e424b5
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
|
|
|
|
Title of Each Class of Securities Offered |
|
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
|
Amount of Registration Fee(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
20,000,000 Depositary Shares Each Representing a 1/40,000th
Interest in a Share of Series K Perpetual Preferred
Non-Cumulative Floating Rate Stock |
|
$500,000,000 |
|
$53,500 |
|
|
(1) |
A filing fee of $53,500 has been calculated in accordance with
Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection
with the securities offered from Registration Statement
No. 333-130929 by means of this prospectus supplement.
Pursuant to Rule 457(p), $17,060 of filing fees that were
already paid with respect to unsold securities that were
previously registered pursuant to Registration Statement
No. 333-109921 are being carried over and the remaining fee
of $36,440 is being transmitted herewith. |
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-130929
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated January 9, 2006)
20,000,000 Depositary Shares Each Representing a
1/40,000th Interest in a Share of Series K Perpetual
Non-Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Stock
We are offering 20,000,000 depositary shares, each
representing a 1/40,000th ownership interest in a share of
our Series K Perpetual Non-Cumulative Floating Rate
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $1,000,000 per
share (equivalent to $25 per depositary share), referred to
in this Prospectus Supplement as the Series K
Preferred Stock. As a holder of depositary shares, you
will be entitled to all proportional rights and preferences of
the Series K Preferred Stock (including dividend, voting,
redemption and liquidation rights). You must exercise such
rights through the depositary.
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock will be payable
quarterly in arrears, when, as and if declared by our board of
directors, at a rate per annum equal to the greater of
(1) 3-month USD
LIBOR for the related dividend period, plus 0.70% or
(2) 4.00%. The dividend payment dates will the
15th day of each March, June, September and December,
commencing on December 15, 2006, or the next business day
if any such day is not a business day.
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock will be
non-cumulative. If for any reason our board of directors does
not declare a dividend on the Series K Preferred Stock for
a dividend period, we will have no obligation to pay any
dividend for that period, whether or not our board of directors
declares dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock for any
subsequent dividend period. However, with certain exceptions, if
we have not declared, paid or set aside for payment full
dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock for a particular
dividend period, we may not declare or pay dividends on or
redeem or purchase our common stock or other junior securities
during the next succeeding dividend period.
We may not redeem the Series K Preferred Stock prior to the
dividend payment date in September, 2011. On and after that
date, we may, at our option, redeem the Series K Preferred
Stock in whole or in part at any time, or from time to time, at
a price of $1,000,000 per share (equivalent to $25 per
depositary share) plus any declared and unpaid dividends. The
Series K Preferred Stock has no stated maturity, is not
subject to any sinking fund and will remain outstanding
indefinitely unless redeemed. The Series K Preferred Stock
will not have any voting rights except as described under
Description of Series K Preferred Stock Voting
Rights on page S-18.
Investing in the depositary shares involves risks. See
Risk Factors beginning on
page S-7 of this
prospectus supplement for a discussion of some of the risks you
should consider before buying the depositary shares.
The depositary shares have been approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol WM PrK, subject
to official notice of issuance. Trading is expected to begin
within 30 days of September 18, 2006, the original
issue date.
The Series K Preferred Stock and the depositary shares are
not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any
savings bank subsidiary of Washington Mutual and are not insured
by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per depositary share | |
|
Total | |
|
Public offering price
|
|
$ |
25.00 |
|
|
$ |
500,000,000 |
|
|
Underwriting discounts and commissions
|
|
$ |
0.375 |
|
|
$ |
7,500,000 |
|
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to us
|
|
$ |
24.625 |
|
|
$ |
492,500,000 |
|
|
The underwriters expect to deliver the depositary shares in
book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository
Trust Company against payment in New York, New York on
September 18, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UBS Investment Bank
Sole Structuring Adviser
Joint Bookrunner |
|
|
|
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
|
|
Lehman Brothers |
|
Morgan Stanley |
Joint Bookrunner |
|
Joint Bookrunner |
|
Joint Bookrunner |
|
Banc of America Securities LLC |
|
Credit Suisse |
|
JPMorgan |
Co-Manager
|
|
Co-Manager |
|
Co-Manager |
Prospectus Supplement dated September 11, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page | |
Prospectus Supplement |
|
| |
|
|
|
S-1 |
|
|
|
|
S-2 |
|
|
|
|
S-5 |
|
|
|
|
S-7 |
|
|
|
|
S-11 |
|
|
|
|
S-12 |
|
|
|
|
S-12 |
|
|
|
|
S-13 |
|
|
|
|
S-14 |
|
|
|
|
S-22 |
|
|
|
|
S-25 |
|
|
|
|
S-27 |
|
|
|
|
S-30 |
|
|
|
|
S-33 |
|
|
|
|
S-33 |
|
|
|
|
S-34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page | |
Prospectus |
|
| |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
|
22 |
|
You should rely only on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. This
prospectus supplement may be used only for the purpose for which
it has been prepared. No one is authorized to give information
other than that contained in this prospectus supplement and in
the documents referred to in this prospectus supplement and
which are made available to the public. We have not, and the
underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide
you with different information. If anyone provides you with
different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to
sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or
sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the
information appearing in this prospectus supplement or any
document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date
other than the date of the applicable document. Our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects may
have changed since that date. This prospectus supplement does
not constitute an offer, or an invitation on our behalf or on
behalf of the underwriters, to subscribe for and purchase any of
the securities and may not be used for or in connection with an
offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which
such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person
to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.
i
About this prospectus supplement
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus
supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering
of depositary shares and also adds to and updates information
contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents
incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and
the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying
prospectus, gives more general information, some of which may
not apply to this offering.
If the description of the offering varies between this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you
should rely on the information contained in this prospectus
supplement.
As used in this prospectus supplement, the terms
we, us, and
our refer to Washington Mutual, Inc. and the
term Washington Mutual refers to Washington
Mutual, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
S-1
Summary
|
|
This summary is not a complete description of Washington
Mutual, the Series K Preferred Stock or the depositary
shares. It does not contain all the information that may be
important to you. To understand this offering fully, you must
read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus carefully, including the risk factors beginning on
page S-7 and the documents incorporated by reference into
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. |
|
WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.
|
|
With a history dating back to 1889, Washington Mutual is a
retailer of financial services to consumers and small
businesses. Based on our consolidated assets at
December 31, 2005, we were the largest thrift holding
company in the United States and the seventh largest among all
U.S.-based bank and
thrift holding companies. As of June 30, 2006, on a
consolidated basis, we had total assets of approximately
$351 billion, total liabilities of approximately
$325 billion, total deposits of approximately
$205 billion and total stockholders equity of
approximately $26 billion. Our common stock is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WM. Our
principal business offices are located at 1301 Second
Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101 and our telephone number is
206-461-2000. |
|
The offering
|
|
|
Issuer |
|
Washington Mutual, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws
of the State of Washington. |
|
Securities Offered |
|
20,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a
1/40,000th
interest in a share of our Series K Perpetual
Non-Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Stock
(Series K Preferred Stock), no par
value. Each holder of depositary shares will be entitled,
through the depositary, in proportion to the applicable fraction
of a share of Series K Preferred Stock represented by such
depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the
Series K Preferred Stock represented thereby (including
dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights). |
|
Liquidation Preference |
|
$1,000,000 per share of Series K Preferred Stock
(equivalent to $25 per depositary share). |
|
Dividends |
|
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock will be payable
if, when and as declared by our board of directors out of
legally available funds at an annual rate on the per share
liquidation preference equal to the greater of (i) 3-Month
USD LIBOR for the related dividend period, plus 0.70% or
(ii) 4.00%. |
|
|
|
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock are not
cumulative. Accordingly, if for any reason we do not declare a
dividend on the Series K Preferred Stock before the
dividend payment date for a quarterly dividend period, that
dividend will not accumulate and holders of shares of
Series K Preferred Stock will have no right to receive, and
we will have no obligation to pay, a dividend for that period,
whether or not we pay, or have sufficient funds to pay,
dividends in full or in part in the future. |
|
Dividend Payment Dates |
|
March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15,
2006, or, in each case, if any such day is not a business day,
the next business day. |
S-2
|
|
|
Dividend Stopper |
|
With certain limited exceptions, if we do not pay full dividends
on the Series K Preferred Stock for a particular dividend
period, we may not pay dividends on, or repurchase, redeem or
make a liquidation payment with respect to, our common stock or
other junior securities during the next succeeding dividend
period. |
|
Maturity Date |
|
None; the Series K Preferred Stock is perpetual unless
redeemed by us. |
|
Optional Redemption |
|
Subject to the limitations described below under
Replacement Capital Covenant, we may at our option
redeem the Series K Preferred Stock in whole or in part at
any time, or from time to time, on or after September 15,
2011 (or if September 15, 2011 is not a business day, the
next business day). Such redemption shall be at a cash
redemption price of $1,000,000 per share, plus any declared
and unpaid dividends to the redemption date. Upon redemption of
any Series K Preferred Stock, a pro rata number of
depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds of such
redemption. |
|
Replacement Capital Covenant |
|
At or prior to the initial issuance of the Series K
Preferred Stock, we will enter into a Replacement
Capital Covenant. In the Replacement Capital Covenant,
we will covenant in favor of certain of our debtholders that, if
we repurchase or redeem any Series K Preferred Stock, we
will do so only if and to the extent that the total redemption
or repurchase price is equal to or less than designated
percentages of the net cash proceeds that we have received
during the 180 days prior to such redemption or repurchase
from the issuance of our common stock, non-cumulative perpetual
preferred stock or certain other securities or combinations of
securities that have equal or better equity characteristics than
the Series K Preferred Stock. |
|
Liquidation Rights |
|
Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up, holders of Series K Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive out of our assets that are legally available
for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution is
made to holders of common stock or other junior securities, a
liquidating distribution in the amount of $1,000,000 per
share of Series K Preferred Stock plus any declared and
unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared
dividends. Distributions will be made pro rata as to the
Series K Preferred Stock and any other parity securities
and only to the extent of our assets, if any, that are available
after satisfaction of all liabilities to creditors. |
|
Voting Rights |
|
Holders of the Series K Preferred Stock will have no voting
rights, except with respect to certain fundamental changes in
the terms of the Series K Preferred Stock and certain other
matters. In addition, if dividends on the Series K
Preferred Stock are not paid in full for six dividend periods,
the holders of Series K Preferred Stock, acting as a class
with any other parity securities having similar voting rights,
will have the right to elect two directors to our board. The
terms of office of these directors will end when we have paid or
set aside for payment full dividends for four consecutive
dividend periods. |
S-3
|
|
|
Ranking |
|
The Series K Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to the
payment of dividends and distributions upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up, senior to our common stock, our
Series RP Preferred Stock and each other class or series of
preferred stock we may issue in the future the terms of which do
not expressly provide that it ranks on a parity with or senior
to the Series K Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and
rights on liquidation,
winding-up and
dissolution of Washington Mutual. The Series K Preferred
Stock will rank on a parity with our Series I Preferred
Stock and Series J Preferred Stock and each other class or
series of preferred stock we may issue in the future the terms
of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank
on a parity with the Series K Preferred Stock as to
dividend rights and rights on liquidation, winding-up and
dissolution of Washington Mutual. As of the date of this
prospectus supplement, no class or series of our preferred stock
is outstanding. |
|
Preemptive and Conversion Rights |
|
None. |
|
Listing |
|
The depositary shares have been approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol WM PrK, subject
to official notice of issuance. Trading is expected to begin
within 30 days of September 18, 2006, the original
issue date. |
|
Tax Consequences |
|
Dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. holders in taxable
years beginning before January 1, 2011 should generally be
taxable at a maximum rate of 15%, subject to certain conditions
and limitations. Dividends paid to corporate U.S. holders
generally should be eligible for the dividends received
deduction, subject to certain conditions and limitations. |
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of
approximately $492,085,000, after expenses and underwriting
discounts and commissions. We intend to use these net proceeds
for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other
things, the repurchase of shares of our common stock. |
|
Expected Ratings |
|
The Series K Preferred Stock is expected to be rated Baa2
by Moodys Investors Service, BBB by Standard &
Poors Rating Services, and A- by Fitch, Inc. The ratings
of the Series K Preferred Stock should be evaluated
independently from similar ratings of other securities. A rating
is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may
be subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or
withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. |
|
Registrar |
|
Mellon Investor Services LLC |
|
Depositary |
|
Mellon Investor Services LLC |
S-4
Summary Financial Information
The following is selected consolidated condensed financial
information for Washington Mutual, Inc. and its consolidated
subsidiaries as of and for the six months ended June 30,
2006 and 2005 and as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. The summary below should
be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations included in our 2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K and our
unaudited and audited consolidated financial statements, and the
related notes thereto, and the other detailed information
contained in our 2006 Second Quarter Report on
Form 10-Q and our
2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A. The
results for the six months ended June 30, 2006 are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for
the full fiscal year or for any other interim period.
In July 2006, Washington Mutual, Inc. announced its exit from
the mutual fund management business and subsequently entered
into a definitive agreement to sells its subsidiary, WM Advisor,
Inc. Accordingly, the results of its operations have been
removed from the Companys results of continuing operations
for the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005 (See
Note 3 to the financial statements in the Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended June 30, 2006, Discontinued Operations).
For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003,
results are presented as disclosed in our 2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six months ended | |
|
|
|
|
June 30, | |
|
Year ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
| |
|
|
(unaudited) | |
|
|
|
|
($ in millions, except ratios and percentages) | |
Income statement data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net interest income
|
|
$ |
4,176 |
|
|
$ |
3,972 |
|
|
$ |
7,886 |
|
|
$ |
7,116 |
|
|
$ |
7,629 |
|
Provision for loan and lease losses
|
|
|
306 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
316 |
|
|
|
209 |
|
|
|
42 |
|
Non-interest income
|
|
|
3,216 |
|
|
|
2,364 |
|
|
|
5,738 |
|
|
|
4,612 |
|
|
|
5,850 |
|
Non-interest expense
|
|
|
4,367 |
|
|
|
3,548 |
|
|
|
7,870 |
|
|
|
7,535 |
|
|
|
7,408 |
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
399 |
|
|
|
87 |
|
Net income
|
|
|
1,752 |
|
|
|
1,745 |
|
|
|
3,432 |
|
|
|
2,878 |
|
|
|
3,880 |
|
Balance sheet data (at period end):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
$ |
27,796 |
|
|
$ |
19,248 |
|
|
$ |
24,659 |
|
|
$ |
19,219 |
|
|
$ |
36,707 |
|
Loans held for sale
|
|
|
23,342 |
|
|
|
51,122 |
|
|
|
33,582 |
|
|
|
42,743 |
|
|
|
20,837 |
|
Loans held in portfolio
|
|
|
243,503 |
|
|
|
212,737 |
|
|
|
229,632 |
|
|
|
207,071 |
|
|
|
175,150 |
|
Mortgage servicing rights
|
|
|
9,162 |
|
|
|
5,730 |
|
|
|
8,041 |
|
|
|
5,906 |
|
|
|
6,354 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
8,339 |
|
|
|
6,196 |
|
|
|
8,298 |
|
|
|
6,196 |
|
|
|
6,196 |
|
Assets
|
|
|
350,884 |
|
|
|
323,196 |
|
|
|
343,573 |
|
|
|
307,581 |
|
|
|
275,178 |
|
Deposits
|
|
|
204,558 |
|
|
|
184,317 |
|
|
|
193,167 |
|
|
|
173,658 |
|
|
|
153,181 |
|
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
|
|
|
19,866 |
|
|
|
14,089 |
|
|
|
15,532 |
|
|
|
15,944 |
|
|
|
28,333 |
|
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks
|
|
|
55,311 |
|
|
|
71,534 |
|
|
|
68,771 |
|
|
|
70,074 |
|
|
|
48,330 |
|
Other borrowings
|
|
|
27,995 |
|
|
|
20,752 |
|
|
|
23,777 |
|
|
|
18,498 |
|
|
|
15,483 |
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
26,131 |
|
|
|
22,013 |
|
|
|
27,279 |
|
|
|
20,889 |
|
|
|
19,405 |
|
S-5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six months ended | |
|
|
|
|
June 30, | |
|
Year ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
| |
|
|
(unaudited) | |
|
|
|
|
($ in millions, except ratios and percentages) | |
Other financial data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profitability
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return on average
assets(1)
|
|
|
1.01 |
% |
|
|
1.11 |
% |
|
|
1.05 |
% |
|
|
1.01 |
% |
|
|
1.37 |
% |
Return on average common
equity(1)
|
|
|
12.97 |
|
|
|
16.23 |
|
|
|
14.84 |
|
|
|
14.26 |
|
|
|
19.17 |
|
Net interest margin
|
|
|
2.70 |
|
|
|
2.80 |
|
|
|
2.67 |
|
|
|
2.82 |
|
|
|
3.11 |
|
Efficiency
ratio(1)(2)
|
|
|
59.08 |
|
|
|
55.99 |
|
|
|
57.76 |
|
|
|
64.25 |
|
|
|
54.96 |
|
Asset Quality
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonperforming assets/total assets
(3)(4)
|
|
|
0.62 |
% |
|
|
0.53 |
% |
|
|
0.57 |
% |
|
|
0.58 |
% |
|
|
0.70 |
% |
Allowance as a percentage of total loans held in
portfolio(3)
|
|
|
0.68 |
% |
|
|
0.58 |
% |
|
|
0.74 |
% |
|
|
0.63 |
% |
|
|
0.71 |
% |
Net charge offs
|
|
$ |
220 |
|
|
$ |
77 |
|
|
$ |
244 |
|
|
$ |
135 |
|
|
$ |
309 |
|
Capital Adequacy (at period end)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity/total assets
|
|
|
7.45 |
% |
|
|
6.81 |
% |
|
|
7.94 |
% |
|
|
6.79 |
% |
|
|
7.05 |
% |
Tangible
equity(5)/total
tangible
assets(5)
|
|
|
5.84 |
|
|
|
5.02 |
|
|
|
5.62 |
|
|
|
4.94 |
|
|
|
5.16 |
|
Estimated total risk-based capital/risk- weighted
assets(6)
|
|
|
11.26 |
|
|
|
10.94 |
|
|
|
10.80 |
|
|
|
11.20 |
|
|
|
10.74 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Includes income from continuing and discontinued
operations. |
|
(2) |
Based on continuing operations. |
|
(3) |
At period end. |
|
(4) |
Excludes non-accrual loans held for sale. |
|
(5) |
Excludes unrealized net gain/loss on available-for-sale
securities and derivatives, goodwill and intangible assets, but
includes MSR. These adjustments are applied to both the
numerator and the denominator. |
|
(6) |
Estimate of what the total risk-based capital ratio would be
if we were a bank holding company subject to Federal Reserve
Board capital requirements. |
S-6
Risk factors
An investment in the depositary shares is subject to certain
risks. You should carefully consider the risks described below
and the Risk Factors included in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K/ A
for the year ended December 31, 2005, as well as the other
information included or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including
our financial statements and the notes thereto, before making an
investment decision.
Our Ability to Pay Dividends on and Redeem the Series K
Preferred Stock Will Depend Upon the Operations of Our
Subsidiaries
We are a holding company and our principal source of cash is
dividends and other distributions from our banking and
non-banking operating subsidiaries. If we are unable to receive
dividends from our operating subsidiaries, we may not be able to
pay dividends on our Series K Preferred Stock (and
indirectly, the depositary shares). Federal laws and regulations
limit the amount of dividends and other distributions that our
banking subsidiaries, Washington Mutual Bank and Washington
Mutual Bank fsb, are permitted to pay or make, and, under
certain circumstances, prior approval from the Office of Thrift
Supervision (the OTS) may be required in
connection with the payment of a dividend or the making of a
distribution by those subsidiaries to us. Each of Washington
Mutual Bank and Washington Mutual Bank fsb has a policy to
remain well capitalized in order to meet capital adequacy
requirements under federal law and, accordingly, generally would
not pay dividends to the extent payment of the dividend would
result in it not being well-capitalized. See
Business Regulation and Supervision in our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A for
the year ended December 31, 2005 incorporated by reference
in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
In addition, our right to participate in any distribution of
assets of any of our subsidiaries upon the subsidiarys
liquidation or otherwise, and thus your ability as a holder of
depositary shares to benefit indirectly from such distribution,
will be subject to the prior claims of creditors of that
subsidiary, except to the extent that any of our claims as a
creditor of such subsidiary may be recognized. As a result, the
Series K Preferred Stock will effectively be subordinated
to all existing and future liabilities and obligations of our
subsidiaries.
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock are
Non-cumulative
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock are
non-cumulative. Consequently, if our board of directors does not
authorize and declare a dividend for any dividend period,
holders of the Series K Preferred Stock (and indirectly,
holders of depositary shares) will not be entitled to receive a
dividend for such period, and such undeclared dividend will not
accrue and be payable. We will have no obligation to pay
dividends for a dividend period after the dividend payment date
for such period if our board of directors has not declared such
dividend before the related dividend payment date, whether or
not dividends are declared for any subsequent dividend period
with respect to the Series K Preferred Stock. Our board of
directors may determine that it would be in our best interest to
pay less than the full amount of the stated dividends on the
Series K Preferred Stock or no dividend for any quarter
even if funds are available. Factors that would be considered by
our board of directors in making this determination are our
financial condition and capital needs, the impact of current and
pending legislation and regulations, economic conditions, tax
considerations, and such other factors as our board of directors
may deem relevant.
S-7
Risk factors
The Series K Preferred Stock is Equity and is
Subordinate to our Existing and Future Indebtedness
The shares of Series K Preferred Stock are equity interests
in Washington Mutual, Inc. and do not constitute indebtedness.
As such, they will rank junior to all indebtedness and other
non-equity claims on Washington Mutual, Inc. with respect to
assets available to satisfy claims on Washington Mutual, Inc.,
including in a liquidation of Washington Mutual, Inc.
Additionally, unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest
would customarily be payable on specified due dates, in the case
of preferred stock like the Series K Preferred Stock
dividends are payable only if, when and as declared by our board
of directors out of lawfully available funds.
Investors Should Not Expect Us to Redeem Shares of the
Series K Preferred Stock on the Date They First Become
Redeemable or on any Particular Date After They Become
Redeemable
The shares of Series K Preferred Stock are perpetual equity
securities. They have no maturity or mandatory redemption date
and are not redeemable at the option of investors. By their
terms, the Series K Preferred Stock may be redeemed by us
at our option either in whole or in part on or after the
dividend payment date in September, 2011. Any decision we
may make at any time to redeem shares of Series K Preferred
Stock will depend, among other things, upon our evaluation of
the overall level and quality of our capital components,
considered in light of our risk exposures, earnings and growth
strategy, as well as general market conditions at such time. Our
right to redeem the Series K Preferred Stock, once issued,
is subject to important limitations, which are described below.
Accordingly, investors should not expect us to redeem the shares
of Series K Preferred Stock on the date they first become
redeemable or on any particular date thereafter.
At or prior to initial issuance of the Series K Preferred
Stock, we will enter into the Replacement Capital Covenant,
which will limit our right to redeem or repurchase the
Series K Preferred Stock. In the Replacement Capital
Covenant, we covenant to redeem or repurchase the Series K
Preferred Stock only if and to the extent that the total
redemption or repurchase price is equal to or less than
designated percentages of the net cash proceeds that we or our
subsidiaries have received during the 180 days prior to
such redemption or repurchase from the issuance of our common
stock, non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock or certain other
securities or combinations of securities satisfying the
requirements of the Replacement Capital Covenant.
Our ability to raise proceeds from qualifying securities during
the 180 days prior to a proposed redemption or repurchase
will depend on, among other things, market conditions at such
time as well as the acceptability to prospective investors of
the terms of such qualifying securities. Accordingly, there
could be circumstances where we would wish to redeem or
repurchase some or all of the Series K Preferred Stock and
sufficient cash is available for that purpose, but we are
restricted from doing so because we have not been able to obtain
proceeds from qualifying securities sufficient for that purpose.
The Series K Preferred Stock Will Have Limited Voting
Rights
Holders of the Series K Preferred Stock have no voting
rights with respect to matters that generally require the
approval of voting stockholders. Holders will have limited
voting rights in the event of non-payments of dividends under
certain circumstances and with respect to certain fundamental
changes in the terms of the Series K Preferred Stock,
certain other matters or as otherwise required by law. Holders
of depositary shares must act through the depositary to exercise
any voting rights in respect of the Series K Preferred
Stock.
S-8
Risk factors
General Market Conditions and Unpredictable Factors Could
Adversely Affect Market Prices for the Depositary Shares
There can be no assurance about the market prices for the
depositary shares. A number of factors, some of which are beyond
our control, will influence the market value of the depositary
shares. Factors that might influence the market value of the
depositary shares include:
|
|
4 |
whether dividends have been
declared and are likely to be declared on the Series K
Preferred Stock from time to time;
|
|
4 |
our creditworthiness;
|
|
4 |
the market for similar
securities; and
|
|
4 |
economic, financial,
geopolitical, regulatory or judicial events that affect us or
the financial markets generally.
|
Accordingly, the depositary shares that an investor purchases,
whether in this offering or in the secondary market, may trade
at a discount to the price that the investor paid for the
depositary shares.
The Series K Preferred Stock and the Related Depositary
Shares May Not Have an Active Trading Market
The shares of Series K Preferred Stock and the related
depositary shares are new issues with no established trading
market. Although we have applied to have the depositary shares
listed on the New York Stock Exchange, there is no guarantee
that we will be able to list the depositary shares. Even if the
depositary shares are listed, there may be little or no
secondary market for the depositary shares. Even if a secondary
market for the depositary shares develops, it may not provide
significant liquidity, and transaction costs in any secondary
market could be high. In addition, the difference between bid
and asked prices in any secondary market could be substantial.
We do not expect that there will be any separate public trading
market for the Series K Preferred Stock, except as
represented by the depositary shares.
Holders of Depositary Shares or the Series K Preferred
Stock May Not Receive the Dividends Received Deduction
Although we presently have accumulated earnings and profits, we
may not have sufficient current or accumulated earnings and
profits during future fiscal years for the distributions on the
Series K Preferred Stock or depositary shares to qualify as
dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In that
event, distributions on the Series K Preferred Stock or
depositary shares would not be eligible for the dividends
received deduction. See Certain United States Federal
Income Tax Considerations Dividends. If any
distributions on the Series K Preferred Stock or the depositary
shares with respect to any fiscal year are not eligible for the
dividends received deduction because of insufficient current or
accumulated earnings and profits, the market value of the
depositary shares may decline.
Restrictions on Dividend Payments
On March 7, 2006, Washington Mutual Preferred Funding
(Cayman) I Ltd. issued $750,000,000 of 7.25% Perpetual
Non-cumulative Preferred Securities (the Fixed Rate
Preferred Securities) and Washington Mutual Preferred
Funding Trust I issued $1,250,000,000 of Fixed-to-Floating
Rate Perpetual Non-cumulative Trust Securities (the
Floating Rate Preferred Securities). Payments to
investors in respect of the Fixed Rate Preferred Securities and
the Floating Rate Preferred Securities are funded by
distributions on securities, which we refer to as the LLC
Preferred Securities, issued by Washington Mutual
Preferred Funding LLC, one of our indirect subsidiaries.
S-9
Risk factors
If for any dividend period full dividends are not paid in
respect of the LLC Preferred Securities, the Fixed Rate
Preferred Securities or the Floating Rate Preferred Securities,
then we generally will be prohibited from declaring or paying
any dividends or other distributions, or redeeming, purchasing
or acquiring, any of our capital securities, including the
Series K Preferred Stock, during the next succeeding
dividend period applicable to any of the LLC Preferred
Securities, the Fixed Rate Preferred Securities and the Floating
Rate Preferred Securities.
S-10
Special note regarding forward-looking statements
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
contain or incorporate by reference forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can
be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to
historical or current facts. They often include words such as
expects, anticipates,
intends, plans, believes,
seeks, estimates, or words of similar
meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as
will, would, should,
could or may.
Forward-looking statements provide managements current
expectations or predictions of future conditions, events or
results. They may include projections of our revenues, income,
earnings per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital
structure or other financial items, descriptions of
managements plans or objectives for future operations,
products or services, or descriptions of assumptions underlying
or relating to the foregoing. They are not guarantees of future
performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only
as of the date they are made. Management does not undertake to
update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of
circumstances or events that arise after the date the
forward-looking statements were made. There are a number of
factors, many of which are beyond managements control or
its ability to accurately forecast or predict their
significance, which could cause actual conditions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements. Significant among these factors are
the following:
|
|
4 |
volatile interest rates that
impact the mortgage banking business;
|
|
4 |
rising interest rates,
unemployment and decreases in housing prices;
|
|
4 |
risks related to the option
adjustable-rate mortgage product;
|
|
4 |
risks related to sub-prime
lending;
|
|
4 |
risks related to the integration
of the card services business;
|
|
4 |
risks related to credit card
operations;
|
|
4 |
changes in the regulation of
financial services companies, housing government-sponsored
enterprises and credit card lenders;
|
|
4 |
competition from banking and
non-banking companies;
|
|
4 |
general business and economic
conditions, including movements in interest rates, the slope of
the yield curve and the potential over-extension of housing
prices in certain geographic markets; and
|
|
4 |
negative public opinion that
impacts our reputation.
|
Each of these factors may significantly impact our businesses,
operations, activities, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects in significant ways and may be beyond
our ability to anticipate or control, and could cause actual
results to differ materially from the outcomes described in the
forward-looking statements. These factors are described in
greater detail in Business Factors That May Affect
Future Results in our 2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K/ A.
S-11
Use of proceeds
We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of
approximately $492,085,000, after expenses and underwriting
commissions. We intend to use these net proceeds for general
corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, the
repurchase of shares of our common stock.
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred dividends
The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges
and our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred dividends on a consolidated basis. The ratio of
earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing net
income plus all applicable income taxes plus fixed charges, by
fixed charges. The ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges
and preferred dividends has been computed by dividing net income
plus all applicable income taxes plus fixed charges, by fixed
charges and preferred dividend requirements.
Fixed charges consist of interest expense, either including or
excluding interest on deposits as set forth below, and the
portion of net rental expense deemed to be equivalent to
interest on long-term debt. Interest expense, other than on
deposits, includes interest on long-term debt, federal funds
purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase,
mortgages, commercial paper and other funds borrowed. The
preferred dividend requirements represent the pretax earnings
which would have been required to cover the dividend
requirements on our preferred stock outstanding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six months | |
|
|
|
|
ended June 30, | |
|
Year ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
| |
Earnings to Fixed Charges:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Including interest on deposits
|
|
|
1.49 |
|
|
|
1.82 |
|
|
|
1.69 |
|
|
|
1.90 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
2.03 |
|
|
|
1.60 |
|
|
Excluding interest on deposits
|
|
|
1.95 |
|
|
|
2.53 |
|
|
|
2.31 |
|
|
|
2.69 |
|
|
|
3.39 |
|
|
|
2.89 |
|
|
|
1.97 |
|
Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred
Dividends:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Including interest on deposits
|
|
|
1.49 |
|
|
|
1.82 |
|
|
|
1.69 |
|
|
|
1.90 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
2.03 |
|
|
|
1.60 |
|
|
Excluding interest on deposits
|
|
|
1.95 |
|
|
|
2.53 |
|
|
|
2.31 |
|
|
|
2.69 |
|
|
|
3.39 |
|
|
|
2.88 |
|
|
|
1.96 |
|
S-12
Capitalization
The following table sets forth, on a consolidated basis, our
capitalization as of June 30, 2006:
|
|
4 |
on an actual basis; and
|
|
4 |
as adjusted to give effect to
the issuance and sale of the Series K Preferred Stock.
|
You should read the following table together with our
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto incorporated
by reference into this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of June 30, 2006 | |
|
|
| |
|
|
Actual | |
|
As adjusted | |
| |
|
|
($ in millions) | |
Deposits
|
|
$ |
204,558 |
|
|
|
204,558 |
|
Federal funds purchased and commercial paper
|
|
|
6,138 |
|
|
|
6,138 |
|
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase
|
|
|
19,866 |
|
|
|
19,866 |
|
Advances from Federal Home Loan Banks
|
|
|
55,311 |
|
|
|
55,311 |
|
Other borrowings
|
|
|
27,995 |
|
|
|
27,995 |
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
8,926 |
|
|
|
8,926 |
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
1,959 |
|
|
|
1,959 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
324,753 |
|
|
|
324,753 |
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
26,131 |
|
|
|
26,631 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
Common stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital surplus common stock
|
|
|
6,596 |
|
|
|
6,596 |
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(599 |
) |
|
|
(599 |
) |
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
20,134 |
|
|
|
20,134 |
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$ |
350,844 |
|
|
|
351,344 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-13
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
The depositary will be the sole holder of the Series K
Preferred Stock, as described under Description of
Depositary Shares below, and all references in this
prospectus supplement to the holders of the Series K
Preferred Stock shall mean the depositary. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the holders of depositary shares will be entitled,
through the depositary, to exercise the rights and preferences
of the holders of the Series K Preferred Stock, as
described under Description of Depositary Shares.
This prospectus supplement summarizes specific terms and
provisions of the Series K Preferred Stock. Terms that
apply generally to our preferred stock are described in the
Description of Capital Stock Preferred Stock
section of the accompanying prospectus. The following summary of
the terms and provisions of the Series K Preferred Stock
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the pertinent sections of our Restated Articles
of Incorporation and the Articles of Amendment creating the
Series K Preferred Stock, which will be included as
exhibits to a document that we will file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC).
GENERAL
We have authorized the issuance of up to 600 shares of our
Series K Perpetual Non-Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred
Stock, no par value and liquidation preference
$1,000,000 per share. The Series K Preferred Stock
will be represented by depositary shares each representing
1/40,000th of a share of Series K Preferred Stock
(equivalent to a liquidation preference of $25 per
depository share). The holders of the Series K Preferred
Stock will have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares
of our capital stock or any of our other securities. The
Series K Preferred Stock is perpetual and will not be
convertible into shares of our common stock or any other class
or series of our capital stock, and will not be subject to any
sinking fund or other obligation for its repurchase or
retirement.
As described in the accompanying prospectus, we may from time to
time, without notice to or the consent of holders of the
Series K Preferred Stock, issue additional shares of
preferred stock.
If we fail to pay, or declare and set aside for payment, full
dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock or any other
class or series of Parity Securities (as defined below) having
similar voting rights (Voting Parity
Securities) for six dividend periods or their
equivalent, the authorized number of directors on our board will
be increased by two. Subject to compliance with any requirement
for regulatory approval of, or non-objection to, persons serving
as directors, the holders of Series K Preferred Stock,
voting together as a single and separate class with the holders
of any outstanding Voting Parity Securities, will have the right
to elect two directors in addition to the directors then in
office at our next annual meeting of shareholders.
The Series K Preferred Stock will, with respect to dividend
rights and rights on liquidation,
winding-up and
dissolution, rank (i) on a parity with our Series I
Preferred Stock and Series J Preferred Stock and each other
class or series of preferred stock we may issue in the future,
the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series
will rank on a parity with the Series K Preferred Stock as
to dividend rights and rights on our liquidation,
winding-up and
dissolution (collectively referred to as Parity
Securities) and (ii) senior to our common stock,
our Series RP Preferred Stock and each other class of
capital stock we may issue in the future, the terms of which do
not expressly provide that it ranks on a parity with or senior
to the Series K Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and
rights on our liquidation,
winding-up and
dissolution (collectively referred to as Junior
Securities). As of the date of this prospectus
supplement, no class or series of our preferred stock is
outstanding.
We may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of
the holders of the Series K Preferred Stock, authorize
additional shares of Series K Preferred Stock.
S-14
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
DIVIDENDS
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock will be payable,
if, when and as declared by our board of directors out of
legally available funds, on a non-cumulative basis on the
$1,000,000 per share liquidation preference, at an annual
rate equal to the greater of (i) 3-Month USD LIBOR for the
related dividend period, plus 0.70%, or (ii) 4.00%. Subject
to the foregoing, dividends will be payable in arrears on
March 15, June 15, September 15 and
December 15 of each year commencing on December 15,
2006 or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next
Business Day (each, a Dividend Payment Date).
Each dividend will be payable to holders of record as they
appear on our stock register on the first day of the month in
which the relevant Dividend Payment Date occurs. Each period
from and including a Dividend Payment Date (or the date of the
issuance of the Series K Preferred Stock) to but excluding
the following Dividend Payment Date (or the
Redemption Date) is herein referred to as Dividend
Period. Dividends payable for each Dividend Period
will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed in the period divided by 360. No interest will be paid
on any dividend payment on Series K Preferred Stock paid
later than the scheduled Dividend Payment Date.
Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock are
non-cumulative. Accordingly, if our board of directors does not
declare a dividend on the Series K Preferred Stock or
declares less than a full dividend in respect of any Dividend
Period, the holders of the Series K Preferred Stock will
have no right to receive any dividend or a full dividend, as the
case may be, for the Dividend Period, and we will have no
obligation to pay a dividend or to pay full dividends for that
Dividend Period, whether or not dividends are declared and paid
for any future Dividend Period with respect to the Series K
Preferred Stock or our common stock or any other class or series
of our preferred stock.
If full dividends on all outstanding shares of the Series K
Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period have not been declared
and paid, we will be prohibited from declaring or paying
dividends with respect to, or redeeming, purchasing or acquiring
any of, our Junior Securities during the next succeeding
Dividend Period, other than (i) redemptions, purchases or
other acquisitions of Junior Securities in connection with any
benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or
consultants or in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan, and (ii) any declaration
of a dividend in connection with any stockholders rights
plan, including with respect to our Series RP Preferred
Stock, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under
any stockholders rights plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto. If dividends for any
Dividend Payment Date are not paid in full on the shares of the
Series K Preferred Stock and there are issued and
outstanding shares of Parity Securities for which such Dividend
Payment Date is also a scheduled dividend payment date, then all
dividends declared on shares of the Series K Preferred
Stock and such Parity Securities on such date shall be declared
pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends shall
bear the same ratio to each other as full dividends per share on
the shares of the Series K Preferred Stock and all such
Parity Securities otherwise payable on such date (subject to
their having been declared by the Board of Directors out of
legally available funds and including, in the case of any such
Parity Securities that bear cumulative dividends, all accrued
but unpaid dividends) bear to each other.
In this prospectus supplement, we use several terms that have
special meanings relevant to calculating dividend payments and
other terms of the Series K Preferred Stock. We define
these terms as follows:
3-Month USD LIBOR means, with respect to any
Dividend Period, a rate determined on the basis of the offered
rates for three-month U.S. dollar deposits, commencing on
the first day of such Dividend Period, which appears on US LIBOR
Telerate Page 3750 as of approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time, on the LIBOR Determination Date for such Dividend
Period. If on any LIBOR Determination Date no rate appears on US
LIBOR Telerate Page 3750 as of approximately
11:00 a.m., London time,
S-15
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
we or an affiliate of ours on our behalf will on such LIBOR
Determination Date request four major reference banks in the
London interbank market selected by us to provide us with a
quotation of the rate at which three-month deposits in
U.S. dollars, commencing on the first day of such Dividend
Period, are offered by them to prime banks in the London
interbank market as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, on such LIBOR Determination Date and in a principal amount
equal to that which is representative for a single transaction
in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are
provided, 3-Month USD LIBOR for such Dividend Period will be the
arithmetic mean (rounded upward if necessary to the nearest
..00001 of 1%) of such quotations as calculated by us. If fewer
than two quotations are provided, 3-Month USD LIBOR for such
Dividend Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if
necessary to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the rates quoted as of
approximately 11:00 am., New York time, on the first day of such
Dividend Period by three major banks in New York City, New York
selected by us for loans in U.S. dollars to leading
European banks, for a three-month period commencing on the first
day of such Dividend Period and in a principal amount of not
less than $1,000,000; provided, however, that, if the banks
selected by us are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence,
3-Month USD LIBOR for such Dividend Period will be the 3-Month
USD LIBOR determined with respect to the immediately preceding
Dividend Period.
Business Day means any day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banks in New York
City, New York, or Seattle, Washington are generally required or
authorized by law to be closed.
LIBOR Business Day means any day on which
commercial banks are open for general business (including
dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars) in London.
LIBOR Determination Date means, as to each
Dividend Period, the date that is two LIBOR Business Days prior
to the first day of such Dividend Period.
Redemption Date means any date that is
designated by us in a notice of redemption as described below
under Redemption.
US LIBOR Telerate Page 3750 means the
display page of Moneylines Telerate Service designated as
3750 (or any successor page or service for the purpose of
displaying rates comparable to 3-Month USD LIBOR).
Subject to the foregoing, such dividends (payable in cash, stock
or otherwise), as may be determined by our board of directors,
may be declared and paid on our common stock and any other
Junior Securities from time to time out of any assets legally
available for such payment, and the holders of Series K
Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such
dividend.
MATURITY
The Series K Preferred Stock will be perpetual unless
redeemed by us as described below under
Redemption.
REDEMPTION
The Series K Preferred Stock will not be redeemable at the
option of the holders at any time, and the Series K
Preferred Stock will not be subject to any sinking fund or other
obligation for its repurchase or retirement.
Subject to a covenant in favor of certain of our debtholders
limiting our right to repurchase or redeem the Series K
Preferred Stock as described below under Restriction
on Redemption or Repurchases and applicable legal and
regulatory limitations, we may at our option redeem the
Series K Preferred Stock in whole or in part at any time,
or from time to time, on or after September 15, 2011
(or, in the
S-16
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
event that September 15, 2011 is not a Business Day,
the next Business Day). Such redemption shall be at a cash
redemption price of $1,000,000 per share, plus any declared
and unpaid dividends to the Redemption Date, without
accumulation of any undeclared dividends.
We will mail notice of any such redemption to each holder of
record of the Series K Preferred Stock, not less than 30
nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date
specified in such notice.
RESTRICTION ON REDEMPTION OR REPURCHASES
At or prior to the initial issuance of shares of Series K
Preferred Stock, we will enter into a Replacement
Capital Covenant relating to the Series K
Preferred Stock. The Replacement Capital Covenant will only
benefit holders of Covered Debt (as defined below) and will not
be enforceable by holders of Series K Preferred Stock or
depositary shares. However, the Replacement Capital Covenant
could preclude us from redeeming or repurchasing shares of
Series K Preferred Stock at a time we might otherwise wish
to do so.
In the Replacement Capital Covenant, we will covenant to redeem
or repurchase shares of Series K Preferred Stock only if
and to the extent that the total redemption or repurchase price
is equal to or less than designated percentages of the net cash
proceeds that we or our subsidiaries have received during the
180 days prior to the redemption or repurchase from the
issuance of our common stock, non-cumulative perpetual preferred
stock or certain other securities or combinations of securities
satisfying the requirements of the Replacement Capital Covenant.
Our ability to raise proceeds from qualifying securities during
the six months prior to a proposed redemption or repurchase will
depend on, among other things, market conditions at such times
as well as the acceptability to prospective investors of the
terms of such qualifying securities.
Our covenants in the Replacement Capital Covenant will run in
favor of persons that buy, hold or sell our indebtedness during
the period that such indebtedness is Covered
Debt, which is currently comprised of our
4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2014 bearing CUSIP
No. 939322AN3. Other debt will replace our Covered Debt
under the Replacement Capital Covenant on the earlier to occur
of (i) the date two years prior to the maturity of the
existing Covered Debt, (ii) the date of a redemption or
repurchase of the existing Covered Debt in an amount such that
the outstanding principal amount of the existing Covered Debt is
or will become less than $100 million, or (iii) if
such Covered Debt is senior debt, the date on which we issue
subordinated debt that is eligible to be Covered Debt.
The Replacement Capital Covenant will be subject to various
additional terms and conditions and this description is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Replacement
Capital Covenant, a copy of the form of which is available upon
request from us. The Replacement Capital Covenant may be
terminated if the holders of at least 51% of the principal
amount of the Covered Debt so agree, or if we no longer have
outstanding any long-term indebtedness that qualifies as Covered
Debt, without regard to whether such indebtedness is rated by a
nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
Subject to the limitations described above and the terms of any
preferred stock ranking senior to the Series K Preferred
Stock or of any outstanding debt instruments, we or our
affiliates may from time to time purchase any outstanding shares
of Series K Preferred Stock by tender, in the open market
or by private agreement.
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
In the event that Washington Mutual, Inc. voluntarily or
involuntarily liquidates, dissolves or winds up, the holders of
Series K Preferred Stock at the time outstanding will be
entitled to receive liquidating distributions in the amount of
$1,000,000 per share of Series K Preferred Stock, plus
an amount equal to any declared but unpaid dividends thereon,
out of assets legally available for
S-17
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
distribution to its shareholders, before any distribution of
assets is made to the holders of our common stock or any other
Junior Securities. After payment of the full amount of such
liquidating distributions, the holders of Series K
Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any further
participation in any distribution of assets by, and will have no
right or claim to any remaining assets of, Washington Mutual,
Inc.
In the event that our assets available for distribution to
shareholders upon any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the
affairs of Washington Mutual, Inc., whether voluntary or
involuntary, are insufficient to pay in full the amounts payable
with respect to all outstanding shares of the Series K
Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable on any
Parity Securities, the holders of Series K Preferred Stock
and the holders of such other Parity Securities will share
ratably in any distribution of our assets in proportion to the
full respective liquidating distributions to which they would
otherwise be respectively entitled.
For such purposes, Washington Mutuals consolidation or
merger with or into any other entity, the consolidation or
merger of any other entity with or into it, or the sale of all
or substantially all of Washington Mutuals property or
business, will not be deemed to constitute its liquidation,
dissolution, or winding-up.
VOTING RIGHTS
Except as provided below, the holders of the Series K
Preferred Stock will have no voting rights.
Washington State law attaches mandatory voting rights to classes
or series of shares that are affected by certain amendments to
the articles of incorporation. The holders of the outstanding
shares of a class or series are entitled to vote as a separate
voting group if shareholder voting is otherwise required by
Washington State law and if the amendment would:
|
|
4 |
increase the aggregate number of
authorized shares of the class or series;
|
|
4 |
effect an exchange or
reclassification of all or part of the issued and outstanding
shares of the class or series into shares of another class or
series, thereby adversely affecting the holders of the shares so
exchanged or reclassified;
|
|
4 |
change the rights, preferences,
or limitations of all or part of the issued and outstanding
shares of the class or series, thereby adversely affecting the
holders of shares of the class or series;
|
|
4 |
change all or part of the issued
and outstanding shares of the class or series into a different
number of shares of the same class or series, thereby adversely
affecting the holders of shares of the class or series;
|
|
4 |
create a new class or series of
shares having rights or preferences with respect to dividends or
other distributions or to dissolution that are, or upon
designation by the board of directors may be, prior, superior,
or substantially equal to the shares of the class or series;
|
|
4 |
increase the rights or
preferences with respect to distributions, or on liquidations or
dissolution, or the number of authorized shares of any class or
series that, after giving effect to the amendment, has rights or
preferences with respect to distributions, or on liquidations or
dissolution that are, or upon designation by the board of
directors may be prior, superior, or substantially equal to the
shares of the class or series;
|
|
4 |
limit or deny an existing
pre-emptive right of all or part of the shares of the class or
series;
|
|
4 |
cancel or otherwise adversely
affect rights to distributions that have accumulated but not yet
been declared on all or part of the shares of the class or
series; or
|
S-18
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
|
|
4 |
effect a redemption or
cancellation of all or part of the shares of the class or series
in exchange for cash or any other form of consideration other
than shares of the corporation.
|
Holders of the outstanding shares of a class or series of stock
are entitled under Washington law to vote as a separate voting
group with respect to a merger or share exchange if shareholder
voting is otherwise required by Washington law and if, as a
result of the merger or share exchange, holders of a part or all
of the class or series would hold or receive:
|
|
4 |
shares of any class or series of
the surviving or acquiring corporation, or of any parent
corporation of the surviving corporation, and either
(i) that class or series has a greater number of authorized
shares than the class or series held by the holders, or
(ii) there is a change in the number of shares held by the
holders or in the rights, preferences or limitations of the
shares or the class or series and the change adversely affects
the holders;
|
|
4 |
shares of any class or series of
the surviving or acquiring corporation, or of any parent
corporation of the surviving corporation, and such holders would
be, as compared to their circumstances prior to the merger or
exchange, adversely affected by the creation, existence, number
of authorized shares or rights or preferences of another series
that may be prior, superior or substantially equal to the shares
to be received by such holders; or
|
|
4 |
cash or any other property other
than shares of the surviving or acquiring corporation or of any
parent corporation of the surviving corporation.
|
Under Washington law, if any class or series of shares is
entitled to vote as a group in connection with an amendment of
the articles, a merger or a share exchange, such class or series
and any other classes or series affected in a substantially
similar way will vote together as a single voting group unless
otherwise provided by the articles or by the board of directors.
Washington law permits these statutory voting rights to be
expanded or, in certain circumstances, limited in the
designation of the terms of a class or series. The statutory
voting rights of the holders of Series K Preferred Stock
will be expanded and, in certain circumstances, limited as
described below.
If after issuance of the Series K Preferred Stock we fail
to pay, or declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on
the Series K Preferred Stock or any other class or series
of Voting Parity Securities for six Dividend Periods or their
equivalent, the authorized number of our directors will be
increased by two. Subject to compliance with any requirement for
regulatory approval of, or non-objection to, persons serving as
directors, the holders of Series K Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single and separate class with the holders of any
outstanding Voting Parity Securities, will have the right to
elect two directors in addition to the directors then in office
at our next annual meeting of shareholders. This right will
continue at each subsequent annual meeting until we pay
dividends in full on the Series K Preferred Stock and any
Voting Parity Securities for three consecutive Dividend Periods
or their equivalent and pay or declare and set aside for payment
dividends in full for the fourth consecutive Dividend Period or
its equivalent.
The term of such additional directors will terminate, and the
total number of directors will be decreased by two after we pay
dividends in full for three consecutive Dividend Periods or
their equivalent and declare and pay or set aside for payment
dividends in full on the Series K Preferred Stock and any
Voting Parity Securities for the fourth consecutive Dividend
Period or its equivalent or, if earlier, upon the redemption of
all Series K Preferred Stock. After the term of such
additional directors terminates, the holders of the
Series K Preferred Stock will not be entitled to elect
additional directors unless full dividends on the Series K
Preferred Stock have again not been paid or declared and set
aside for payment for six future Dividend Periods.
S-19
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
Any additional director elected by the holders of the
Series K Preferred Stock and the Voting Parity Securities
may only be removed by the vote of the holders of record of the
outstanding Series K Preferred Stock and Voting Parity
Securities, voting together as a single and separate class, at a
meeting of our shareholders called for that purpose. Any vacancy
created by the removal of any such director may be filled only
by the vote of the holders of the outstanding Series K
Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Securities, voting together as
a single and separate class.
So long as any shares of Series K Preferred Stock are
outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of at least
662/3%
of the shares of Series K Preferred Stock at the time
outstanding, voting as a class with all other series of
preferred stock ranking equal with the Series K Preferred
Stock and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy,
either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting
called for the purpose, will be necessary for effecting or
validating any of the following actions, whether or not such
approval is required by Washington law:
|
|
4 |
any amendment, alteration or
repeal of any provision of our amended and restated Articles of
Incorporation (including the Articles of Amendment creating the
Series K Preferred Stock) or our bylaws that would alter or
change the voting powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series K Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely;
|
|
4 |
any amendment or alteration of
our amended and restated Articles of Incorporation to authorize
or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of,
or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or
series of our capital stock ranking prior to the Series K
Preferred Stock in the payment of dividends or in the
distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or our
winding-up; or
|
|
4 |
the consummation of a binding
share exchange or reclassification involving the Series K
Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation of us with another
entity, except holders of Series K Preferred Stock will
have no right to vote under this provision or otherwise under
Washington law if in each case (i) the Series K
Preferred Stock remains outstanding or, in the case of any such
merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the
surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or exchanged
for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity
or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such Series K
Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or such preference
securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences,
privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not
materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the
rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the
Series K Preferred Stock, taken as a whole;
|
provided, however, that any increase in the amount of the
authorized or issued Series K Preferred Stock or authorized
preferred stock or any securities convertible into preferred
stock or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the
authorized or issued amount, of other series of preferred stock
or any securities convertible in to preferred stock ranking
equally with and/or junior to the Series K Preferred Stock
with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends
are cumulative or non-cumulative) and/or the distribution of
assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up will not
be deemed to adversely affect the voting powers, preferences or
special rights of the Series K Preferred Stock and,
notwithstanding any provision of Washington law, holders of
Series K Preferred Stock will have no right to vote on such
an increase.
If an amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange,
reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would
adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting
preferred stock (including the Series K Preferred Stock for
this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to
vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of
preferred stock.
The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior
to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would
otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares
of Series K
S-20
Description of Series K Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for
redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have
been set aside by us for the benefit of the holders of the
Series K Preferred Stock to effect such redemption.
SERIES I PREFERRED STOCK AND SERIES J PREFERRED STOCK
While we currently have no outstanding shares of preferred
stock, we have authorized the issuance of our Series I
Preferred Stock and Series J Preferred Stock.
Pursuant to an issuance by Washington Mutual Preferred Funding
Trust I of $1,250,000,000 of
Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Perpetual Non-cumulative Trust Securities (the
Trust Securities), if so directed by the
OTS following the occurrence of an Exchange Event (as defined
below), each Trust Security will be automatically exchanged
for a like amount of depositary shares each representing
1/1000th of a share of our Series I Perpetual
Non-cumulative
Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Preferred Stock, no par value and liquidation preference
$1,000,000 per share (the Series I Preferred
Stock).
Pursuant to an issuance by Washington Mutual Preferred Funding
(Cayman) I Ltd. of $750,000,000 of 7.25% Perpetual
Non-cumulative Preferred Securities (the WaMu Cayman
Preferred Securities), if so directed by the OTS
following the occurrence of an Exchange Event, each WaMu Cayman
Preferred Security will be automatically exchanged for a like
amount of depositary shares representing 1/1000th of a
share of our Series J Perpetual Non-cumulative Fixed Rate
Preferred Stock, no par value and liquidation preference
$1,000,000 per share (the Series J Preferred
Stock).
Exchange Event means (i) Washington
Mutual Bank becoming undercapitalized under the
OTS prompt corrective action regulations,
(ii) Washington Mutual Bank being placed into
conservatorship or receivership or (iii) the OTS, in its
sole discretion, directing such exchange in anticipation of
Washington Mutual Bank becoming undercapitalized in
the near term or taking supervisory action that limits the
payment of dividends, as applicable, by Washington Mutual Bank,
and in connection therewith, directs such exchange.
Any Series I Preferred Stock or Series J Preferred
Stock issued at the direction of the OTS following the
occurrence of an Exchange Event would rank on a parity with the
Series K Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and rights
on our liquidation,
winding-up and
dissolution.
WITHDRAWAL OF SERIES K PREFERRED STOCK FROM DEPOSITARY
Unless the related Depositary Shares have previously been called
for redemption, any holder of a Receipt or Receipts representing
any number of whole shares of Series K Preferred Stock (or
such holders duly authorized attorney) may withdraw the
number of whole shares of Series K Preferred Stock
underlying such Depositary Shares and all money and other
property, if any, represented thereby by surrendering such
Receipt or Receipts at the Depositarys Office or at such
other offices as the Depositary may designate for such
withdrawals. If such holders Depositary Shares are being
held by the Depositary Trust Company or its nominee, such holder
shall request withdrawal from the book-entry system of the
number of Depositary Shares specified in the preceding sentence.
REGISTRAR
Mellon Investor Services LLC will be the registrar, dividend
disbursing agent and redemption agent for the Series K
Preferred Stock.
S-21
Description of depositary shares
In this prospectus supplement, references to holders
of depositary shares mean those who own depositary shares
registered in their own names on the books that we or the
depositary maintain for this purpose, and not indirect holders
who own beneficial interests in depositary shares registered in
street name or issued in book-entry form through DTC. Please
review the special considerations that apply to indirect holders
described in the Book Entry Issuance section of this
prospectus supplement.
This prospectus supplement summarizes specific terms and
provisions of the depositary shares relating to our
Series K Preferred Stock; terms that apply generally to all
our preferred stock issued in the form of depositary shares
(including the depositary shares offered in this prospectus
supplement) are described in the Description of Depositary
Shares section of the accompanying prospectus.
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the terms and provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the form
of depositary receipts, which contain the terms and provisions
of the depositary shares, and our articles of incorporation and
articles of amendment.
GENERAL
Each depositary share will represent a 1/40,000th interest
in one share of Series K Preferred Stock. The depositary
shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts. The shares of
Series K Preferred Stock underlying the depositary shares
will be deposited with Mellon Investor Services LLC, as
depositary, under a deposit agreement to be entered into on or
before the closing date (the Deposit
Agreement), among us, the depositary, the registrar
appointed thereunder and all holders from time to time of
depositary receipts issued by the depositary thereunder.
The depositary will act as transfer agent and registrar and
paying agent with respect to the depositary shares.
The depositarys office at which the depositary receipts
will be administered is located at 480 Washington
Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310.
Purchasers may hold depositary shares either directly or
indirectly through their broker or other financial institution.
If a purchaser holds depositary shares directly, by having
depositary shares registered in its name on the books of the
depositary, the purchaser is a depositary receipt holder. If a
purchaser holds the depositary shares through a broker or
financial institution nominee, the purchasers must rely on the
procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the
rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received in respect of the Series K Preferred
Stock to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion
to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by such holders
on the relevant record date. In the event of a distribution
other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property
received by it to the record holders of depositary shares
entitled thereto, unless the depositary determines that it is
not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the
depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and
distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters
relating to the depositary shares will be the same as the
corresponding record dates for the Series K Preferred Stock.
The amounts distributed to holders of depositary shares will be
reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary
or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.
S-22
Description of depositary shares
REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
If the Series K Preferred Stock underlying the depositary
shares is redeemed, in whole or in part, a corresponding number
of depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received
by the depositary from the redemption of the Series K
Preferred Stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per
depositary share will be equal to 1/40,000th of the
applicable redemption price per share payable in respect of such
Series K Preferred Stock. If less than all the
Series K Preferred Stock is redeemed, depositary shares to
be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as determined by
the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption (which will be the same date
as the redemption date for the Series K Preferred Stock,
the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be
deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the
depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the
moneys payable upon such redemption and any money or other
property to which the holders of such depositary shares were
entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the depositary
of the depositary receipts evidencing such depositary shares.
AMENDMENT OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares
and any provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time be
amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any
amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the
holders of depositary receipts will not be effective unless such
amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a
majority of the depositary receipts then outstanding. Every
holder of an outstanding depositary receipt at the time any
amendment becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to
hold such depositary receipt, to consent and agree to such
amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended
thereby.
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
We will pay the charges of the depositary in connection with the
initial deposit of the Series K Preferred Stock, the
initial issuance of the depositary shares and any redemption of
the Series K Preferred Stock. Holders of depositary shares
will pay all other transfer and other taxes and governmental
charges and, in addition, such other charges as are expressly
provided in the Deposit Agreement to be for their accounts. All
other charges and expenses of the depositary and of any
registrar incident to the performance of their respective
obligations arising from the depositary arrangements will be
paid by us only after prior consultation and agreement between
the depositary and us and consent by us to the incurrence of
such expenses, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
MISCELLANEOUS
The depositary will forward to the holders of the depositary
shares all reports and communications from us that we would be
required to furnish to the holders of the Series K
Preferred Stock.
Neither the depositary nor we will be liable if it or we are
prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its or
our control in performing our respective obligations under the
Deposit Agreement. Our obligations and the obligations of the
depositary under the Deposit Agreement will be limited to
performance in good faith of our respective duties thereunder,
and neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute
or defend any legal proceedings in respect of any depositary
shares or the Series K Preferred Stock unless a
satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may
rely upon written advice of counsel or independent accountants,
or information provided by persons presenting Series K
Preferred Stock for deposit, holders of depositary shares or
other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed
to be genuine.
S-23
Description of depositary shares
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY; TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT
AGREEMENT
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice
of its resignation and we may at any time remove the depositary,
with any such resignation or removal taking effect upon the
appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such
appointment. Such successor depositary will be appointed by us
within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation
or removal. Upon termination of the Deposit Agreement, the
depositary will discontinue the transfer of depositary receipts,
will suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders
thereof and will not give any further notices (other than notice
of such termination) or perform any further acts under the
Deposit Agreement, except that the depositary will continue to
collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to
Series K Preferred Stock and will continue to deliver
Series K Preferred Stock certificates together with such
dividends and distributions and the net proceeds of any sales of
rights, preferences, privileges, or other property in exchange
for depositary receipts surrendered. At a time after the
expiration of three years from the date of termination, the
depositary may sell the Series K Preferred Stock and hold
the proceeds of such sale, without interest, for the benefit of
the holders of depositary receipts who have not then surrendered
their depositary receipts. After making such sale, the
depositary will be discharged from all obligations under the
Deposit Agreement, except to account for such proceeds.
VOTING THE SERIES K PREFERRED STOCK
When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the
holders of the Series K Preferred Stock are entitled to
vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the
notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating
to the Series K Preferred Stock. Each record holder of the
depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same
date as the record date for the Series K Preferred Stock,
may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the
Series K Preferred Stock represented by the holders
depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will
try, if practical, to vote the amount of the Series K
Preferred Stock represented by depositary shares in accordance
with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all
reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary
to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the
depositary does not receive specific instructions from the
holders of any depositary shares representing the Series K
Preferred Stock, it will not vote the amount of Series K
Preferred Stock, represented by such depositary shares.
LISTING
The depositary shares have been approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol WM PrK, subject
to official notice of issuance. Trading is expected to begin
within 30 days of September 18, 2006, the original
issue date. We do not expect that there will be any separate
public trading market for the shares of the Series K
Preferred Stock, except as represented by the depositary shares.
FORM OF PREFERRED STOCK AND DEPOSITARY SHARES
The depositary shares shall be issued in book-entry form through
DTC, as described in Book-Entry Issuance in this
prospectus supplement. The Series K Preferred Stock will be
issued in registered form to the depositary.
S-24
Book-entry issuance
The Depository Trust Company (DTC) will act
as securities depositary for all of the depositary shares. We
will issue the depositary shares only as fully-registered
securities registered in the name of Cede & Co.,
DTCs nominee. We will issue and deposit with DTC one or
more fully-registered global certificates for the depositary
shares representing, in the aggregate, the total number of the
depositary shares to be sold in this offering.
DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New
York Banking Law, a banking organization under the meaning of
the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve
System, a clearing corporation under the meaning of the New York
Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered under
the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC
also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities
transactions, like transfers and pledges, in deposited
securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in
the participants accounts, eliminating in this manner the
need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct
participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks,
trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations.
DTC is owned by a number of its direct participants and by the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc.
and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Others,
like securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies
that clear through or maintain custodial relationships with
direct participants, either directly or indirectly, are indirect
participants and also have access to the DTC system. The rules
applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of depositary shares within the DTC system must be
made by or through direct participants, who will receive a
credit for the depositary shares on DTCs records. The
ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each depositary
share is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect
participants records. DTC will not send written
confirmation to beneficial owners of their purchases, but
beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations
providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic
statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect
participants through which the beneficial owners purchased
depositary shares. Transfers of ownership interests in the
depositary shares are to be accomplished by entries made on the
books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.
Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing
their ownership interests in depositary shares, unless the
book-entry system for the depositary shares is discontinued.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the
depositary shares. DTCs records reflect only the identity
of the direct participants to whose accounts the depositary
shares are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial
owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants,
and by direct participants and indirect participants to
beneficial owners and the voting rights of direct participants,
indirect participants and beneficial owners, subject to any
statutory or regulatory requirements as is in effect from time
to time, will be governed by arrangements among them.
We will send redemption notices to Cede & Co. as the
registered holder of the depositary shares. If less than all of
these depositary shares are redeemed, DTCs current
practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of
each direct participant to be redeemed.
Although voting on the depositary shares is limited to the
holders of record of the depositary shares, in those instances
in which a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co.
will itself consent or vote on depositary shares. Under its
usual procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon
as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns
Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights to
S-25
Book-entry issuance
direct participants for whose accounts the depositary shares are
credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to
the omnibus proxy).
We will make distribution payments on the Series K
Preferred Stock, and the depositary will then make distribution
payments on the depositary shares to DTC. DTCs practice is
to credit direct participants accounts on the relevant
payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown
on DTCs records unless DTC has reason to believe that it
will not receive payments on the payment date. Standing
instructions and customary practices will govern payments from
participants to beneficial owners. Subject to any statutory or
regulatory requirements, participants, and neither DTC nor we,
will be responsible for the payment. We and any paying agent
will be responsible for payment of distributions to DTC. Direct
and indirect participants are responsible for the disbursement
of the payments to the beneficial owners.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depositary on any of the depositary shares at any time by giving
reasonable notice to us. If a successor securities depositary is
not obtained, final depositary shares certificates must be
printed and delivered. We may at our option decide to
discontinue the use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary).
We have obtained the information in this section about DTC and
DTCs book-entry system from sources that we believe to be
accurate, but we assume no responsibility for the accuracy of
the information. We have no responsibility for the performance
by DTC or its participants of their respective obligations as
described in this prospectus or under the rules and procedures
governing their respective operations.
Beneficial owner refers to the ownership
interest of each actual purchaser of each depositary share.
Direct participants refers to securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and other organizations who, with the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange Inc., and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., own DTC.
Purchases of depositary shares within the DTC system must be
made by or through direct participants who will receive a credit
for the depositary shares on DTCs records.
Indirect participants refers to others, like
securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that
clear through or maintain custodial relationships with direct
participants, either directly or indirectly, and who also have
access to the DTC system.
S-26
Certain United States federal income tax consequences
The following summary describes certain United States federal
income tax consequences of the ownership of our depositary
shares as of the date hereof. The discussion set forth below is
applicable to United States Holders (as defined below). Except
where noted, this summary deals only with depositary shares held
as capital assets. As used herein, the term United States
Holder means a holder of depositary shares that is for
United States federal income tax purposes:
|
|
4 |
an individual citizen or
resident of the United States;
|
|
4 |
a corporation (or other entity
treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
|
|
4 |
an estate the income of which is
subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of
its source; or
|
|
4 |
a trust if it (1) is
subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United
States and one or more United States persons have the authority
to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a
valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury
regulations to be treated as a United States person.
|
This summary does not represent a detailed description of the
United States federal income tax consequences applicable to you
if you are subject to special treatment under the United States
federal income tax laws, including if you are:
|
|
4 |
a dealer in securities or
currencies;
|
|
4 |
a financial institution;
|
|
4 |
a regulated investment company;
|
|
4 |
a real estate investment trust;
|
|
4 |
an insurance company;
|
|
4 |
a tax-exempt organization;
|
|
4 |
a person holding our depositary
shares as part of a hedging, integrated or conversion
transaction, a constructive sale or a straddle;
|
|
4 |
a trader in securities that has
elected the
mark-to-market method
of accounting for your securities; |
|
4 |
a person liable for alternative
minimum tax;
|
|
4 |
a person who owns 10% or more of
our voting stock;
|
|
4 |
a partnership or other
pass-through entity for United States federal income tax
purposes; or
|
|
4 |
a person whose functional
currency is not the United States dollar.
|
The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), and regulations, rulings and judicial
decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities
may be replaced, revoked or modified so as to result in United
States federal income tax consequences different from those
discussed below.
If a partnership holds our depositary shares, the tax treatment
of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the
partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a
partner of a partnership holding our depositary shares, you
should consult your tax advisors.
S-27
Certain United States federal income tax consequences
This summary does not contain a detailed description of all the
United States federal income tax consequences to you in light of
your particular circumstances and does not address the effects
of any state, local or non-United States tax laws. If you are
considering the purchase, ownership or disposition of our
depositary shares, you should consult your own tax advisors
concerning the United States federal income tax consequences to
you in light of your particular situation as well as any
consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing
jurisdiction.
Depositary Shares. If you hold depositary shares, for
United States federal income tax purposes, you generally will be
treated as the owner of the portion of Series K Preferred
Stock represented by such depositary shares.
Dividends. Dividends on the Series K Preferred Stock
will be dividends for United States federal income tax purposes
to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings
and profits, as determined for United States federal income tax
purposes, and will be taxable as ordinary income. Although we
expect that our current and accumulated earnings and profits
will be such that all dividends paid with respect to the
Series K Preferred Stock will qualify as dividends for
United States federal income tax purposes, we cannot guarantee
that result. Our accumulated earnings and profits and our
current earnings and profits in future years will depend in
significant part on our future profits or losses, which we
cannot accurately predict. To the extent that the amount of any
dividend paid on Series K Preferred Stock exceeds our
current and accumulated earnings and profits attributable to
that share, the dividend will be treated first as a return of
capital and will be applied against and reduce your adjusted tax
basis (but not below zero) in that share of Series K
Preferred Stock. This reduction in basis would increase any
gain, or reduce any loss realized by you on the subsequent sale,
redemption or other disposition of your Series K Preferred
Stock. The amount of any such dividend in excess of your
adjusted tax basis will then be taxed as capital gain. For
purposes of the remainder of this discussion, it is assumed that
dividends paid on the Series K Preferred Stock will
constitute dividends for United States federal income tax
purposes.
If you are a corporation, dividends that are received by you
will generally be eligible for a 70% dividends-received
deduction under the Code. However, the Code disallows this
dividends-received deduction in its entirety if the
Series K Preferred Stock with respect to which the dividend
is paid are held by you for less than 46 days during the
91-day period beginning
on the date which is 45 days before the date on which the
Series K Preferred Stock become ex-dividend with respect to
such dividend. (A
91-day minimum holding
period applies to certain dividend arrearages.)
Under current law, if you are an individual, dividends received
by you generally will be subject to a reduced maximum tax rate
of 15% through December 31, 2010, after which the rate
applicable to dividends is scheduled to return to the tax rate
generally applicable to ordinary income. The rate reduction will
not apply to dividends received to the extent that you elect to
treat the dividends as investment income, which may
be offset by investment expense. Furthermore, the rate reduction
will also not apply to dividends that are paid to you with
respect to Series K Preferred Stock that are held by you
for less than 61 days during the
121-day period
beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on
which the Series K Preferred Stock became ex-dividend with
respect to such dividend. (A
91-day minimum holding
period applies to certain dividend arrearages.)
In general, for purposes of meeting the holding period
requirements for both the dividends-received deduction and the
reduced maximum tax rate on dividends described above, you may
not count towards your holding period any period in which you
(a) have the option to sell, are under a contractual
obligation to sell, or have made (and not closed) a short sale
of Series K Preferred Stock or substantially identical
stock or securities, (b) are the grantor of an option to
buy Series K Preferred Stock or substantially identical
stock or securities or (c) otherwise have diminished your
risk of loss by holding one or more other positions with respect
to substantially similar or related property. The
S-28
Certain United States federal income tax consequences
United States Treasury Regulations provide that a taxpayer has
diminished its risk of loss on stock by holding a position in
substantially similar or related property if the taxpayer is the
beneficiary of a guarantee, surety agreement, or similar
arrangement that provides for payments that will substantially
offset decreases in the fair market value of the stock. In
addition, the Code disallows the dividends-received deduction as
well as the reduced maximum tax rate on dividends if the
recipient of a dividend is obligated to make related payments
with respect to positions in substantially similar or related
property. This disallowance applies even if the minimum holding
period has been met. You are advised to consult your own tax
advisor regarding the implications of these rules in light of
your particular circumstances.
You should consider the effect of section 246A of the Code,
which reduces the dividends-received deduction allowed with
respect to debt-financed portfolio stock. The Code
also imposes a 20% alternative minimum tax on corporations. In
some circumstances, the portion of dividends subject to the
dividends-received deduction will serve to increase a
corporations minimum tax base for purposes of the
determination of the alternative minimum tax. In addition, a
corporate shareholder may be required to reduce its basis in
stock with respect to certain extraordinary
dividends, as provided under section 1059 of the
Code. You should consult your own tax adviser in determining the
application of these rules in light of your particular
circumstances.
Dispositions, Including Redemptions. A sale, exchange,
redemption or other disposition of Series K Preferred Stock
will generally result in gain or loss equal to the difference
between the amount realized upon the disposition and your
adjusted tax basis in the Series K Preferred Stock. Such
gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term
capital gain or loss if your holding period for the
Series K Preferred Stock exceeds one year. Under current
law, if you are an individual, net long-term capital gain
realized by you is subject to a reduced maximum tax rate of 15%.
After December 31, 2010, the maximum rate is scheduled to
return to the previously effective 20% rate. The deductibility
of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. In general,
information reporting will apply to dividends in respect of our
Series K Preferred Stock and the proceeds from the sale,
exchange or redemption of our Series K Preferred Stock that
are paid to you within the United States (and in certain cases,
outside the United States), unless you are an exempt recipient
such as a corporation. A backup withholding tax may apply to
such payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification
number or certification of other exempt status or fail to report
in full dividend and interest income.
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be
allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States
federal income tax liability provided the required information
is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
S-29
Underwriting
We are offering depositary shares each representing a
1/40,000th interest in a share of Series K Preferred
Stock described in this prospectus supplement through the
underwriters named below. UBS Securities LLC, Goldman,
Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers Inc. and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated are the representatives of
the underwriters. We have entered into an underwriting agreement
with the representatives. Subject to the terms and conditions of
the underwriting agreement, each of the underwriters has
severally agreed to purchase the number of depositary shares
listed next to its name in the following table:
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriters |
|
Number of shares | |
| |
UBS Securities LLC
|
|
|
7,400,000 |
|
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
|
|
|
3,700,000 |
|
Lehman Brothers Inc.
|
|
|
3,700,000 |
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
|
|
|
3,700,000 |
|
Banc of America Securities LLC
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
|
|
|
500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
20,000,000 |
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters must
buy all of the shares if they buy any of them.
The depositary shares are offered subject to a number of
conditions, including:
|
|
4 |
receipt and acceptance of the
depositary shares by the underwriters; and
|
|
4 |
the underwriters right to
reject orders in whole or in part.
|
The representatives have advised us that the underwriters intend
to make a market in the depositary shares prior to commencement
of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, but that they are not
obligated to do so and may discontinue making a market at any
time without notice. In connection with this offering, certain
of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute
prospectuses electronically.
COMMISSIONS AND DISCOUNTS
The underwriters propose to offer the Depositary Shares directly
to the public at the initial offering prices shown on the cover
page of this prospectus supplement, and may offer a portion to
certain dealers at that price less a selling concession of not
more than $0.20 per share. The underwriters may allow, and
the dealers may reallow, a concession of not more than
$0.20 per share on sales to certain brokers and dealers.
After the initial offering of the shares, the underwriters may
vary the offering price and other selling terms.
The following table shows the per share and total underwriting
discounts and commissions we will pay to the underwriters:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.375 |
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,500,000 |
|
We estimate that the total expenses of this offering payable by
us, not including the underwriting discounts and commissions,
will be approximately $415,000.
S-30
Underwriting
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and their
controlling persons against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act. If we are unable to
provide this indemnification, we have agreed to contribute to
payments the underwriters and their controlling persons may be
required to make in respect of those liabilities.
NYSE QUOTATION
The depositary shares have been approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol WM PrK, subject
to official notice of issuance. Trading is expected to begin
within 30 days of September 18, 2006, the original
issue date.
NO SALES OF SIMILAR SECURITIES
We have agreed with the underwriters not to offer, sell,
contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of
Washington Mutual that are substantially similar to the
Series K Preferred Stock or the depositary shares,
including any securities that are convertible into or
exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive
Series K Preferred Stock, depositary shares or any
substantially similar securities, during the period from the
date of this prospectus supplement continuing through the
earlier of (i) the date 30 days after the date of this
prospectus supplement and (ii) the date on which the
underwriters notify us that they have completed the distribution
of the depositary shares, except with the prior written consent
of the representatives of the underwriters.
PRICE STABILIZATION, SHORT POSITIONS
To facilitate the offering of the depositary shares, the
underwriters may engage in activities that stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the price of the depositary shares,
including:
|
|
4 |
stabilizing transactions;
|
|
4 |
short sales;
|
|
4 |
purchases to cover positions
created by short sales;
|
|
4 |
imposition of penalty bids; and
|
|
4 |
syndicate covering transactions.
|
Specifically, the underwriters may sell more depositary shares
than they are obligated to purchase under the underwriting
agreement, creating a naked short position. The underwriters
must close out any naked short position by purchasing depositary
shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely
to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may
be downward pressure on the price of the depositary shares in
the open market after pricing that could adversely affect
investors who purchase in the offering. As an additional means
of facilitating the offering, the underwriters may bid for, and
purchase, depositary shares in the open market to stabilize the
price of the depositary shares. These activities may raise or
maintain the market price of the depositary shares above
independent market levels or prevent or retard a decline in the
market price of the depositary shares. The underwriters are not
required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these
activities at any time.
S-31
Underwriting
AFFILIATIONS
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may from time
to time provide certain commercial banking, financial advisory,
investment banking and other services for us for which they will
be entitled to receive separate fees.
S-32
Validity of shares
The validity of the Series K Preferred Stock will be passed
upon for us by Heller Ehrman LLP, Seattle, Washington and by
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York, and
the validity of the depositary shares will be passed upon for us
by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. The validity of the
Series K Preferred Stock and the depositary shares will be
passed upon for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell
LLP, New York, New York. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will rely as to all matters
of Washington State law upon the opinion of Heller Ehrman LLP.
Experts
The financial statements and managements report on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Washington
Mutuals Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
December 31, 2005 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated
in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference,
and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of
such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing.
S-33
Where you can find more information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document that we file at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference room. In addition,
our SEC filings are available to the public from the SECs
web site at http://www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also
available at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange. For
further information on obtaining copies of our public filings at
the New York Stock Exchange, you should call 212-656-5060.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we
file with them, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part
of this prospectus supplement, and later information that we
file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this
information. We incorporate by reference the following documents
listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until the completion of the
distribution of the securities:
|
|
4 |
Annual Report on Form 10K/
A for the year ended December 31, 2005;
|
|
4 |
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q/ A for
the quarter ended March 31, 2006 and Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2006; and |
|
4 |
Current Reports on
Form 8-K filed on
January 23, 2006, February 7, 2006, February 21,
2006, February 27, 2006, March 9, 2006, April 10,
2006 (other than the information furnished under Item 7.01
including Exhibit 99.1), April 24, 2006 (other than
the information furnished under Item 7.01 including
Exhibit 99.1), June 28, 2006 and August 24,
2006. |
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing
or telephoning us at the following address:
Washington Mutual, Inc.
1301 Second Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
Telephone: 206-461-2000
We have also filed a registration statement
(No. 333-130929)
with the SEC relating to the securities offered by this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This
prospectus supplement is part of the registration statement. You
may obtain from the SEC a copy of the registration statement and
exhibits that we filed with the SEC when we registered the
securities. The registration statement may contain additional
information that may be important to you.
S-34
PROSPECTUS
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a
shelf registration process. This means:
|
|
4 |
we may sell any of the following
securities from time to time:
|
|
|
|
|
- |
debt securities |
|
|
- |
preferred stock |
|
|
- |
depositary shares |
|
|
4 |
we will provide a prospectus
supplement each time we issue the securities; and
|
|
4 |
the prospectus supplement will
provide specific information about the terms of that issuance
and also may add, update or change information contained in this
prospectus.
|
We may also issue common stock upon conversion or exchange of
any of the securities listed above. We will provide the specific
terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You
should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus
supplement carefully before you invest.
The securities may be sold directly to investors, through agents
designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or
dealers. See Plan of Distribution. If any
underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities in
respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the names
of such underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts
will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The
net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale also will be
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities
unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus is January 9, 2006.
Table of contents
|
|
|
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
22 |
2
About this prospectus
This prospectus is part of a shelf registration
statement that we have filed with the Securities Exchange
Commission (the SEC). By using a shelf registration
statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time, in
one or more offerings, any combination of the securities
described in this prospectus. The exhibits to our registration
statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other
important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since
these summaries may not contain all the information that you may
find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we
offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The
registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the
SEC as indicated under the heading Where You Can Find
Additional Information.
This prospectus only provides you with a general description of
the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we
will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific
information about the terms of those securities. The prospectus
supplement may also add, update or change information contained
in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement together with the additional information
described below under the heading Where You Can Find
Additional Information.
We are not making an offer of these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not
assume that the information in this prospectus or a prospectus
supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the
front of the document.
References in this prospectus to Washington Mutual, the Company,
we, us and our are to Washington Mutual, Inc. (together with its
subsidiaries) unless the context otherwise provides.
Where you can find additional information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy these reports
and other information at the public reference room of the SEC at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington , D.C. 20549. You may also obtain
copies of these documents by mail from the SEC reference room at
prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference room. These reports
and other information are also filed by us electronically with
the SEC and are available at the SECs website, www.sec.gov.
The indentures pursuant to which the debt securities will be
issued require us to file reports under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
Quarterly and annual reports will be made available upon request
of holders of the debt securities, which annual reports will
contain financial information that has been examined and
reported upon by, with an opinion expressed by, an independent
public or certified public accountant.
3
Incorporation of certain documents by reference
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with it, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to another
document that we filed with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is an important part of this
prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will
automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until we sell all of the
securities:
|
|
4 |
Our Annual Report to
Shareholders on
Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004; |
|
4 |
Our Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, June 30, and
September 30, 2005; |
|
4 |
Current Reports on
Form 8-K
and 8-K/ A dated
January 6, January 14, January 20,
January 24, February 18, February 22,
March 2, March 22, March 23, April 19,
June 7, June 9, June 24, July 6,
July 20, July 25, September 8, September 23,
September 26, October 4 and October 27, 2005 and
Items 1.01 and 9.01 and Exhibit 10.1 from the Current
Reports on
Form 8-K dated
November 2 and December 23, 2005; |
|
4 |
The description of our capital
stock contained in Item 5 of Current Report on
Form 8-K dated
November 29, 1994, and any amendment or report filed for
the purpose of updating this description; and |
|
4 |
Form 8-A/12B
dated February 8, 2001, as amended. |
You may obtain a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at 1201 Third Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101,
telephone (206) 461-3187, attention Investor Relations
Department WMT0735.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any supplemental
prospectus or any pricing supplement. We have not authorized
anyone to provide you with any other information. We are not
making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer
is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in
this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any
document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date
other than the date on the front of the document.
Special note regarding forward-looking statements
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference
contain certain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 with respect to financial condition, results of operations,
and other matters. Statements in this prospectus, including
those incorporated by reference, that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements for the purpose of
the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Exchange Act
and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the Securities Act). Forward-looking statements can
be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to
historical or current facts. They often include words, such as
expects, anticipates,
intends, plans, believes,
seeks, estimates, or words of similar
meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as
will, should, could, or
may.
Forward-looking statements provide our expectations or
predictions of future conditions, events or results. They are
not guarantees of future performance. By their nature
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date they
are made. We do not undertake to update forward-looking
statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that
arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.
There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond our
control, that could cause actual conditions, events or results
to differ significantly from those described in the
forward-looking statements. The factors are generally described
in our most recent
Form 10-K and
Form 10-Q under
the caption Risk Factors.
4
The company
With a history dating back to 1889, Washington Mutual is a
financial services company committed to serving consumers and
small- to medium-sized businesses. Based on our consolidated
total assets at September 30, 2005, we were the largest
thrift holding company in the United States and 7th largest
among all U.S.-based
bank and thrift holding companies.
Washington Mutual operates principally in California,
Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Florida, Texas and the greater New
York/ New Jersey metropolitan area, and has operations in 31
other states. We manage and report information concerning the
Companys activities, operations, products and services
around four segments: the Retail Banking and Financial Services
Group, the Home Loans Group (previously called the
Mortgage Banking Group), the Commercial Group and,
as of the quarter beginning October 1, 2005, Washington
Mutual Card Services.
5
Use of proceeds
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the
securities for general corporate purposes. Examples of general
corporate purposes include additions to working capital,
repayment of existing debt, acquisitions, and office expansions.
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for each of the periods indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
Nine Months Ended | |
2000 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2004 | |
|
September 30, 2005 | |
| |
|
1.30 |
|
|
|
1.60 |
|
|
|
2.03 |
|
|
|
2.29 |
|
|
|
1.90 |
|
|
|
1.76 |
|
For purposes of this ratio, earnings consist of income before
income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of
interest expense on borrowings and deposits, and the estimated
interest portion of rent expense.
6
Description of debt securities
The following description of the debt securities sets forth the
material terms and provisions of the debt securities to which
any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of
the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement (the
Offered Debt Securities) and the extent, if any, to
which such general provisions may apply to the Offered Debt
Securities, will be described in the prospectus supplement
relating to such Offered Debt Securities. Accordingly, for a
description of the terms of a particular issue of debt
securities, reference must be made to both the prospectus
supplement relating thereto and to the following description.
The debt securities will be our general obligations. In the
event that any series of debt securities will be subordinated to
other securities that we have outstanding or may incur, the
terms of the subordination will be set forth in the prospectus
supplement relating to the subordinated debt securities. Senior
debt securities will be issued under the senior indenture dated
as of August 10, 1999 between Washington Mutual, Inc. and
The Bank of New York, as trustee, as supplemented by a first
supplemental indenture dated as of August 1, 2002 and a
second supplemental indenture dated as of November 20,
2002. References to the senior indenture in this prospectus will
mean the senior indenture as supplemented. Subordinated debt
securities will be issued under the subordinated indenture dated
April 4, 2000 between us and The Bank of New York, as
supplemented by the first supplemental indenture dated
August 1, 2002, and a second supplemental indenture dated
March 16, 2004. References to the subordinated indenture in
this prospectus will mean the subordinated indenture as
supplemented. Together the senior indenture and the subordinated
indenture and the supplemental indentures thereto are called the
indentures.
We have summarized selected provisions of the indentures below.
The senior indenture and form of subordinated indenture have
been filed as exhibits to the registration statement filed with
the SEC and you should read the indentures for provisions that
may be important to you. Accordingly, the following summary is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the
indentures. Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used
in this summary have the meanings specified in the indentures.
GENERAL
The indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of
debt securities which may be issued under the indentures and
provide that debt securities may be issued from time to time in
one or more series. The indentures do not limit the amount of
other indebtedness or debt securities, other than certain
secured indebtedness as described below, which may be issued by
us or our subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, the debt
securities will be our unsecured obligations. The senior debt
securities will rank equally with all other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of ours. The subordinated debt
securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness including our senior
debt securities as described below under Subordination of
Subordinated Debt Securities and in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
The debt securities are our obligations exclusively. Because our
operations are currently conducted substantially through our
subsidiaries, our cash flow and the consequent ability to
service our debt, including the debt securities, are dependent
upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution of
those earnings to us, or upon loans or other payments of funds
to us by our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and
distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or
otherwise, to pay any amounts due with respect to the debt
securities or to make funds available therefor, whether by
dividends, loans or other payments. In addition, the payment to
us of dividends and certain loans and advances by our
subsidiaries may be subject to certain statutory or contractual
restrictions.
7
Payments are contingent upon the earnings of the subsidiaries,
and are subject to various business considerations.
The debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all
liabilities, including deposits, of our subsidiaries. At
September 30, 2005, our subsidiaries had
$190.41 billion of deposits and $103.80 billion of
debt outstanding. Any right we may have to receive assets of a
subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization (and the
consequent right of the holders of the debt securities to
participate in those assets) will be effectively subordinated to
the claims of that subsidiarys creditors, except to the
extent that we are recognized as a creditor of a subsidiary, in
which case our claims would still be subordinate to any security
interests in the assets of the subsidiary and any liabilities of
the subsidiary senior to liabilities held by us.
The debt securities may be issued in fully registered form
without coupons (registered securities) or in the
form of one or more global securities (each a Global
Security). Registered securities that are book-entry
securities will be issued as registered Global Securities.
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, the debt
securities will be only registered securities. The debt
securities will be issued, unless otherwise provided in the
prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 or an integral
multiple thereof for registered securities.
The prospectus supplement relating to the particular debt
securities offered thereby will describe the following terms of
the Offered Debt Securities:
|
|
(1) |
the title of the Offered Debt Securities; |
|
(2) |
whether the Offered Debt Securities are senior debt securities
or subordinated debt securities; |
|
(3) |
the percentage of principal amount at which the Offered Debt
Securities will be issued; |
|
(4) |
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Debt
Securities; |
|
(5) |
the date or dates on which the Offered Debt Securities will
mature and the amount or amounts of any installment of principal
payable on such dates; |
|
(6) |
the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per year at
which the Offered Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or
the method of determining such rate or rates and the date or
dates from which such interest, if any, will accrue; |
|
(7) |
the date or dates on which interest, if any, on the Offered Debt
Securities will be payable and the regular record dates for such
payment dates; |
|
(8) |
the terms of any sinking fund and the obligation, if any, of
ours to redeem or purchase the Offered Debt Securities pursuant
to any sinking fund or analogous provisions; |
|
(9) |
the portion of the principal amount of Offered Debt Securities
that is payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity
of the Offered Debt Securities; |
|
(10) |
whether the Offered Debt Securities will be issued in registered
form without coupons, including temporary and definitive global
form, and the circumstances, if any, upon which such Offered
Debt Securities may be exchanged for Offered Debt Securities
issued in a different form; |
|
(11) |
whether the Offered Debt Securities are to be issued in whole or
in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, if so,
the identity of the depositary for such Global Security or
Securities; |
|
(12) |
whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional
amounts to any holder of Offered Debt Securities who is not a
United States person in respect of any tax, assessment or other
governmental charge required to be withheld or deducted and, if
so, whether we will have the option to redeem rather than pay
any additional amounts; |
8
|
|
(13) |
the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the
corporate trust office of the trustee, where the principal,
premium and interest with respect to the Offered Debt Securities
shall be payable; |
|
|
(14) |
the terms, if any, upon which the debt securities of the series
may be convertible into or exchanged for our common stock,
preferred stock, other debt securities or other securities of
any kind and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion
or exchange shall be effected, including the initial conversion
or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period and
any other additional provisions; |
|
|
(15) |
if the amount of principal, premium or interest with respect to
the debt securities of the series may be determined with
reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in
which such amounts will be determined; |
|
(16) |
any authenticating or paying agent, transfer agent or registrar; |
|
(17) |
the applicability of, and any addition to or change in, the
covenants and definitions then set forth in the indenture or in
the terms then set forth in the indenture relating to permitted
consolidations, mergers, or sales of assets; and |
|
(18) |
certain other terms, including our ability to satisfy and
discharge our obligations under an indenture with respect to the
Offered Debt Securities. |
No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of
the debt securities except for any tax or other governmental
charge.
Debt securities of a single series may be issued at various
times with different maturity dates and different principal
repayment provisions, may bear interest at different rates, may
be issued at or above par or with an original issue discount,
and may otherwise vary, all as provided in the indentures. The
prospectus supplement for any debt securities issued above par
or with an original issue discount will state any applicable
material federal income tax consequences and other special
considerations.
SUBORDINATION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest,
if any, on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinate
and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
all Senior Debt (as defined herein). At September 30, 2005,
we had an aggregate par value of $7.60 billion in Senior
Debt and a par value of $3.83 billion in debt securities
subordinate to Senior Debt (exclusive of our subsidiaries). The
subordinated indenture does not limit or restrict our ability to
incur additional Senior Debt, but certain of our other debt
instruments contain such limitations.
In the event of any sale pursuant to any judgment or decree in
any proceeding by or on behalf of any holder, or of any
distribution, division or application of all or any part of our
assets to our creditors by reason of any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of us or any receivership, insolvency,
bankruptcy or similar proceeding relative to us or our debts or
properties, then the holders of Senior Debt shall be preferred
in the payment of their claims over the holders of the
subordinated debt securities, and such Senior Debt shall be
satisfied in full before any payment or other distribution
(other than securities which are subordinate and junior in right
of payment to the payment of all Senior Debt then outstanding)
shall be made upon the subordinated debt securities. In the
event that any subordinated debt security is declared or becomes
due and payable before its maturity because of an occurrence of
an event of default (under circumstances not described in the
preceding sentence), no amount shall be paid in respect of the
subordinated debt securities in excess of current interest
payments, except sinking fund payments or at maturity, unless
all Senior Debt then outstanding shall have been paid in full or
payments satisfactory to the holders thereof provided therefor.
During the continuance of any default on Senior Debt, no
payments of principal, sinking fund, interest or premium shall
be made with respect to any Subordinated Debt Security if either
(i) notice of default has been given to us, provided
judicial proceedings are commenced in respect thereof within
120 days,
9
or (ii) judicial proceedings shall be pending in respect of
such default. In the event that any subordinated debt security
is declared or becomes due and payable before maturity, each
holder of Senior Debt shall be entitled to notice of same and
shall be entitled to declare payable on demand any Senior Debt
outstanding to such holder.
Debt is defined in the indentures to include all
indebtedness of ours or any Consolidated Subsidiary representing
money borrowed, except indebtedness owed to us by any
Consolidated Subsidiary or owed to any Consolidated Subsidiary
by us or any other Consolidated Subsidiary, and includes
indebtedness of any other person for money borrowed when such
indebtedness is guaranteed by us or any Consolidated Subsidiary.
The term Debt shall be deemed to include the
liability of ours or any Consolidated Subsidiary in respect of
any investment or similar certificate, except to the extent such
certificates are pledged by purchasers as collateral for, and
are offset by, receivables. Senior Debt is defined
to mean all Debt of the Company except Subordinated Debt.
Subordinated Debt is defined to mean Debt of ours
which is subordinate and junior in right of payment to any
Senior Debt of ours by the terms of the instrument creating or
evidencing such Subordinate Debt and senior to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Junior Subordinated Notes is
defined to mean our 8.36% Subordinated Notes due 2026,
8.375% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2027, 9.33% Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2027, and
5.375% Subordinated Defeasible Interest Debentures due 2041.
Subordinated debt securities will rank on a parity with all
other Subordinated Debt other than the Junior Subordinated
Notes. Subordinated debt securities are senior to the Junior
Subordinated Note and to our common stock and preferred stock,
and will be senior to any other class of capital stock which may
be authorized.
EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Registered securities (other than book-entry securities) of any
series of Offered Debt Securities will be exchangeable for other
registered securities of the same series and of a like aggregate
principal amount and tenor of different authorized denominations.
Debt securities may be presented for exchange as provided above,
and registered securities (other than book-entry securities) may
be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of
transfer endorsed thereon duly executed), at the office of the
Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent
designated by us for such purpose with respect to any series of
debt securities and referred to in the prospectus supplement. No
service charge will be charged for the transfer, but any tax or
other governmental charge must be paid. Such transfer or
exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such
transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the
documents of title and identity of the person making the
request. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer
agents (in addition to the Security Registrar) initially
designated by us with respect to any series of debt securities,
we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer
agent or approve a change in the location through which any such
transfer agent acts, except that, if debt securities of a series
are issuable solely as registered securities, we will be
required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment
for such series. We may at any time designate additional
transfer agents with respect to any series of debt securities.
In the event of any redemption in part, we will not be required
to:
|
|
4 |
issue, register the transfer of
or exchange debt securities of any series during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any
selection of debt securities of that series to be redeemed and
ending at the close of business on if debt securities of the
series are issuable only as registered securities, the day of
mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or
|
|
4 |
register the transfer of or
exchange any registered security, or portion thereof, called for
redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered
security being redeemed in part.
|
10
For a discussion of restrictions on the exchange, registration
and transfer of Global Securities, see Global
Securities.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, payment
of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on
registered securities will be made in U.S. dollars at the
office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as we may designate
from time to time, except that at our option payment of any
interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the
Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
Security Register. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus
supplement, payment of any installment of interest on registered
securities will be made to the Person in whose name such
registered security is registered at the close of business on
the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, the
Corporate Trust Office of the trustee will be designated as our
sole Paying Agent for payments with respect to Offered Debt
Securities that are issuable solely as registered securities.
Any Paying Agents outside the United States and any other Paying
Agents in the United States initially designated by us for the
Offered Debt Securities will be named in a prospectus
supplement. We may at any time designate additional Paying
Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve
a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts,
except that, if debt securities of a series are issuable solely
as registered securities, we will be required to maintain a
Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for such series.
All moneys paid by us to a Paying Agent for the payment of
principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any
debt security or coupon that remain unclaimed at the end of two
years after such principal, premium or interest shall have
become due and payable will be repaid to us and the holder of
such debt security or coupon will thereafter look only to us for
payment thereof.
GLOBAL SECURITIES
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in
part as one or more Global Securities that will be deposited
with, or on behalf of, a depositary located in the United States
(a U.S. Depositary) or a common depositary
located outside the United States (a Common
Depositary) identified in the prospectus supplement
relating to such series. Global Securities will be issued in
registered form, in either temporary or definitive form.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to
any debt securities of a series will be described in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. We anticipate
that the following provisions will apply to all depositary
arrangements with a U.S. Depositary or Common Depositary.
BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, debt
securities which are to be represented by a Global Security to
be deposited with or on behalf of a U.S. Depositary will be
represented by a Global Security registered in the name of such
depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a Global
Security in registered form, the U.S. Depositary for such
Global Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt
securities represented by such Global Security to the accounts
of institutions that have accounts with such depositary or its
nominee (participants). The accounts to be credited
shall be designated by the underwriters or agents of such debt
securities or by us, if such debt securities are offered and
sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in such
Global Securities will be limited to participants or persons
that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of
beneficial interests in such Global Securities will be shown on,
and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only
through, records maintained by the U.S. Depositary or its
nominee for such Global Security or by participants or persons
that hold through participants. The laws of some jurisdictions
require that certain purchasers of securities take
11
physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a Global Security.
So long as the U.S. Depositary for a Global Security in
registered form, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such
Global Security, such depositary or such nominee, as the case
may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt
securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes
under the indenture governing such debt securities. Except as
set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in such Global
Securities will not be entitled to have debt securities of the
series represented by such Global Security registered in their
names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of debt securities of such series in definitive form
and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under
the indenture.
Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if
any, on debt securities registered in the name of or held by a
U.S. Depositary or its nominee will be made to the
U.S. Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the
registered owner or the holder of the Global Security
representing such debt securities. We nor any trustee or Paying
Agent, or the Security Registrar for such debt securities will
have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests in a Global Security for such debt
securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the U.S. Depositary for debt securities of a
series, upon receipt of any payment of principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on permanent Global Securities,
will credit participants accounts on the date such payment
is payable in accordance with their respective beneficial
interests in the principal amount of such Global Securities as
shown on the records of such Depositary. We also expect that
payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in
such Global Security held through such participants will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is
now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers
registered in street name, and will be the
responsibility of such participants.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for debt securities in
definitive form, a Global Security may not be transferred except
as a whole by the U.S. Depositary for such Global Security
to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such
Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such
Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a
successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor. If
a U.S. Depositary for debt securities in registered form is
at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a
successor depositary is not appointed by us within ninety days,
we will issue debt securities in definitive registered form in
exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing such
debt securities. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole
discretion determine not to have any debt securities in
registered form represented by one or more Global Securities
and, in such event, will issue debt securities in definitive
registered form in exchange for the Global Security or
Securities representing such debt securities. In any such
instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security
will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of debt
securities of the series represented by such Global Security
equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to
have such debt securities registered in the name of the owner of
such beneficial interest.
ABSENCE OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
We are not restricted by either of the indentures from paying
dividends or from incurring, assuming or becoming liable for any
type of debt or other obligations or from creating liens on our
property for any purpose. The indentures do not require the
maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net
worth or liquidity. The indentures do not contain provisions
which afford holders of the debt securities protection in the
event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us.
12
MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION
Each indenture provides that we, without the consent of the
holders of any of the outstanding debt securities, may
consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or transfer
or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any Person or may permit any corporation to merge into us,
provided that:
|
|
4 |
the successor is a corporation
organized under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction;
|
|
4 |
the successor, if other than us,
assumes our obligations under such indenture and the debt
securities issued thereunder;
|
|
4 |
immediately after giving effect
to such transaction, no Event of Default and no event which,
after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of
Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
|
|
4 |
certain other conditions are met.
|
Each indenture provides that, upon any consolidation or merger
or transfer or lease of our properties and assets of
substantially as an entirety in accordance with the preceding
paragraph, the successor corporation formed by such
consolidation or into which we are merged or to which such
transfer or lease is made shall be substituted for us with the
same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as
us. Thereafter, we shall be relieved of the performance and
observance of all obligations and covenants of such indenture
and the senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities,
as the case may be, including but not limited to the obligation
to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any, on all the debt securities then outstanding,
and we may thereupon or any time thereafter be liquidated and
dissolved.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Unless a prospectus supplement provides otherwise, we will be
discharged from our obligations under the outstanding debt
securities of a series upon satisfaction of the following
conditions:
|
|
4 |
we have irrevocably deposited
with the trustee either money, or U.S. Government
Obligations together with the predetermined and certain income
to accrue thereon without consideration of any reinvestment
thereof, or a combination of which (in the written opinion of
independent public accountants delivered to the trustee), will
be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire principal of (and
premium, if any), and interest, if any, to Stated Maturity or
any redemption date on, the outstanding debt securities of such
series;
|
|
4 |
we have paid or caused to be
paid all other sums payable with respect to the outstanding debt
securities of such series;
|
|
4 |
the trustee has received an
Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each
stating that all conditions precedent have been complied with; or
|
|
4 |
the trustee has received
(a) a ruling directed to us and the trustee from the United
States Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the holders
of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income,
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our
exercise of our option to discharge our obligations under the
indenture with respect to such series and will be subject to
federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and
at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit
and discharge had not occurred or (b) an opinion of tax
counsel to the same effect as the ruling described in
clause (a) above and based upon a change in law.
|
Upon such discharge, we will be deemed to have satisfied all the
obligations under the indenture, except for obligations with
respect to registration of transfer and exchange of the debt
securities of such series, and the rights of the holders to
receive from deposited funds payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the debt securities of
such series.
13
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
Each indenture provides that we and the trustee thereunder may,
without the consent of any holders of debt securities, enter
into supplemental indentures for the purposes, among other
things, of adding to our covenants, adding any additional Events
of Default, establishing the form or terms of debt securities or
curing ambiguities or inconsistencies in such indenture or
making other provisions; provided such action shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of
debt securities in any material respect.
Each indenture contains provisions permitting us, with the
consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of all affected series
(acting as one class), to execute supplemental indentures adding
any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the
provisions of such indenture or modifying the rights of the
holders of the debt securities of such series, except that no
such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the
holders of all the outstanding debt securities affected thereby,
among other things:
|
|
(1) |
change the maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
principal of or interest on, any of the debt securities; |
|
(2) |
reduce the principal amount thereof (or any premium thereon) or
the rate of interest, if any, thereon; |
|
(3) |
reduce the amount of the principal of Original Issue Discount
Securities payable on any acceleration of maturity; |
|
(4) |
change our obligation to maintain an office or agency in the
places and for the purposes required by such indenture; |
|
(5) |
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
such payment on or after the applicable maturity date; |
|
(6) |
reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of
which is required for any such supplemental indenture or for any
waiver of compliance with certain provisions of, or of certain
defaults under, such indenture; or |
|
(7) |
with certain exceptions, to modify the provisions for the waiver
of certain defaults and any of the foregoing provisions. |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An Event of Default in respect of any series of debt securities
(unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or has
been modified or deleted with respect to any particular series)
is defined in each indenture to be:
|
|
4 |
failure to pay interest on such
series of debt securities for 30 days after payment is due;
|
|
4 |
failure to pay the principal of
(or premium, if any) on such series of debt securities when due;
|
|
4 |
failure to perform any other
covenant in the indenture that applies to such series of debt
securities for 90 days after we have received written
notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the
indenture;
|
|
4 |
an event of default under any
mortgage, indenture (including the indenture) or other
instrument under which any debt of Washington Mutual, Inc. or
any Principal Subsidiary Bank (defined below) shall be
outstanding which default shall have resulted in the
acceleration of such debt in excess of $75,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount and such acceleration shall not have been
rescinded or such debt discharged within a period of
30 days after notice;
|
|
4 |
certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization; and
|
14
|
|
4 |
any other event of default
provided for in such series of debt securities.
|
Principal Subsidiary Bank is defined in the
indenture as each of Washington Mutual Bank (formerly known as
Washington Mutual Bank, FA) and any other subsidiary bank the
consolidated assets of which constitute 20% or more of the
consolidated assets of Washington Mutual, Inc. and its
subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, Washington Mutual Bank is
our only Principal Subsidiary Bank.
If an Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing,
either the trustee thereunder or the holders of not less than
25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
such series may declare the principal of all of the outstanding
notes to be immediately due and payable.
Each indenture provides that the holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
of any series may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
trustee thereunder, or exercising any trust or power conferred
on such trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such
series; provided that:
|
|
4 |
such direction shall not be in
conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture,
|
|
4 |
the trustee may take any other
action deemed proper that is not inconsistent with such
direction and
|
|
4 |
the trustee shall not determine
that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the
holders of debt securities of such series not taking part in
such direction.
|
Each indenture provides that the holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
of any series may on behalf of the holders of all of the
outstanding debt securities of such series waive any past
default under such indenture with respect to such series and its
consequences, except a default (1) in the payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of
the debt securities of such series or (2) in respect of a
covenant or provision of such indenture which, under the terms
of such indenture, cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the holders of all of the outstanding debt securities
of such series affected thereby.
Each indenture contains provisions entitling the trustee
thereunder, subject to the duty of the trustee during an Event
of Default in respect of any series of debt securities to act
with the required standard of care, to be indemnified by the
holders of the debt securities of such series before proceeding
to exercise any right or power under such indenture at the
request of the holders of the debt securities of such series.
Each indenture provides that the trustee will, within
90 days after the occurrence of a default in respect of any
series of debt securities, give to the holders of the debt
securities of such series notice of all uncured and unwaived
defaults known to it; provided, however, that, except in the
case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or any interest on, or any sinking fund
installment with respect to, any of the debt securities of such
series, the trustee will be protected in withholding such notice
if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the holders of the debt securities
of such series; and provided, further, that such notice shall
not be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence of
an Event of Default regarding the performance of any covenant of
ours under such indenture other than for the payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any) or any interest on, or any
sinking fund installment with respect to, any of the debt
securities of such series. The term default for the purpose of
this provision only means any event that is, or after notice or
lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default with
respect to the debt securities of such series.
We will be required to furnish annually to the trustee a
certificate as to compliance with all conditions and covenants
under the indenture.
15
NOTICES
Notices to holders of registered securities will be given by
mail to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the
Security Register.
TITLE
We, the appropriate Trustee and any agent of ours or such
Trustee may treat the registered owner of any registered
security (including registered securities in global registered
form) as the absolute owner thereof (whether or not such Debt
Security or coupon shall be overdue and notwithstanding any
notice to the contrary) for the purpose of making payment and
for all other purposes.
GOVERNING LAW
New York law will govern the indentures and the debt securities.
16
Description of capital stock
The following descriptions are summaries of the material terms
of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
(articles of incorporation), our bylaws and
applicable provisions of law. Reference is made to the more
detailed provisions of, and such descriptions are qualified in
their entirety by reference to, our articles of incorporation
and bylaws, which are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement that we filed with the SEC. You should
read our articles of incorporation and bylaws for the provisions
that are important to you.
Our articles of incorporation currently authorize
1,600,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, and
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value. On
November 30, 2005, we had 992,057,807 shares of common
stock outstanding. There were no shares of preferred stock
outstanding.
COMMON STOCK
We do not intend to offer shares of our common stock pursuant to
this prospectus except upon the conversion or exchange of debt
securities or preferred stock that we offer under this
prospectus.
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all
matters properly presented at a meeting of shareholders.
Shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting in the
election of directors.
The number of our directors is determined by our bylaws. The
bylaws currently set the number of directors at up to sixteen.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes of as equal
a number of directors as possible. The term of office of each
class is three years, with each term expiring in a different
year.
Interested Stockholders. Our articles of incorporation
prohibit, except under certain circumstances, us (or any of our
subsidiaries) from engaging in certain significant business
transactions with a major stockholder. A major
stockholder is a person who, without the prior approval of
our board of directors, acquires beneficial ownership of five
percent or more of our outstanding voting stock. Prohibited
transactions include, among others:
|
|
4 |
any merger with, disposition of
assets to, acquisition by us of the assets of, issuance of
securities of ours to, or acquisition by us of securities of, a
major stockholder;
|
|
4 |
any reclassification of our
voting stock or of any subsidiary beneficially owned by a major
stockholder; or
|
|
4 |
any partial or complete
liquidation, spin off, split off or split up of us or any
subsidiary.
|
The above prohibitions do not apply, in general, if the specific
transaction is approved by:
|
|
4 |
our board of directors prior to
the major stockholder involved having become a major stockholder;
|
|
4 |
a vote of at least 80% of the
continuing directors (defined as those members of
our board prior to the involvement of the major stockholder);
|
|
4 |
a majority of the
continuing directors if the major stockholder
obtained unanimous board approval to become a major stockholder;
|
|
4 |
a vote of 95% of the outstanding
shares of our voting stock other than shares held by the major
stockholder; or
|
|
4 |
a majority vote of the shares of
voting stock and the shares of voting stock owned by
stockholders other than any major stockholder if certain other
conditions are met.
|
17
Our articles of incorporation also provide that during the time
a major stockholder exists, we may voluntarily dissolve only
upon the unanimous consent of our stockholders or an affirmative
vote of at least two-thirds of our board of directors and the
holders of at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on
such a dissolution and of each class of shares entitled to vote
on such a dissolution as a class, if any.
Shareholder Rights Plan. We have adopted a shareholder
rights plan (the Rights Plan) which provides that
one right to purchase 1/1,000th of a share of our
Series RP preferred stock (the Rights) is
attached to each outstanding share of our common stock. The
Rights have certain anti-takeover effects and are intended to
discourage coercive or unfair takeover tactics and to encourage
any potential acquiror to negotiate a price fair to all
shareholders. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to an
acquiring party that attempts to acquire us on terms not
approved by our board, but they will not interfere with any
merger or other business combination that is approved by our
board.
The Rights are attached to the shares of our common stock. The
Rights are not presently exercisable. At the time a party
acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of our common stock or commences or publicly announces
for the first time a tender offer to do so, the Rights will
separate from the common stock and will become exercisable. Each
Right entitles the holder to purchase 1/1,000th share of
Series RP preferred stock, for an exercise price that is
currently $200 per share. Once the Rights become
exercisable, any Rights held by the acquiring party will be void
and, for the next 60 days, all other holders of Rights will
receive upon exercise of the Right that number of shares of our
common stock having a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Right. The Rights, which expire on January 4,
2011, may be redeemed by us for $0.001 per right prior to
becoming exercisable. Until a Right is exercised, the holder of
that Right will have no rights as a shareholder, including,
without limitation, the right to vote or receive dividends.
PREFERRED STOCK
In this section we describe the general terms that will apply to
preferred stock that we may offer by this prospectus in the
future. When we issue a particular series, we will describe the
specific terms of the series of preferred stock in a prospectus
supplement. The description of provisions of our preferred stock
included in any prospectus supplement may not be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the description in our
articles of incorporation and our certificate of designation,
which will describe the terms of the offered preferred stock and
be filed with the SEC at the time of sale of that preferred
stock. At that time, you should read our articles of
incorporation and any certificate of designation relating to
each particular series of preferred stock for provisions that
may be important to you.
Our board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance
from time to time of preferred stock in series and, as to each
series, to fix the designation, the dividend rate, whether
dividends are cumulative, the preferences which dividends will
have with respect to any other class or series of capital stock,
the voting rights, the voluntary and involuntary liquidation
prices, the conversion or exchange privileges, the redemption
prices and the other terms of redemption, and the terms of any
purchase or sinking funds applicable to the series. The terms of
any series of preferred stock will be described in a prospectus
supplement. Cumulative dividends, dividend preferences and
conversion, exchange and redemption provisions, to the extent
that some or all of these features may be present when shares of
our preferred stock are issued, could have an adverse effect on
the availability of earnings for distribution to the holders of
common stock or for other corporate purposes.
18
Description of depositary shares
We describe in this section the general terms of the depositary
shares. We will describe the specific terms of the depositary
shares in a prospectus supplement. The following description of
the deposit agreement, the depositary shares and the depositary
receipts is only a summary and you should refer to the forms of
the deposit agreement and depositary share certificate that will
be filed with the SEC in connection with any particular offering
of depositary shares.
GENERAL
We may offer fractional interests in preferred stock, rather
than full shares of preferred stock. In that case, we will
provide for the issuance by a depositary to investors of
receipts for depositary shares, each representing a fractional
interest in a share of a particular series of preferred stock.
The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the
depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit
agreement between us and the depositary, which must be a bank or
trust company having its principal office in the United States
and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50 million. The applicable prospectus supplement will set
forth the name and address of the depositary. Subject to the
terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share
will have a fractional interest in all the rights and
preferences of the preferred stock underlying such depositary
share. Those rights include any dividend, voting, redemption,
conversion and liquidation rights.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts
issued under the deposit agreement. If you purchase fractional
interests in shares of the related series of preferred stock,
you will receive depositary receipts as described in the
applicable prospectus supplement. While the final depositary
receipts are being prepared, we may order the depositary to
issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to
the final depositary receipts although not in final form. The
holders of the temporary depositary receipts will be entitled to
the same rights as if they held the depositary receipts in final
form. Holders of the temporary depositary receipts can exchange
them for the final depositary receipts at our expense.
WITHDRAWAL
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement and unless the related depositary shares have been
called for redemption, if you surrender depositary receipts at
the principal office of the depositary, then you are entitled to
receive at that office the number of shares of preferred stock
and any money or other property represented by the depositary
shares. We will not issue partial shares of preferred stock. If
you deliver depositary receipts evidencing a number of
depositary shares that represent more than a whole number of
shares of preferred stock, the depositary will issue to you a
new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of
depositary shares at the same time that the preferred stock is
withdrawn. Holders of shares of preferred stock received in
exchange for depositary shares will no longer be entitled to
deposit those shares under the deposit agreement or to receive
depositary shares in exchange for those shares of preferred
stock.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received with respect to the preferred stock to
the record holders of depositary shares representing the
preferred stock in proportion to the numbers of depositary
shares owned by the holders on the relevant record date. The
depositary will distribute only the amount that can be
distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary
shares a fraction of one cent. The balance not distributed will
be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the
depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary
shares.
19
If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary
will distribute property to the holders of depositary shares,
unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make
such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our
approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from
the sale to the holders of depositary shares.
CONVERSION, EXCHANGE AND REDEMPTION
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, neither the depositary shares nor the series of
preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be
convertible or exchangeable into any other class or series of
our capital stock.
If the series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary
shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be
redeemed from the redemption proceeds, in whole or in part, of
the series of the preferred stock held by the depositary. The
redemption price per depositary share will bear the same
relationship to the redemption price per share of preferred
stock that the depositary share bears to the underlying
preferred stock. Whenever we redeem preferred stock held by the
depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same
redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing
the preferred stock redeemed. If less than all the depositary
shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed
will be selected by lot or pro rata as determined by the
depositary.
VOTING
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of
the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will
mail Information about the meeting contained in the notice to
the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the
preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on
the record date (which will be the same date as the record date
for the preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the
depositary as to how the preferred stock underlying the
holders depositary shares should be voted.
The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the preferred
stock underlying the depositary shares according to the
instructions received. We will agree to take all action
requested by and deemed necessary by the depositary in order to
enable the depositary to vote the preferred stock in that
manner. The depositary will not vote any preferred stock for
which it does not receive specific instructions from the holders
of the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
We may amend the form of depositary receipt evidencing the
depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement by
agreement with the depositary at any time. Any amendment that
materially and adversely alters the rights of the existing
holders of depositary shares will not be effective, however,
unless approved by the record holders of at least a majority of
the depositary shares then outstanding. A deposit agreement may
be terminated by us or the depositary only if:
|
|
4 |
all outstanding depositary
shares relating to the deposit agreement have been redeemed or
converted into or exchanged for other securities; or
|
|
4 |
there has been a final
distribution on the underlying preferred stock in connection
with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and the
distribution has been made to the holders of the related
depositary shares
|
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental
charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary
arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in
connection with its duties under the deposit agreement. Holders
of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and
20
governmental charges and any other charges that are stated to be
their responsibility in the deposit agreement.
MISCELLANEOUS
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares
all reports and communications that we must furnish to the
holders of the preferred stock.
Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us is
prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our
control in performing our respective obligations under the
deposit agreement. Our obligations and the depositarys
obligations under the deposit agreement will be limited to
performance in good faith of duties set forth in the deposit
agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to
prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any
depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory
indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon
written advice of counsel or accountants, or information
provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit,
holders of depositary shares or other persons believed to be
competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to
us. We may also remove the depositary at any time. Resignations
or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor
depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor
depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery
of the notice of resignation or removal.
21
Plan of distribution
We may sell the securities being offered hereby:
(i) directly to purchasers, (ii) through agents,
(iii) through dealers, (iv) through underwriters, or
(v) through a combination of any such methods of sale.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to
time in one or more transactions either (i) at a fixed
price or prices, which may be changed, (ii) at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale, (iii) at prices
related to such prevailing market prices, or (iv) at
negotiated prices.
Offers to purchase the securities may be solicited directly by
us or by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such
agent, which may be deemed to be an underwriter as that term is
defined in the Securities Act, involved in the offer or sale of
the debt securities in respect of which this prospectus is
delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to
such agent will be set forth in the prospectus supplement
relating to the offering of the securities. Unless otherwise
indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such
agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of
its appointment.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect
of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell the
securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer, which may be
deemed to be an underwriter as that term is defined in the
Securities Act, may then resell the securities to the public at
varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of
resale. Dealer trading may take place in certain of the
securities, including securities not listed on any securities
exchange.
If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale, we
will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at
the time of sale to them and the names of the underwriters will
be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which will
be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities in
respect of which this prospectus is delivered to the public. The
obligations of underwriters to purchase securities will be
subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters
will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of a series
if any are purchased.
Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled,
under agreements that may be entered into with us, to
indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with
respect to payments that they may be required to make in respect
thereof. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in
transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary
course of business.
Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
securities are not expected to be listed on a securities
exchange, except for our common stock, which is listed on The
New York Stock Exchange, and any underwriters or dealers will
not be obligated to make a market in securities. We cannot
predict the activity or liquidity of any trading in the
securities.
Legal matters
The legality of the securities offered by this prospectus will
be passed upon by Heller Ehrman LLP, Seattle, Washington. As of
November 30, 2005, Heller Ehrman LLP and individual
attorneys at the firm who participated in this transaction owned
an aggregate of 12,992 shares of our common stock.
Experts
The auditors of the Issuer are Deloitte & Touche LLP
(Deloitte), an independent registered public
accounting firm, who have audited the Issuers consolidated
financial statements, without qualification,
22
in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in the
United States of America for each of the financial periods ended
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and who
have audited managements report on the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting for the year ended
December 31, 2004. Deloittes report on the
Issuers consolidated financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2003 includes an explanatory paragraph
referring to the Issuers adoption of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142,
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, on January 1, 2002
and an explanatory paragraph referring to the Issuers 2002
restatement of Note 2 to the consolidated financial
statements. Deloittes report on the Issuers
consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2002 includes an explanatory paragraph
referring to the Issuers adoption of
a) SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended, on
January 1, 2001, b) SFAS No. 142, Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets, on January 1, 2002, and
c) SFAS No. 147, Acquisitions of Certain
Financial Institutions, on October 1, 2002.
23
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any
information or to represent anything not contained in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You must
not rely on any unauthorized information or representations.
This prospectus supplement is an offer to sell only the
securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in
jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information
contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus is current only as of their respective dates.