"Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
                                              relating to Reg. Stmt. 33-48840
                                                      and Reg. Stmt. 33-78424


                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
                       (TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 12, 1994)
                                  $500,800,000
                                     [LOGO]
                          MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES B
                   DUE MORE THAN ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF ISSUE
                            ------------------------
 
    Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Company") may offer from time to time up to
$500,800,000 aggregate principal amount, or the equivalent thereof in one or
more foreign or composite currencies, of its Medium-Term Notes, Series B (the
"Notes"). Each Note will mature on a day more than one year from the date of
issue, as selected by the purchaser and agreed to by the Company, and may be
subject to redemption by the Company or repayment at the option of the Holder
thereof, in each case, in whole or in part, prior to its Stated Maturity, as set
forth therein and specified in a pricing supplement hereto (each, a "Pricing
Supplement").
 
    The interest rate, if any, or the formula for the determination of any such
interest rate, applicable to each Note and other variable terms of the Notes as
described herein will be established by the Company at the date of issue of such
Note and will be set forth therein and specified in a Pricing Supplement.
Interest rates, interest rate formulae and such other variable terms are subject
to change by the Company, but no change will affect any Note already issued or
as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company. Each Note
will be issued in fully registered book-entry form (a "Book-Entry Note") or
definitive form (a "Definitive Note"), as set forth in the applicable Pricing
Supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless
otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Each Book-Entry Note
will be represented by a global security deposited with or on behalf of The
Depository Trust Company (or such other depositary as is identified in an
applicable Pricing Supplement) (the "Depositary") and registered in the name of
the Depositary's nominee. Interests in Book-Entry Notes will be shown on, and
transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the
Depositary (with respect to its participants) and the Depositary's participants
(with respect to beneficial owners).
 
    Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes
will bear interest at fixed rates (the "Fixed Rate Notes") or at floating rates
(the "Floating Rate Notes"). The applicable Pricing Supplement will specify
whether a Floating Rate Note is a Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note or Inverse
Floating Rate Note or whether its rate of interest is determined by reference to
one or more of the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the
Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate, the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR, the Prime
Rate or the Treasury Rate (each, an "Interest Rate Basis"), or any other
interest rate formula, as adjusted by any Spread and/or Spread Multiplier and
will specify such other terms applicable to such Note. See "Description of
Notes." Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will accrue from their date of issue and,
unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, will be payable
semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year and at Maturity.
Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the rate of
interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly,
quarterly, semiannually or annually, as set forth therein and specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, and interest on each Floating Rate Note will
accrue from its date of issue and will be payable in arrears monthly, quarterly,
semiannually or annually, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement and
at Maturity. Notes may also be issued with original issue discount, and such
Notes may or may not currently pay interest.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
     EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
           COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
               PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS OR ANY
                   SUPPLEMENT HERETO. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
                     THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
AGENTS' DISCOUNTS PRICE TO AND PROCEEDS TO THE PUBLIC(1) COMMISSIONS(2)(3) COMPANY(2)(4) Per Note.......................................... 100% .150% - .750% 99.850% - 99.250% $751,200 - $500,048,800 - Total............................................. $500,800,000 $3,756,000 $497,044,000
(1) Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will be issued at 100% of their principal amount. (2) The Company will pay to Citicorp Securities, Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lazard Freres & Co., Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. a commission ranging from .150% to .750% of the principal amount of a Note, depending upon its Stated Maturity, sold through any such agent, and may sell Notes to any agent, as principal, for resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices relating to prevailing market prices at the time of resale, as determined by such agent or, if so agreed, at a fixed public offering price. (3) The Company has agreed to indemnify the agents against, and to provide contribution under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Plan of Distribution." (4) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $365,415. ------------------------ The Notes are being offered on a continuing basis by the Company through agents, which may include those listed below (collectively, the "Agents"), who have agreed to use their reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Notes. The Company may also sell Notes to any Agent, as principal, for resale to investors and other purchasers. The Company has reserved the right to sell Notes directly on its own behalf or to appoint other agents from time to time, which will be named in the appropriate Pricing Supplement. No commission will be payable on any Notes sold directly by the Company. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange and there can be no assurance that the Notes offered by this Prospectus Supplement will be sold or that there will be a secondary market for the Notes. The Company reserves the right to cancel or modify the offer made hereby without notice. The Company or an Agent, if it solicits the offer, may reject any offer to purchase Notes in whole or in part. See "Plan of Distribution." ------------------------ CITICORP SECURITIES, INC. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. LAZARD FRERES & CO. MERRILL LYNCH & CO. J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. ------------------------ The date of this Prospectus Supplement is May 12, 1994. THE COMPANY Colgate-Palmolive Company (the "Company"), founded in 1806, is one of the world's leading consumer products companies. It has operating companies in more than 70 countries and markets its products in approximately 170 countries. The Company has been operating outside the United States for more than 70 years. The Company is a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices located at 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (telephone (212) 310-2000). The Company manufactures and markets a wide variety of products in the U.S. and around the world in two distinct business segments: Oral, Personal and Household Care, and Specialty Marketing. Oral, Personal and Household Care products include toothpastes, oral rinses and toothbrushes, bar and liquid soaps, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, baby and shave products, laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric softeners, cleansers and cleaners, bleach, and other similar items. Specialty Marketing products include pet dietary care products and portable fuel for warming food. Principal global trademarks and tradenames include Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Ajax, Fab and Science Diet in addition to various regional tradenames. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company anticipates that approximately $250 million of the proceeds of the offering of Notes will be used to repay the Company's commercial paper currently outstanding. Such commercial paper has a 30-day term, bears varying interest rates ranging from 4.3% to 4.5% and was originally issued to fund current transactions. DESCRIPTION OF NOTES The Notes will be issued as a series of debt securities under an Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1992 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The following summary of certain provisions of the Notes and of the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture including the forms of Notes, copies of which have been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus are a part. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be. The term "Debt Securities," as used under this caption, refers to all securities issued and issuable from time to time under the Indenture and includes the Notes. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the Trustee will also act as "Calculation Agent." GENERAL THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION OF NOTES WILL APPLY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN AN APPLICABLE PRICING SUPPLEMENT. All Debt Securities, including the Notes, issued and to be issued under the Indenture will be unsecured general obligations of the Company and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company from time to time outstanding. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued thereunder and Debt Securities may be issued thereunder 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 authorized by the Company for each series. As of the date of this Prospectus Supplement, the Company has authorized the issuance under the Indenture of up to $900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities (including $399,200,000 aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes, Series A issued by the Company in 1992 which are still outstanding). The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the S-2 Holders of the Notes, provide for the issuance of Notes or other Debt Securities under the Indenture in addition to the $900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities authorized as of the date of this Prospectus Supplement. The Notes are currently limited to $500,800,000 aggregate principal amount or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign or composite currencies. The Notes will be offered on a continuing basis and will mature on a day more than one year from the date of issue, as selected by the purchaser and agreed to by the Company. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, interest-bearing Notes will either be Fixed Rate Notes or Floating Rate Notes as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Notes may be issued at significant discounts from their principal amount payable at Stated Maturity (or on any prior 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 the option of the Company, repayment at the option of the Holder or otherwise) (each such date, a "Maturity"), and some Notes may not bear interest. Unless otherwise indicated in a Note or in a foreign currency supplement thereto (a "Multiple-Currency Supplement") or Indexed Note (as defined below) supplement thereto (an "Indexed Note Supplement"), the Notes will be denominated in United States dollars and payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be made in United States dollars. If any of the Notes are to be denominated other than in United States dollars or if the principal of, and interest on, the Notes, and any premium provided for in any Note is to be payable in or by reference to a currency (or in composite currency units or in amounts determined by reference to one or more currencies) other than that in which such Note is denominated, provisions with respect thereto will be set forth in such Note and in the applicable Multi-Currency Supplement or Indexed Note Supplement. Interest rates, interest rate formulae and other variable terms of the Notes are subject to change by the Company from time to time, but no such change will affect any Note already issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company. Each Note will be issued in fully registered book-entry form (a "Book-Entry Note") or definitive form (a "Definitive Note"), in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Book-Entry Notes may be transferred or exchanged only through a participating member of The Depository Trust Company (or such other depository as is identified in an applicable Pricing Supplement) (the "Depositary"). See "Book-Entry Notes." Registration of transfer of Definitive Notes will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. No service charge will be made by the Company, the Trustee or the Security Registrar for any such registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than exchanges pursuant to the Indenture, not involving any transfers). Payments of principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on Book-Entry Notes will be made by the Company through the Trustee to the Depositary. See "Book-Entry Notes." In the case of Definitive Notes, payment of principal or premium, if any, at the Maturity of each Definitive Note will be made in immediately available funds upon presentation of the Definitive Note at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or at such other place as the Company may designate. Payment of interest due at Maturity will be made to the person to whom payment of the principal of the Definitive Note shall be made. Payment of interest due on Definitive Notes other than at Maturity will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or, at the option of the Company, may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder of $5,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes having the same Interest Payment Dates will, at the option of the Company, be entitled to receive interest payments (other than at Maturity) 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. S-3 REDEMPTION Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund. If provided in an applicable Pricing Supplement, Notes may be subject to redemption, in whole or in part, prior to their Stated Maturity at the option of the Company (upon at least 30 but not more than 60 days' prior notice to the Depositary in the case of Book-Entry Notes) or through operation of a mandatory or optional sinking fund or analogous provisions. Such Pricing Supplement will set forth the detailed terms of such redemption, including, but not limited to, the date after or on which and the price or prices (including premium, if any) at which such Notes may be redeemed. REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER If so indicated in an applicable Pricing Supplement, Notes will be payable by the Company in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof on their respective optional repayment dates, if any, as agreed upon by the Company and the purchasers thereof at the time of sale (each, an "Optional Repayment Date"). If no Optional Repayment Date is indicated with respect to a Note, such Note will not be repayable at the option of the Holder thereof prior to its Stated Maturity. Any repayment in part will be in increments of $1,000 provided that any remaining principal amount of such Note will be an authorized denomination of such Note. Unless otherwise provided in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the repayment price for any Note so repaid will be 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with accrued interest thereon payable to the date of repayment. For any Note to be so repaid, the Note must be received, together with the form thereon entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" duly completed, by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office (or at such other address of which the Company shall from time to time notify the holders) not more than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to the Optional Repayment Date. Exercise of such repayment option by the Holder will be irrevocable. While the Book-Entry Notes are represented by Global Securities (as defined below) held by or on behalf of the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or the Depositary's nominee, the Depositary or its nominee will be the Holder of such Book-Entry Note and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to repayment. In order to ensure that the Depositary or its nominee will timely exercise a right to repayment with respect to a particular Book-Entry Note, the beneficial owner of such Book-Entry Note must instruct the participant through which it holds an interest in such Book-Entry Note to notify the Depositary of its desire to exercise a right of repayment. Different firms may have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers. Accordingly, beneficial owners of Book-Entry Notes should consult the participants through which they own their interest in the Book-Entry Notes for the respective deadlines for such participants. All notices shall be executed by a duly authorized officer of such participant (with signature guaranteed) and shall be irrevocable. In addition, such beneficial owners of Book-Entry Notes shall effect delivery of such Book-Entry Notes at the time such notices of election are given to the Depositary by causing the participant to transfer such beneficial owner's interest in the Book-Entry Notes, on the Depositary's records, to the Trustee. Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to participants, by participants to indirect participants and by participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners of the Book-Entry Notes will be governed by agreements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. INTEREST GENERAL Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, each 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 therein and in the applicable Pricing Supplement until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be payable in arrears on each date specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement on which an installment of interest is due and payable (an "Interest S-4 Payment Date") and at Maturity. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the first payment of interest on any Note originally issued between a Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date or on an Interest Payment Date will be made on the Interest Payment Date immediately following the next succeeding Regular Record Date to the registered Holder on such next succeeding Regular Record Date. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, a "Regular Record Date" shall be the fifteenth day (whether or not a Business Day (as defined herein)) immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date. In the case of defaulted interest, the Company may elect to make payment of such defaulted interest on a "Special Record Date," which date shall be fixed in the manner provided for in the Indenture. FIXED RATE NOTES Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, each Fixed Rate Note will bear interest from and including the date of issue, or from and including the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, to but excluding the Interest Payment Date or Maturity, as the case may be, at the rate per annum stated on the face thereof until the principal amount thereof is paid or made available for payment. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Interest on Fixed Rate Notes will be payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, and at Maturity. If any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity 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 such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or Maturity, as the case may be. FLOATING RATE NOTES Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, Floating Rate Notes will be issued as described below. Each applicable Pricing Supplement will specify certain terms with respect to which such Floating Rate Note is being delivered, including: whether such Floating Rate Note is a "Regular Floating Rate Note" (as defined below), an "Inverse Floating Rate Note" (as defined below) or a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note" (as defined below); the Interest Rate Basis or Bases, Initial Interest Rate, Interest Reset Dates, Interest Reset Period, Regular Record Dates, Interest Payment Dates, Index Maturity, maximum interest rate and minimum interest rate, if any, and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any, as described below. The interest rate borne by the Floating Rate Notes will be determined as follows: (i) Unless such Floating Rate Note is designated as a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note," an Inverse Floating Rate Note or as having an Addendum attached, such Floating Rate Note will be designated as a "Regular Floating Rate Note" and, except as described below or in an applicable Pricing Supplement, bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis (i) plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (ii) multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Regular Floating Rate Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from the Original Issue Date to the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate. (ii) If such Floating Rate Note is designated as a "Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note," then, except as described below or in an applicable Pricing Supplement, such Floating Rate Note will bear interest at the rate determined by reference to the applicable Interest Rate Basis (i) plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (ii) multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note shall be payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that (i) the interest rate in effect for the period from the Original Issue Date to the Initial S-5 Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate; and (ii) the interest rate in effect commencing on, and including, the Fixed Rate Commencement Date to Maturity shall be the Fixed Interest Rate, if such rate is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, or if no such Fixed Interest Rate is so specified, the interest rate in effect thereon on the day immediately preceding the Fixed Rate Commencement Date. (iii) If such Floating Rate Note is designated as an "Inverse Floating Rate Note," then, except as described below or in an applicable Pricing Supplement, such Floating Rate Note will bear interest equal to the Fixed Interest Rate specified in the related Pricing Supplement minus the rate determined by reference to the Interest Rate Basis (i) plus or minus the applicable Spread, if any, and/or (ii) multiplied by the applicable Spread Multiplier, if any; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest rate thereon will not be less than zero. Commencing on the Initial Interest Reset Date, the rate at which interest on such Inverse Floating Rate Note is payable shall be reset as of each Interest Reset Date; provided, however, that the interest rate in effect for the period from the Original Issue Date to the Initial Interest Reset Date will be the Initial Interest Rate. (iv) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Floating Rate Note is designated as having an Addendum attached as specified on the face thereof, such Floating Rate Note shall bear interest in accordance with the terms described in such Addendum and the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each Interest Rate Basis shall be the rate determined in accordance with the applicable provisions below. Except as set forth above or in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest rate in effect on each day shall be (a) 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 (b) if such day is not an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate determined as of the Interest Determination Date immediately preceding the next preceding Interest Reset Date. Interest on Floating Rate Notes will be determined by reference to an "Interest Rate Basis," which may be one or more of (i) the "CD Rate," (ii) the "CMT Rate," (iii) the "Commercial Paper Rate," (iv) the "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate," (v) the "Federal Funds Rate," (vi) "LIBOR," (vii) the "Prime Rate," (viii) the "Treasury Rate," or (ix) such other interest rate formula as may be set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided, however, that with respect to a Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Note, the interest rate commencing on the Fixed Rate Commencement Date and continuing, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, until Maturity shall be the Fixed Interest Rate, if such rate is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, or if no such Fixed Interest Rate is so specified, the interest rate in effect thereon on the day immediately preceding the Fixed Rate Commencement Date. In addition, a Floating Rate Note may bear interest in respect of two or more Interest Rate Bases. The "Spread" is the number of basis points to be added to or subtracted from the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases applicable to such Floating Rate Note. The "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage of the related Interest Rate Basis or Bases applicable to such Floating Rate Note by which such Interest Rate Basis or Bases will be multiplied to determine the applicable interest rate on such Floating Rate Note. The "Index Maturity" is the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation with respect to which the Interest Rate Basis or Bases will be calculated. The Spread, Spread Multiplier, Index Maturity and other variable terms of the Floating Rate Notes are subject to change by the Company from time to time, but no such change will affect any Floating Rate Note previously issued or as to which an offer has been accepted by the Company. Each applicable Pricing Supplement will specify whether the rate of interest on the related Floating Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually, annually or such other specified period (each, an "Interest Reset Period") and the dates on which such interest rate will be reset (each, an "Interest Reset Date"). Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, S-6 the Interest Reset Date will be, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset: (i) daily, each Business Day; (ii) weekly, the Wednesday of each week (with the exception of weekly reset Treasury Rate Notes which will reset the Tuesday of each week, except as specified below); (iii) monthly, the third Wednesday of each month (with the exception of Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes, all of which reset monthly, which will reset on the first calendar day of the month); (iv) quarterly, the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; (v) semiannually, the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and (vi) annually, the third Wednesday of the month specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided, however, that, with respect to Floating Rate/Fixed Rate Notes, the fixed rate of interest in effect for the period from the Fixed Rate Commencement Date until Maturity shall be the Fixed Interest Rate or the interest rate in effect on the day immediately preceding the Fixed Rate Commencement Date, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If any Interest Reset Date for any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a Floating Rate Note as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. As used herein, "Business Day" means, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or any other day on which banks in The City of New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and, with respect to Notes as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, is also a London Business Day. As used herein, "London Business Day" means any day on which dealings in deposits in the Index Currency are transacted in the London interbank market. A Floating Rate Note may also have either or both of the following: (i) a maximum numerical limitation, or ceiling, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest period and (ii) a minimum numerical limitation, or floor, on the rate at which interest may accrue during any interest period. In addition to any maximum interest rate that may be applicable to any Floating Rate Note pursuant to the above provisions, the interest rate on Floating Rate Notes will in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application. Each Floating Rate Note will bear interest from the date of issue at the rates specified therein until the principal thereof is paid or otherwise made available for payment. Except as provided below or in an applicable Pricing Supplement, interest will be payable in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset: (i) daily, weekly or monthly, on the third Wednesday of each month or on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; (ii) quarterly, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year; (iii) semiannually, on the third Wednesday of the two months of each year specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and (iv) annually, on the third Wednesday of the month of each year specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (each, an "Interest Payment Date") and, in each case, at Maturity. If any Interest Payment Date for any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that in the case of a Floating Rate Note as to which LIBOR is an applicable Interest Rate Basis, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity 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 shall accrue for the period from and after such Maturity. All percentages resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, if necessary, to the next highest 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% S-7 (or .0987655)), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upwards) . Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest payments on Floating Rate Notes will equal the amount of interest accrued from and including the next preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid (or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has been paid with respect to such Floating Rate Notes), to but excluding the related Interest Payment Date or Maturity, as the case may be. With respect to each Floating Rate Note, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, accrued interest is calculated by multiplying its face amount by an accrued interest factor. Such accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factor calculated for each day in the period for which accrued interest is being calculated. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for each such day will be computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360, in the case of 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 or the Prime Rate, or by the actual number of days in the year in the case of Notes for which the Interest Rate Basis is the Treasury Rate or the CMT Rate. Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest factor for Notes for which the interest rate is calculated with reference to two or more Interest Rate Bases will be calculated in each period in the same manner as if only one of the applicable Interest Rate Bases applied. The interest rate applicable to each Interest Reset Period commencing on the Interest Reset Date with respect to such Interest Reset Period will be the rate determined as of the applicable "Interest Determination Date." Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement: (i) the Interest Determination Date with respect to the CD Rate, the CMT Rate, the Commercial Paper Rate, the Federal Funds Rate and the Prime Rate will be the second Business Day preceding each Interest Reset Date for the related Note; (ii) 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 (the "FHLB of San Francisco") publishes the Index (as defined below); and (iii) the Interest Determination Date with respect to LIBOR will be the second London Business Day preceding each Interest Rate Date. With respect to the Treasury Rate, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Interest Determination Date will be the day in the week in which the related Interest Reset Date falls on which day Treasury Bills (as defined below) are normally auctioned (Treasury Bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally held on the following Tuesday, except that 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 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 such auction. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, 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 first Business Day which is at least two Business Days prior to such Interest Reset Date for such Floating Rate Note on which each Interest Rate Basis is determinable. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, The Bank of New York will be the "Calculation Agent." Upon 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 Interest Reset Date with respect to such 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 (i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest Determination Date, or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding S-8 Business Day or (ii) the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date or Maturity, 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 such CD Rate Notes and in any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "CD Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a CD Rate Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the CD Rate (a "CD Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate on such date for negotiable certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in "Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates" or any successor publication ("H.15(519)") under the heading "CDs (Secondary Market)," or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date for negotiable certificates of deposit of the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in its daily statistical release "Composite 3:30 P.M. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or any successor publication ("Composite Quotations") under the heading "Certificates of Deposit." If such rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CD Rate on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers in negotiable United States dollar certificates of deposit in The City of New York (which may include the Agents or their respective affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent for negotiable certificates of deposit of major United States money market banks in the market for negotiable certificates of deposit with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement in an amount that is representative for a single transaction in that market at that time; provided, however, that if any of the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set forth above, the CD Rate with respect to such CD Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CD Rate in effect on such CD Rate Interest Determination Date. CMT Rate Notes. 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 such CMT Rate Notes and any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "CMT Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a CMT Rate Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the CMT Rate (a "CMT Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate displayed on the Designated CMT Telerate Page under the caption " . . . Treasury Constant Maturities . . . Federal Reserve Board Release H.15 . . . Mondays Approximately 3:45 P.M.," under the column for the Designated CMT Maturity Index for (i) if the Designated CMT Telerate Page is 7055, the rate on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date and (ii) if the Designated CMT Telerate Page is 7052, the week, or the month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week in which the related CMT Rate Interest Determination Date occurs. If such rate is no longer displayed on the relevant page, or if not displayed by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate for such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be such treasury constant maturity rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index as published in the relevant H.15(519). If such rate is no longer published, or if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate for such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be such treasury constant maturity rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index (or other United States Treasury rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index) for the CMT Rate Interest Determination Date with respect to such Interest Reset Date as may then be published by either the Board of S-9 Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the United States Department of the Treasury that the Calculation Agent determines to be comparable to the rate formerly displayed on the Designated CMT Telerate Page and published in the relevant H.15(519). If such information is not provided by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CMT Rate for the CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity, based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market closing offer side prices as of approximately 3:30 P.M. (New York City time) on the CMT Rate Interest Determination Date reported, according to their written records, by three leading primary United States government securities dealers (each, a "Reference Dealer") in The City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent (from five such Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest)), for the most recently issued direct noncallable fixed rate obligations of the United States ("Treasury Notes") with an original maturity of approximately the Designated CMT Maturity Index and a remaining term to maturity of not less than such Designated CMT Maturity Index minus one year. If the Calculation Agent cannot obtain three such Treasury Note quotations, the CMT Rate for 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 offer side prices as of approximately 3:30 P.M. (New York City time) on the CMT Rate Interest Determination Date of three Reference Dealers in The City of New York (from five such Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent and eliminating the highest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the highest) and the lowest quotation (or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest)), for Treasury Notes with an original maturity of the number of years that is the next highest to the Designated CMT Maturity Index and a remaining term to maturity closest to the Designated CMT Maturity Index and in an amount of at least $100 million. If three or four (and not five) of such Reference Dealers are quoting as described above, then the CMT Rate will be based on the arithmetic mean of the offer prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of such quotes will be eliminated; provided, however, that if fewer than three Reference Dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described herein, the CMT Rate with respect to such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date will be the CMT Rate in effect on such CMT Rate Interest Determination Date. If two Treasury Notes with an original maturity as described in the third preceding sentence have remaining terms to maturity equally close to the Designated CMT Maturity Index, the quotes for the CMT Rate Note with the shorter remaining term to maturity will be used. "Designated CMT Telerate Page" means the display on the Dow Jones Telerate Service on the page designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement (or any other page as may replace such page on that service for the purpose of displaying Treasury Constant Maturities as reported in H.15(519)), for the purpose of displaying Treasury Constant Maturities as reported in H.15(519). If no such page is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Designated CMT Telerate Page will be 7052 for the most recent week. "Designated CMT Maturity Index" means the original period to maturity of the U.S. Treasury securities (either 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20 or 30 years) specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement with respect to which the CMT Rate will be calculated. If no such maturity is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Designated CMT Maturity Index will be 2 years. 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 such Commercial Paper Rate Notes and in any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Commercial Paper Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Commercial Paper Rate Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Commercial Paper Rate (a "Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date"), the Money Market Yield (as S-10 defined below) on such date of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in H.15(519) under the heading "Commercial Paper." In the event such rate is not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate will be the Money Market Yield on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date of the rate for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as published in Composite Quotations under the heading "Commercial Paper" (with an Index Maturity of one month or three months being deemed to be equivalent to an Index Maturity of 30 days or 90 days, respectively). If by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date such rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations, then the Commercial Paper Rate for such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates at approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of commercial paper in The City of New York (which may include the Agents or their respective affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial paper having the Index Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement placed for an industrial issuer whose bond rating is "AA," or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized securities rating agency; provided, however, that if any of the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Commercial Paper Rate determined on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date will be the rate in effect on such Commercial Paper Rate Interest Determination Date. "Money Market Yield" means a yield (expressed as a percentage rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point) 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 interest period for which interest is being calculated. 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 such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Notes and in any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to an Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate (an "Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate equal to the monthly weighted average cost of funds for the calendar month preceding such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date as set forth under the caption "11th District" on Telerate Page 7058 as of 11:00 A.M., San Francisco time, on such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date. If such rate does not appear on Telerate Page 7058 on any related Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date, the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate for such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will 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 by the FHLB of San Francisco as such cost of funds for the calendar month preceding the date of such announcement. If the FHLB of San Francisco fails to announce such rate for the calendar month next preceding such Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate Interest Determination Date, then the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate for 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. S-11 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 such Federal Funds Rate Notes and in any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Federal Funds Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Federal Funds Rate Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Federal Funds Rate (a "Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate on such date for federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)" or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the rate on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date as published in Composite Quotations under the heading "Federal Funds/Effective Rate." If such rate is not published in either H.15(519) or Composite Quotations by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the Federal Funds Rate for such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight United States dollar federal funds arranged by three leading brokers of federal funds transactions in The City of New York (which may include the Agents or their respective affiliates) selected by the Calculation Agent as of 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date; provided, however, that if any of the brokers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Federal Funds Rate with respect to such Federal Funds Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such Federal Funds Rate 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 such LIBOR Notes and in any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "LIBOR" means the rate determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions: (i) With respect to an Interest Determination Date relating to a LIBOR Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to LIBOR (a "LIBOR Interest Determination Date"), LIBOR will be either: (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (unless the specified Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, in which case such single rate shall be used) for deposits in the Index Currency having the Index Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as of 11:00 A.M. London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, if at least two such offered rates appear (unless, as aforesaid, only a single rate is required) on such Designated LIBOR Page, or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or if neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified as the method for calculating LIBOR, the rate for deposits in the Index Currency having the Index Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such LIBOR Interest Determination Date that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. If fewer than two such offered rates appear, or if no such rate appears, as applicable, LIBOR in respect of the related LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be determined in accordance with the provisions described in clause (ii) below. (ii) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination Date on which fewer than two offered rates appear, or no rate appears, as the case may be, on the applicable Designated LIBOR Page as specified in clause (i) above, the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent with its offered quotation for deposits in the Index Currency for the period of the Index Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, S-12 commencing on the second London Business Day immediately following such LIBOR 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 such Index Currency in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR determined on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR determined on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in the applicable Principal Financial Center, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major banks in such Principal Financial Center selected by the Calculation Agent for loans in the Index 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 such Index Currency in such market at such time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR determined as of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be LIBOR in effect on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date. "Index Currency" means the currency (including composite currencies) specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement as the currency for which LIBOR shall be calculated. If no such currency is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Index Currency will be United States dollars. "Designated LIBOR Page" means either (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the display on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the applicable Index Currency, or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement or neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified as the method for calculating LIBOR, the display on the Dow Jones Telerate Service for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the applicable Index Currency. "Principal Financial Center" will generally be the capital city of the country of the specified index Currency, except that with respect to United States dollars, Deutsche Marks, Dutch Guilders, Italian Lire, Swiss Francs and ECUs, the Principal Financial Center shall be The City of New York, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Milan, Zurich and Luxembourg, respectively. 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 such Prime Rate Notes and in any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Prime Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Prime Rate Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Prime Rate (a "Prime Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate on that day set forth in H.15(519) opposite the caption "Bank Prime Loan." If such rate is not yet published in H.15(519) by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date, the Prime Rate will be the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen NYMF Page (as defined below) as such bank's prime rate or base lending rate as in effect for such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. If fewer than four such rates appear on such Reuters Screen NYMF Page for such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, the Prime Rate will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a 360-day year as of the close of business on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date by three, or two if only two such rates are quoted, major money center banks in The City of New York (which may include affiliates of certain of the Agents) selected by the Calculation Agent (after consultation with the Company). If fewer than two such rates are quoted as aforesaid, the Prime Rate will be determined by the Calculation Agent on the basis of the prime rates quoted in The City of New York by three, or two if only two are available, substitute banks or trust companies organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, S-13 or any state thereof, having total equity capital of at least $500 million and being subject to supervision or examination by a federal or state authority, selected by the Calculation Agent (after consultation with the Company) to provide such rates; provided, however, that if fewer than two of such substitute banks or trust companies selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Prime Rate will be the Prime Rate then in effect on such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. "Reuters Screen NYMF Page" means the display designated as page "NYMF" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as may replace the NYMF page on that 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 such Treasury Rate Notes and in any applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Determination Date relating to a Treasury Rate Note or any Floating Rate Note for which the interest rate is determined by reference to the Treasury Rate (a "Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date"), the rate applicable to the most recent auction of direct obligations of the United States ("Treasury Bills") having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, as such rate is published in H.15 (519) under the heading "Treasury Bills--auction average (investment)" or, if not published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, the auction average rate (expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) as otherwise announced by the United States Department of Treasury. In the event that the results of the auction of Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement are not reported as provided by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date, or if no such auction is held in a particular week, then the Treasury Rate will be calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be a yield to maturity (expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date of three leading primary United States government securities dealers (which may include one or more of the Agents or their respective affiliates) as selected by the Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided, however, that if any of the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury Rate with respect to such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date will be the Treasury Rate in effect on such Treasury Rate Interest Determination Date. OTHER PROVISIONS; ADDENDA Any provisions with respect to the determination of an Interest Rate Basis, the specification of Interest Rate Bases, calculation of the interest rate applicable to a Floating Rate Note, its Interest Payment Dates or any other matter relating thereto may be modified by the terms as specified under "Other Provisions" on the face thereof or in an Addendum relating thereto, if so specified on the face thereof and in the applicable Pricing Supplement. ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT NOTES Notes may be issued at a price less than their redemption price at Maturity, resulting in such Notes being treated as if they were issued with original issue discount for federal income tax purposes ("Original Issue Discount Notes"). Such Original Issue Discount Notes may currently pay no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. Certain additional considerations relating to any Original Issue Discount Notes may be described in the Pricing Supplement relating thereto. S-14 MULTI-CURRENCY NOTES If the principal of any Note is not to be denominated in U.S. dollars, or the interest thereon is not to be paid in U.S. dollars, certain provisions with respect thereto will be set forth in a Multi-Currency Supplement hereto which will specify the currency or currencies, including composite currencies such as the European Currency Unit, in which the principal and interest with respect to such Note are to be paid (the "Specified Currencies" or the "Specified Currency"), along with any other terms relating to the non-U.S. dollar denomination. INDEXED NOTES Notes also may be issued with the principal amount payable at Maturity and/or interest to be paid thereon to be determined with reference to the price or prices of specified commodities or stocks, the exchange rate of one or more specified currencies (including a composite currency such as the European Currency Unit) relative to an indexed currency, or such other price or exchange rate or other index as may be specified in such Note ("Indexed Notes"), as set forth in an Indexed Note Supplement. Holders of such Notes may receive a principal amount at Maturity that is greater than or less than the face amount of the Notes depending upon the relative value at Maturity of the specified indexed item. Information as to the method for determining the principal amount payable at Maturity, certain historical information with respect to the specified indexed item and tax considerations associated with investment in Indexed Notes will be set forth in the applicable Indexed Note Supplement. BOOK-ENTRY NOTES Upon issuance, all Book-Entry Notes having the same Original Issue Date, Stated Maturity and otherwise having identical terms and provisions will be represented by a single global security (each, a "Global Security"); provided, however, that if by reason of the foregoing, a single Global Security would exceed $150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, one Global Security will be issued to represent each $150,000,000 of aggregate principal amount and an additional Global Security will be issued to represent any remaining principal amount. Each Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary. Except as set forth below, a Global Security 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 nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor. The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC"), will be the initial Depositary with respect to the Notes. DTC has advised the Company and the Agents that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Depositary was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC's participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the Agents), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Access to DTC's book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by DTC only through participants. Upon the issuance of the Notes represented by a Global Security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the principal amounts of the Notes represented by such Global Security to the accounts of participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by the Agent or underwriter of such Book-Entry Notes, as the case may be. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Security will be limited to participants or persons that hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interest in the Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be S-15 effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to interests of participants in the Depositary), or by participants in the Depositary or persons that may hold interest through such participants (with respect to persons other than participants in the Depositary). The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limitations and such laws may impair the ability of Holders of the Notes to acquire or transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security. So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Notes represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the Notes represented by a Global Security will not be entitled to have the Notes represented by such Global Security 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. Payments of principal of and interest on the Notes will be made by the Company through the Trustee to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of a Global Security. Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. The Company expects that the Depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest in respect of a Global Security, will credit the accounts of the related participants with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in such Global Security as shown on the records of the Depositary. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name" and will be the responsibility of such participants. If the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue Definitive Notes in exchange for the Notes represented by such Global Security or Securities. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine to discontinue use of the Global Security and, in such event, will issue Definitive Notes in exchange for the Notes represented by such Global Security or Securities. Notes so issued will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES Set forth below is a general discussion of certain material United States federal income tax consequences, under current law and regulations, resulting from the ownership of Notes by a United States holder or a foreign holder generally subject to United States income taxation on its worldwide income. The discussion does not purport to consider all the possible tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the Notes, and it is not intended to reflect the individual tax position of any holder. The discussion deals only with Notes held as capital assets. The discussion does not deal with special tax situations, such as with respect to dealers in securities, Notes held as a hedge against currency risks or as part of a straddle with other investments, with respect to situations in which the functional currency of the holder is not the U.S. dollar or with respect to taxpayers subject to special tax rules, such as banks, insurance companies, regulated investment companies and foreign persons not subject to United States tax on worldwide income. The discussion is based upon the United States federal income tax laws and regulations as now in effect and as currently interpreted, and does not take into account possible changes in such tax laws or such interpretations. The discussion does not include any description of the tax laws of any state or local governments, or of any foreign government, that S-16 may be applicable to the Notes or holders thereof. Special United States federal income tax considerations or other restrictions on terms applicable to Indexed Notes, Notes bearing variable rates of interest which do not constitute "qualifying variable rates" under the Original Issue Discount rules described below or Notes denominated in one or more foreign currencies will be set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Persons considering the purchase of Notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the United States federal income tax laws to their particular situations, as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. UNITED STATES HOLDERS As used herein, a "United States Holder" of a Note means a holder that is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source. A "Non-United States Holder" is a holder that is not a United States Holder. PAYMENT OF INTEREST Except as set forth below, interest on a Note will generally be taxable to a United States Holder as ordinary income from domestic sources at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with the United States Holder's method of accounting for tax purposes. ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income tax consequences of the ownership of Original Issue Discount Notes (as defined below) by United States Holders. Additional rules that are applicable to Original Issue Discount Notes which are denominated in or determined by reference to a foreign currency or to certain Floating Rate Notes will be set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. The summary is based in part upon recent Treasury regulations which were issued on January 27, 1994 (the "OID Regulations") and became effective with respect to debt instruments issued on or after April 4, 1994. A Note will bear original issue discount ("OID") if its stated redemption price at maturity (the sum of all payments to be made on the Note other than "qualified stated interest") exceeds its "issue price" by at least 0.25 percent of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity. (Notes issued with OID shall be referred to as "Original Issue Discount Notes" in this section.) The applicable Pricing Supplement will indicate whether a particular Note will bear OID. The "issue price" of each Note in a particular offering will be the first price at which a substantial amount of that particular offering is sold. "Qualified stated interest" is stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or in property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) or that is constructively received at least annually and is either a single fixed rate or a qualifying variable rate. If the interest rate of a Floating Rate Note will not be a qualifying variable rate, the applicable Pricing Supplement will so indicate and will describe the federal income tax consequences thereof. The OID Regulations provide that Notes that may be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity at the option of the issuer, or that may be prepaid prior to their Stated Maturity at the option of the holder, shall be treated from the time of issuance as having a maturity date for federal income tax purposes on such redemption or prepayment date if (i) in the case of a redemption at the option of the issuer, such redemption would result in a lower yield to maturity or (ii) in the case of a prepayment at the option of the holder, such prepayment would result in a higher yield to maturity. United States Holders of Original Issue Discount Notes with a maturity upon issuance of more than one year must, in general, include OID in income in advance of the receipt of some or all of the related cash payments. The amount of OID includible in income by the initial United States Holder of an Original Issue Discount Note is the sum of the daily portions of OID with respect to the Note for S-17 each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year in which such United States Holder held such Note ("accrued OID"). The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in any "accrual period" a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. Under these rules, a United States Holder will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID in successive accrual periods since OID accrued is determined by multiplying the Note's "adjusted issue price" (which includes previously accrued OID which remains unpaid) by the Note's yield to maturity. The Company is required to report the amount of OID accrued on Notes held of record by persons other than corporations and other exempt holders. In the case of Original Issue Discount Notes having a term of one year or less ("Short-Term Original Issue Discount Notes"), under the OID Regulations, all payments (including all stated interest) will be included in the stated redemption price at maturity and, thus, United States Holders will generally be taxable on the discount in lieu of stated interest. The discount will be equal to the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity over the issue price of a Short-Term Original Issue Discount Note, unless the United States Holder elects to compute this discount using tax basis instead of issue price. However, certain categories of United States Holders (generally individuals or other cash method taxpayers) are not required to include accrued discount in their income currently unless they elect to do so. United States Holders who report income for federal income tax purposes on the accrual method and certain other United States Holders are required to accrue discount on such Short-Term Original Issue Discount Notes (as ordinary income) on a straight-line basis, unless an election is made to accrue the discount according to a constant yield method based on daily compounding. In the case of a United States Holder that is not required, and that does not elect, to include discount in income currently, any gain realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of the Short-Term Original Issue Discount Note will be ordinary income to the extent of the discount accrued through the date of sale, exchange or retirement. In addition, any holder of a Note who does not elect to currently include accrued discount in income may be required to defer deductions for a portion of the United States Holder's interest expenses with respect to any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry such Note. MARKET DISCOUNT If a United States Holder purchases a Note, other than an Original Issue Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its issue price (or, in the case of a subsequent purchaser, its stated redemption price at maturity) or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Note, for an amount that is less than its "revised issue price" (defined as the sum of the issue price of the Note and the aggregate amount of the OID includible, if any, without regard to the rules for acquisition premium discussed below, in the gross income of all previous holders of the Note), the amount of the difference will be treated as "market discount" for United States federal income tax purposes, unless such difference is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, a United States Holder will be required to treat any principal payment on, or any gain on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a Note as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount which has not previously been included in income and is treated as having accrued on such Note at the time of such payment or disposition. In addition, the United States Holder may be required to defer, until the maturity of the Note or its earlier disposition in a taxable transaction, the deduction of all or a portion of the interest expense on any indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry such Note. Any 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 United States Holder elects to accrue on a constant yield method. A United States Holder of a Note may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or constant yield basis), in which case the rule described above regarding deferral of interest deductions will not apply. This election to include market discount in income currently, once made, applies to all market discount obligations acquired on or after the first taxable year to which the election applies, and may not be revoked without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"). S-18 AMORTIZATION OF PREMIUM; AMORTIZABLE BOND PREMIUM A United States Holder who purchases a Note for an amount that is greater than its adjusted issue price but equal to or less than the sum of all amounts payable on the Note after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest will be considered to have purchased such Note at an "acquisition premium." Under the acquisition premium rules the amount of OID which such holder must include in its gross income with respect to such Note for any taxable year will be reduced by the portion of such acquisition premium properly allocable to such year. A United States Holder who purchases a Note for an amount in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the Note after the purchase date other than qualified stated interest will be considered to have purchased the Note at a "premium" and will not be required to include any OID in income. A United States Holder generally may elect to amortize the premium over the remaining term of the Note on a constant yield method. The amount amortized in any year will be treated as a reduction of the United States Holder's interest income from the Note. Bond premium on a Note held by a United States Holder that does not make such an election will decrease the gain or increase the loss otherwise recognized on disposition of the Note. The election to amortize premium on a constant yield method once made applies to all debt obligations held or subsequently acquired by the electing holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. ELECTION TO TREAT ALL INTEREST AS OID Under the OID Regulations, a United States Holder may elect to treat all interest on any Note acquired on or after April 4, 1994, as OID and calculate the amount includible in gross income under the constant yield method described above. For the purposes of this election, interest includes stated interest, acquisition discount, OID, de minimis OID, market discount, de minimis market discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium. If a United States Holder makes this election for a Note with market discount or amortizable bond premium, the election is treated as an election under the market discount or amortizable bond premium provisions, described above, and the electing United States Holder will be required to amortize bond premium or include market discount in income currently for all of the holder's other debt instruments with market discount or amortizable bond premium. The election is to be made for the taxable year in which the United States Holder acquired the Note, and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. United States Holders should consult with their own tax advisors about this election. SALE, EXCHANGE AND RETIREMENT OF NOTES A United States Holder's tax basis in a Note will, in general, be the United States Holder's cost therefor, increased by the amount of OID, or any discount with respect to a Short-Term Original Issue Discount Note, included in income by the United States Holder and reduced by any amortized premium and any cash payments on the Note other than qualified stated interest. Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note, a United States Holder will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange or retirement and the adjusted tax basis of the Note. Except as described above with respect to certain Short-Term Original Issue Discount Notes, and with respect to market discount that has not previously been included in income, to the extent such market discount has accrued, such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange or retirement the Note has been held for more than one year. Under current law, net capital gains of individuals are, under certain circumstances, taxed at lower rates than items of ordinary income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. S-19 NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS Under present United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding: a. no withholding of United States federal income tax will be required with respect to the payment by the Company or any Paying Agent of principal or interest (which for purposes of this discussion includes OID) on a Note owned by a Non-United States Holder, provided, in the case of interest, that (i) the beneficial owner does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the regulations thereunder, (ii) the beneficial owner is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Company through stock ownership, (iii) the beneficial owner is not a bank whose receipt of interest on a Note is described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and (iv) the beneficial owner satisfies the statement requirement (described generally below) set forth in section 871(h) and section 881(c) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder; b. no withholding of United States federal income tax will be required with respect to any gain or income realized by a Non-United States Holder upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note; and c. a Note beneficially owned by an individual who at the time of death is a Non-United States Holder will not be subject to United States federal estate tax as a result of such individual's death, provided that such individual does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of the Code and provided that the interest payments with respect to such Note would not have been, if received at the time of such individual's death, effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business by such individual. To qualify for the exemption from withholding tax referred to in (a)(iv) above, the beneficial owner of such Note, or a financial institution holding the Note on behalf of such owner, must provide, in accordance with specified procedures, a paying agent of the Company with a statement to the effect that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, citizen or resident. Pursuant to current temporary Treasury regulations, these requirements will be met if (1) the beneficial owner provides his name and address, and certifies, under penalties of perjury, that he is not a U.S. person, citizen or resident (which certification may be made on an IRS Form W-8 (or successor form)) or (2) a financial institution holding the Note on behalf of the beneficial owner certifies, under penalties of perjury, that such statement has been received by it and furnishes a paying agent with a copy thereof. Payments to Non-United States Holders not meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) above and thus subject to withholding of United States federal income tax may nevertheless be exempt from such withholding if the beneficial owner of the Note provides the Company with a properly executed (1) IRS Form 1001 (or successor form) claiming an exemption from withholding under the benefit of a tax treaty or (2) IRS Form 4224 (or successor form) stating that interest paid on the Note is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the owner's conduct of a trade or business in the United States. BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING In general, information reporting requirements will apply to certain payments of principal, interest, OID and premium paid on Notes and to the proceeds of the sale of a Note made to United States Holders other than certain exempt recipients (such as corporations). A 31% backup withholding tax will apply to such payments if the United States Holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number or certification of foreign or other exempt status or fails to report in full dividend and interest income. No information reporting or backup withholding will be required with respect to payments made by the Company or any paying agent to Non-United States Holders if a statement has been received in the form required by applicable Treasury Regulations and the payor does not have actual knowledge that the beneficial owner is a United States person. S-20 In addition, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply if payments of the principal, interest, original issue discount or premium on a Note are paid or collected by a foreign office of a custodian, nominee or other foreign agent on behalf of the beneficial owner of such Note, or if a foreign office of a broker (as defined in applicable Treasury regulations) pays the proceeds of the sale of a Note to the owner thereof. If, however, such nominee, custodian, agent or broker is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation or a foreign person that derives 50% or more of its gross income for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, such payments will not be subject to backup withholding but will be subject to information reporting, unless (1) such custodian, nominee, agent or broker has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person and certain other conditions are met or (2) the beneficial owner otherwise establishes an exemption. Temporary Treasury regulations provide that the Treasury is considering whether backup withholding will apply with respect to such payments of principal, interest or the proceeds of a sale that are not subject to backup withholding under the current regulations. Under proposed Treasury regulations not currently in effect backup withholding will not apply to such payments absent actual knowledge that the payee is a United States person. Payments of principal, interest, OID and premium on a Note paid to the beneficial owner of a Note by a United States office of a custodian, nominee or agent, or the payment by the United States office of a broker of the proceeds of sale of a Note, will be subject to both backup withholding and information reporting unless the beneficial owner provides a statement described in (a)(iv) under "Non-United States Holders," and the payor does not have actual knowledge that the beneficial owner is a United States person, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder's U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Notes are being offered on a continuing basis for sale by the Company through the Agents, who have agreed to use their reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Notes, and the Company may also sell Notes to any Agent, as principal, for resale to investors and other purchasers at varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of resale to be determined by such Agent or, if so agreed, at a fixed public offering price. The Company has reserved the right to sell Notes directly on its own behalf or to appoint other agents from time to time, which will be named in the appropriate Pricing Supplement, and to use other distribution agreements containing substantially the same terms as the distribution agreement with the Agents. There will not be any commission for direct sales by the Company. The Company reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer made hereby without notice and may reject orders in whole or in part whether placed directly with the Company or through one of 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 them. The Company will pay the related Agent, in the form of a discount or otherwise, a commission, ranging from .150% to .750% of the principal amount of any Note sold through such Agent, depending on the Stated Maturity of the Note. In addition, the Agents may offer the Notes they have purchased as principal to other dealers. The Agents may sell Notes to any dealer at a discount and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, such discount allowed to any dealer will not be in excess of the discount to be received by such Agent from the Company. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any Note sold to an Agent as principal will be purchased by such Agent at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof less a percentage equal to the commission applicable to any agency sale of a Note of identical maturity, and may be resold by the Agent to investors and other purchasers from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or may be resold to certain S-21 dealers as described above. After the initial public offering of Notes to be resold to investors and other purchasers, the public offering price (in the case of Notes to be resold at a fixed public offering price), the concession and discount may be changed. 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 The City of New York on the date of settlement. No Note will have an established trading market when issued. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Each of the Agents may from time to time purchase and sell Notes in the secondary market, but no Agent is 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, each of the Agents may make a market in the Notes. Each Agent may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company has agreed to indemnify the Agents against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the Agents may be required to make in respect thereof. The Company has agreed to reimburse each of the Agents for certain expenses. In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the Agents listed herein or affiliates of such Agents have in the past engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial banking transactions with the Company and each of the Agents or affiliates of such Agents have in the past engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment banking transactions with the Company. S-22 - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ NO DEALER, SALESMAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER, DEALER OR AGENT. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT (INCLUDING THE PRICING SUPPLEMENT) AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES OR ANY OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICIATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT (INCLUDING THE PRICING SUPPLEMENT) AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THERIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT (INCLUDING THE PRICING SUPPLEMENT) OR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. ------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE --------- PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT The Company................................... S-2 Use of Proceeds............................... S-2 Description of Notes.......................... S-2 Certain United States Federal Tax Consequences................................ S-16 Plan of Distribution.......................... S-21 PROSPECTUS Available Information......................... 2 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference................................... 2 The Company................................... 3 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............ 3 Use of Proceeds............................... 3 Description of Debt Securities................ 3 Plan of Distribution.......................... 10 Legal Matters................................. 11 Experts....................................... 11 COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES B ------------------------------------------ PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT ------------------------------------------ CITICORP SECURITIES, INC. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. LAZARD FRERES & CO. MERRILL LYNCH & CO. J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. Dated May 12, 1994 - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------