interest Determination Date with respect to the Federal Funds Rate and the Prime Rate will be the first Business Day preceding each Interest Reset Date for the related note. . The Interest Determination Date with respect to LIBOR will be the second London Banking Day preceding each Interest Reset Date. . The Interest Determination Date with respect to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate will be the last working day of the month immediately preceding each Interest Reset Date on which the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco publishes the Index, as defined below under "--Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate". . The Interest Determination Date with respect to the Treasury Rate will be the day in the week in which the related Interest Reset Date falls on which day Treasury Bills, as defined below under "--Treasury Rate", are normally auctioned. Treasury Bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that Monday is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally held on the immediately following Tuesday, except that the auction may be held on the preceding Friday; provided, however, that if an auction is held on the Friday of the week preceding the related Interest Reset Date, the related Interest Determination Date will be such preceding Friday; and provided, further, that if an auction falls on any Interest Reset Date, then the related Interest Reset Date will instead be the first Business Day following the auction. . The Interest Determination Date pertaining to a floating rate note the interest rate of which is determined with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases will be the most recent Business Day which is at least two Business Days before the applicable Interest Reset Date S-14 for the applicable floating rate note on which each Interest Reset Basis is determinable. Each Interest Rate Basis will be determined as of the Interest Determination Date, and the applicable interest rate will take effect on the related Interest Reset Date. Calculation Date. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable pricing supplement, The Bank of New York will be the calculation agent. Upon the request of the holder of any floating rate note, the calculation agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective as a result of a determination made for the next succeeding Interest Reset Date with respect to that floating rate note. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the calculation date, if applicable, pertaining to any Interest Determination Date will be the earlier of: . the tenth calendar day after the applicable Interest Determination Date, or, if the tenth calendar day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day or . the Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. CD Rate. CD Rate Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the CD Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable CD Rate Notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. "CD Rate" means: (1) the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement published in H.15(519) under the heading "CDs (secondary market)", or (2) if the rate referred to in clause (1) above is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption "CDs (secondary market)", or (3) if the rate referred to in clause (2) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, of three leading non-bank dealers in negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit in The City of New York (which may include an agent or its affiliates) selected by the calculation agent for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of major United States money market banks for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement in an amount that is representative for a single transaction in that market at that time, or (4) if the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (3) above, the CD Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. "H.15(519)" means the weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519), 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.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/h15/update, or any successor site or publication. S-15 CMT Rate. CMT Rate Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the CMT Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable CMT Rate Notes and in any applicable pricing supplement. "CMT Rate" means: (1) if CMT Telerate Page 7051 is specified in the applicable pricing supplement: (a) the percentage equal to the yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as published in H.15(519) under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities", as the yield is displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service), on page 7051 or any other page as may replace page 7051 on that service ("Telerate Page 7051"), for the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (b) if the rate referred to in clause (a) does not appear on Telerate Page 7051, the percentage equal to the yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement and for the applicable Interest Determination Date as published in H.15(519) under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities", or (c) if the rate referred to in clause (b) does not appear in H.15(519), the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date for the period of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as may then be published by either the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors or the United States Department of the Treasury that the calculation agent determines to be comparable to the rate which would otherwise have been published in H.15(519), or (d) if the rate referred to in clause (c) is not published, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices at approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date of three leading primary United States government securities dealers in The City of New York, which may include the agents or their affiliates (each, a "Reference Dealer"), selected by the calculation agent from five Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent and eliminating the highest quotation, or, in the event of equality, one of the highest, and the lowest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest, for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity equal to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a remaining term to maturity no more than 1 year shorter than the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the securities in the market at that time, or (e) if fewer than five but more than two of the prices referred to in clause (d) are provided as requested, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of the quotations shall be eliminated, or (f) if fewer than three prices referred to in clause (d) are provided as requested, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent from five Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent and eliminating the highest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the highest and the lowest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest, for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity greater than the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a remaining term to maturity closest S-16 to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the securities in the market at that time, or (g) if fewer than five but more than two prices referred to in clause (f) are provided as requested, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of the quotations will be eliminated, or (h) if fewer than three prices referred to in clause (f) are provided as requested, the CMT Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. (2) if CMT Telerate Page 7052 is specified in the applicable pricing supplement: (a) the percentage equal to the one-week or one-month, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement, average yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as published in H.15(519) opposite the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities", as the yield is displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 7052 or any other page as may replace that specified page on that service ("Telerate Page 7052"), for the week or month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week or month, as applicable, in which the related Interest Determination Date falls, or (b) if the rate referred to in clause (a) does not appear on Telerate Page 7052, the percentage equal to the one-week or one-month, as specified in the applicable pricing supplement, average yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement and for the week or month, as applicable, preceding the applicable Interest Determination Date as published in H.15(519) opposite the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," or (c) if the rate referred to in clause (b) does not appear in H.15(519), the one-week or one-month, as specified, average yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement as otherwise announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the week or month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week or month, as applicable, in which the related Interest Determination Date falls, or (d) if the Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not publish the rate referred to in clause (c), the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices at approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent from five Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent and eliminating the highest quotation, or, in the event of equality, one of the highest, and the lowest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest, for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity equal to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a remaining term to maturity no more than 1 year shorter than the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the securities in the market at that time, or (e) if fewer than five but more than two of the prices referred to in clause (d) are provided as requested, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of the quotations shall be eliminated, or S-17 (f) if fewer than three prices referred to in clause (d) are provided as requested, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent from five Reference Dealers selected by the calculation agent and eliminating the highest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the highest and the lowest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest, for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity greater than the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, a remaining term to maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the securities in the market at the time, or (g) if fewer than five but more than two prices referred to in clause (f) are provided as requested, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of the quotations will be eliminated, or (h) if fewer than three prices referred to in clause (f) are provided as requested, the CMT Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. If two United States Treasury securities with an original maturity greater than the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement have remaining terms to maturity equally close to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the quotes for the United States Treasury security with the shorter original remaining term to maturity will be used. Commercial Paper Rate. Commercial Paper Rate Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the Commercial Paper Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable Commercial Paper Rate Notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. "Commercial Paper Rate" means: (1) the Money Market Yield on the applicable Interest Determination Date of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement published in H.15(519) under the caption "Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial", or (2) if the rate described in clause (1) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the Money Market Yield of the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption "Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial", or (3) if the rate is referred to in clause (2) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of United States dollar commercial paper in The City of New York, which may include an agent and its affiliates, selected by the calculation agent for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement placed for industrial issuers whose bond rating is "Aa", or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or S-17 (4) if the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (3), the Commercial Paper Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. "Money Market Yield" means a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula and expressed as a percentage: Money Market Yield = Dx360 x 100 --------- 360-(DxM)
where "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and "M" refers to the actual number of days in the applicable interest reset period. Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate. Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes and in any applicable pricing supplement. "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate" means: (1) the rate equal to the monthly weighted average cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which the applicable Interest Determination Date falls as set forth under the caption "11th District" on the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc. or any successor service on page 7058 or any other page as may replace that specified page on that service ("Telerate Page 7058") as of 11:00 A.M., San Francisco time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (2) if the rate referred to in clause (1) does not appear on Telerate Page 7058 on the related Interest Determination Date, the monthly weighted average cost of funds paid by member institutions of the Eleventh Federal Home Loan Bank District that was most recently announced (the "Index") by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco as the cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (3) if the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco fails to announce the Index on or before the applicable Interest Determination Date for the calendar month immediately preceding the applicable Interest Determination Date, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. Federal Funds Rate. Federal Funds Rate Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the Federal Funds Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable Federal Funds Rate Notes and in any applicable pricing supplement. "Federal Funds Rate" means: (1) the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date for United States dollar federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)", as displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 120 or any other page as may replace that specified page on that service ("Telerate Page 120"), or (2) if the rate referred to in clause (1) does not appear on Telerate Page 120 or is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date for United States dollar federal funds published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption "Federal Funds (Effective)", or S-18 (3) if the rate referred to in clause (2) does not appear on Telerate Page 120 or is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight United States dollar federal funds arranged by three leading brokers of United States dollar federal funds transactions in The City of New York, which may include an agent or its affiliates, selected by the calculation agent before 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (4) if the brokers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (3), the Federal Funds Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. LIBOR. LIBOR Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to LIBOR and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable LIBOR Notes and in any applicable pricing supplement. "LIBOR" means: (1) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable pricing supplement or if neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable pricing supplement as the method for calculating LIBOR, the rate for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (2) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page specified in the applicable pricing supplement as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date; provided, that if the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, then the single rate will be used, or (3) if fewer than two offered rates appear, or no rate appears, as the case may be, on the applicable Interest Determination Date on the Designated LIBOR Page as specified in clauses (1) and (2), respectively, the rate calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of at least two quotations obtained by the calculation agent after requesting the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks, which may include affiliates of the agents, in the London interbank market to provide the calculation agent with its offered quotation for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency for the period of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated LIBOR Currency in that market at that time, or (4) if fewer than two quotations referred to in clause (3) are so provided, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, in the applicable Principal Financial Center on the applicable Interest Determination Date by three major banks, which may include affiliates of the agents, in such Principal Financial Center selected by the calculation agent for loans in the Designated LIBOR Currency to leading European banks, having the Index Maturity designated in the applicable pricing supplement and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated LIBOR Currency in that market at that time, or (5) if the banks so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (4), LIBOR in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. S-19 "Designated LIBOR Currency" means the currency specified in the applicable pricing supplement as to which LIBOR will be calculated or, if no such currency is specified in the applicable pricing supplement, United States dollars. "Designated LIBOR Page" means either: . if "LIBOR Telerate" is designated in the applicable pricing supplement or neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable pricing supplement as the method for calculating LIBOR, the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc. or any successor service on the page specified in such pricing supplement or any page as may replace the specified page on that service for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the Designated LIBOR Currency, or . if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable pricing supplement, the display on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service or any successor service on the page specified in the applicable pricing supplement or any other page as may replace the specified page on that service for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the Designated LIBOR Currency. EURIBOR. EURIBOR Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the European Interbank Offered Rate for deposits in euros, or "EURIBOR", and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable EURIBOR Notes and in any applicable pricing supplement. "EURIBOR" means: (1) the rate for deposits in euros as sponsored, calculated and published jointly by the European Banking Federation and ACI--The Financial Market Association, or any company established by the joint sponsors for purposes of compiling and publishing those rates, having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, as that rate appears on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 248 or any other page as may replace that specified page on that service ("Telerate Page 248") as of 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (2) if the rate referred to in clause (1) does not appear on Telerate Page 248, or is not so published by 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, the rate calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of at least two quotations obtained by the calculation agent after requesting the principal Euro-zone (as defined below) offices of four major banks in the Euro-zone interbank market, which may include affiliates of the agent, to provide the calculation agent with its offered quotation for deposits in euros for the period of the Index Maturity designated in the applicable pricing supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, to prime banks in the Euro-zone interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount not less than the equivalent of U.S. $1 million in euros that is representative for a single transaction in euro in that market at that time, or (3) if fewer than two quotations referred to in clause (2) are so provided, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on such Interest Determination Date by four major banks in the Euro-zone for loans in euro to leading European banks, having the Index Maturity designated in the applicable pricing supplement, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date and in a principal amount not less than the equivalent of U.S. $1 million in euros that is representative for a single transaction in euros in that market at that time, or (4) if the banks so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (3), EURIBOR in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. S-21 "Euro-zone" means the region comprised of member states of the European Union that adopt the single currency in accordance with the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the treaty on European Union. Prime Rate. 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: (1) the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Bank Prime Loan", or (2) if the rate referred to in clause (1) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate under the caption "Bank Prime Loan", or (3) if the rate referred to in clause (2) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen US PRIME 1 Page as the particular bank's prime rate or base lending rate as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (4) if fewer than four rates described in clause (3) are so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the calculation agent as the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a 360-day year as of the close of business on the applicable Interest Determination Date by three major banks, which may include affiliates of the agents, in The City of New York selected by the calculation agent, or (5) if the banks selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (4), the Prime Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. "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. Treasury Rate Notes will bear interest at the rates, calculated with reference to the Treasury Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, specified in the applicable Treasury Rate Notes and in any applicable pricing supplement. "Treasury Rate" means: (1) the rate from the auction held on the applicable Interest Determination Date (the "Auction") of direct obligations of the United States ("Treasury Bills") having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement under the caption "INVESTMENT RATE" on the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 56 or any other page as may replace that specified page on that service ("Telerate Page 56") or page 57 or any other page as may replace that specified page on that service ("Telerate Page 57"), or S-22 (2) if the rate described in clause (1) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate for the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High", or (3) if the rate described in clause (2) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the auction rate of the applicable Treasury Bills as announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or (4) in the event that the rate referred to in clause (3) is not announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or if the Auction is not held, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date of Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement published in H.15(519) under the caption "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market", or (5) if the rate referred to in clause (4) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market", or (6) if the rate referred to in clause (5) is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate calculated by the calculation agent as 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 applicable Interest Determination Date, of three primary United States government securities dealers, which may include an agent or its affiliates, selected by the calculation agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the applicable pricing supplement, or (7) if the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (6), the Treasury Rate in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. "Bond Equivalent Yield" means a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula and expressed as a percentage: Bond Equivalent Yield = DxN x 100 --------- 360-(DxM)
where "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, "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. Other Provisions; Addenda Any provisions with respect to an issue of notes, including the determination of one or more Interest Rate Bases, the specification of one or more Interest Rate Bases, the calculation of the interest rate applicable to a floating rate note, the applicable interest payment dates, the stated maturity date, any redemption or repayment provisions or any other matters relating to the applicable notes may be modified or supplemented by the terms as specified under "Other/Additional Provisions" on the face of the applicable notes or in an Addendum relating to the applicable notes, if so specified on the face of the applicable notes and in the applicable pricing supplement. S-23 Original Issue Discount Notes We may from time to time offer notes at a price less than their redemption price at maturity, resulting in the applicable notes being treated as if they were issued with original issue discount for Federal income tax purposes ("Discount Notes"). Discount Notes may pay no interest currently or may bear interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. Additional considerations relating to any Discount Notes will be described in the applicable pricing supplement. For further information regarding the Federal income tax implications for U.S. Holders of Discount Notes, see "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations--U.S. Holders--Original Issue Discount". Amortizing Notes We may from time to time offer notes ("Amortizing Notes"), with amounts of principal and interest payable in installments over the term of the notes. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable pricing supplement, interest on each Amortizing Note will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Payments with respect to Amortizing Notes will be applied first to interest due and payable on the Amortizing Notes and then to the reduction of the unpaid principal amount of the Amortizing Notes. Further information concerning additional terms and conditions of any issue of Amortizing Notes will be provided in the applicable pricing supplement. A table setting forth repayment information in respect of each Amortizing Note will be included in the applicable note and the applicable pricing supplement. Linked Notes We may from time to time offer notes ("Linked Notes") the principal value of which at maturity will be determined by reference to: (a) one or more equity or debt securities, including, but not limited to, the price or yield of such securities, (b) any statistical measure of economic or financial performance, including, but not limited to, any currency, consumer price or mortgage index, or (c) the price or value of any commodity or any other item or index or any combination thereof, (collectively, the "Linked Securities"). The payment or delivery of any consideration on any Linked Note at maturity will be determined by the decrease or increase, as applicable, in the price or value of the applicable Linked Securities. The terms of and any additional considerations, including any material tax consequences, relating to any Linked Notes will be described in the applicable pricing supplement. Book-Entry Notes Description of the Global Securities Upon issuance, all notes in book-entry form having the same date of issue, interest rate or formula, maturity and redemption and/or repayment provisions, if any, and otherwise having identical terms and provisions will be represented by one or more fully registered global notes (the "Global Notes"). Each Global Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company as depository registered in the name of the depository or a nominee of the depository. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for notes in certificated form, no Global Note may be transferred except as a whole by (1) the depository to a nominee of the depository, (2) by a nominee of the depository to the depository or to another nominee of the depository or (3) by the depository or any of its nominees to a successor of the depository or a nominee of the successor. S-23 DTC Procedures The following is based on information furnished by the depository: DTC will act as securities depository for the notes in book-entry form. The notes in book-entry form will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTC's partnership nominee. One fully registered Global Note will be issued for each issue of notes in book-entry form, each in the aggregate principal amount of the issue, and will be deposited with the depository. If, however, the aggregate principal amount of any issue exceeds $400,000,000, one Global Note will be issued with respect to each $400,000,000 of principal amount and an additional Global Note will be issued with respect to any remaining principal amount of the issue. DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participating members, referred to as participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants of DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC, and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTC's system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies, referred to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC. Purchasers of notes in book-entry form under DTC's system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for those notes in book-entry form on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each note in book-entry form represented by a Global Note is, in turn, to be recorded on the records of direct participants and indirect participants. Beneficial owners in book-entry form will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct participants or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in a Global Note representing notes in book-entry form are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners of a Global Note representing notes in book-entry form will not receive notes in certificated form representing their ownership interests therein, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for such notes is discontinued. To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Global Notes representing notes in book-entry form which are deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC are registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of Global Notes with, or on behalf of, the depository and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the Global Notes representing the notes in book-entry form; DTC's records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such notes in book-entry form are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers. Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners, will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. S-24 Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to the Global Notes representing the notes in book-entry form. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to Colgate as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy, to whose accounts the notes in book-entry form are credited on the applicable record date. We will make principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, payments on the Global Notes representing the notes in book-entry form in immediately available funds to DTC. DTC's practice is to credit direct participants' accounts on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on its records unless the depository has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the applicable payment date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of the applicable participant and not of DTC, the trustee or Colgate, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, to DTC is the responsibility of Colgate and the trustee, disbursement of payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct participants and indirect participants. If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the notes in book-entry form of like tenor and terms are being redeemed, DTC's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the issue to be redeemed. A beneficial owner will give notice of any option to elect to have its notes in book-entry form repaid by Colgate, through its participant, to the trustee, and will effect delivery of the applicable notes in book-entry form by causing the direct participant to transfer the participant's interest in the Global Note representing notes in book-entry form, on DTC's records, to the trustee. DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the notes in book-entry form at any time by giving reasonable notice to Colgate or the trustee. In the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, notes in certificated form are required to be printed and delivered. We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC or a successor securities depository. In that event, notes in certificated form will be printed and delivered. The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in Global Notes. 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 or holder of the notes represented by that Global Note for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, beneficial owners of a Global Note will not be entitled to have the notes represented by a Global Note 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 the owners or holders thereof under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of DTC or any successor depository and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the desired action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the desired action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners. S-25 Exchange for Notes in Certificated Form If: (a) DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depository and we do not appoint a successor depository within 60 days, (b) We execute and deliver to the trustee a company order to the effect that the Global Notes shall be exchangeable, or (c) a default or an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the notes, the Global Note or Global Notes will be exchangeable for notes in certificated form of like tenor and terms and of an equal aggregate principal amount. The certificated notes will be registered in the name or names as DTC instructs the trustee. It is expected that instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in Global Notes. The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN CURRENCY NOTES General Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement, we will denominate the notes in U.S. dollars, we will make payments of principal, premium, if any and interest on the notes in U.S. dollars and you must pay the purchase price of the notes in U.S. dollars in immediately available funds. If any of the notes ("foreign currency notes") are to be denominated or payable in a currency or basket of currencies other than U.S. dollars (a "specified currency"), the following provisions will apply in addition to, and to the extent inconsistent therewith will replace, the description of general terms and provisions of notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. A pricing supplement with respect to any foreign currency note (which may include information with respect to applicable current foreign exchange controls), is a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Any information we provide you concerning exchange rates is provided as a matter of information only and you should not regard it as indicative of the range of or trends in fluctuations in currency exchange rates that may occur in the future. Currencies We may offer foreign currency notes denominated and/or payable in a specified currency or specified currencies. Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement, you are required to pay for foreign currency notes in the specified currency. At the present time, there are limited facilities in the United States for conversion of U.S. dollars into specified currencies and vice versa, and banks may elect not to offer non-U.S. dollar checking or savings account facilities in the United States. However, at your request on or prior to the third Business Day preceding the date of delivery of the foreign currency notes, or by such other day as determined by the agent who presents the offer to purchase foreign currency notes to us, that agent may be prepared to arrange for the conversion of U.S. dollars into the applicable specified currency set forth in the applicable pricing supplement to enable the purchasers to pay for the foreign currency notes. Each such conversion will be made by the agent or agents on the terms and subject to the conditions, limitations and charges as the agent may from time to time establish in accordance with their regular foreign exchange practices. If you purchase foreign currency notes you will pay all costs of exchange. S-26 The applicable pricing supplement will set forth information about the specified currency in which a particular foreign currency note is denominated and/or payable, including historical exchange rates and a description of the currency and any exchange controls, and, in the case of a basket of currencies, will include a description of that basket and a description of provisions for payment in the event that currency basket is no longer used for the purposes for which it was established. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest We will pay the principal of, premium, if any and/or interest on foreign currency notes in the specified currency. Currently, banks do not generally offer non-U.S. dollar denominated account facilities in their offices in the United States, although they are permitted to do so. Accordingly, if you are a holder of foreign currency notes you will be paid in U.S. dollars converted from the specified currency unless you elect to be paid in the specified currency or unless the applicable pricing supplement provides otherwise. We will base U.S. dollar amounts that we owe to holders of foreign currency notes on the highest bid quotation received by the exchange rate agent specified in the applicable pricing supplement in The City of New York at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the applicable payment date. The exchange rate agent will obtain that highest quote by asking three recognized foreign exchange dealers approved by us (one of whom may be the exchange rate agent) for their bid quotations for the purchase of the specified currency in exchange for U.S. dollars for settlement on the relevant payment date, in the aggregate amount of the specified currency payable to all holders of foreign currency notes scheduled to receive U.S. dollar payments, and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. If three such bid quotations are not available, we will make payments in the specified currency. All currency exchange costs will be borne by the holders of foreign currency notes by deductions from such payments. Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable pricing supplement, as a holder of foreign currency notes you may elect to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any and/or interest on the foreign currency notes in the specified currency by transmitting a written request for such payment to the corporate trust office of the trustee in The City of New York on or prior to the regular record date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. You may make this request in writing (mailed or hand delivered) or sent by facsimile transmission. As a holder of a foreign currency note you may elect to receive payment in the specified currency for all payments of principal, premium, if any and/or interest and need not file a separate election for each payment. Your election will remain in effect until revoked by written notice to the trustee, but written notice of any such revocation must be received by the trustee on or prior to the regular record date or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If your foreign currency notes are held in the name of a broker or nominee, you should contact your broker or nominee to determine whether and how you may elect to receive payments in the specified currency. If a note is represented by a Global Note, DTC or its nominee will be the holder of the note and will be entitled to all payments on the note. Although DTC can hold notes denominated in foreign currencies, all payments to DTC will be made in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, a beneficial owner of the related Global Note who elects to receive payments of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest in the specified currency must notify the participant through which it owns its interest on or prior to the applicable regular record date, in the case of a payment of interest, or at least fifteen calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, in the case of a payment of principal and/or premium, of that beneficial owner's election. The participant must notify DTC of that election on or prior to the third Business Day after the regular record date or at least twelve calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. DTC will notify the trustee of the election on or prior to the fifth Business Day after the regular record date or at least ten calendar days prior to the Maturity Date, as the case may be. If the S-27 participant receives complete instructions from the beneficial owner and those instructions are forwarded by the participant to DTC, and by DTC to the trustee, on or prior to such dates, then the beneficial owner will receive payments in the specified currency. For more information about Global Notes, see "Description of the Notes-Book-Entry Notes". We will pay principal, any premium and/or interest on foreign currency notes to be paid in U.S. dollars in the manner specified in the accompanying prospectus and this prospectus supplement with respect to notes denominated in U.S. dollars. See "Description of the Notes--Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest". We will pay interest on foreign currency notes in the specified currency by check mailed on the relevant interest payment date to the persons entitled thereto as their addresses shall appear in the security register or, at our option by wire transfer to a bank account maintained by the holder in the country of the specified currency. The principal of foreign currency notes, together with any premium and any interest accrued and unpaid thereon, due at maturity will be paid in immediately available funds upon surrender of the notes at the corporate trust office of the trustee in The City of New York or, at our option, by wire transfer to that bank account. Payment Currency If a specified currency is not available for the payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to a foreign currency note due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, we will be entitled to satisfy our obligations to holders of foreign currency notes by making that payment in U.S. dollars on the basis of the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of the specified currency as certified for customs purposes (or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the "Market Exchange Rate") as computed by the exchange rate agent on the basis of the most recently available Market Exchange Rate on or before the date that payment is due, or as otherwise indicated in an applicable pricing supplement. Any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. dollars where the required payment is in a specified currency will not constitute a default under the indenture with respect to the notes. All determinations referred to above made by the exchange rate agent will be at its sole discretion and will, in the absence of clear error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the holders of the foreign currency notes. As indicated above, if you invest in foreign currency notes or currency indexed notes your investment will be subject to substantial risks, the extent and nature of which change continuously. As with any investment that you make in a security, you should consult your own financial and legal advisors as to the risks entailed in an investment in foreign currency notes or currency indexed notes. Such notes are not an appropriate investment for you if you are unsophisticated with respect to foreign currency matters. CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS The following summary of certain United States Federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes is based upon laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change, including changes in effective dates, or possible differing interpretations. It deals only with notes held as capital assets and does not purport to deal with persons in special tax situations, such as financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities or currencies, persons holding notes as a hedge against currency risks or as a position in a "straddle" for tax purposes, or persons whose functional currency is not the United States dollar. It also does not deal with holders other than original purchasers, except where otherwise specifically noted. Persons considering the purchase of the notes S-28 should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of United States Federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. As used in this prospectus supplement, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a note that is for United States Federal income tax purposes: (1) a citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a corporation or a partnership (including an entity treated as a corporation or a partnership for United States Federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (unless, in the case of a partnership, Treasury regulations are adopted that provide otherwise), (3) an estate whose income is subject to United States Federal income tax regardless of its source, (4) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (5) any other person whose income or gain in respect of a note is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Certain trusts not described in clause (4) above in existence on August 20, 1996 that elect to be treated as a United States person will also be a U.S. Holder for purposes of the following discussion. As used herein, the term "non-U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a note that is not a U.S. Holder. U.S. Holders Payments of Interest. Payments of interest on a note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are accrued or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting). Original Issue Discount. The following summary is a general discussion of the United States Federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the purchase, ownership and disposition of notes issued with original issue discount, i.e., Discount Notes. The following summary is based upon final Treasury regulations (the "OID Regulations") released by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") on January 27, 1994, as amended on June 11, 1996, under the original issue discount provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). For United States Federal income tax purposes, original issue discount is the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity of a note over its issue price, if such excess equals or exceeds a de minimis amount (generally 1/4 of 1% of the note's stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to its maturity from its issue date or, in the case of a note providing for the payment of any amount other than qualified stated interest (as defined below) prior to maturity, multiplied by the weighted average maturity of the note). The issue price of each note of an issue of notes equals the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes has been sold (ignoring sales to bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers). The stated redemption price at maturity of a note is the sum of all payments provided by the note other than "qualified stated interest" payments. The term "qualified stated interest" generally means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually at a single fixed rate. In addition, under the OID Regulations, if a note bears interest for one or more accrual periods at a rate below the rate applicable for the remaining term of the note (e.g., notes with teaser rates or interest holidays), and if S-29 the greater of either the resulting foregone interest on the note or any "true" discount on the note (i.e., the excess of the note's stated principal amount over its issue price) equals or exceeds a specified de minimis amount, then the stated interest on the note would be treated as original issue discount rather than qualified stated interest. Payments of qualified stated interest on a note are taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are accrued or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting). A U.S. Holder of a Discount Note must include original issue discount in income as ordinary interest for United States Federal income tax purposes as it accrues under a constant yield method in advance of receipt of the cash payments attributable to such income, regardless of the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting. In general, the amount of original issue discount included in income by the initial U.S. Holder of a Discount Note is the sum of the daily portions of original issue discount with respect to the Discount Note for each day during the taxable year (or portion of the taxable year) on which the U.S. Holder held the Discount Note. The "daily portion" of original issue discount on any Discount Note is determined by allocating to each day in any accrual period a ratable portion of the original issue discount allocable to that accrual period. An "accrual period" may be of any length and the accrual periods may vary in length over the term of the Discount Note, provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs either on the final day of an accrual period or on the first day of an accrual period. The amount of original issue discount allocable to each accrual period is generally equal to the difference between: . the product of the Discount Note's adjusted issue price at the beginning of such accrual period and its yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and appropriately adjusted to take into account the length of the particular accrual period) and . the amount of any qualified stated interest payments allocable to such accrual period. The "adjusted issue price" of a Discount Note at the beginning of any accrual period is the sum of the issue price of the Discount Note plus the amount of original issue discount allocable to all prior accrual periods minus the amount of any prior payments on the Discount Note that were not qualified stated interest payments. Under these rules, U.S. Holders generally will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of original issue discount in successive accrual periods. A U.S. Holder who purchases a Discount Note for an amount that is greater than its adjusted issue price as of the purchase date and less than or equal to the sum of all amounts payable on the Discount Note after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, will be considered to have purchased the Discount Note at an "acquisition premium". Under the acquisition premium rules, the amount of original issue discount which such U.S. Holder must include in its gross income with respect to such Discount Note for any taxable year (or portion thereof in which the U.S. Holder holds the Discount Note) will be reduced (but not below zero) by the portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to the period. Under the OID Regulations, floating rate notes and indexed notes (referred to herein as "Variable Notes") are subject to special rules whereby a Variable Note will qualify as a "variable rate debt instrument" if: . its issue price does not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments due under the Variable Note by more than a specified de minimis amount and . it provides for stated interest, paid or compounded at least annually, at current values of: . one or more qualified floating rates, . a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates, S-30 . a single objective rate, or . a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a qualified inverse floating rate. A "qualified floating rate" is any variable rate where variations in the value of such rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the Variable Note is denominated. Although a multiple of a qualified floating rate will generally not itself constitute a qualified floating rate, a variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35 will constitute a qualified floating rate. A variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate, will also constitute a qualified floating rate. In addition, under the OID Regulations, two or more qualified floating rates that can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the Variable Note (e.g., two or more qualified floating rates with values within 25 basis points of each other as determined on the Variable Note's issue date) will be treated as a single qualified floating rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a variable rate that would otherwise constitute a qualified floating rate but which is subject to one or more restrictions such as a maximum numerical limitation (i.e., a cap) or a minimum numerical limitation (i.e., a floor) may, under certain circumstances, fail to be treated as a qualified floating rate under the OID Regulations unless such cap or floor is fixed throughout the term of the note. An "objective rate" is a rate that is not itself a qualified floating rate but which is determined using a single fixed formula that is based on objective financial or economic information. A rate will not qualify as an objective rate if it is based on information that is within the control of the issuer (or a related party) or that is unique to the circumstances of the issuer (or a related party), such as dividends, profits, or the value of the issuer's stock (although a rate does not fail to be an objective rate merely because it is based on the credit quality of the issuer). A "qualified inverse floating rate" is any objective rate where such rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, as long as variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the qualified floating rate. The OID Regulations also provide that if a Variable Note provides for stated interest at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by a variable rate that is either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate and if the variable rate on the Variable Note's issue date is intended to approximate the fixed rate (e.g., the value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of the fixed rate by more than 25 basis points), then the fixed rate and the variable rate together will constitute either a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, as the case may be. If a Variable Note that provides for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term thereof qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations, and if the interest on a Variable Note is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually, then all stated interest on the Variable Note will constitute qualified stated interest and will be taxed accordingly. Thus, a Variable Note that provides for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term thereof and that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations will generally not be treated as having been issued with original issue discount unless the Variable Note is issued at a "true" discount (i.e., at a price below the Variable Note's stated principal amount) in excess of a specified de minimis amount. The amount of qualified stated interest and the amount of original issue discount, if any, that accrues during an accrual period on such a Variable Note is determined under the rules applicable to fixed rate debt instruments by assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to: (1) in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date, of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or (2) in the case of an objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate), a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Variable Note. S-31 The qualified stated interest allocable to an accrual period is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest assumed to be paid during the accrual period pursuant to the foregoing rules. In general, any other Variable Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" will be converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument for purposes of determining the amount and accrual of original issue discount and qualified stated interest on the Variable Note. The OID Regulations generally require that such a Variable Note be converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument by substituting any qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate provided for under the terms of the Variable Note with a fixed rate equal to the value of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be, as of the Variable Note's issue date. Any objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate) provided for under the terms of the Variable Note is converted into a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Variable Note. In the case of a Variable Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" and provides for stated interest at a fixed rate in addition to either one or more qualified floating rates or a qualified inverse floating rate, the fixed rate is initially converted into a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, if the Variable Note provides for a qualified inverse floating rate). Under such circumstances, the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the Variable Note as of the Variable Note's issue date is approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for either the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate rather than the fixed rate. Subsequent to converting the fixed rate into either a qualified floating rate or a qualified inverse floating rate, the Variable Note is then converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument in the manner described above. Once the Variable Note is converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument pursuant to the foregoing rules, the amount of original issue discount and qualified stated interest, if any, are determined for the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument by applying the general original issue discount rules to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument and a U.S. Holder of the Variable Note will account for such original issue discount and qualified stated interest as if the U.S. Holder held the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument. In each accrual period appropriate adjustments will be made to the amount of qualified stated interest or original issue discount assumed to have been accrued or paid with respect to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument in the event that such amounts differ from the actual amount of interest accrued or paid on the Variable Note during the accrual period. If a Variable Note does not qualify as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations, then the Variable Note would be treated as a contingent payment debt obligation. On June 11, 1996, the Treasury Department issued final regulations (the "CPDI Regulations") concerning the proper United States Federal income tax treatment of contingent payment debt instruments. In general, the CPDI Regulations would cause the timing and character of income, gain or loss reported on a contingent payment debt instrument to substantially differ from the timing and character of income, gain or loss reported on a contingent payment debt instrument under general principles of current United States Federal income tax law. Specifically, the CPDI Regulations generally require a U.S. Holder of such an instrument to include future contingent and noncontingent interest payments in income as such interest accrues based upon a projected payment schedule. Moreover, in general, under the CPDI Regulations, any gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, or retirement of a contingent payment debt instrument will be treated as ordinary income and all or a portion of any loss realized could be treated as ordinary loss as opposed to capital loss (depending upon the circumstances). The CPDI Regulations apply to debt instruments issued on or after August 13, 1996. The proper United States Federal income tax treatment of Variable Notes that are treated as contingent payment debt obligations will be more fully described in the applicable pricing supplement. S-32 Furthermore, any other special United States Federal income tax considerations, not otherwise discussed herein, which are applicable to any particular issue of notes will be discussed in the applicable pricing supplement. Colgate may issue notes which; . may be redeemable at the option of Colgate prior to their stated maturity (a "call option") and/or . may be repayable at the option of the holder prior to their stated maturity (a "put option"). Notes containing such features may be subject to rules that differ from the general rules discussed above. Investors intending to purchase notes with such features should consult their own tax advisors, since the original issue discount consequences will depend, in part, on the particular terms and features of the purchased notes. U.S. Holders may generally, upon election, include in income all interest (including stated interest, acquisition discount, original issue discount, de minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount, and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium) that accrues on a debt instrument by using the constant yield method applicable to original issue discount, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. Foreign-Currency Notes. The United States Federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of notes providing for payments denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be more fully described in the applicable pricing supplement. Short-Term Notes. Notes that have a fixed maturity of one year or less ("Short-Term Notes") will be treated as having been issued with original issue discount. In general, an individual or other cash method U.S. Holder is not required to accrue such original issue discount unless the U.S. Holder elects to do so. If such an election is not made, any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or maturity of the Short-Term Note will be ordinary income to the extent of the original issue discount accrued on a straight-line basis, or upon election under the constant yield method (based on daily compounding), through the date of sale or maturity, and a portion of the deductions otherwise allowable to the U.S. Holder for interest on borrowings allocable to the Short-Term Note will be deferred until a corresponding amount of income is realized. U.S. Holders who report income for United States Federal income tax purposes under the accrual method, and certain other holders including banks and dealers in securities, are required to accrue original issue discount on a Short-Term Note on a straight-line basis unless an election is made to accrue the original issue discount under a constant yield method (based on daily compounding). Market Discount. If a U.S. Holder purchases a note, other than a Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its issue price (or, in the case of a subsequent purchaser, its stated redemption price at maturity) or, in the case of a Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its adjusted issue price as of the purchase date, such U.S. Holder will be treated as having purchased the note at a "market discount", unless such market discount is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, a U.S. Holder will be required to treat any partial principal payment (or, in the case of a Discount Note, any payment that does not constitute qualified stated interest) on, or any gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a note as ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of: . the amount of such payment or realized gain or . the market discount which has not previously been included in income and is treated as having accrued on the note at the time of such payment or disposition. S-33 Market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the Maturity Date of the note, unless the U.S. Holder elects to accrue market discount on the basis of semiannual compounding. A U.S. Holder may be required to defer the deduction of all or a portion of the interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry a note with market discount until the maturity of the note or certain earlier dispositions, because a current deduction is only allowed to the extent the interest expense exceeds an allocable portion of market discount. A U.S. Holder may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or semiannual compounding basis), in which case the rules described above regarding the treatment as ordinary income of gain upon the disposition of the note and upon the receipt of certain cash payments and regarding the deferral of interest deductions will not apply. Generally, such currently included market discount is treated as ordinary interest for United States Federal income tax purposes. Such an election will apply to all debt instruments acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the taxable year to which such election applies and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. Premium. If a U.S. Holder purchases a note for an amount that is greater than the sum of all amounts payable on the note after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, the U.S. Holder will be considered to have purchased the note with "amortizable bond premium" equal in amount to such excess. A U.S. Holder may elect to amortize such premium using a constant yield method over the remaining term of the note and may offset interest otherwise required to be included in respect of the note during any taxable year by the amortized amount of such excess for the taxable year. However, if the note may be optionally redeemed after the U.S. Holder acquires it at a price in excess of its stated redemption price at maturity, special rules would apply which could result in a deferral of the amortization of some bond premium until later in the term of the note. Any election to amortize bond premium applies to all taxable debt instruments held by the U.S. Holder at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies and to all taxable debt instruments acquired on or after such date and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. Disposition of a Note. Except as discussed above, upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement (other than amounts representing accrued and unpaid interest) and the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in a note generally will equal the U.S. Holder's initial investment in the note increased by any original issue discount included in income (and accrued market discount, if any, if the U.S. Holder has included such market discount in income) and decreased by the amount of any payments, other than qualified stated interest payments, received and amortizable bond premium taken with respect to the note. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the note were held for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning these tax law provisions. Non-U.S. Holders A non-U.S. Holder who is an individual or corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes) holding notes on its own behalf will not be subject to United States Federal income taxes on payments of principal, premium, interest or original issue discount on a note, unless such non-U.S. Holder is a direct or indirect 10% or greater shareholder of Colgate, a controlled foreign corporation related to Colgate or a bank receiving interest described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code. To qualify for the exemption from taxation, the Withholding Agent, as defined below, must have received a statement from the individual or corporation that: . is signed under penalties of perjury by the beneficial owner of the note, S-34 . certifies that such owner is not a U.S. Holder, and . provides the beneficial owner's name and address. A "Withholding Agent" is any person, U.S. or foreign, that has control, receipt or custody of an amount subject to withholding or who can disburse or make payments of an amount subject to withholding. Generally, the aforementioned statement is made on an IRS Form W-8BEN ("W-8BEN"), which is effective for the period starting on the date the form is signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year, unless a change in circumstances makes any information on the form incorrect. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a W-8BEN with a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain effective until a change in circumstances makes any information on the form incorrect, provided that the Withholding Agent reports at least annually to the beneficial owner on IRS Form 1042-S. The beneficial owner must inform the Withholding Agent within 30 days of a change in circumstances that make any information on the W-8BEN incorrect and must furnish a new W-8BEN. A holder of a note which is not an individual or corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes) holding the notes on its own behalf may have substantially increased reporting requirements. In particular, in the case of notes held by a foreign partnership (or foreign trust), the partnership (or trust) will be required to provide the certification from each of its partners (or beneficiaries), and the partnership (or trust) will be required to provide certain additional information. A non-U.S. Holder whose income with respect to its investment in a note is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business would generally be taxed as if the holder was a U.S. person provided the holder provides to the Withholding Agent an IRS Form W-8ECI. Certain securities clearing organizations, and other entities who are not beneficial owners, may be able to provide a signed statement to the Withholding Agent. However, in such case, the signed statement may require a copy of the beneficial owner's W-8BEN (or substitute form). Generally, a non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United States Federal income taxes on any amount which constitutes capital gain upon retirement or disposition of a note, unless such non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and such gain is derived from sources within the United States. Certain other exceptions may be applicable, and a non-U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisor in this regard. The notes will not be includible in the estate of a non-U.S. Holder unless the individual is a direct or indirect 10% or greater shareholder of Colgate or, at the time of such individual's death, payments in respect of the notes would have been effectively connected with the conduct by such individual of a trade or business in the United States. Backup Withholding Backup withholding of United States Federal income tax may apply to payments made in respect of the notes to registered owners who are not "exempt recipients" and who fail to provide certain identifying information, such as the registered owner's taxpayer identification number, in the required manner. Generally, individuals are not exempt recipients, whereas corporations and certain other entities generally are exempt recipients. Payments made in respect of the notes to a U.S. Holder must be reported to the IRS, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient or establishes an exemption. Compliance with the identification procedures described in the preceding section would establish an exemption from backup withholding for those non-U.S. Holders who are not exempt recipients. S-35 In addition, upon the sale of a note to (or through) a broker, the broker must report the sale and backup withhold on the entire purchase price, unless either: . the broker determines that the seller is a corporation or other exempt recipient or . the seller provides, in the required manner, certain identifying information and, in the case of a non-U.S. Holder, certifies that such seller is a non-U.S. Holder (and certain other conditions are met). Such a sale must also be reported by the broker to the IRS, unless either: . the broker determines that the seller is an exempt recipient or . the seller certifies its non-U.S. status (and certain other conditions are met). Certification of the registered owner's non-U.S. status would be made normally on an IRS Form W-8BEN under penalties of perjury, although in certain cases it may be possible to submit other documentary evidence. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a beneficial owner would be allowed as a refund or a credit against such beneficial owner's United States Federal income tax provided the required information is furnished to the IRS. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION We are offering the notes for sale on a continuing basis through Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement, the agents will purchase the notes, as principal, from us for resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices relating to prevailing market prices at the time of resale as determined by the applicable agent, or, if so specified in an applicable pricing supplement, for resale at a fixed public offering price. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement, any note sold to an agent as principal will be purchased by the agent at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the note less a percentage of the principal amount equal to the commission applicable to an agency sale as described below of a note of identical maturity. If agreed to by Colgate and an agent, the agent may utilize its reasonable efforts on an agency basis to solicit offers to purchase the notes at 100% of the principal amount of the notes, unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement, and we will pay a commission to the agent, ranging from .150% to .750% of the principal amount of a note, depending upon its stated maturity or, with respect to a note for which the stated maturity is in excess of 30 years, a commission that we and the agent or agents agree to at the time of sale. In an agency sale, we will receive from 99.850% to 99.250% of the principal amount of each note, before deducting a portion of the aggregate offering expenses of approximately $750,000. An agent may resell notes it has purchased from us as principal to other dealers for resale to investors, and may allow any portion of the discount received in connection with those purchases from us to such dealers. After the initial public offering of notes, the public offering price, in the case of notes to be resold at a fixed public offering price, the concession and the discount allowed to dealers may be changed. We reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer made by this prospectus supplement without notice and may reject orders, in whole or in part, whether placed directly with us or through the agents. The agents will have the right, in their discretion reasonably exercised, to reject in whole or in part any offer to purchase notes received by the agents. S-36 Unless otherwise specified in an applicable pricing supplement, payment of the purchase price of the notes will be required to be made in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars or the specified currency, as the case may be, in New York City on the date of settlement. No note will have an established trading market when issued. Unless specified in the applicable pricing supplement, we will not list the notes on any securities exchange. The agents may from time to time purchase and sell notes in the secondary market, but the agents are not obligated to do so, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the notes or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. From time to time, the agents may make a market in the notes, but the agents are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activity at any time. The agents may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We have agreed to indemnify the agents against or to make contributions relating to certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the agents may be required to make in respect thereof. We have also agreed to reimburse the agents for certain expenses. From time to time we may issue and sell other securities described in the accompanying prospectus, and the amount of notes that we may offer and sell under this prospectus supplement may be reduced as a result of those sales. The agents and/or their affiliates may engage in transactions with, and perform services for us in the ordinary course of business. Reuben Mark, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Colgate, is also a director of Citigroup Inc., an affiliate of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Jill K. Conway, a director of Colgate, is also a member of the board of directors of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. In connection with the offering of notes purchased by an agent as principal on a fixed price basis, the agent is permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the notes. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the notes. If the agent creates a short position in the notes in connection with the offering, i.e., if it sells notes in an aggregate principal amount exceeding that set forth in the applicable pricing supplement, then the agent may reduce that short position by purchasing notes in the open market. In general, purchases of notes for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the notes to be higher than in the absence of these purchases. Neither we nor the agents are making any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition, neither we nor the agents are making any representation that an agent will engage in any such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice. VALIDITY OF THE NOTES The validity of the notes will be passed upon for Colgate by Andrew D. Hendry, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Colgate and for the agents by Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, New York, New York. As of September 30, 2001, Mr. Hendry held 172,805 shares of Common Stock of Colgate (either directly or held by the Savings and Investment Plan trustee), 19,002 restricted shares of Common Stock of Colgate, 368,887 options to purchase shares of Common Stock of Colgate, and 1,565 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of Colgate (held by the Savings and Investment Plan trustee). S-37 The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 26, 2001 PROSPECTUS $1,400,000,000 LOGO Debt Securities . By this prospectus, we may offer from time . You should read this prospectus and the to time up to $1,400,000,000 of our debt prospectus supplement relating to the securities. specific offering of securities carefully before you invest. . When we offer debt securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement describing the terms of the specific issue of securities including the offering price of the securities.
----------------- 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 October , 2001. ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS We will disclose information about the debt securities in this prospectus and prospectus supplements. The term "prospectus supplement" as used in this prospectus includes any pricing supplements relating to particular offerings of debt securities. The relevant prospectus supplements will provide most of the financial and other specific terms of any particular offering of debt securities, many of which are determined at the time of pricing. Because the information provided in the prospectus supplements may also add, delete or change information contained in this prospectus, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplements that is inconsistent with the information in this prospectus. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY Colgate-Palmolive Company, which was organized under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1923, is a leading consumer products company whose products are marketed in over 200 countries and territories throughout the world. Our principal executive offices are located at 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (telephone (212) 310-2000). We manage our business in two distinct product segments: (1) Oral, Personal and Household Care, and (2) Pet Nutrition. Our Oral Care products include toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouth rinses and dental floss, and pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals. Significant recent product launches in this segment include Colgate Fresh Confidence, Colgate Sparkling White and Colgate Total Plus Whitening toothpastes and the Colgate Actibrush battery-powered toothbrush. We lead many segments of the Personal Care market with several products including bar and liquid soaps, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, and shave products. Strong brands in this segment include Irish Spring, Softsoap brand liquid soap and Palmolive, which is available as a soap and, in many countries, as a shampoo and conditioner. We also manufacture and market Mennen deodorants and men's toiletries. We manufacture and market a wide array of products for Household Care. Major products include Palmolive and Ajax dishwashing liquids and antibacterial hand soaps and new Palmolive Spring Sensations dishwashing liquid. We also market other household names in cleaning and laundry products such as Fab, Ajax and Murphy's oil soap. In our major markets outside the U.S., our leading fabric softener brands include Suavitel in Latin America, Soupline in Europe and Softlan in Asia. Through our Hill's Pet Nutrition subsidiary, we sell high quality pet nutrition products for dogs and cats. Hill's markets pet foods primarily under two trademarks: Science Diet, which is sold by authorized pet supply retailers, breeders and veterinarians for every day nutritional needs, and Prescription Diet for dogs and cats with disease conditions. If you want to find more information about us, please see the sections entitled "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC" in this prospectus. USE OF PROCEEDS We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. 2 RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31, ------------------------ 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 4.4 4.9 5.8 6.3 7.6
For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings" consist of earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges, excluding capitalized interest and preferred security dividend requirements. "Fixed charges" consist of interest costs, the interest factor in rentals, amortization of debt issuance costs and capitalized interest. DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES General Colgate will offer the debt securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more distinct series for an aggregate initial public offering price of $1,400,000,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies or units of two or more currencies, based on the applicable exchange rate at the time of offering, as Colgate shall designate at the time of offering. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of November 15, 1992, as supplemented from time to time, between Colgate and The Bank of New York, as trustee. A copy of the indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The following summaries of material provisions of the debt securities and of the indenture are not complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the provisions of the indenture, including the definitions of terms. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt, secured or unsecured, which Colgate may issue. The debt securities offered by this prospectus are unsecured and rank equally with Colgate's other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Terms of the Debt Securities Colgate may issue the debt securities from time to time, without limitation as to aggregate principal amount and in one or more series. Colgate may issue debt securities upon the satisfaction of conditions, including the delivery to the trustee of a supplemental indenture, or a resolution of Colgate's Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors, or a certificate of an officer of Colgate who has been authorized by the Board of Directors to take that kind of action, which fixes or establishes the terms of the debt securities being issued. Any resolution or officer's certificate approving the issuance of any issue of debt securities will include the following terms of that issue of debt securities: . the aggregate principal amount; . the stated maturity date; . the date or dates on which we will pay principal, if other than at maturity, or the method we will use to determine these dates; . if the amount of payments of principal (and premium, if any) or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, the manner in which such amounts will be determined; 3 . whether and how the principal amount will be determined, whether by reference to an index, formula or other method; . the rate or rates (or manner of calculating the rate or rates) at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, and the date or dates from which any interest will accrue; . the interest payment dates and regular record dates for any interest payable; . if in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the place or places where the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, will be payable, and where the debt securities may be delivered for registration, transfer or exchange; . any provisions for redemption of the debt securities, the redemption price or prices and any remarketing arrangements; . any mandatory redemption or sinking fund or analogous provisions; . whether the debt securities are denominated or payable in United States dollars or in one or more currencies or units of two or more currencies; . the form in which Colgate will issue the debt securities, whether registered, bearer or both, and any restrictions applicable to the exchange of one form for another and/or to the offer, sale and delivery of the debt securities in either form; . whether and under what circumstances Colgate will pay additional amounts under any debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person for specified taxes, assessments or other governmental charges and whether Colgate has the option to redeem the affected debt securities rather than pay any such additional amounts; . whether the debt securities are to be issued in global form and if so, the depositary for the global securities; . the title of the debt securities and the series of which the debt securities are a part; . the minimum denominations in which any debt securities will be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; . any additional covenants or events of default of Colgate; and . any other terms of the debt securities which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture. Please see the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of the specific debt securities being offered. Prospective purchasers of debt securities should be aware that special U.S. Federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to instruments such as the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an issue of debt securities will describe these considerations, if they apply. The provisions of the indenture permit Colgate, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, to issue additional debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities previously issued and to reopen a previous series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series. The indenture does not contain any provisions which would provide protection to holders of debt securities against a sudden and dramatic decline in credit quality resulting from a takeover, a recapitalization or other highly leveraged transaction involving Colgate. Colgate will pay or deliver principal and any premium, additional amounts and interest in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the indenture, the debt securities and 4 the applicable prospectus supplement. However, at its option, Colgate may pay any interest by check mailed to the holders of registered debt securities at their registered addresses. Holders may present debt securities for exchange, and registered debt securities for transfer or exchange, in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the indenture, the debt securities and the prospectus supplement. Holders may transfer debt securities in bearer form for registered debt securities by delivering the bearer debt securities and related coupons, if any, to the office or agency of the registrar for that series of debt securities. If any series of debt securities is issued in global form, the prospectus supplement will describe the circumstances, if any, under which beneficial owners of interests in any global debt security may exchange those interests for definitive debt securities of that same series and of like tenor and principal amount, in any authorized form and denomination. There will be no service charge for any transfer or exchange of debt securities, but Colgate may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange other than certain exchanges not involving any transfer. Merger and Consolidation Colgate may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, and Colgate may sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any corporation, provided that: . the resulting corporation, if other than Colgate, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any U.S. state or the District of Columbia and assumes all of Colgate's obligations to: (1) pay or deliver the principal of or any premium, interest or additional amounts on the debt securities; and (2) perform and observe all of Colgate's other obligations under the indenture, and . Colgate or any successor corporation, as the case may be, is not, immediately after any such consolidation, merger or sale of assets, in default under the indenture. Modification and Waiver Colgate and the trustee may modify and amend the indenture with the consent of holders of at least a majority in principal amount or aggregate issue price of each series of debt securities affected. However, the consent of each holder of any debt security affected must be obtained if the amendment or modification: . changes the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest or additional amounts on, any debt security; . reduces the principal amount due and payable at maturity or upon acceleration of maturity of, or the rate of interest or additional amounts payable on, or any premium payable on redemption or otherwise on, any debt security; . adversely affects any right of repayment at the option of the holders; . changes the place of delivery of, or currency of, the payment of principal or any premium, interest or additional amounts on any debt security or impairs the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery; . reduces the percentage in principal amount or aggregate issue price of the outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required to modify or amend the indenture; or 5 . modifies the foregoing requirements or reduces the percentage to less than a majority in principal amount or aggregate issue price of outstanding debt securities necessary to waive certain past defaults by Colgate under the indenture. The holders of at least a majority in principal amount or aggregate issue price of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, with respect to that series, waive past defaults under the indenture and waive compliance by Colgate with certain provisions of the indenture, except as described under "--Events of Default". Events of Default Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each of the following constitutes an event of default with respect to each series of debt securities issued under the indenture: . default in the payment of any interest or additional amounts when due and continuing for 30 days; . default in the payment of any principal or premium when due and payable at maturity; . default in the payment of any sinking fund payment when due; . default in the performance of, or breach, of any other obligation of Colgate under the indenture, or under provisions of a series of debt securities that are applicable to all series of debt securities, and continuing for 60 days after written notice of the default to Colgate as provided in the indenture; . specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Colgate; and . any other event of default with respect to debt securities of that series. If an event of default occurs and is continuing for any series of debt securities, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount or aggregate issue price of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal of all the debt securities of that series, or any lesser amount provided for in the debt securities of that series, due and payable immediately. At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the debt securities of any series has been made, but before the trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of the money due, the holders of a majority in principal amount or aggregate issue price of the outstanding debt securities of that series by written notice may rescind any declaration of acceleration and its consequences, provided that all payments and/or deliveries due, other than those due as a result of acceleration, have been made and all other events of default have been remedied or waived. The holders of at least a majority in principal amount or aggregate issue price of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive an event of default with respect to that series, except a default: . in the payment of any amounts due and payable or deliverable under the debt securities of that series; or . in respect of an obligation of Colgate contained in, or a provision of, the indenture which cannot be modified under the terms of the indenture without the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities affected. The holders of a majority in principal amount or aggregate issue price of the outstanding debt securities of a series may 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 debt securities of that series, provided that the direction is not in conflict with any rule of law, the 6 indenture or the debt securities of that series. The trustee must, within 90 days after a default occurs notify the holders of the applicable series of debt securities of the default, unless the default is cured or waived. The trustee may withhold notice of default, except default in payment of principal, any premium, interest or sinking fund payment, if it determines that it is in the interest of the holders to do so. Before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the direction of the holders, the trustee is entitled to receive from those holders reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with any such direction. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, any series of debt securities issued under the indenture will not have the benefit of any cross-default provisions with other indebtedness of Colgate. Colgate will be required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to the performance by Colgate of all of its obligations and conditions under the indenture. Limitations Upon Liens The debt securities will not be secured by any mortgage, pledge or other lien. Unless a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities states otherwise, the covenants described below will apply to each series of debt securities. Colgate covenants in the indenture not to create or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Principal Domestic Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien on any Restricted Property, whether owned on the date of the indenture or thereafter acquired, without making effective provision (and Colgate covenants and agrees in the indenture that it will make or cause to be made effective provision) whereby the debt securities shall be directly secured by such Lien equally and ratably with (or prior to) all other indebtedness secured by such Lien as long as such other indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the foregoing restrictions: . Liens securing Debt not exceeding $10,000,000 which are existing on the date of the indenture on Restricted Property; and, if any property owned or leased as of the date of the indenture by Colgate or by a Principal Domestic Subsidiary at any time thereafter becomes a Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property, any Liens existing on the date of the indenture on such property securing the Debt secured or evidenced thereby on the date of the indenture; . Liens on Restricted Property of a Principal Domestic Subsidiary as a security for Debt of such Subsidiary to Colgate or to another Principal Domestic Subsidiary; . in the case of any corporation which becomes a Principal Domestic Subsidiary after the date of the indenture, Liens on Restricted Property of such Principal Domestic Subsidiary which are in existence at the time it becomes a Principal Domestic Subsidiary and which were not incurred in contemplation of it becoming a Principal Domestic Subsidiary; . any Lien existing prior to the time of acquisition of any Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property acquired by Colgate or a Principal Domestic Subsidiary after the date of the indenture through purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise; . any Lien on any Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property (other than a Major Domestic Manufacturing Property) acquired or constructed by Colgate or a Principal Domestic Subsidiary after the date of the indenture which is placed on such Property at the time of or within 180 days after the acquisition thereof or prior to, at the time of or within 180 days after 7 completion of construction thereof to secure all or a portion of the price of such acquisition or construction or funds borrowed to pay all or a portion of the price of such acquisition or construction; . extensions, renewals or replacements of any Lien referred to in the first, third, fourth or fifth bullet points above to the extent that the principal amount of the Debt secured or evidenced thereby is not increased, provided that the Lien is not extended to any other Restricted Property; . Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, vendors' and landlords' liens, and liens arising out of judgments or awards against Colgate or any Principal Domestic Subsidiary with respect to which Colgate or such Subsidiary at the time shall currently be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review and with respect to which it shall have secured a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceedings for review; . Liens securing the payment of taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies, either (i) not delinquent or (ii) being contested in good faith by appropriate legal or administrative proceedings and as to which Colgate or a Principal Domestic Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the extent required by generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves; . minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, rights of way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes and zoning or other restrictions as to the use of any Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property, which exceptions, encumbrances, easements, reservations, rights and restrictions do not, in the opinion of Colgate, in the aggregate materially detract from the value of such Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property or materially impair its use in the operation of the business of Colgate and its Principal Domestic Subsidiaries; and . any Lien on Restricted Property not referred to above if, at the time such Lien is created, incurred, assumed or suffered to be created, incurred or assumed, and after giving effect thereto and to the Debt secured or evidenced thereby, the aggregate amount of all outstanding Debt of Colgate and its Principal Domestic Subsidiaries secured or evidenced by Liens on Restricted Property which are not referred to above and which do not equally and ratably secure the debt securities, shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom (i) all current liabilities and (ii) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangibles of Colgate and its consolidated subsidiaries, all as set forth on the most recent balance sheet of Colgate and its consolidated subsidiaries prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as practiced in the United States. "Debt" means (i) indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (iv) obligations as a lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, recorded as capital leases, and (v) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise 8 to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above. "Domestic Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary a majority of the business of which is conducted within the United States of America, or a majority of the properties and assets of which are located within the United States of America, except (i) any Subsidiary all of the assets of which consist of the securities of Subsidiaries which are not Domestic Subsidiaries, (ii) any Subsidiary which is a FSC as defined in Section 922 of the Code and (iii) any Subsidiary for any period during which an election under Section 936 of the Code applies to such Subsidiary. "Instruments" of any corporation means and includes (i) all capital stock of all classes of and all other equity interests in such corporation and all rights, options or warrants to acquire the same, and (ii) all promissory notes, debentures, bonds and other evidences of Debt of such corporation. "Lien" means any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest, encumbrance or charge of any kind, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease in the nature thereof, provided that the term "Lien" shall not include any lease involved in a sale and lease-back transaction. "Major Domestic Manufacturing Property" means any Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property the net depreciated book value of which on the date as of which the determination is made exceeds 3% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. "Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property" means any building, structure or facility (including the land on which it is located and the improvements and fixtures constituting a part thereof) used primarily for manufacturing or processing which is owned or leased by Colgate or any of its Subsidiaries, is located in the United States of America and the net depreciated book value of which on the date as of which the determination is made exceeds 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, except any such building, structure or facility which the Board of Directors of Colgate by resolution declares is not of material importance to the total business conducted by Colgate and its Subsidiaries as an entirety. "Principal Domestic Subsidiary" means (i) each Subsidiary which owns or leases a Principal Domestic Manufacturing Property, (ii) each Domestic Subsidiary the consolidated net worth of which exceeds 3% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as set forth in the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to the indenture) and (iii) each Domestic Subsidiary of each Subsidiary referred to in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) except any such Subsidiary the accounts receivable and inventories of which have an aggregate net book value of less than $5,000,000. "Restricted Property" means and includes (i) all Principal Domestic Manufacturing Properties, (ii) all Instruments of all Principal Domestic Subsidiaries and (iii) all inventories and accounts receivable of Colgate and its Principal Domestic Subsidiaries. "Subsidiary" means any Corporation of which at the time of determination Colgate or one or more Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock. "Voting Stock" means stock of a Corporation of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Corporation, provided that, for the purpose hereof, stock which carries only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered voting stock whether or not such event shall have happened. 9 Other capitalized terms used but not defined in this prospectus shall have the meaning given those terms in the indenture. Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance Colgate at any time may terminate as to a series of debt securities all of its obligations (except for certain obligations regarding the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of a debt security, to replace destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and any related coupons and to maintain agencies with respect to the debt securities) arising under the indenture and the debt securities and coupons of that series. This option by Colgate is called a "legal defeasance". Colgate at any time may terminate as to a series of debt securities its obligations arising under the covenant described under "Limitations Upon Liens" above. This option by Colgate is called a "covenant defeasance". Colgate may exercise its legal defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities even if Colgate has previously exercised its covenant defeasance option in regard to that series of debt securities. If Colgate exercises its legal defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, that series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If Colgate exercises its covenant defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, that series may not be accelerated on the basis of breaches of the defeased covenant. To exercise either option as to a series of debt securities, Colgate must deposit in trust with the trustee cash or United States government obligations sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of that series at their maturity or redemption and must comply with other specified conditions. In particular, Colgate must obtain an opinion of tax counsel that the defeasance will not result in recognition for United States Federal income tax purposes of any gain or loss to holders of the series of debt securities. The opinion of tax counsel, in the case of legal defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable United States Federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture. Concerning the Trustee The Bank of New York serves as trustee under the Indenture and is the security registrar and paying agent with respect to the debt securities. The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an Event of Default, the trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs. The indenture contains certain limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor of Colgate, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with Colgate; provided, however, that if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict or resign. The trustee's principal office is located at One Wall Street, New York, New York. Colgate has banking relationships with The Bank of New York and certain of its affiliates. Richard J. Kogan, a director of Colgate, is also a director of The Bank of New York Company, Inc., the parent of the trustee. Governing Law The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. 10 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION Colgate may sell debt securities: . to the public through underwriters acting individually or through a group of underwriters which may be managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters designated by Colgate, . through agents or dealers, . directly to one or more other purchasers, or . by any combination of these methods of sale. The prospectus supplement with respect to the particular series of debt securities being offered will describe the terms of the offering of that series, including the name or names of any agents or underwriters, the public offering or purchase price, the proceeds to Colgate from the offering, any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agents or underwriters, all other items constituting underwriting compensation, any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers, any initial public offering price and any exchanges on which the debt securities may be listed. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the debt securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from Colgate and any profit on the resale of the debt securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under certain circumstances, Colgate may repurchase debt securities and reoffer them to the public as set forth above. Colgate may also arrange for repurchases and resales of the debt securities by dealers. No particular offering of debt securities will have an established trading market when issued. Unless specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Colgate will not list the notes on any securities exchange. The underwriters may from time to time purchase and sell notes in the secondary market, but they are not obligated to do so, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the notes or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. In addition, the underwriters may discontinue any market-making activity at any time. To facilitate a debt securities offering, any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. . Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position. . Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. . Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. . Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue those activities at any time. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, Colgate will authorize underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase debt securities from Colgate pursuant to delayed delivery contracts 11 providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and, unless Colgate otherwise agrees, the aggregate principal amount of debt securities sold pursuant to the contracts shall not be more than, the respective amounts stated in the prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to the approval of Colgate. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that the purchase by an institution of the debt securities covered under any such contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which that institution is subject. Colgate has agreed to indemnify the agents and the underwriters against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments the agents or the underwriters may be required to make in connection with those liabilities. Agents, underwriters and dealers may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for Colgate in the ordinary course of business. WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are also available over the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file by visiting the SEC's public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York, and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference rooms. You may also inspect our SEC reports and other information at the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC covering the debt securities. For further information on Colgate and the debt securities, you should refer to our registration statement and its exhibits. This prospectus summarizes certain provisions of contracts and other documents that we refer you to. Because the prospectus may not contain all the information that you may find important, you should review the full text of these documents. We have included copies of these documents as exhibits to our registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH THE SEC The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means: . incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus; . we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents; and . information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and, to the extent inconsistent, supersede this prospectus and previously incorporated information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which were filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: . annual report of Colgate on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000; and . quarterly reports of Colgate on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2001 and June 30, 2001. 12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $1,400,000,000 [LOGO] Medium-Term Notes, Series E Due One Year or More From Date of Issue ----------------- PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT ----------------- Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Goldman, Sachs & Co. JPMorgan Merrill Lynch & Co. Morgan Stanley Salomon Smith Barney October , 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution* The following table sets forth the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All of the amounts shown are estimates, except the registration fee. Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee $350,000 Legal Fees and Expenses............................ 200,000 Services of Independent Accountants................ 25,000 Printing Expenses.................................. 150,000 Trustee's Fees and Expenses........................ 15,000 Miscellaneous...................................... 10,000 -------- Total........................................... $750,000 ========
-------- * Estimated assuming one Prospectus Supplement Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers Reference is made to Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL"), which provides for indemnification of directors, officers and other employees in certain circumstances, and to Section 102(b)(7) of the GCL, which provides for the elimination or limitation of the personal liability for monetary damages of directors under certain circumstances. Article Tenth of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, eliminates the personal liability for monetary damages of directors under certain circumstances and provides indemnification to directors, officers and other employees of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the GCL. The Company has also executed indemnification agreements with the directors, officers and certain other employees of the Company. Such indemnification agreements contain provisions which purport to provide indemnification, where not limited by applicable law, for amounts paid by such individuals in settlement of shareholder derivative actions. Additionally, the Company maintains customary directors' and officers' liability insurance. Item 16. Exhibits The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the exhibit index, which appears elsewhere herein and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 17. Undertakings (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of the securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the II-1 estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of the Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment will be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of Colgate's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 of this registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424 (b) (1) or (4) or 497 (h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. II-2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on October 26, 2001.
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY By: /S/ REUBEN MARK ----------------------------- Reuben Mark Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- Principal Executive Officer and Director: /s/ REUBEN MARK Chairman of the Board, Chief October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- Executive Officer and Reuben Mark Director Principal Financial Officer: /s/ STEPHEN C. PATRICK Chief Financial Officer October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- Stephen C. Patrick Principal Accounting Officer: /s/ DENNIS J. HICKEY Vice President and Corporate October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- Controller Dennis J. Hickey Directors: * Director October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- Jill K. Conway * Director October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- Ronald E. Ferguson * Director October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- Ellen M. Hancock * Director October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- David W. Johnson * Director October 26, 2001 ----------------------------------------- Richard J. Kogan
II-3 Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- * Director October 26, 2001 -------------------- Delano E. Lewis * Director October 26, 2001 -------------------- Howard B. Wentz, Jr. *By: /S/ ANDREW D. HENDRY -------------------- Andrew D. Hendry Attorney-in-Fact II-4 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
1.1 Form of Distribution Agreement 4.1 Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1992, between the Company and The Bank of New York as Trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Form S-3 Registration Statement and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed on June 26, 1992, Registration No. 33-48840) 4.2 Form of Fixed Rate Note 4.3 Form of Floating Rate Note 5.1 Opinion of Andrew D. Hendry, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company 12.1 Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 23.1 Consent of Andrew D. Hendry, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company (included in Exhibit 5.1). 23.2 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants for the Company 24.1 Powers of Attorney 25.1 Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York as Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939


                                                                     Exhibit 1.1


                            COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

                           Medium-Term Notes, Series E
                     Due One Year or More from Date of Issue

                         FORM OF DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

                                                                          , 2001

DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. BROWN INC.
31 West 52/nd/ Street
New York, New York 10019

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                Incorporated
4 World Financial Center
New York, New York 10080

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036

SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
388 Greenwich Street, 34th Floor
New York, New York 10013

Dear Sirs:

     Colgate-Palmolive Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), confirms
its agreement with Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc. ("Deutsche Banc"), Goldman,
Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs"), J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ("J.P. Morgan"),
Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
("Merrill Lynch"), Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley") and
Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ("Salomon" and, together with Deutsche Banc, Goldman
Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, the "Agents") with respect
to the issue and sale by the Company of its Medium-Term Notes described herein
(the "Notes"). The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an indenture (as the same
may be amended



or restated from time to time, the "Indenture") dated as of November 15, 1992
between the Company and The Bank of New York. The Bank of New York will act as
trustee with respect to the Notes (the "Trustee").

     Notes may be sold by the Company directly or to or through the Agents
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or to or through such other agent or
agents as may be designated by the Company from time to time pursuant to the
terms of any such other agreement containing substantially the same terms as
this Agreement. The Company may from time to time, pursuant to an Officer's
Certificate delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture
(with an original copy thereof delivered to the Agents), reduce the authorized
aggregate principal amount of the Notes (but not below the aggregate principal
amount of Notes previously issued under the Indenture) or authorize the issuance
of additional Notes, and such additional Notes may be distributed directly by
the Company or to or through any agents designated by the Company, including the
Agents pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, all as though the issuance of
such Notes were authorized as of the date hereof.

     This Agreement provides both for the sale of Notes by the Company to one or
more Agents as principal for resale to investors and other purchasers and for
the sale of Notes by the Company directly to investors (as may from time to time
be agreed to by the Company and the applicable Agent or Agents), in which case
the applicable Agent or Agents will act as agent of the Company in soliciting
offers for the purchase of Notes.

     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") one or more registration statements on Form S-3 for the
registration of debt securities, including the Notes, under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and the offering thereof from time to time
in accordance with Rule 415 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under
the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations"). Such registration statements have
been declared effective by the Commission and the Indenture has been duly
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"),
and the Company has filed such post-effective amendments thereto as may be
required prior to its acceptance of any offer for the purchase of Notes and each
such post-effective amendment has been declared effective by the Commission. As
used herein, the term "Registration Statement" shall mean the registration
statement or registration statements (as so amended, if applicable) applicable
to a particular offering of Notes; provided that if the Company files any
further registration statements for the purpose of registering additional Notes
included in such offering and in connection with which this Agreement is
included or incorporated by reference as an exhibit, including a registration
statement filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) of
the 1933 Act Regulations (the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), then, after
any such filing, all references to the "Registration Statement" shall also be
deemed to include any such further registration statement. The term "Prospectus"
shall mean any final prospectus constituting a part of any such applicable
registration statement or registration statements, and any prospectus
supplements or pricing supplements relating to an offering of the Notes, in the
form first furnished to the applicable Agent, agent or other purchaser of Notes
for use in confirming sales of Notes; provided, further, that any revised
prospectus that shall be provided to the Agents by the Company for use in
connection with the offering of the Notes which is not required to be filed by
the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations shall be
included in the term "Prospectus" from and after the time it is first provided

                                       2



to the Agents for such use. A "preliminary prospectus" shall be deemed to refer
to any prospectus used before the Registration Statement became effective and
any prospectus furnished by the Company after the registration statement or
registration statements became effective and before any acceptance by the
Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes which omitted information to be
included upon pricing in a form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations. All references to the "Registration
Statement", the "Prospectus" and the "preliminary prospectus" shall also be
deemed to include all documents incorporated therein by reference pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), prior to any
acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes. For purposes of
this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or
preliminary prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed
to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("EDGAR").

     All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and
other information which is "disclosed," "contained," "included" or "stated" (or
other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or
preliminary prospectus shall be deemed to include all financial statements and
schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, as the case may
be; and all references in this agreement to amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus shall be deemed to
include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act which is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary prospectus,
as the case may be.

SECTION 1.  Appointment as Agents.
            ---------------------

     (a) Appointment. Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and
         -----------
subject to the reservation by the Company of the right to sell Notes directly on
its own behalf or through such additional agents as it may appoint pursuant to
Section 18 hereof, the Company hereby agrees that Notes will be sold exclusively
to or through the Agents.

     (b) Sale of Notes. The Company shall not sell or approve the solicitation
         -------------
of purchases of Notes in excess of the amount which shall be authorized by the
Company from time to time or in excess of the principal amount of Notes
registered pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Agents will have no
responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the aggregate initial
offering price of Notes sold, or of otherwise monitoring the availability of
Notes for sale under the Registration Statement.

     (c) Purchases as Principal. The Agents shall not have any obligation to
         ----------------------
purchase Notes from the Company as principal. However, absent an agreement
between an Agent and the Company that such Agent shall be acting solely as an
agent for the Company, such Agent shall be deemed to be acting as principal in
connection with any offering of Notes by the Company through such Agent.
Accordingly, the Agents, individually or in a syndicate, may agree from time to
time to purchase Notes from the Company as principal or resale to investors and
other purchasers determined by such Agents. Any purchase of Notes from the
Company by an Agent as principal shall be made in accordance with Section 3(a)
hereof.

                                       3



     (d) Solicitations as Agent. If agreed upon between an Agent and the
         ----------------------
Company, such Agent, acting solely as an agent for the Company and not as
principal, will use its reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of Notes. Such
Agent will communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each offer for the
purchase of Notes solicited by such Agent on an agency basis other than those
offers rejected by such Agent. Such Agent shall have the right, in its
discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any proposed purchase of Notes, in
whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its
agreement contained herein. The Company may accept or reject any proposed
purchase of Notes, in whole or in part. Such Agent shall make reasonable efforts
to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to
purchase Notes has been solicited by such Agent on an agency basis and accepted
by the Company. Such Agent shall not have any liability to the Company in the
event that any such purchase is not consummated for any reason.

     (e) Reliance. The Company and the Agents agree that any Notes purchased by
         --------
the Agents shall be purchased, and any Notes the placement of which the Agents
arrange shall be placed, by the Agents in reliance on the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company contained herein and on the
terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein.

SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties.
           ------------------------------

     (a) The Company represents and warrants to each Agent as of the date
hereof, as of the date of each acceptance by the Company of an offer for the
purchase of Notes (whether to one or more Agents as principal or through the
Agents as agents), as of the date of each delivery of Notes (whether to one or
more Agents as principal or through the Agents as agents) (the date of each such
delivery to one or more Agents as principal being hereafter referred to as a
"Settlement Date"), and as of any time that the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an amendment or
supplement providing solely for the establishment of or a change in the interest
rates, maturity or price of Notes or similar changes), or there is filed with
the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other
than any Current Report on Form 8-K relating exclusively to the issuance of debt
securities under the Registration Statement other than the Notes) (each of the
times referenced above being referred to herein as a "Representation Date") as
follows:

           (i)  Registration Statement. The Registration Statement (including
                ----------------------
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) in respect of the Notes has been filed
with the Commission; such Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement) and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the
form heretofore delivered to the Agents (excluding exhibits thereto but
including all documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus), have been
declared effective by the Commission in such form; and no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement) has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has
been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

           (ii) Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of the
                ----------
Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Prospectus, at the time of
filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, and

                                       4



did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not
apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Agents expressly for
use therein; and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the
applicable Agent(s) for use in connection with the offering of Notes are
identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

           (iii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference
                 ----------------------
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, when they became effective or
were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, as applicable, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such
documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any further
amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are
filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, as applicable, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

           (iv)  Compliance. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus
                 ----------
conform, and any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the
1933 Act, the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to
the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable
filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not
apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Agents specifically
for use therein.

           (v)   No Material Changes. Since the respective dates as of which
                 -------------------
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has
not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the
Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 405 under the
1933 Act) (other than changes arising from funding activities which have not
resulted in any material change in the Company's ownership of such Significant
Subsidiaries or in the long term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole) or any material adverse change, or any development involving a
prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the
Company, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus.

                                       5



     (vi)   Due Incorporation, Good Standing and Due Qualification of the
            -------------------------------------------------------------
Company and Significant Subsidiaries; Authorization of Agreements. The Company
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(A) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and
authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the
transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other
jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so
as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole; and each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, (B) has or, in the case of
the Indenture, had the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes and has
the requisite corporate power and authority to perform its obligations hereunder
and thereunder, and (C) has duly authorized, executed and delivered this
Agreement and at the time of the execution of any Terms Agreement will have duly
authorized, executed and delivered such Terms Agreement and this Agreement
constitutes and any such Terms Agreement will constitute the valid and binding
agreement of the Company.

     (vii)  Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set
            --------------
forth in the Prospectus.


     (viii) Validity of Notes. When the Notes are issued and delivered pursuant
            -----------------
to this Agreement, such Notes will have been duly authorized, executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
Indenture; and the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and is duly
qualified under the 1939 Act and constitutes a valid and legally binding
instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law), and except further as enforcement thereof may be limited by requirements
that a claim with respect to any debt securities issued under the Indenture that
are payable in a foreign or composite currency (or a foreign or composite
currency judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a
rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or
by governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments
outside the United States; and the Notes and the Indenture will conform in all
material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.

     (ix)   Non-Contravention. The issue and sale of the Notes by the Company
            -----------------
and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement,
any Terms Agreement and the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions
herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the
property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, which
conflict, breach or default would have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the
Company, nor will such action result in (A) any

                                       6



violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (B) any violation of the provisions of
any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency
or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
of their properties, which violation in each case would have a material adverse
effect on the consolidated financial position or consolidated results of
operations of the Company; and no consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency
or body is required for the issue and sale of the Notes or the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any Terms
Agreement or the Indenture, except such consents, approvals, authorizations,
registrations or qualifications as may be required under the 1933 Act and the
1939 Act or under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws.

     (x)    Absence of Proceedings. Other than as set forth or contemplated in
            ----------------------
the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, which are probable to
result in an adverse determination and which, if determined adversely to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have
a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or consolidated
results of operations of the Company; and, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental
authorities or threatened by others.

     (xi)   Accountants. Arthur Andersen LLP, who have certified certain
            -----------
financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, are
independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations.

     (xii)  Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its
            -----------------------------------
subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, the patents,
patent rights, licenses, invention, copyrights (including trade secrets and
other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information,
systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names presently
employed by them in connection with the businesses now operated by them, except
where the failure so to own or possess or have the ability to acquire would not
have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or
consolidated results of operations of the Company, and neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which,
singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, would result in any material adverse effect on the consolidated
financial position or consolidated results of operations of the Company.

     (xiii) Investment Company Act. The Company is not, and upon the issuance
            ----------------------
and sale of the Notes as herein contemplated and the application of the net
proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be, an "investment
company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act").

     (xiv)  Ratings. The Medium-Term Note Program under which the Notes are
            -------
issued (the "Program"), as well as the Notes, are rated Aa3 by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. and AA- by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, or such other rating
as to which the Company shall have most recently notified the Agents pursuant to
Section 4(a) hereof.

                                       7



     (b) Additional Certifications. Any certificate signed by any director or
         -------------------------
officer of the Company and delivered to one or more Agents or to counsel for the
Agents in connection with an offering of Notes or the sale of Notes to one or
more of the Agents as principal or through an Agent as agent shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to such Agent or Agents as to the
matters covered thereby on the date of such certificate and, to the extent
contemplated by such certificate, at each Representation Date subsequent
thereto.

SECTION 3.  Purchases as Principals; Solicitations as Agents.
            ------------------------------------------------

     (a) Purchases as Principal. Each sale of Notes to one or more Agents as
         ----------------------
principal shall be made in accordance with the terms contained herein and, if
requested by such Agent, pursuant to a separate agreement which will provide for
the sale of such Notes to, and the purchase and reoffering thereof by, such
Agent or Agents. Each such separate agreement (which may be an oral agreement)
between one or more Agents and the Company, is herein referred to as a "Terms
Agreement". Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference contained
herein to "this Agreement" shall be deemed to include any Terms Agreement
between the Company and one or more Agents. Each such Terms Agreement, whether
oral or in writing, shall be with respect to such information (as applicable) as
is specified in Exhibit A hereto. An Agent's commitment to purchase Notes as
principal shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations
and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms
and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the
principal amount of Notes to be purchased by each Agent pursuant thereto, the
price to be paid to the Company for such Notes (which, if not so specified in a
Terms Agreement, shall be at a discount equivalent to the applicable commission
set forth in Schedule A hereto), the time and place of delivery of and payment
for such Notes, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, purchasers
acting together with the Agents in the reoffering of the Notes, and such other
provisions (including further terms of the Notes) as may be mutually agreed
upon. The Agents may utilize a selling or dealer group in connection with the
resale of the Notes purchased. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify whether
or not any of the officer's certificate, opinions of counsel or comfort letter
specified in Sections 7(b), 7(c) and 7(d) hereof shall be required to be
delivered by the Company on the related Settlement Date.

     (b) Solicitations as Agents. On the basis of the representations and
         -----------------------
warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, when agreed by the Company and an Agent, such Agent, as an agent of the
Company, will use its reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Notes
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Prospectus. All Notes
sold through the Agents as agents will be sold at 100% of their principal amount
unless otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Agents.

     The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend
solicitation of purchases of the Notes through an Agent, as an agent of the
Company, commencing at any time for any period of time or permanently. As soon
as practicable after receipt of instructions from the Company, such Agent will
forthwith suspend solicitation of purchases from the Company until such time as
the Company has advised such Agent that such solicitation may be resumed.

     The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission, in the form of a
discount or otherwise as agreed to by the Company and such Agent, equal to the
applicable percentage of the

                                        8



principal amount of each Note sold by the Company as a result of a solicitation
made by such Agent, as an agent of the Company; as set forth in Schedule A
                                                                ----------
hereto; provided, however, that the Company shall only be obligated to pay one
such fee with respect to any particular Note so sold.

     (c) Administrative Procedures. The purchase price, interest rate or
         -------------------------
formula, maturity date and other terms of the Notes shall be agreed upon by the
Company and the applicable Agent(s) and set forth in a pricing supplement to the
Prospectus (each, a "Pricing Supplement") to be prepared by the Company in
connection with each sale of Notes. Except as may be otherwise provided in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will be issued in denominations of
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Administrative procedures with respect to
the sale of Notes shall be agreed upon from time to time by the Agents and the
Company (the "Procedures"). Each Agent and the Company agree to perform the
respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by them
in the Procedures.

     (d) Delivery of Closing Documents. The documents required to be delivered
         -----------------------------
by Section 5 hereof shall be delivered at the office of Sidley Austin Brown &
Wood, LLP, 875 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, on the date hereof, or at
such other time or place as the Agents and the Company may agree.

SECTION 4.  Covenants of the Company.
            ------------------------

     The Company covenants with the Agents as follows:

     (a) Notice of Certain Events. The Company will promptly notify (i) the
         ------------------------
Agents of the effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement, (ii)
the related Agent or Agents of the transmittal to the Commission for filing of
any supplement to the Prospectus (other than an amendment or supplement which
relates exclusively to an offering of debt securities under the Registration
Statement other than the Notes) or any document to be filed pursuant to the 1934
Act which will be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other than any
Current Report on Form 8-K relating exclusively to an offering of debt
securities under the Registration Statement other than the Notes), (iii) the
Agents of the receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (iv) the Agents of any request by the
Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus (other than an amendment or supplement which
relates exclusively to an offering of debt securities under the Registration
Statement other than the Notes) or for additional information, (v) the Agents of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that
purpose, and (vi) the Agents of the issuance by the Commission of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the initiation
of any proceedings for either such purpose. The Company will make every
reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop
order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

     (b) Notice of Certain Proposed Filings. Except as otherwise provided in
         ----------------------------------
subsection (k) of this Section, the Company will give the Agents notice of its
intention to file any additional registration statement with respect to the
registration of additional Notes, any amendment to the



Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations) or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (other than an
amendment or supplement providing solely for the establishment of or change in,
the interest rates, maturity or price of Notes or other similar changes or an
amendment or supplement which relates exclusively to an offering of debt
securities under the Registration Statement other than the Notes and other than
an amendment or supplement arising through incorporation by reference), whether
by the filing of documents pursuant to the 1933 Act or otherwise, and will
furnish the Agents with copies of any such amendment or supplement or other
documents proposed to be filed a reasonable time in advance of such proposed
filing. In the case of the filing of any such amendment or supplement or other
document filed pursuant to the 1934 Act, the Company will furnish the Agents
with copies of such amendment or supplement or other document within one day of
the filing thereof. Following any such filing pursuant to the 1934 Act, each
Agent shall have the right to suspend solicitation of purchases of the Notes
until such time as such Agent shall reasonably determine that solicitation of
purchases should be resumed or such Agent shall subsequently enter into a new
Terms Agreement with the Company, and any such suspension shall not be deemed a
breach of such Agent's agreement contained herein.

     (c) Copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company
         -------------------------------------------------------
will deliver to the Agents and to counsel for the Agents as many signed and
conformed copies of the Registration Statement (as originally filed) and of each
amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated, or deemed
to be incorporated, by reference therein and documents incorporated by reference
in the Prospectus) as the Agents may reasonably request. The Company will
furnish to the Agents and to counsel for the Agents as many copies of the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) (other than an amendment or supplement
which relates exclusively to an offering of debt securities under the
Registration Statement other than the Notes) as the Agents shall reasonably
request so long as the Agent is required to deliver a Prospectus in connection
with sales or solicitations of offers to purchase the Notes. The Registration
Statement and each amendment thereto and the Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto furnished to the Agents will be identical to any
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

     (d) Preparation of Pricing Supplements. The Company will prepare promptly,
         ----------------------------------
with respect to any Notes to be sold through or to the Agents pursuant to this
Agreement, a Pricing Supplement with respect to such Notes in a form previously
approved by the Agents and will file such Pricing Supplement pursuant to Rule
424(b)(3) under the 1933 Act not later than the close of business of the
Commission on the fifth business day after the date on which such Pricing
Supplement is first used.

     (e) Revisions of Prospectus -- Material Changes. Except as otherwise
         -------------------------------------------
provided in subsection (k) of this Section, if at any time during the term of
this Agreement any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it
is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Agents or counsel for
the Company, to further amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the
Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus
is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the reasonable
opinion of either such counsel, to amend or supplement the

                                       10



Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, immediate notice shall
be given, and confirmed in writing, to the Agents to cease the solicitation of
offers to purchase the Notes in the Agents' capacity as agents and to cease
sales of any Notes the Agents may then own as principal, and the Company will
promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendment or supplement,
whether by filing documents pursuant to the 1934 Act, the 1933 Act or otherwise,
as may be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission or to make the
Registration Statement and Prospectus comply with such requirements.

     (f) Prospectus Revisions -- Periodic Financial Information. Except as
         ------------------------------------------------------
otherwise provided in subsection (k) of this Section, on or prior to the date on
which there shall be released to the general public interim financial statement
information related to the Company with respect to each of the first three
quarters of any fiscal year or preliminary financial statement information with
respect to any fiscal year, the Company shall furnish such information to the
Agents, confirmed in writing.

     (g) Earnings Statements. The Company, by complying with the provisions of
         -------------------
Rule 158 under the 1933 Act, will make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable, but not later than 90 days after the close of
the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the
provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering each twelve month period
beginning, in each case, not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal
quarter next following the "effective date" (as defined in such Rule 158) of the
Registration Statement with respect to each sale of Notes.

     (h) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will endeavor, in cooperation with
         -----------------------
the Agents, to qualify the Notes for offering and sale under the applicable
securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as
the Agents may designate, and will maintain such qualifications in effect for as
long as may be required for the distribution of the Notes; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service
of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which
it is not so qualified. The Company will file such statements and reports as may
be required by the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Notes have been
qualified as above provided. The Company will promptly advise the Agents of the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Notes for sale in any such state or jurisdiction or the
initiating or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

     (i) 1934 Act Filings. The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is
         ----------------
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file promptly all documents
required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the 1934 Act. Such documents will comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and to the
extent such documents are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when read
together with the other information in or incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not misleading.

                                       11



     (j) Stand-Off Agreement. Between the date of any Terms Agreement and the
         -------------------
Settlement Date with respect to such Terms Agreement, the Company will not,
without the prior written consent of each Agent party to such Terms Agreement,
directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell or otherwise
dispose of, or announce the offering of, any debt securities denominated in the
same currency as the Notes to be purchased pursuant to such Terms Agreement, or
any security exchangeable into such debt securities (other than the Notes that
are to be sold pursuant to such Terms Agreement and commercial paper in the
ordinary course of business), except as may otherwise be provided in any such
Terms Agreement.

     (k) Suspension of Certain Obligations. The Company shall not be required to
         ---------------------------------
comply with the provisions of subsections (a), (b), (c), (e), (f) or (i) of this
Section or the provisions of Section 7 hereof during any period from the time
(i) the Agents shall have received written notification from the Company to
suspend solicitation of purchases of the Notes in their capacity as agents and
(ii) the earlier of the date on which no Agent shall then hold any Notes as
principal and the date which is fifteen days (nine months with respect to
subsections (e) and (i) of this Section) from the date on which the Agents shall
have received written notice from the Company to suspend solicitation of
purchases of the Notes, to the time the Company shall determine that
solicitation of purchases of the Notes should be resumed or shall subsequently
enter into a new Terms Agreement with the Agents.

     (l) Use of Proceeds. The net proceeds from the sale of Notes will be used
         ---------------
by the Company as described in the Prospectus.

     (m) Termination of Sale in Certain Circumstances. Any person who has agreed
         --------------------------------------------
to purchase and pay for any Note pursuant to a solicitation by any of the Agents
as an agent of the Company shall have the right to refuse to purchase such Note
if, subsequent to the agreement to purchase such Note, any change, condition or
development specified in any of Sections 12(b)(i) through 12(b)(v) hereof shall
have occurred (with the judgment of the Agent which presented the offer to
purchase such Note being substituted for any judgment of a selling Agent
required therein) the effect of which is, in the judgment of the Agent which
presented the offer to purchase such Note, so material and adverse as to make it
impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the sale and delivery of such Note
(it being understood that under no circumstances shall any such Agent have any
duty or obligation to the Company or to any such person to exercise the judgment
to be exercised under this Section 4(m)).

SECTION 5.  Conditions of Obligations.
            -------------------------

     The obligations of one or more Agents to purchase Notes as principal
pursuant to a Terms Agreement or otherwise, any obligation of one or more Agents
to solicit offers to purchase the Notes as an agent of the Company, and the
obligations of any purchasers of Notes sold through an Agent as an agent of the
Company, will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties
in all material respects (to the extent any such representation or warranty is
not otherwise qualified therein) on the part of the Company herein contained and
to the accuracy of the statements of the Company's officers made in any
certificate, to the extent contemplated by such certificate, furnished pursuant
to the provisions hereof, to the performance and observance by the Company of
all its covenants and agreements herein contained and to the following
additional conditions precedent:

                                       12



     (a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement
         ---------------------------------------
(including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement) has become effective under
the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or threatened by the
Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of
counsel to the Agents.

     (b) Legal Opinions. On the date hereof, the Agents shall have received the
         --------------
following legal opinions, dated as of the date hereof and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel:

               (1)  Opinion of Company Counsel. The opinion of Andrew D. Hendry,
                    --------------------------
               Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
               Company, to the effect that:

                    (i)   The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
               existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
               State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its
               properties and conduct its business as described in the
               Prospectus.

                    (ii)  The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign
               corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
               standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which it owns or
               leases real properties, or conducts any business, so as to
               require such qualification, except where the failure to be so
               qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the Company
               and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (such counsel being
               entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon
               opinions of local counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon
               certificates of officers of the Company, provided that such
               counsel shall state that he believes that both the Agents and he
               are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates).

                    (iii) Each Significant Subsidiary had been duly incorporated
               and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
               the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; and all of the
               issued shares of capital stock of each such Significant
               Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are
               fully paid and nonassessable, and (except for directors'
               qualifying shares and except as otherwise set forth in the
               Prospectus) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free
               and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

                    (iv)  The Company has an authorized capitalization as set
               forth in the Prospectus.

                    (v)   This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
               delivered by the Company.

                    (vi)  The issuance and sale of the Notes have been duly
               authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company. The
               Notes when duly authenticated

                                       13



          by the Trustee and issued in accordance with the provisions of this
          Agreement and the Indenture will be duly executed, issued and
          delivered and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
          Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; and the
          Notes and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the
          descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
          under the heading "Description of Debt Securities" and "Description of
          the Notes".

               (vii)  The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding
          instrument of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
          subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
          other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
          creditors' rights and to general equitable principles (regardless of
          whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
          law); and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.

               (viii) The issue and sale of the Notes by the Company and the
          compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
          Agreement, any Terms Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes, and the
          consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will
          not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
          terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
          mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
          instrument known to such counsel as being material to the Company and
          its subsidiaries taken as a whole to which the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
          Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, which conflict, breach
          or default would have a material adverse effect on the consolidated
          financial position or consolidated results of operations of the
          Company, nor will such action result in any violation of the
          provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the
          Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such
          counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
          jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of
          their properties, which violation in each case would have a material
          adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or consolidated
          results of operations of the Company.

               (ix)   No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
          or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or
          body is required for the issue and sale of the Notes or the
          consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the Indenture, except such consents,
          approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
          required under the 1933 Act and the 1939 Act and those under state
          securities, Blue Sky or foreign laws.

               (x)    To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as
          set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
          governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any
          of its subsidiaries is the subject which are

                                       14



          probable to result in an adverse determination and which, if
          determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
          have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position
          or the annual pre-tax consolidated results of operations of the
          Company; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, without special
          inquiry, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by
          governmental authorities or threatened by others.

               (xi)   To the best of such counsel's knowledge, all contracts or
          other documents of a character required to be filed as exhibits to the
          Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference
          into the Prospectus or described in the Registration Statement or the
          Prospectus have been filed or incorporated by reference or described
          as required.

               (xii)  The Registration Statement has been declared effective
          under the 1933 Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order
          suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been
          issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or
          threatened by the Commission.

               (xiii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or any
          further amendments or supplements thereto made by the Company prior to
          the date hereof (other than the financial statements and related
          schedules therein and other financial data or the Statement of
          Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee under the Indenture, as to
          which such counsel need express no opinion), when the Registration
          Statement became effective complied, and as of the date hereof comply,
          as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933
          Act and the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
          thereunder.

               (xiv)  The information in the Prospectus under the caption
          "Description of the Notes", "Description of Debt Securities", and
          information, if any, in the Prospectus under the caption "Certain
          United States Federal Income Tax Considerations" (or similar caption),
          to the extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal
          matters, documents or proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been
          reviewed by such counsel or by attorneys under the supervision of such
          counsel and is correct in all material respects.

               (xv)   The documents incorporated by reference into the
          Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any further amendments or
          supplements thereto made by the Company prior to the date hereof
          (other than the financial statements and schedules therein and other
          financial data or the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the
          Trustee under the Indenture, as to which such counsel need express no
          opinion), at the time they were filed, complied, and as of the date
          hereof comply, as to form in all material respects with the
          requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules and
          regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     In giving such opinion such counsel shall also state that in the course of
     his duties as General Counsel of the Company he consults with other
     officers of the Company as to

                                       15



     ongoing matters, and he or an attorney under his supervision has reviewed
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and has participated in the
     preparation of documents incorporated by reference therein and, although
     such counsel has not made any other specific inquiry for the purpose of
     rendering this opinion and is not passing upon and does not assume any
     responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
     contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, no facts have come
     to such counsel's attention that leads him to believe that the Registration
     Statement or any amendment thereto (except for financial statements and
     schedules and other financial data included therein and for the Statement
     of Eligibility on Form T-1, as to which such counsel makes no statement) at
     the time the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto (including the
     filing of an Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Commission) became
     effective and (if such opinion is being delivered in connection with a
     Terms Agreement pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof) at the date of any Terms
     Agreement, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
     state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
     the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any
     amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and
     schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such
     counsel makes no statement) as of its date and at the Settlement Date,
     contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
     omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading.

     In giving the opinion required by this Section 5(b)(1), such counsel shall
     be entitled to rely upon opinions of local counsel and tax counsel and, in
     respect of matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of the Company or
     its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes
     that both the Agents and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and
     certificates.

          (2) Opinion of Counsel to the Agents. The opinion of Sidley Austin
              --------------------------------
     Brown & Wood, LLP ("SAB&W") counsel to the Agents, with respect to the
     incorporation of the Company, this Agreement, the Notes and the Indenture,
     and other related matters as the Agents may reasonably request, and such
     counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may
     reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

     In giving such opinion SAB&W shall additionally state that they do not
     believe that the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective,
     or if an amendment to the Registration Statement or an Annual Report on
     Form 10-K has been filed by the Company with the Commission subsequent to
     the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and prior to the date of
     such statement, then at the time such amendment became effective or at the
     time of the most recent such filing (to the extent deemed to be
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus),
     and (if such opinion is being delivered in connection with a Terms
     Agreement pursuant to Section 7(c) hereof) at the date of any Terms
     Agreement, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
     state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
     to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus or any
     amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date and at the Settlement Date,
     contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
     omits to state a material fact

                                       16



     necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
     circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Such counsel may
     state that they express no view as to the financial statements and other
     financial data included or incorporated by reference in such Registration
     Statement or Prospectus. Such counsel may also state that they express no
     view with respect to the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1.

     (c)  Officers' Certificate. At the date hereof the Agents shall have
          ---------------------
received a certificate of the President or any Vice President and the chief
financial, chief accounting officer or treasurer of the Company, dated as of the
date hereof, to the effect that (i) since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or since
the date of any Terms Agreement, there has not been any material adverse change,
or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or
affecting the general affairs, consolidated financial position or consolidated
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, otherwise
than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, (ii) the other
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 hereof are
true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and
as of the date of such certificate, (iii) the Company has performed or complied
with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the date of such certificate, and (iv) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and,
to their knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or
threatened by the Commission.

     (d)  Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Agents shall have received a
          --------------
letter from Arthur Andersen LLP, dated as of the date hereof, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agents, to the effect that:

          (i)   They are independent public accountants with respect to the
Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations;

          (ii)  In their opinion, the consolidated financial statements and
supporting schedule(s) audited by them and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations
with respect to registration statements on Form S-3 and the 1934 Act and the
1934 Act Regulations;

          (iii) Based upon limited procedures set forth in detail in such letter
(which shall include, without limitation, the procedures specified by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim
financial information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial Information,
with respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries, if any, included in the Registration Statement),
nothing has come to their attention which causes them to believe that:

                (A) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited
          condensed consolidated financial statements, if any, included in the
          Registration Statement for them to be in conformity with generally
          accepted accounting principles; or

                                       17



               (B) the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, if
          any, included in the Registration Statement do not comply as to form
          in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
          of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934
          Act Regulations; or

               (C) at a specified date not more than three business days prior
          to the date of such letter, there was any change in the capital stock
          or any increase in the long-term debt, or any decrease in consolidated
          net assets, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the most
          recent consolidated balance sheet incorporated by reference in the
          Registration Statement, except in each case for changes, increases or
          decreases which the Registration Statement and the Prospectus disclose
          have occurred or may occur; or

               (D) for the period from the date of the most recent financial
          statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement to
          a specified date not more than three business days prior to the date
          of such letter, there were any decreases, as compared with the
          corresponding period in the preceding year, in consolidated revenues
          or net earnings, except in each case for increases or decreases which
          the Registration Statement and the Prospectus disclose have occurred
          or may occur;

          (iv) In addition to the examination referred to in their report
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, they
have carried out certain other specified procedures, not constituting an audit,
with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information which are
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and which are
specified by the Agents, and have found such amounts, percentages and financial
information to be in agreement with the relevant accounting, financial and other
records of the Company and its subsidiaries identified in such letter.

     (e)  Other Documents. On the date hereof and on each Settlement Date with
          ---------------
respect to any Terms Agreement, counsel to the Agents shall have been furnished
with such documents and opinions as such counsel may reasonably require for the
purpose of enabling such counsel to pass upon the issuance and sale of Notes as
therein contemplated and related proceedings, or in order to evidence the
accuracy and completeness of any of the representations and warranties, or the
fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of Notes as herein
contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Agents and to counsel to the Agents.

     If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled
when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement (or, at the option of the
Agents, any Terms Agreement) may be terminated by the Agents by notice to the
Company at any time and any such termination shall be without liability of any
party to any other party, except that the covenant regarding provision of an
earnings statement set forth in Section 4(g) hereof, the provisions concerning
payment of expenses under Section 10 hereof, the indemnity and contribution
agreements set forth in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, the provisions concerning the
representations, warranties and agreements to survive delivery set forth in
Section 11 hereof and the provisions set forth under "Parties" of Section 15
hereof shall remain in effect.

                                       18



SECTION 6. Delivery of and Payment for Notes Sold through an Agent as Agent.
           ----------------------------------------------------------------
Delivery of Notes sold through an Agent as an agent of the Company shall be made
by the Company to such Agent for the account of any purchaser only against
payment therefor in immediately available funds. In the event that a purchaser
shall fail either to accept delivery of or to make payment for a Note on the
date fixed for settlement, the Agent shall promptly notify the Company and
deliver the Note to the Company, and, if the Agent has theretofore paid the
Company for such Note, the Company will promptly return such funds to the Agent.
If such failure occurred for any reason other than default by the Agent in the
performance of its obligations hereunder, the Company will reimburse such Agent
on an equitable basis for its reasonable loss of the use of the funds for the
period such funds were credited to the Company's account.

SECTION 7. Additional Covenants of the Company.
           -----------------------------------

     The Company covenants and agrees with the Agents that:

     (a) Reaffirmation of Representations and Warranties. Each acceptance by the
         -----------------------------------------------
Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes (whether to one or more Agents as
principal or through the Agents as agents), and each delivery of Notes to one or
more Agents (whether to one or more Agents as principal or through the Agents as
agents), shall be deemed to be an affirmation that the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement and in any certificate
theretofore delivered to the Agents pursuant hereto, to the extent contemplated
by such certificate, are true and correct at the time of such acceptance or
sale, as the case may be, and an undertaking that such representations and
warranties will be true and correct at the time of delivery to the Agent or
Agents or to the purchaser or its agent, as the case may be, of the Note or
Notes relating to such acceptance or sale, as the case may be, as though made at
and as of each such time (and it is understood that such representations and
warranties shall relate to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as amended
and supplemented to each such time).

     (b) Subsequent Delivery of Certificates. Subject to the provisions of
         -----------------------------------
Section 4(k) hereof, each time that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a supplement providing solely
for the establishment of the interest rates, maturity or price of Notes or
similar terms, and other than by an amendment or supplement which relates
exclusively to an offering of debt securities under the Registration Statement
other than the Notes), or there is filed with the Commission any document
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other than any Current Report on
Form 8-K relating exclusively to the issuance of debt securities under the
Registration Statement other than the Notes) or (if required pursuant to the
terms of a Terms Agreement) the Company sells Notes to one or more Agents
pursuant to a Terms Agreement, if requested by the Agents or counsel to the
Agents, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agents
forthwith a certificate dated the date of filing with the Commission of such
supplement or document, the date of effectiveness of such amendment, or the date
of such sale, as the case may be, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agents
to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in
Section 5(c) hereof which were last furnished to the Agents are true and correct
at the time of such amendment, supplement, filing or sale, as the case may be,
as though made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be
deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and
supplemented to such time) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the
same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 5(c), modified as
necessary to relate to the

                                       19



Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such certificate; provided, however, that if the Company
shall determine that it does not intend to be in the market for up to three
months after the date of filing of any such amendment or supplement, the Company
may deliver to the Agents a notice to such effect, in which event the request of
the Agents received by the Company with respect to such amendment or supplement
shall be deemed withdrawn until such time as the Company notifies the Agents
that it wishes to re-enter the market.

     (c) Subsequent Delivery of Legal Opinions. Subject to the provisions of
         -------------------------------------
Section 4(k) hereof, each time that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a supplement providing solely
for the establishment of the interest rates, maturity or price of the Notes or
similar terms or solely for the inclusion of additional financial information,
and other than by an amendment or supplement which relates exclusively to an
offering of debt securities under the Registration Statement other than the
Notes) or there is filed with the Commission any document incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus (other than any Current Report on Form 8-K) or (if
required pursuant to the terms of a Terms Agreement) the Company sells Notes to
one or more Agents pursuant to a Terms Agreement, if requested by the Agents or
counsel to the Agents, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished
forthwith to the Agents and to counsel to the Agents a written opinion of the
General Counsel of the Company or other counsel selected by the Company and
reasonably satisfactory to the Agents dated the date of filing with the
Commission of such supplement or document, the date of effectiveness of such
amendment, or the date of such sale, as the case may be, in form reasonably
satisfactory to the Agents, of substantially the same tenor as the opinion
referred to in Section 5(b)(1) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion; or, in lieu of such opinion, counsel last
furnishing such opinion to the Agents shall furnish the Agents with a letter
substantially to the effect that the Agents may rely on such last opinion to the
same extent as though it was dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance
(except that statements in such last opinion shall be deemed to relate to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such letter authorizing reliance); provided, however, that
if the Company shall determine that it does not intend to be in the market for
up to three months after the date of filing of any such amendment or supplement,
the Company may deliver to the Agents a notice to such effect, in which event
the request of the Agents received by the Company with respect to such amendment
or supplement shall be deemed withdrawn until such time as the Company notifies
the Agents that it wishes to re-enter the market.

     (d) Subsequent Delivery of Comfort Letters. Subject to the provisions of
         --------------------------------------
Section 4(k) hereof, each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional financial
information (other than by an amendment or supplement relating solely to the
issuance and/or offering of securities other than the Notes) or (ii) (if
required pursuant to the terms of a Terms Agreement) the Company sells Notes to
one or more Agents pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company shall cause Arthur
Andersen LLP, or other independent certified public accountants reasonably
satisfactory to the Agents, forthwith to furnish to the Agents a letter, dated
the date of filing with the Commission or the date of effectiveness of such
amendment or supplement, as applicable, or the date of such sale, as the case
may be, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, of substantially the same
tenor as the letter referred to in Section 5(d) hereof, but modified to relate
to the Registration Statement and

                                       20



Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter, and with such
changes as may be necessary to reflect changes in the financial statements and
other information derived from the accounting records of the Company; provided,
however, that the portions of the letter referred to in Section 5(d)(iv) hereof
shall, unless otherwise requested by the Agents, only be provided in subsequent
letters delivered in connection with the Company's filing of its Annual Report
on Form 10-K.

SECTION 8. Indemnification.
           ---------------

     (a) Indemnification of the Agents. The Company agrees to indemnify
         -----------------------------
severally and hold harmless each Agent and each person, if any, who controls
each Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act as follows:

          (i)   against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred (to the extent the party seeking such indemnity is
     currently required to make a payment in respect of which such indemnity is
     sought), arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
     a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
     thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
     statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or the
     Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or
     alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading;

          (ii)  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
     settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any
     governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
     alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with
     the written consent of the Company; and

          (iii) against any and all reasonable expense whatsoever, as incurred
     (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by an
     Agent), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
     against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any governmental
     agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon
     any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement
     or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or
     (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Agents expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).

                                       21



     (b) Indemnification of Company. Each Agent severally agrees to indemnify
         --------------------------
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed
the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in
subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred (to the extent the party seeking
such indemnity is currently required to make a payment in respect of which such
indemnity is sought), but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions,
or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Agent expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (c) General. Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each
         -------
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying
party of such commencement shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any
liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. An indemnifying party may assume the defense of the indemnified party
by retaining counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such
counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified
party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the
retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. In
no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified
parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances.

     (d) Foreign Currency Judgments. The Company agrees to indemnify the Agents
         --------------------------
against any loss incurred by the Agents as a result of any judgment or order
being given or made for the amount due under this Agreement and such judgment or
order being paid in a currency (a "Judgment Currency") other than U.S. dollars
as a result of any variation between (i) the rate of exchange at which U.S.
dollars are converted into the Judgment Currency for the purpose of such
judgment or order and (ii) the rate of exchange at which the applicable Agent is
able to purchase U.S. dollars with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually
received by such Agent. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and
independent obligation of the Company and shall continue in full force and
effect notwithstanding any such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term "rate
of exchange" shall include any premiums and costs of exchange payable in
connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the relevant currency.

                                       22



SECTION 9. Contribution.
           ------------

     If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 hereof is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party thereunder, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in Section 8 in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the
other from the offering of the Notes to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice required under Section 8(c) above, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
each Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations.

     The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each
Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from the offering of Notes to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability relates by such Agent (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company bears to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by
such Agent in connection with such Notes. The relative fault shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or an Agent and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.

     The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this Section 9 shall
be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or
claim which is the subject of this Section 9.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, an Agent shall not be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Notes sold by such Agent to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability relates and distributed to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In addition, in connection with an
offering of Notes purchased from the Company by two or more Agents as principal,
the respective obligations of such Agents to contribute pursuant to this Section
9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of
Notes that each such Agent has agreed to purchase from the Company.

     For purposes of this Section, each person, if any, who controls an Agent
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as an Agent, and each director of the Company, each officer of the
Company who signed the Registration

                                       23



Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company.

SECTION 10. Payment of Expenses.
            -------------------

     The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including:

          (a) The preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and all
     amendments thereto and any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any
     amendments or supplements thereto;

          (b) The preparation, filing and reproduction of this Agreement;

          (c) The preparation, printing, issuance and delivery of the Notes,
     including any fees and expenses relating to the use of book-entry notes;

          (d) The reasonable fees and disbursements of the Company's accountants
     and counsel, of the Trustee and its counsel and of any Calculation Agent;

          (e) The reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel to the Agents
     incurred from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated
     hereby;

          (f) The qualification of the Notes under state securities laws in
     accordance with the provisions of Section 4(h) hereof, including filing
     fees, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents in
     connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of any Blue Sky
     Survey and any Legal Investment Survey;

          (g) The printing and delivery to the Agents in quantities as
     hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and any
     amendments thereto, any preliminary prospectus and of the Prospectus and
     any amendments or supplements thereto;

          (h) The preparation, printing, reproducing and delivery to the Agents
     of copies, as reasonably requested, of the Indenture and all supplements
     and amendments thereto;

          (i) Any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the Notes;

          (j) The filing fees, if any, incurred with respect to any filing with
     the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.;

          (k) Any advertising and other out-of-pocket expenses of the Agents
     incurred with the approval of such expense by the Company;

          (l) The cost of preparing and providing any CUSIP or other
     identification numbers for the Notes; and

                                       24



          (m) The fees and expenses of any Depositary (as defined in the
     Indenture) and any nominees thereof in connection with the Notes.

SECTION 11. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All
            --------------------------------------------------------------
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in
certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto or thereto,
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents or any controlling person of
the Agents, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive each delivery
of and payment for any of the Notes.

SECTION 12. Termination.
            -----------

     (a) Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement (excluding any Terms
         -----------------------------
Agreement) may be terminated for any reason, at any time by either the Company
or the Agents on the giving of 15 days' written notice of such termination to
the other party hereto; provided, however, that the termination of this
Agreement by an Agent shall terminate this Agreement only between such Agent and
the Company and the Company's notice of termination as to any one Agent shall
terminate this Agreement only between itself and such Agent.

     (b) Termination of a Terms Agreement. The Agent or Agents party to a Terms
         --------------------------------
Agreement may terminate any Terms Agreement, immediately upon notice to the
Company, at any time prior to the Settlement Date relating thereto (i) if there
has been, since the date of such Terms Agreement or since the respective dates
as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, any material
change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a
prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the
Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if
there shall have occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets
in the United States or, if such Notes are denominated and/or payable in, or
indexed to, one or more foreign or composite currencies, in the international
financial markets, or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other
calamity or crisis the effect of which on the financial markets of the United
States or, if such Notes are denominated and/or payable in, or indexed to, one
or more foreign or composite currencies, on the international financial markets,
in each case is such as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent or
Agents party to such Terms Agreement (after consultation with the Company),
impracticable to market the Notes subject to such Terms Agreement or enforce
contracts for the sale of such Notes, or (iii) if trading in any securities of
the Company has been suspended by the Commission or a national securities
exchange, or if trading generally on either the American Stock Exchange or the
New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices
for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have
been required, by either of said exchanges or by order of the Commission or any
other governmental authority, or if a banking moratorium shall have been
declared by federal or New York authorities or if a banking moratorium shall
have been declared by the relevant authorities in the country or countries of
origin of any foreign currency or currencies in which the Notes subject to such
Terms Agreement are denominated and/or payable, or (iv) if the rating assigned
by any nationally recognized securities rating agency to any debt securities of
the Company as of the date of any Terms Agreement shall have been lowered since
that date or if any such rating

                                       25



agency shall have publicly announced since that date that it has placed any debt
securities of the Company on what is commonly termed a "watch list" for possible
downgrading, or (v) if the Prospectus, at the time it was required to be
delivered to a purchaser of Notes subject to such Terms Agreement, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time of such delivery, not misleading.

         (c) General. In the event of any such termination, no party will have
             -------
any liability to any other party hereto, except that (i) each Agent shall be
entitled to any commission earned in accordance with the third paragraph of
Section 3(b) hereof, (ii) if at the time of termination (a) the Agents shall own
any Notes purchased by such Agent with the intention of reselling them or (b) an
offer to purchase any of the Notes has been accepted by the Company but the time
of delivery to the purchaser or its agent of such Note or Notes relating thereto
has not occurred, the obligations set forth in Section 5 hereof and the
covenants set forth in Sections 4 and 7 hereof shall remain in effect until such
Notes are so resold or delivered, as the case may be (provided, however, that,
except as provided in clause (iii) below, the Company's obligations pursuant to
Sections 4 and 7 hereof shall in any event terminate no later than the date that
is fifteen days (nine months with respect to subsections (e) and (i) of Section
4 hereof) after the time of such termination), and (iii) the covenant set forth
in Section 4(g) hereof, the indemnity and contribution agreements set forth in
Sections 8 and 9 hereof, and the provisions of Sections 10, 11, 14 and 15 hereof
shall remain in effect.

SECTION 13. Notices.
            -------

         Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices required under the terms
and provisions hereof shall be in writing, either delivered by hand, by mail or
by telex, by telecopier or by telegram, and any such notice shall be effective
when received at the address specified below.

         If to the Company:

                  Colgate-Palmolive Company
                  300 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York 10022
                  Attention: Treasurer
                  Telecopy: (212) 310-2873

         If to Deutsche Banc:

                  Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc.
                  31 West 52/nd/ Street
                  New York, New York 10019
                  Attention: Debt Capital Markets
                  Telecopy: 212-469-7875

                                       26




         If to Goldman Sachs:

                  Goldman, Sachs & Co.
                  85 Broad Street
                  New York, New York 10004
                  Attention: Credit Department
                  Telecopy: (212) 363-7609

         If to J.P. Morgan:

                  J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
                  270 Park Avenue, 9/th/ Floor
                  New York, New York 10017
                  Attention: Transaction Execution Group
                  Telecopy: 212-834-6702

         If to Merrill Lynch:

                  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                                 Incorporated
                  4 World Financial Center, 15th Floor
                  New York, New York 10080
                  Attention: MTN Product Management
                  Telecopy: (212) 449-2234

         If to Morgan Stanley:

                  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
                  1585 Broadway
                  New York, New York 10036
                  Attention: Manager - COPS Group
                  Telecopy: 212-761-4000

         If to Salomon:

                  Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
                  388 Greenwich Street, 34th Floor
                  New York, New York 10013
                  Attention: Medium-Term Note Department
                  Telecopy: (212) 816-7912

or at such other address as such party may designate from time to time by notice
duly given in accordance with the terms of this Section 13.

                                       27



SECTION 14. Governing Law.
            -------------

         This Agreement and all the rights and obligations of the parties shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such State.

SECTION 15. Parties.
            -------

         This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Agents and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or
mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective
successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in
Sections 8 and 9 hereof and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and said controlling persons, officers
and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of
no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Notes shall be deemed to
be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 16. Counterparts.
            ------------

         This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original hereof.

SECTION 17. Captions.
            --------

         The captions in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and shall not define or limit any of the terms or the provisions hereof.

SECTION 18. Additional Agents.
            -----------------

         Notwithstanding anything contrary contained in this Agreement, the
Company may from time to time appoint one or more additional agents (each, an
"Additional Agent" and collectively, the "Additional Agents") in accordance with
the following provisions:

            (a) Appointment of Agent. The Company may appoint an Additional
                --------------------
Agent or Agents, to act as an agent of the Company pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, provided that (i) such Additional Agent
shall deliver to the Company a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B
hereto, and (ii) the Company shall have delivered to such Additional Agent a
letter substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

            (b) Notice of Appointment of Additional Agents. The Company shall
                ------------------------------------------
promptly notify the Agents of any such appointment pursuant to subsection (a) of
this Section 18 by supplying to such parties a copy of the applicable letter or
letters.

                                       28



           (c) Effect of Appointment. Upon satisfaction by the Company and any
               ---------------------
Additional Agent of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this Section
18, such Additional Agent shall be deemed to be an Agent hereunder and all
references to "Agent" in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such
Additional Agent from and after the date such provisions are satisfied and such
appointment is effective.

                                       29



         If the foregoing is in accordance with the Agents' understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument along with all counterparts will become a binding agreement
between the Agents and the Company in accordance with its terms.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

                                              By:_______________________________
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:
Accepted:


DEUTSCHE BANC ALEX. BROWN INC.

By:______________________________________
   Name:
   Title:


By:______________________________________
   Name:
   Title:


GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


By:______________________________________
          (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)


J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.


By:_______________________________________
   Name:
   Title:




MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                      INCORPORATED

By: ____________________________________________
    Name:
    Title:


MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED.


By: ____________________________________________
    Name:
    Title:


SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.


By: ____________________________________________
    Name:
    Title:



                                   SCHEDULE A

         As compensation for the services of the Agents hereunder, the Company
shall pay the applicable Agent, on a discount basis, a commission for the sale
of each Note by such Agent equal to the principal amount of such Note multiplied
by the appropriate percentage set forth below:

Maturity Ranges                                     Percent of Principal Amount
---------------                                     ---------------------------

From 1 year to less than 18 months .....................       .150

From 18 months to less than 2 years ....................       .200

From 2 years to less than 3 years ......................       .250

From 3 years to less than 4 years ......................       .350

From 4 years to less than 5 years ......................       .450

From 5 years to less than 6 years ......................       .500

From 6 years to less than 7 years. .....................       .550

From 7 years to less than 10 years .....................       .600

From 10 years to less than 15 years ....................       .625

From 15 years to less than 20 years ....................       .700

From 20 years to 30 years ..............................       .750

Beyond 30 years ........................................  To be negotiated



                                   Schedule A


                                                                       EXHIBIT A

         The following terms, if applicable, shall be agreed to by the Agents
and the Company pursuant to each Terms Agreement:

             Principal Amount:  $
                                 -------
             (or principal amount of foreign or composite currency)
             Stated Maturity Date:
             Specified Currency:
             Exchange Rate Agent:
             Authorized Denomination:
             Original Issue Date:
             Trade Date:
             Issue Price:     %
                           ---
             Agent's Discount or Commission:
             Settlement Date and Time:
             Interest Rate or Formula:
                If Fixed Rate Note:
                       Interest Rate:
                       Interest Payment Dates:
                       Day Count Convention:
                            [_] 30/360 for the period from ___to___.
                            [_] Actual/360 for the period from ____to____.
                            [_] Actual/Actual for the period from _____to_____.

                If Floating Rate Note:
                       Interest Calculation:
                            [_] Regular Floating Rate Note
                            [_] Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note
                                   Fixed Rate Commencement Date:
                                   Fixed Interest Rate:
                            [_] Inverse Floating Rate Note
                                   Fixed Interest Rate:
                       Interest Rate Basis(es):
                            If LIBOR,
                               __ LIBOR Reuters Page:
                               __ LIBOR Telerate Page:
                               Designated LIBOR Currency:
                            If CMT Rate,
                               Designated CMT Telerate Page:
                                  If Telerate Page 7052:
                                     __ Weekly Average
                                     __ Monthly Average
                               Designated CMT Maturity Index:

                                      A-1



                         Initial Interest Rate:, if any:
                         Initial Interest Reset Date:
                         Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any:
                         Interest Reset Dates:
                         Interest Payment Dates:
                         Regular Record Dates:
                         Index Maturity:
                         Minimum Interest Rate, if any:
                         Interest Rate Reset Period:
                         Interest Payment Period:
                         Calculation Agent:
                         Day Count Convention:
                             [_] 30/360 for the period from ___to___.
                             [_] Actual/360 for the period from ____to____.
                             [_] Actual/Actual for the period from _____to_____.

                      If Redeemable:

                         Initial Redemption Date:
                         Initial Redemption Percentage:
                         Annual Redemption Percentage
                          Reduction, if any:
                      If Repayable:
                         Optional Repayment Dates:
                         Repayment Price:
                      Additional/Other Terms:

Also, in connection with the purchase of Notes from the Company by one or more
Agents as principal, agreement as to whether the following will be required:

 . Officers' Certificate pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Distribution Agreement.

 . Legal Opinion pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Distribution Agreement.

 . Comfort Letter pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Distribution Agreement.

 . Stand-off Agreement pursuant to Section 4(j) of the Distribution Agreement.

 . Legal Opinion of counsel to the Agents pursuant to Section 5(b)(2) of the
   Distribution Agreement.

                                      A-2




                                                               EXHIBIT B

               FORM OF LETTER APPOINTING ADDITIONAL AGENT-PROGRAM
               --------------------------------------------------



                                                                 [      ], 2001



To:      Colgate-Palmolive Company
         300 Park Avenue
         New York, New York 10022

Attention:        Treasurer

                       Re:      Medium-Term Notes, Series E of Colgate-Palmolive
                                Company (the "Company")
                                ------------------------------------------------

Dear Sirs:

         We refer to Section 18(a) of the Distribution Agreement dated October ,
2001 entered into with respect to the distribution of the Company's Medium-Term
Notes, Series E (the "Notes"), and made between the Company and the Agents party
thereto (which agreement, as amended from time to time, is herein referred to as
the "Distribution Agreement").

Conditions Precedent
--------------------

         We confirm that we are in receipt of the documents referenced below:

                    (i)         a copy of the Distribution Agreement;

                   (ii)         copies of such documents referenced in the
                                Distribution Agreement as we have reasonably
                                requested; and

                  (iii)         side letters in a form approved by us from the
                                legal counsel referred to in Section 5(b)(1) and
                                5(b)(2), if required, of the Distribution
                                Agreement addressed to us and giving us the full
                                benefit of the existing legal opinions.

         For the purposes of Section 13 of the Distribution Agreement, our name,
address, telephone and telecopy number for the service of notices are as
follows:

                      [insert name, address, telecopy number and attention]

         In consideration of the Company appointing us as an Agent under the
Distribution Agreement, we hereby undertake, for the benefit of the Company and
each of the other Agents, that we will perform and comply with all the duties
and obligations expressed to be assumed by an Agent under the Distribution
Agreement.

                                      B-1



     This letter is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed
wholly within such State.

                                                             Very truly yours,

                                                             [NAME OF NEW AGENT]


                                                             By:
                                                                ----------------
                                                                 Name:
                                                                 Title:

                                      B-2



                                                                      EXHIBIT C

                             FORM OF COMPANY LETTER
                             ----------------------

                                                                    [    ], 2001



To:  [NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEW AGENT]



                   Re: Medium-Term Notes, Series E of Colgate-Palmolive
                       Company (the "Company")
                       ------------------------------------------------
Dear Sirs:

     We refer to the Distribution Agreement dated October , 2001 (such
agreement, as amended from time to time, the "Distribution Agreement") entered
into with respect to the distribution of the Company's Medium Term Notes, Series
E (the "Notes") and hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter to us dated______.

     In accordance with Section 18(a) of the Distribution Agreement, we hereby
confirm that, with effect from the date hereof, you shall become a party to the
Distribution Agreement, vested with all the authority, rights, powers, duties
and obligations of an Agent as if originally named as an Agent under the
Distribution Agreement.

                                                       Very truly yours,

                                                       COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY


                                                       By:_____________________
                                                           Name:
                                                           Title:

cc:  [Other Agents party to the
     Distribution Agreement]

                                      C-1



                                                                     Exhibit 4.2

                                 [FACE OF NOTE]

IF THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THIS NOTE (AS INDICATED BELOW) IS THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, THIS NOTE IS A
GLOBAL NOTE AND THE FOLLOWING LEGENDS APPLY:

UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY (THE "DEPOSITARY") (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE
ISSUER HEREOF OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME
AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY AND ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF,
CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

IF APPLICABLE, THE "TOTAL AMOUNT OF OID," "YIELD TO MATURITY" AND "INITIAL
ACCRUAL PERIOD" (COMPUTED UNDER THE APPROXIMATE METHOD) BELOW WILL BE COMPLETED
SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF APPLYING THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT RULES.

                                                                               
REGISTERED                                CUSIP No.:                                 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
No. FXR-                                                                             $
        ----

                            COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
                           MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES E
                                  (Fixed Rate)


ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:                      INTEREST RATE:    %                        STATED MATURITY DATE:

INTEREST PAYMENT DATE(S)                  [ ] CHECK IF DISCOUNT NOTE
[ ] _______ and ______                                 Issue Price: %
[ ] Other:

INITIAL REDEMPTION                        INITIAL REDEMPTION                         * ANNUAL REDEMPTION
DATE:                                     PERCENTAGE:    %                             PERCENTAGE
                                                                                       REDUCTION:   %

HOLDER'S OPTIONAL REPAYMENT
DATE(S):
------------------- * If an Initial Redemption Date is specified above, (i) the Redemption Price will initially be the Initial Redemption Percentage specified above and shall decline at each anniversary of the Initial Redemption Date shown above by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction specified above until the Redemption Price is 100% of such principal amount, and (ii) this Note may be redeemed either in whole or from time to time in part except if the following box is marked, this Note may be redeemed in whole only [ ]. If no Initial Redemption Date is specified above, this Note may not be redeemed prior to Maturity. 2 AUTHORIZED DENOMINATION: SPECIFIED CURRENCY: [ ] $1,000 and integral multiples thereof [ ] Other: ADDENDUM ATTACHED OTHER / ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS: [ ] Yes [ ] No 3 COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the Principal Amount of , on the Stated Maturity Date specified above (or any Redemption Date or Repayment Date, each as defined on the reverse hereof, or any earlier date of acceleration of maturity) (each such date being hereinafter referred to as the "Maturity Date" with respect to the principal repayable on such date) and to pay interest thereon (and on any overdue principal, premium and/or interest to the extent legally enforceable) at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment. The Company will pay interest in arrears on each Interest Payment Date specified above (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing with the first Interest Payment Date next succeeding the Original Issue Date specified above, and on the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if the Original Issue Date ----------------- occurs between a Record Date (as defined below) and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest payments will commence on the second Interest Payment Date next succeeding the Original Issue Date to the registered holder (the "Holder") of this Note on the Record Date with respect to such second Interest Payment Date. Interest on this Note will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest on this Note will accrue from, and including, the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, from and including, the Original Issue Date if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, to but excluding, such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be (each, an "Interest Period"). The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day, as defined below) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (the "Record Date"); provided, --------- however, that interest payable on the Maturity Date will be payable to the ------- Person to whom the principal hereof and premium, if any, hereon shall be payable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date ("Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the close of business on any Record Date and, may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date (the "Special Record Date") for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note by the Trustee not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided for in the Indenture. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of this Note due on the Maturity Date will be made in immediately available funds upon presentation and surrender of this Note (and, with respect to any applicable repayment of this Note, upon delivery of a duly completed election form as contemplated on the reverse hereof) at the office of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payment of interest due on any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date will be made at the aforementioned office of the Trustee or, at the 4 option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register maintained by the Trustee; provided, however, that a Holder of U.S.$10,000,000 or more in -------- ------- aggregate principal amount of Notes (whether having identical or different terms and provisions) shall, at the option of the Company, be entitled to receive interest payments on such Interest Payment Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to such Interest Payment Date. Any such wire transfer instructions received by the Trustee shall remain in effect until revoked by such Holder. If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment on the next succeeding Business Day. As used herein, "Business Day" means, unless otherwise specified above, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York; provided, however, that, with -------- ------- respect to non-United States dollar-denominated notes, the day is also not a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal Financial Center, as defined below, of the country issuing the specified currency or, if the specified currency is euro, the day is also a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System is open. "Principal Financial Center" means, unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, the capital city of the country issuing the specified currency except, in each case, that with respect to United States dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Deutsche marks, Dutch guilders, Italian lire, Portuguese escudos, South African rand and Swiss francs, the "Principal Financial Center" will be The City of New York, Sydney, Toronto, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, London (solely in the case of the Designated LIBOR Currency) Johannesburg and Zurich, respectively. Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof and, if so specified on the face hereof, in an Addendum hereto, which further provisions shall have the same force and effect as if set forth on the face hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Addendum is attached hereto or "Other/Additional Provisions" apply to this Note as specified above, this Note shall be subject to the terms set forth in such Addendum or such "Other/Additional Provisions". Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. 5 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Colgate-Palmolive Company has caused this Note to be duly executed by one of its duly authorized officers. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY By: ------------------------------------ Title: Dated: TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION: This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee By: ----------------------------------- Authorized Signatory 6 [REVERSE OF NOTE] COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES E (Fixed Rate) This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Debt Securities (the "Debt Securities") of the Company issued and to be issued under a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 15, 1992, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities, and of the terms upon which the Debt Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series of Debt Securities designated as "Medium-Term Notes, Series E, Due One Year or More From Date of Issue" (the "Notes"). All terms used but not defined in this Note or in an Addendum hereto shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture or on the face hereof, as the case may be. This Note is issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of U.S. $1,000 and integral multiples thereof or other Authorized Denomination specified on the face hereof. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture and as set forth below, the Notes will be issued in global form only, registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and ownership of the Notes shall be maintained in book-entry form by the Depositary for the accounts of participating organizations of the Depositary. If this Note is a global Note, this Note is exchangeable only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this global Note and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 60 days after the Depositary notifies the Company, (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this global Note shall be exchangeable for certificated Notes of this series in registered form or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented hereby has occurred and is continuing. Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof in accordance with the provisions of the following two paragraphs, this Note will not be subject to any sinking fund and will not be redeemable or repayable prior to the Stated Maturity Date. This Note will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company on any date on or after the Initial Redemption Date, if any, specified on the face hereof, in whole or from time to time in part in increments of U.S. $1,000 unless otherwise specified above (provided that any remaining principal amount hereof shall be at least U.S. $1,000 unless otherwise specified above), at the Redemption Price (as defined below), together with unpaid interest accrued hereon to the date fixed for redemption (the "Redemption Date"), on written notice given to the Holder hereof (in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture) not more than 60 nor, less than 30 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date. In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, 7 a new Note of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof and otherwise having the same terms and provisions as this Note shall be issued by the Company in the name of the Holder hereof upon the presentation and surrender hereof. Unless otherwise specified above, the "Redemption Price" shall be the Initial Redemption Percentage specified on the face hereof (as adjusted by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if any, specified on the face hereof as set forth below) multiplied by the principal amount of this Note to be redeemed. This Note may be subject to repayment by the Company at the option of the Holder hereof on the Optional Repayment Date(s), if any, specified on the face hereof, in whole or in part in increments of U.S. $1,000 (provided that any remaining principal amount hereof shall be at least U.S. $1,000), at a repayment price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for repayment (the "Repayment Date"). For this Note to be repaid in whole or in part at the option of the Holder hereof, the Trustee must receive at its corporate trust office not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the Repayment Date, this Note with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" below duly completed. Exercise of such repayment option by the Holder hereof shall be irrevocable. In the event of repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note of like tenor for the unrepaid portion hereof and otherwise having the same terms and provisions as this Note shall be issued by the Company in the name of the Holder hereof upon the presentation and surrender hereof. If the Discount Note box is checked above, the amount payable to the Holder of this Note in the event of redemption, repayment or acceleration of maturity will be equal to the sum of (i) the Issue Price specified on the face hereof (increased by any accruals of the Discount, as defined below, and reduced by any amounts of principal previously paid) and, in the event of any redemption of this Note (if applicable), multiplied by the Initial Redemption Percentage (as adjusted by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if applicable) and (ii) any unpaid interest accrued hereon to the Redemption Date, Repayment Date or date of acceleration of maturity, as the case may be. The difference between the Issue Price specified above and 100% of the principal amount of this Note is referred to herein as the "Discount". For purposes of determining the amount of Discount that has accrued as of any Redemption Date, Repayment Date or date of acceleration of maturity of this Note, such Discount will be accrued so as to cause the yield on the Note to be constant. The constant yield will be calculated using a 30-day month, 360-day year convention, a compounding period that, except for the Initial Period (as defined below), corresponds to the shortest period between Interest Payment Dates (with ratable accruals within a compounding period) and an assumption that the maturity of this Note will not be accelerated. If the period from the Original Issue Date to the initial Interest Payment Date (the "Initial Period") is shorter than the compounding period for this Note, a proportionate amount of the yield for an entire compounding period will be accrued. If the Initial Period is longer than the compounding period, then such period will be divided into a regular compounding period and a short period, with the short period being treated as provided in the preceding sentence. 8 If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be accelerated in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities to be adversely affected thereby at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of Debt Securities at the time outstanding, adversely affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series, on behalf of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of this Note at the times, places and rate or formula, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of Authorized Denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount with the same terms and provisions, will be issued by the Company to the designated transferee or transferees. The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons and, if payable in U.S. dollars, only in denominations of U.S.$1,000 and any integral multiple of U.S. $1,000. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as required by the Holder surrendering the same. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Holder as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary, except as required by law. 9 THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES. Capitalized terms used herein without definition which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. 10 ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ________ Custodian ______ TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor) JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act survivorship and not as tenants _________________________________ in common (State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. ---------------------------------- 11 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- this Note and all rights thereunder hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attorney to transfer this Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: -------------------- ------------------------------------------------- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Notice: The signature(s) on this Assignment must correspond with the name(s) as written upon the face of this Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. 12 [OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT] The undersigned hereby irrevocably request(s) and instruct(s) the Company to repay this Note (or portion hereof specified below) pursuant to its terms at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued hereon to the Repayment Date, to the undersigned, at ________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Please print or typewrite name and address of the undersigned) For this Note to be repaid, the Trustee must receive at its corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the Repayment Date, this Note with this "Option to Elect Repayment" form duly completed. If less than the entire principal amount of this Note is to be repaid, specify the portion hereof (which shall be increments of U.S. $1,000 unless otherwise specified in the Note) (provided that any remaining principal amount shall be at least U.S. $1,000 unless otherwise specified in the Note) which the Holder elects to have repaid and specify the denomination or denominations (which shall be U.S. $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of the Notes to be issued to the Holder for the portion of this Note not being repaid (in the absence of any such specification, one such Note will be issued for the portion not being repaid). Principal Amount to be Repaid: $ ---------------------- --------------------------------------- Notice: The signature(s) on this Option Dated: to Elect Repayment must correspond with ------------------------------- the name(s) as written upon the face of this Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. 13



                                                                     Exhibit 4.3

                                 [FACE OF NOTE]

IF THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THIS NOTE (AS INDICATED BELOW) IS THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, THIS NOTE IS A
GLOBAL SECURITY AND THE FOLLOWING LEGENDS APPLY:

UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY
TRUST COMPANY (THE "DEPOSITARY") (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE
ISSUER HEREOF OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME
AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY AND ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF,
CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

IF APPLICABLE, THE "TOTAL AMOUNT OF OID," "YIELD TO MATURITY" AND "INITIAL
ACCRUAL PERIOD" (COMPUTED UNDER THE APPROXIMATE METHOD) BELOW WILL BE COMPLETED
SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF APPLYING THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX ORIGINAL ISSUE
DISCOUNT RULES.

                                                                          
REGISTERED                          CUSIP No.:                                  PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
No. FLR-                                                                        $
        ---

                            COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
                           MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES E
                                 (Floating Rate)


INTEREST RATE BASIS                 ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:                   STATED MATURITY DATE:
OR BASES:

     IF LIBOR:                        IF CMT RATE:
         [ ] LIBOR Reuters Page:        [ ] Telerate Page 7051
                                        [ ] Telerate Page 7052

         [ ] LIBOR Telerate Page:           [ ] Weekly Average
                                            [ ] Monthly Average

         Designated LIBOR
         Currency:

INDEX MATURITY:                     INITIAL INTEREST RATE:   %             INTEREST PAYMENT DATE(S):

INDEX CURRENCY:                     INITIAL INTEREST RESET DATE:           INTEREST RATE RESET PERIOD:


SPREAD (PLUS OR                     SPREAD MULTIPLIER:
MINUS):

INTEREST DETERMINATION              REGULAR RECORD DATES:
DATES:
MINIMUM INTEREST RATE: % MAXIMUM INTEREST RATE: % INTEREST RESET DATE(S): INITIAL REDEMPTION INITIAL REDEMPTION *ANNUAL REDEMPTION DATE: PERCENTAGE: % PERCENTAGE REDUCTION: % HOLDER'S OPTIONAL CALCULATION AGENT: [ ] CHECK IF DISCOUNT NOTE REPAYMENT DATE(S): Issue Price % SPECIFIED CURRENCY: EXCHANGE RATE AGENT: INTEREST CATEGORY: DAY COUNT CONVENTION: [ ] Regular Floating Rate Note [ ] 30/360 for the period [ ] Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note from to . Fixed Rate Commencement Date: [ ] Actual/360 for the period Fixed Interest Rate: % from to . [ ] Inverse Floating Rate Note [ ] Actual/Actual for the period Fixed Interest Rate: % from to . Applicable Interest Rate Basis: AUTHORIZED DENOMINATION: [ ] $1,000 and integral multiples thereof [ ] Other: ADDENDUM ATTACHED [ ] Yes [ ] No OTHER/ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS:
----------------- * If an Initial Redemption Date is specified above, (i) the Redemption Price will initially be the Initial Redemption Percentage specified above and shall decline at each anniversary of the Initial Redemption Date shown above by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction specified above until the Redemption Price is 100% of such principal amount, and (ii) this Note may be redeemed either in whole or from time to time in part except if the following box is marked, this Note may be redeemed in whole only [ ]. If no Initial Redemption Date is specified above, this Note may not be redeemed prior to Maturity. 2 COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay, to , or registered assigns, the Principal Amount of , on the Stated Maturity Date specified above (or any Redemption Date or Repayment Date, each as defined on the reverse hereof, or any earlier date of acceleration of maturity) (each such date being hereinafter referred to as the "Maturity Date" with respect to the principal repayable on such date) and to pay interest thereon (and on any overdue principal, premium and/or interest to the extent legally enforceable) at a rate per annum equal to the Initial Interest Rate specified above until the Initial Interest Reset Date specified above and thereafter at a rate determined in accordance with the provisions specified above and on the reverse hereof or in an Addendum hereto with respect to one or more Interest Rate Bases specified above until the principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment. The Company will pay interest in arrears on each Interest Payment Date specified above (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing with the first Interest Payment Date next succeeding the Original Issue Date specified above, and on the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if the Original Issue Date ----------------- occurs between a Record Date (as defined below) and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest payments will commence on the second Interest Payment Date next succeeding the Original Issue Date to the registered holder (the "Holder") of this Note on the Record Date with respect to such second Interest Payment Date. Interest on this Note will accrue from, and including, the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, from and including, the Original Issue Date if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, to but excluding, such Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be (each, an "Interest Period"). The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day (whether or not a Business Day, as defined below) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (the "Record Date"); provided, -------- however, that interest payable on the Maturity Date will be payable to the ------- person to whom the principal hereof and premium, if any, hereon shall be payable. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date ("Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the close of business on any Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date (the "Special Record Date") for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Note by the Trustee not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided for in the Indenture. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of this Note due on the Maturity Date will be made in immediately available funds upon presentation and surrender of this Note (and, with respect to any applicable repayment of this Note, upon delivery of a duly completed election form as contemplated on the reverse hereof) at the office of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payment of interest due on any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date will be made at the aforementioned office of the Trustee or, at the 3 option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register maintained by the Trustee; provided, however, that a Holder of U.S.$10,000,000 or more in ----------------- aggregate principal amount of Notes (whether having identical or different terms and provisions) shall, at the option of the Company, be entitled to receive interest payments on such Interest Payment Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the Trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to such Interest Payment Date. Any such wire transfer instructions received by the Trustee shall remain in effect until revoked by such Holder. If any Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, except that if LIBOR or EURIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis and such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be, payment was due, and no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and after the Date to the date of such payment on the next succeeding Business Day. As used herein, "Business Day" means, unless otherwise specified above, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York; provided, however, that with ----------------- respect to non-United States dollar-denominated notes, the day is also not a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in the Principal Financial Center of the country issuing the specified currency or, if the specified currency is euro, the day is also a day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System is open; provided, further, that, with respect to floating rate notes as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, the day is also a London Banking Day and that, with respect to floating rate notes as to which EURIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, the day is also a day on which the TARGET System is open. "London Banking Day" means a day on which commercial banks are open for business, including dealings in the Designated LIBOR Currency, in London. "Principal Financial Center" means (1) the capital city of the country issuing the specified currency, or (2) the capital city of the country to which the Designated LIBOR Currency relates, except, in each case, that with respect to United States dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Deutsche marks, Dutch guilders, Italian lire, Portuguese escudos, South African rand and Swiss francs, the "Principal Financial Center" will be The City of New York, Sydney, Toronto, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, London (solely in the case of the Designated LIBOR Currency), Johannesburg and Zurich, respectively. Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof and, if so specified on the face hereof, in an Addendum hereto, which further provisions shall have the same force and effect as if set forth on the face hereof. 4 Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Addendum is attached hereto or "Other/Additional Provisions" apply to this Note as specified above, this Note shall be subject to the terms set forth in such Addendum or such "Other/Additional Provisions". Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. 5 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Colgate-Palmolive Company has caused this Note to be duly executed by one of its duly authorized officers. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, INC. By: --------------------------------- Title: Dated: TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION: This is one of the Debt Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee By: ---------------------------------------------------- Authorized Signatory 6 [REVERSE OF NOTE] COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES E (Floating Rate) This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Debt Securities (the "Debt Securities") of the Company issued and to be issued under a Senior Indenture, dated as of September 15, 1992, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities, and of the terms upon which the Debt Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series of Debt Securities designated as "Medium-Term Notes, Series E, Due One Year or More From Date of Issue" (the "Notes"). All terms used but not defined in this Note or in an Addendum hereto shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture or on the face hereof, as the case may be. This Note is issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of U.S.$1,000 and integral multiples thereof or other Authorized Denomination specified on the face hereof. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture and as set forth below, the Notes will be issued in global form only, registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and ownership of the Notes shall be maintained in book-entry form by the Depositary for the accounts of participating organizations of the Depositary. If this Note is a global note, this Note is exchangeable only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this global Note and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company with 60 days after the Depositary notifies the Company, (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this global Note shall be exchangeable for certificated Notes of this series in registered form or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented hereby has occurred and is continuing. Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof in accordance with the provisions of the following two paragraphs, this Note will not be subject to any sinking fund and will not be redeemable or repayable prior to the Stated Maturity Date. This Note will be subject to redemption at the option of the Company on any date on or after the Initial Redemption Date, if any, specified on the face hereof, in whole or from time to time in part in increments of U.S.$1,000 unless otherwise specified above (provided that any remaining principal amount hereof shall be at least U.S.$1,000 unless otherwise specified above), at the Redemption Price (as defined below), together with unpaid interest accrued hereon to the date fixed for redemption (the "Redemption Date"), on written notice given to the Holder hereof (in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture) not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date. In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof and otherwise having the same terms and provisions as this Note shall be issued by the Company in the name of the Holder hereof upon the presentation and surrender hereof. 7 Unless otherwise specified above, the "Redemption Price" shall be the Initial Redemption Percentage specified on the face hereof (as adjusted by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if any, specified on the face hereof as set forth below) multiplied by the principal amount of this Note to be redeemed. This Note may be subject to repayment by the Company at the option of the Holder hereof on the Optional Repayment Date(s), if any, specified on the face hereof, in whole or in part in increments of U.S.$1,000 (provided that any remaining principal amount hereof shall be at least U.S.$1,000), at a repayment price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for repayment (the "Repayment Date"). For this Note to be repaid in whole or in part at the option of the Holder hereof, the Trustee must receive at its corporate trust office not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the Repayment Date, this Note with the form thereon entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" below duly completed. Exercise of such repayment option by the Holder hereof shall be irrevocable. In the event of repayment of this Note in part only, a new Note of like tenor for the unrepaid portion hereof and otherwise having the same terms and provisions as this Note shall be issued by the Company in the name of the Holder hereof upon the presentation and surrender hereof. If the Discount Note box is checked above, the amount payable to the Holder of this Note in the event of redemption, repayment or acceleration of maturity of this Note will be equal to the sum of (i) the Issue Price specified on the face hereof (increased by any accruals of the Discount, as defined below, and reduced by any amounts of principal previously paid) and, in the event of any redemption of this Note (if applicable), multiplied by the Initial Redemption Percentage (as adjusted by the Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction, if applicable) and (ii) any unpaid interest accrued hereon to the Redemption Date, Repayment Date or date of acceleration of maturity, as the case may be. The difference between the Issue Price specified above and 100% of the principal amount of this Note is referred to herein as the "Discount." For purposes of determining the amount of Discount that has accrued as of any Redemption Date, Repayment Date or date of acceleration of maturity of this Note, such Discount will be accrued so as to cause an assumed yield on the Note to be constant. The assumed constant yield will be calculated using a 30-day month, 360-day year convention, a compounding period that, except for the Initial Period (as defined below), corresponds to the shortest period between Interest Payment Dates (with ratable accruals within a compounding period), a coupon rate equal to the initial interest rate applicable to this Note and an assumption that the maturity of this Note will not be accelerated. If the period from the Original Issue Date to the initial Interest Payment Date (the "Initial Period") is shorter than the compounding period for this Note, a proportionate amount of the yield for an entire compounding period will be accrued. If the Initial Period is longer than the compounding period, then such period will be divided into a regular compounding period and a short period, with the short period being treated as provided in the preceding sentence. The interest rate borne by this Note will be determined as follows: (i) Unless the Interest Category of this Note is specified on the face hereof as a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note" or an "Inverse Floating Rate Note" or the face hereof specifies that either "Other/Additional Provisions" or an Addendum hereto applies, in each case, relating to a different interest rate formula, this Note shall be designated as a 8 "Regular Floating Rate Note" and, except as set forth below or specified on the face hereof or in an Addendum hereto, shall bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus the Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, in each case as specified on the face hereof. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on this Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date specified on the face hereof; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the -------- ------- period, if any, from the Original Issue Date to the Initial Interest Reset Date shall be the Initial Interest Rate. (ii) If the Interest Category of this Note is specified on the face hereof as a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note", then, except as set forth below or specified on the face hereof or in an Addendum hereto, this Note shall bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus the Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, in each case as specified on the face hereof. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on this Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that (y) the interest rate in effect for the -------- ------- period, if any, from the Original Issue Date to the Initial Interest Reset Date shall be the Initial Interest Rate and (z) the interest rate in effect for the period commencing on the Fixed Rate Commencement Date specified on the face hereof to the Maturity Date shall be the Fixed Interest Rate specified on the face hereof or, if no such Fixed Interest Rate is specified, the interest rate in effect hereon on the day immediately preceding the Fixed Rate Commencement Date. (iii) If the Interest Category of this Note is specified on the face hereof as an "Inverse Floating Rate Note", then, except as set forth below or specified on the face hereof or in an Addendum hereto, this Note shall bear interest at the Fixed Interest Rate minus the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis or Bases (a) plus or minus the Spread, if any, and/or (b) multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, in each case as specified on the face hereof; provided, however, that the interest rate hereon shall not be -------- ------- less than zero. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on this Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate -------- ------- in effect for the period, if any, from the Original Issue Date to the Initial Interest Reset Date shall be the Initial Interest Rate. Except as set forth above or specified on the face hereof or in an Addendum hereto, the interest rate in effect on each day shall be (i) if such day is an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date (as defined below) immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date or (ii) if such day is not an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding the most recent Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect -------- ------- for the period, if any, from the Original Issue Date to the Initial Interest Reset Date shall be the Initial Interest Rate. If any Interest Reset Date would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date shall be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day, except that if LIBOR or EURIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis and such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. In addition, if the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis and the Interest Determination Date would otherwise fall on an Interest Reset Date, then such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day. 9 The interest rate applicable to each Interest Reset Period commencing on the related Interest Reset Date will be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the applicable Interest Determination Date and will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on or prior to the Calculation Date (as defined below). The "Interest Determination Date" with respect to the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate and EURIBOR shall be the second Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date; the "Interest Determination Date" with respect to the Federal Funds Rate and the Prime Rate shall be the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date; the "Interest Determination Date" with respect to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate shall be the last working day of the month immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date on which the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (the "FHLB of San Francisco") publishes the Index (as defined below); and the "Interest Determination Date" with respect to LIBOR shall be the second London Banking Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date. The "Interest Determination Date" with respect to the Treasury Rate shall be the day in the week in which the applicable Interest Reset Date falls on which day Treasury Bills (as defined below) are normally auctioned (Treasury Bills are normally sold at an auction held on Monday of each week, unless such Monday is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally held on the immediately succeeding Tuesday, although such auction may be held on the preceding Friday); provided, however, that if an auction is held on the Friday of the week -------- ------- preceding the applicable Interest Reset Date, the "Interest Determination Date" shall be such preceding Friday, provided, further, that if an auction falls on -------- ------- any Interest Reset Date, then the Interest Reset Date shall instead be the first Business Day following such auction. If the interest rate of this Note is determined with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases specified on the face hereof, the "Interest Determination Date" pertaining to this Note shall be the most recent Business Day which is at least two Business Days prior to the applicable Interest Reset Date on which each Interest Rate Basis is determinable. Each Interest Rate Basis shall be determined as of such date, and the applicable interest rate shall take effect on the related Interest Reset Date. Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof or in an Addendum hereto, the rate with respect to each Interest Rate Basis will be determined in accordance with the applicable provisions below. CD Rate. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is specified on the ------- face hereof as the CD Rate, the CD Rate shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "CD Rate Interest Determination Date") as the rate on such date for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity as published in H.15(519) (as defined below) under the heading "CDs (secondary market)", or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of the Index Maturity as published in H.15 Daily Update (as hereinafter defined), or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption "CDs (secondary market)." If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CD Rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent specified on the face hereof and will be the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date, of three leading non-bank dealers in negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit of 10 major United States money market banks for negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity in an amount that is representative for a single transaction in that market at that time; provided, however, that if the dealers so selected by the Calculation -------- ------- Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the CD Rate determined as of such CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CD Rate in effect on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date. "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.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/h15/update, or any successor site or publication. CMT Rate. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is specified on the -------- face hereof as the CMT Rate, the CMT Rate shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "CMT Rate Interest Determination Date") as the CMT Rate plus or minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified above. "CMT Rate" means with respect to any CMT Rate Interest Determination Date: (i) if CMT Telerate Page 7051 is specified above, the percentage equal to the yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified above as published in H.15(519) under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities", as the yield is displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 7051, or any other page as may replace page 7051 on that service ("Telerate Page 7051"), for such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 7051, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be the percentage equal to the yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified above and for such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date as published in H.15(519) under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities". If such rate does not appear in H.15(519), the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be the rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date for the period of the Index Maturity specified above as may then be published by either the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors or the United States Department of the Treasury that the Calculation Agent determines to be comparable to the rate which would otherwise have been published in H.15(519). If the Federal Reverse System Board of Governors or the United States Department of the Treasury does not publish a yield on United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified above for such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices at approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date of three leading primary United States government securities dealers in The City of New York (each, a "Reference Dealer") selected by the Calculation Agent from five Reference Dealers and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest) for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity equal to the Index Maturity specified above, a remaining term to maturity no more than 1 year shorter than the Index Maturity specified above and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in such securities in such market at such time. If fewer than five but more than two 11 such prices are provided as requested, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of such quotations will be eliminated. If fewer than three prices are provided as requested, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent from five Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest) for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity greater than the Index Maturity specified above, a remaining term to maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified above, and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in such securities in such market at such time. If fewer than five but more than two such prices are provided as requested, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of the quotations will be eliminated; provided, however, that if fewer than three such prices are provided as ----------------- requested, the CMT Rate determined as of such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CMT Rate in effect on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date. If two such United States Treasury securities with an original maturity greater than the Index Maturity specified above have remaining terms to maturity equally close to the Index Maturity specified above, the quotes for the Treasury security with the shorter original term to maturity will be used. (ii) if CMT Telerate Page 7052 is specified above, the percentage equal to the one-week or one-month, as specified above, average yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified above as published in H.15(519) opposite the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities", as such yield is displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 7052, or any other page as may replace page 7052 on that service ("Telerate Page 7052"), for the week or month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week or month, as applicable, in which such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date falls. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 7052, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Rate Determination Date will be the percentage equal to the one-week or one-month, as specified above, average yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified above and for the week or month, as applicable, preceding such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date as published in H.15(519) opposite the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities". If such rate does not appear in H.15(519), the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be the one-week or one-month, as specified above, average yield for United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified above as otherwise announced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the week or month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week or month, as applicable, in which such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date falls. If the Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not publish a one-week or one-month, as specified above, average yield on United States Treasury securities at "constant maturity" having the Index Maturity specified above for the applicable week or month, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices at approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City 12 time, on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent from five such Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest) for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity equal to the Index Maturity specified above, a remaining term to maturity no more than 1 year shorter than the Index Maturity specified above and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in such securities in such market at such time. If fewer than five but more than two such prices are provided as requested, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of such quotations will be eliminated. If fewer than three prices are provided as requested, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid prices as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent from five Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest) for United States Treasury securities with an original maturity greater than the Index Maturity specified above, a remaining term to maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified above and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in such securities in such market at such time. If fewer than five but more than two such prices are provided as requested, the CMT Rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be based on the arithmetic mean of the bid prices obtained and neither the highest or the lowest of such quotations will be eliminated; provided, however, that if fewer than three such prices are ----------------- provided as requested, the CMT Rate determined as of such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CMT Rate in effect on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date. If two United States Treasury securities with an original maturity greater than the Index Maturity specified above have remaining terms to maturity equally close to the Index Maturity specified above, the quotes for the United States Treasury security with the shorter original remaining term to maturity will be used. Commercial Paper Rate. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is --------------------- specified on the face hereof as the Commercial Paper Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date") as the Money Market Yield (as defined below) on such date of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity as published in H.15(519) under the caption "Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial" or, if not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Money Market Yield of the rate on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption "Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial." If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and shall be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of United States dollar commercial paper in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial paper having the Index Maturity placed for industrial 13 issuers whose bond rating is "Aa", or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization; provided, however, that if the ------------------- dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Commercial Paper Rate determined as of such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Commercial Paper Rate in effect on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date. "Money Market Yield" means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula: D X 360 Money Market Yield = -------------- X 100 360 - (D X M) where "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and "M" refers to the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period. Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate. If an Interest Rate Basis for ------------------------------------- this Note is specified on the face hereof as the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (an "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date") as the rate equal to the monthly weighted average cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding the month in which such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date falls, as set forth under the caption "11th District" on the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on page 7058 or any other page as may replace such page on such service ("Telerate Page 7058") as of 11:00 A.M., San Francisco time, on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 7058 on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date, then the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date shall be the monthly weighted average cost of funds paid by member institutions of the Eleventh Federal Home Loan Bank District that was most recently announced (the "Index") by the FHLB of San Francisco as such cost of funds for the calendar month immediately preceding such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. If the FHLB of San Francisco fails to announce the Index on or prior to such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date for the calendar month immediately preceding such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate determined as of such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate in effect on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. Federal Funds Rate. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is ------------------- specified on the face hereof as the Federal Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date") as the rate on such date for United States dollar federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)", as such rate is displayed on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on page 120 (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) ("Telerate Page 120"), or, if such rate does not appear on Telerate page 120 or is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the rate on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date for United States dollar federal funds as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the 14 caption "Federal Funds (Effective)." If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 120 or is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Federal Funds Rate on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight United States dollar federal funds arranged by three leading brokers of United States dollar federal funds transactions in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent, prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date; provided, however, that if the brokers so ------------------- selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Federal Funds Rate determined as of such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. LIBOR. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is specified on the face ------ hereof as LIBOR, LIBOR shall be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "LIBOR Interest Determination Date") in accordance with the following provisions: (i) (a) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face hereof or if neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face hereof as the method for calculating LIBOR, LIBOR will be the rate for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency having the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page (as defined below) as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date; or (b) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified on the face hereof, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (unless the Designated LIBOR Page (as defined below) by its terms provides only for a single rate, in which case such single rate will be used) for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency having the Index Maturity, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date immediately following such Interest Determination Date, that appear (or, if only a single rate is required as aforesaid, appears) on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. If fewer than two such offered rates so appear, or if no such rate so appears, as applicable, LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date shall be determined in accordance with the provisions described in clause (ii) below. (ii) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination Date on which fewer than two offered rates appear, or no rate appears, as the case may be, on the Designated LIBOR Page as specified in clause (i) above, the Calculation Agent shall request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in the Designated LIBOR Currency for the period of the Index Maturity, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date immediately following such Interest Determination Date, to prime banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated LIBOR Currency in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in the applicable Principal Financial Center (as defined below), on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major banks in such Principal Financial Center selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in the Designated LIBOR Currency 15 to leading European banks, having the Index Maturity and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the Designated LIBOR Currency in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by --------- ------- the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date shall be LIBOR in effect on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. "Designated LIBOR Currency" means the currency specified on the face hereof as to which LIBOR shall be calculated or, if no such currency is specified on the face hereof, United States dollars. "Designated LIBOR Page" means (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified on the face hereof, the display on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service (or any successor service) on the page specified on the face hereof (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the Designated LIBOR Currency, or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face hereof or neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face hereof as the method for calculating LIBOR, the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on the page specified on the face hereof (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the Designated LIBOR Currency. EURIBOR. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is specified on the ------- face hereof as EURIBOR, EURIBOR shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "EURIBOR Interest Determination Date") as (i) the rate for deposits in euros as sponsored, calculated and published jointly by the European Banking Federation and ACI - The Financial Market Association, or any company established by the joint sponsors for purposes of compiling and publishing those rates, having the Index Maturity, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, as that rate appears on Bridge Telerate, Inc., or any successor service, on page 248 or any other page as may replace that specified page on that service ("Telerate Page 248") as of 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, or (ii) if the rate referred to in clause (i) does not appear on Telerate Page 248, or is not so published by 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date, the rate calculated by the Calculation Agent as the arithmetic mean of at least two quotations obtained by the Calculation Agent after requesting the principal Euro-zone (as defined below) offices of four major banks in the Euro-zone interbank market, in the European interbank market, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in euros for the period of the Index Maturity, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date, to prime banks in the Euro-zone interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on the applicable Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount not less than the equivalent of U.S. $1 million in euros that is representative for a single transaction in euro in that market at that time, or (iii) if fewer than two quotations referred to in clause (ii) are so provided, the rate on the applicable Interest Determination Date calculated by the Calculation Agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on such Interest Determination Date by four major banks in the Euro-zone for loans in euro to leading European banks, having the Index Maturity, commencing on the applicable Interest Reset Date and in a principal amount not less than the equivalent of U.S. $1 million in euros that is representative for a single transaction in euros in that market at that time, or (iv) if the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in clause (iii), EURIBOR in effect on the applicable Interest Determination Date. 16 "Euro-zone" means the region comprised of member states of the European Union that adopt the single currency in accordance with the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the treaty on European Union. Prime Rate. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is specified on the ----------- face hereof as the Prime Rate, the Prime Rate shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "Prime Rate Interest Determination Date") as the rate on such date as such rate is published in H.15(519) under the caption "Bank Prime Loan" or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption "Bank Prime Loan", or if such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Prime Rate determined as of such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent as the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen US PRIME 1 Page (as defined below) as such bank's prime rate or base lending rate as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. If fewer than four such rates so appear on the Reuters Screen US PRIME 1 Page for such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, then the Prime Rate determined as of such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent as the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a 360-day year as of the close of business on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date by three major banks in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent; provided, --------- however, that if the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting ------- as mentioned in this sentence, the Prime Rate determined as of such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Prime Rate in effect on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. "Reuters Screen 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 such 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. If an Interest Rate Basis for this Note is specified on -------------- the face hereof as the Treasury Rate, the Treasury Rate shall be determined as of the applicable Interest Determination Date (a "Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date") as the rate from the auction held on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date (the "Auction") of direct obligations of the United States ("Treasury Bills") having the Index Maturity under the caption "INVESTMENT RATE" on the display on Bridge Telerate, Inc. (or any successor service) on page 56 (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) ("Telerate Page 56") or page 57 (or any other page as may replace such page on such service) ("Telerate Page 57") or, if not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield (as defined below) of the rate for such Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High." If such rate is not so published in H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Treasury Rate determined as of such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date shall be Bond Equivalent Yield of the auction rate of such Treasury Bills as announced by the United States Department of the 17 Treasury. In the event that such auction rate is not so announced by the United States Department of Treasury on such Calculation Date, or if no such Auction is held, then the Treasury Rate determined as of such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date shall be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date of Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity as published in H.15(519) under the caption "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market" or, if not yet published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date of such Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or such other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying such rate, under the caption "U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market." If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Treasury Rate determined as of such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent as 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 such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date, of three primary United States government securities dealers selected by the Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity; provided, however, that if the dealers so ------------------- selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury Rate determined as of such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date shall be the Treasury Rate in effect on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date. "Bond Equivalent Yield" means a yield (expressed as a percentage) calculated in accordance with the following formula: D X N Bond Equivalent Yield = ------------- X 100 360 - (D X M) where "D" refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal, 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. Any provision contained herein, including the determination of an Interest Rate Basis, the specification of an Interest Rate Basis, calculation of the interest rate applicable to this Note, its Interest Payment Dates or any other matter relating thereto may be modified as specified in an Addendum relating hereto if so specified above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the interest rate hereon shall not be greater than the Maximum Interest Rate, if any, or less than the Minimum Interest Rate, if any, specified above. In addition to any maximum Interest Rate applicable hereto pursuant to the above provisions, the interest rate on this Note will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by the United States law of general application. The Calculation Agent shall calculate the interest rate hereof in accordance with the foregoing on or before each Calculation Date. At the request of the Holder hereof, the 18 Calculation Agent will provide to the Holder hereof the interest rate hereon then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate which will become effective as of the next Interest Reset Date. The "Calculation Date", if applicable, pertaining to any Interest Determination Date shall be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest Determination Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day or (ii) the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. At the request of the Holder hereof, the Calculation Agent will provide to the Holder hereof the interest rate hereon then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective as a result of a determination made for the next succeeding Interest Reset Date. Accrued interest hereon shall be an amount calculated by multiplying the principal amount hereof by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor shall be computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day in the applicable Interest Period. Unless otherwise specified as the Day Count Convention on the face hereof, the interest factor for each such date shall be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360 if the CD Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR, EURIBOR or the Prime Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis or by the actual number of days in the year if the CMT Rate or the Treasury Rate is an applicable Interest Rate Basis. Unless otherwise specified as the Day Count Convention on the face hereof, the interest factor for this Note, if the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases, shall be calculated in each period in the same manner as if only the applicable Interest Rate Basis specified on the face hereof applied. All percentages resulting from any calculation on this Note shall be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all amounts used in or resulting from such calculation on this Note shall be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upwards)). If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be accelerated in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities to be adversely affected thereby at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of Debt Securities at the time outstanding, adversely affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series, on behalf of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay 19 principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of this Note at the times, places and rate or formula, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of Authorized Denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount with the same terms and provisions, will be issued by the Company to the designated transferee or transferees. The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons and, if payable in U.S. dollars, only in denominations of U.S.$1,000 and any integral multiple of U.S.$1,000. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Holder as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary, except as required by law. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES. Capitalized terms used herein without definition which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. 20 ABBREVIATIONS The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM - as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - ______ Custodian _____ TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties (Cust) (Minor) JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of under Uniform Gifts to Minors survivorship and not as tenants Act_____________________ in common (State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. ---------------------------------- 21 ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE ----------------------- --------------------- ----------------------- --------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- this Note and all rights thereunder hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attorney to transfer this Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated: ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Notice: The signature(s) on this Assignment must correspond with the name(s) as written upon the face of this Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. 22 [OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT] The undersigned hereby irrevocably request(s) and instruct(s) the Company to repay this Note (or portion hereof specified below) pursuant to its terms at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued hereon to the Repayment Date, to the undersigned, at _____________________________________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Please print or typewrite name and address of the undersigned) For this Note to be repaid, the Trustee must receive at its corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently located at [101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286] not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days prior to the Repayment Date, this Note with this "Option to Elect Repayment" form duly completed. If less than the entire principal amount of this Note is to be repaid, specify the portion hereof (which shall be increments of U.S.$1,000 (provided that any remaining principal amount shall be at least U.S.$1,000 unless otherwise specified in the Note) which the Holder elects to have repaid and specify the denomination or denominations (which shall be U.S.$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of the Notes to be issued to the Holder for the portion of this Note not being repaid (in the absence of any such specification, one such Note will be issued for the portion not being repaid)). Principal Amount to be Repaid: $ -------------------- ----------------------------------- Notice: The signature(s) on this Date: ______________________________ Option to Elect Repayment must correspond with the name(s) as written upon the face of this Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. 23


                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                                 October 26, 2001



Colgate-Palmolive Company
300 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022

Re:  Colgate-Palmolive Company Registration Statement on Form S-3
     ------------------------------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

     This opinion is rendered to you in connection with the above-mentioned
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), for the registration by Colgate-Palmolive Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), of $1,400,000,000 aggregate initial offering price
of its debt securities (the "Debt Securities"). The Debt Securities will be
issued pursuant to the provisions of an Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of
November 15, 1992, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Trustee").

     I am Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company.
For the purposes of this opinion, I or attorneys under my supervision have
examined originals or copies, the authenticity of which has been established to
my satisfaction, of such documents and instruments as I have deemed necessary to
express the opinion hereinafter set forth.

     Based upon the foregoing, it is my opinion that the Debt Securities, when
duly authorized and executed by the Company and authenticated as provided in the
Indenture, and when duly paid for and delivered pursuant to a sale in the manner
described in the Registration Statement, including the prospectus forming a part
thereof and any prospectus supplement and pricing supplement relating to the
Debt Securities, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

     I consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement.



                                                    Very truly yours,



                                                    /s/  ANDREW D. HENDRY


                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1

                            COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
                COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                               Dollars in Millions


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Year Ended December 31, 2000 ----------------- Income before income taxes $ 1,567.2 Add: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium 199.7 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 30.2 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 2.8 Less: Income of less than fifty-percent-owned subsidiaries (2.2) --------- Income as adjusted $ 1,797.7 ========= Fixed Charges: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium 199.7 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 30.2 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 2.8 Capitalized interest 3.8 --------- Total fixed charges $ 236.5 ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 7.6 =========
In June 1989, the Company's leveraged employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) issued $410.0 long-term notes due through 2009 bearing an average interest rate of 8.7%. These notes are guaranteed by the Company. Interest incurred on the ESOP's notes was $31.4 in 2000. This interest is funded through preferred and common stock dividends. The fixed charges presented above include interest on ESOP indebtedness to the extent it is not funded through preferred and common stock dividends. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Dollars in Millions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31, 1999 ----------------- Income before income taxes $ 1,394.6 Add: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium 212.2 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 33.7 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 2.9 Less: Income of less than fifty-percent-owned subsidiaries (5.3) ---------- Income as adjusted $ 1,638.1 ========== Fixed Charges: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium 212.2 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 33.7 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 2.9 Capitalized interest 11.8 ---------- Total fixed charges $ 260.6 ========== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 6.3 ==========
In June 1989, the Company's leveraged employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) issued $410.0 long-term notes due through 2009 bearing an average interest rate of 8.7%. These notes are guaranteed by the Company. Interest incurred on the ESOP's notes was $32.0 in 1999. This interest is funded through preferred and common stock dividends. The fixed charges presented above include interest on ESOP indebtedness to the extent it is not funded through preferred and common stock dividends. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Dollars in Millions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31, 1998 ----------------- Income before income taxes $ 1,250.1 Add: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium 204.5 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 34.2 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 3.2 Less: Income of less than fifty-percent-owned subsidiaries (5.3) --------- Income as adjusted $ 1,486.7 ========= Fixed Charges: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium $ 204.5 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 34.2 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 3.2 Capitalized interest 12.3 --------- Total fixed charges $ 254.2 ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 5.8 =========
In June 1989, the Company's leveraged employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) issued $410.0 long-term notes due through 2009 bearing an average interest rate of 8.7%. These notes are guaranteed by the Company. Interest incurred on the ESOP's notes was $32.5 in 1998. This interest is funded through preferred and common stock dividends. The fixed charges presented above include interest on ESOP indebtedness to the extent it is not funded through preferred and common stock dividends. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Dollars in Millions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31, 1997 ----------------- Income before income taxes $ 1,102.3 Add: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium 231.6 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 31.5 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 3.2 Less: Income of less than fifty-percent-owned subsidiaries (5.6) --------- Income as adjusted $ 1,363.0 ========= Fixed Charges: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium $ 231.6 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 31.5 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 3.2 Capitalized interest 10.0 --------- Total fixed charges $ 276.3 ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 4.9 =========
In June 1989, the Company's leveraged employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) issued $410.0 long-term notes due through 2009 bearing an average interest rate of 8.6%. These notes are guaranteed by the Company. Interest incurred on the ESOP's notes was $33.0 in 1997. This interest is funded through preferred and common stock dividends. The fixed charges presented above include interest on ESOP indebtedness to the extent it is not funded through preferred and common stock dividends. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Dollars in Millions --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended December 31, 1996 ----------------- Income before income taxes $ 954.6 Add: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium 231.7 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 31.1 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 2.4 Less: Income of less than fifty-percent-owned subsidiaries (7.8) --------- Income as adjusted $ 1,212.0 ========= Fixed Charges: Interest on indebtedness and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium $ 231.7 Portion of rents representative of interest factor 31.1 Interest on ESOP debt, net of dividends 2.4 Capitalized interest 12.7 --------- Total fixed charges $ 277.9 ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 4.4 =========
In June 1989, the Company's leveraged employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) issued $410.0 long-term notes due through 2009 bearing an average interest rate of 8.6%. These notes are guaranteed by the Company. Interest incurred on the ESOP's notes was $33.5 in 1996. This interest is funded through preferred and common stock dividends. The fixed charges presented above include interest on ESOP indebtedness to the extent it is not funded through preferred and common stock dividends.


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2




CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our report dated January 30, 2001
included in Colgate-Palmolive Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2000 and to all references to our Firm included in this registration
statement.


                                    /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP


New York, New York
October 19, 2001



                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


          I, Jill K. Conway, do hereby make, constitute and appoint Reuben Mark,
Stephen C. Patrick, Dennis J. Hickey and Andrew D. Hendry, and each of them, as
my attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution for me and in my
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute for me and on my
behalf a Registration Statement of Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Company") on
Form S-3, or other appropriate forms relating to the issuance of up to
$1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the foregoing Registration
Statement and any other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing necessary and proper to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

          In witness whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 11/th/
day of October, 2001.





                                              /s/    Jill K. Conway
                                              ----------------------------
                                        Name:        Jill K. Conway






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

     I, Ronald E. Ferguson, do hereby make, constitute and appoint Reuben Mark,
Stephen C. Patrick, Dennis J. Hickey and Andrew D. Hendry, and each of them, as
my attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution for me and in my
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute for me and on my
behalf a Registration Statement of Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Company") on
Form S-3, or other appropriate forms relating to the issuance of up to
$1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the foregoing Registration
Statement and any other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing necessary and proper to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     In witness whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 11th day of
October, 2001.


                                       /s/ Ronald E. Ferguson
                                       ----------------------
                                 Name:     Ronald E. Ferguson






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


          I, Ellen M. Hancock, do hereby make, constitute and appoint Reuben
Mark, Stephen C. Patrick, Dennis J. Hickey and Andrew D. Hendry, and each of
them, as my attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution
for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute
for me and on my behalf a Registration Statement of Colgate-Palmolive Company
(the "Company") on Form S-3, or other appropriate forms relating to the issuance
of up to $1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes and any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the foregoing
Registration Statement and any other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing necessary and proper to be done in and about the premises,
as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

               In witness whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney this
11/th/ day of October, 2001.





                                            /s/ Ellen M. Hancock
                                            --------------------
                                      Name:     Ellen M. Hancock




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


          I, David W. Johnson, do hereby make, constitute and appoint Reuben
Mark, Stephen C. Patrick, Dennis J. Hickey and Andrew D. Hendry, and each of
them, as my attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution for me
and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute for me
and on my behalf a Registration Statement of Colgate-Palmolive Company (the
"Company") on Form S-3, or other appropriate forms relating to the issuance of
up to $1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes and any and
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the foregoing
Registration Statement and any other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing necessary and proper to be done in and about the premises,
as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

          In witness whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 11/th/
day of October, 2001.






                                                    /s/  David W. Johnson
                                                    -------------------------
                                             Name:       David W. Johnson





                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


     I, Richard J. Kogan, do hereby make, constitute and appoint Reuben Mark,
Stephen C. Patrick, Dennis J. Hickey and Andrew D. Hendry, and each of them, as
my attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution for me and in my
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute for me and on my
behalf a Registration Statement of Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Company") on
Form S-3, or other appropriate forms relating to the issuance of up to
$1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the foregoing Registration
Statement and any other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing necessary and proper to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     In witness whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 11/th/ day
of October, 2001.







                                                       /s/ Richard J. Kogan
                                                       -----------------------
                                                  Name:    Richard J. Kogan



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


     I, Delano E. Lewis, do hereby make, constitute and appoint Reuben Mark,
Stephen C. Patrick, Dennis J. Hickey and Andrew D. Hendry, and each of them, as
my attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution for me and in my
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute for me and on my
behalf a Registration Statement of Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Company") on
Form S-3, or other appropriate forms relating to the issuance of up to
$1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes and any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the foregoing Registration
Statement and any other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and
each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing necessary and proper to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     In witness whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 11th day of
October, 2001.





                                                        /s/ Delano E. Lewis
                                                        ----------------------
                                                  Name:     Delano E. Lewis



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


     I, Howard B. Wentz, Jr., do hereby make, constitute and appoint Reuben
Mark, Stephen C. Patrick, Dennis J. Hickey and Andrew D. Hendry, and each of
them, as my attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution for me
and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute for me
and on my behalf a Registration Statement of Colgate-Palmolive Company (the
"Company") on Form S-3, or other appropriate forms relating to the issuance of
up to $1,400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes and any and
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the foregoing
Registration Statement and any other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing necessary and proper to be done in and about the premises,
as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and/or any
of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     In witness whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 11th day of
October, 2001.







                                                       /s/ Howard B. Wentz, Jr.
                                                       ------------------------
                                                 Name:     Howard B. Wentz, Jr.



                                                                      Exhibit 25
================================================================================
                                    FORM T-1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                      CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                      ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                             SECTION 305(b)(2) [_]

                           ---------------------------

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

New York                                                    13-5160382
(State of incorporation                                     (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)                                identification no.)

One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.                             10286
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip code)

                           ---------------------------

                            COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                    13-1815595
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                              identification no.)

300 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                          10022
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip code)


                                 Debt Securities
                       (Title of the indenture securities)
================================================================================



1.   General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

     (a)  Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which
          it is subject.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Name                                        Address
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Superintendent of Banks of the State    2 Rector Street, New York, N.Y.
     of New York                             10006, and Albany, N.Y. 12203

     Federal Reserve Bank of New York        33 Liberty Plaza, New York, N.Y.
                                             10045

     Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation   Washington, D.C. 20429

     New York Clearing House Association     New York, New York 10005

     (b)  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

     Yes.

2.   Affiliations with Obligor.

     If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
     affiliation.

     None.

16.  List of Exhibits.

     Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are
     incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule
     7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Act") and 17 C.F.R.
     229.10(d).

     1.   A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
          (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the
          authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise
          corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1
          filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to
          Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672 and Exhibit 1
          to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637.)

     4.   A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1
          filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)

     6.   The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
          (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
          33-44051.)

     7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published
          pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining
          authority.

                                      -2-





                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York,
has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State
of New York, on the 17th day of October, 2001.


                                  THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                                  By:   /S/  STACEY POINDEXTER
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  STACEY POINDEXTER
                                      Title: ASSISTANT TREASURER

                                      -3-




                                                                       EXHIBIT 7
                                                                       ---------


________________________________________________________________________________

                       Consolidated Report of Condition of

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                    of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
                     And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 2001,
published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

Dollar Amounts ASSETS In Thousands Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin .......... $ 2,811,275 Interest-bearing balances ................................... 3,133,222 Securities: Held-to-maturity securities ................................. 147,185 Available-for-sale securities ............................... 5,403,923 Federal funds sold and Securities purchased under agreements to resell ........................................ 3,378,526 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases held for sale............................... 74,702 Loans and leases, net of unearned income..................................................... 37,471,621 LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses............................................... 599,061 Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance ...................................... 36,872,560 Trading Assets ................................................. 11,757,036 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ..................................................... 768,795 Other real estate owned ........................................ 1,078 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ........................................ 193,126 Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ................................................. 592,118 Intangible assets: Goodwill .................................................... 1,300,295 Other intangible assets ..................................... 122,143 Other assets ................................................... 3,676,375 =========
Total assets ................................................... $70,232,359 =========== LIABILITIES Deposits: In domestic offices ......................................... $25,962,242 Noninterest-bearing.......................................... 10,586,346 Interest-bearing............................................. 15,395,896 In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs .................................... 24,862,377 Noninterest-bearing.......................................... 373,085 Interest-bearing............................................. 24,489,292 Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase .................................... 1,446,874 Trading liabilities ............................................ 2,373,361 Other borrowed money: (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases).................................... 1,381,512 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ................................................. 592,804 Subordinated notes and debentures .............................. 1,646,000 Other liabilities .............................................. 5,373,065 ----------- Total liabilities .............................................. $63,658,235 =========== EQUITY CAPITAL Common stock ................................................... 1,135,284 Surplus ........................................................ 1,008,773 Retained earnings .............................................. 4,426,033 Accumulated other comprehensive income.......................... 4,034 Other equity capital components....... ......................... 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Total equity capital ........................................... 6,574,124 ----------- Total liabilities and equity capital ........................... $70,232,359 =========== I, Thomas J. Mastro, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Thomas J. Mastro, Senior Vice President and Comptroller We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and correct. ____ Thomas A. Renyi Gerald L. Hassell Alan R. Griffith Directors ____ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------