From time to time and subject to our articles of association and applicable law, we may offer, issue and sell debt securities, debt warrants, ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) representing ordinary shares in one or more offerings. This prospectus may also be used by a selling security holder to sell securities from time to time.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. When securities are offered under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, including the amount and price of the offered securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If any securities are to be sold by selling security holders, information concerning the security holders will be included in a supplement or supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also incorporate by reference certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This prospectus may not be used unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement or the applicable information is included in our filings with or submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with any documents incorporated by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

Our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and trade under the ticker symbol “TX”. Our ordinary shares are listed not for trading but only in connection with the registration of ADSs, which are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Our headquarters are located at 46a, Avenue John F. Kennedy — 2nd floor, L-1855 Luxembourg, and our telephone number is +(352) 26 68 31 52.

We and/or the selling security holders may offer and sell the securities directly to purchasers, through underwriters, dealers or agents, or through any combination of these methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. If securities are sold by selling security holders, we will not receive any proceeds from such sale.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires or if otherwise indicated, references to the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our” refer to Ternium S.A. only and do not include its consolidated subsidiaries and references to “Ternium” are to Ternium S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, the securities covered by this prospectus may be sold in one or more offerings. Each time we or any selling security holder offers securities under the registration statement, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before you invest in any securities offered under this prospectus, you should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Available Information.” The registration statement that contains this prospectus (including the exhibits to the registration statement) contains additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. Statements contained in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement about the provisions or content of any agreement or other document are only summaries. If SEC rules require that any agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to that agreement or document for its complete contents. That registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Available Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any related free writing prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information. This prospectus may only be used to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement or the applicable information is included in our filings or submissions to the SEC. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to offer and sell these securities. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or any other offering material is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents.

We are subject to the information requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), applicable to a foreign private issuer and, accordingly, file or furnish reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, reports on Form 6-K, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov and through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, please be aware that the reference is only a summary and that you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s internet site.

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules).

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed or furnished, as appropriate, by us with the SEC:

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You may request a copy of these documents by writing or telephoning us at our registered office at the following address:

We maintain an internet site at www.ternium.com. Information contained in or otherwise accessible through this website is not a part of this prospectus. All references in this prospectus to this internet site are inactive textual references to these URLs, or “uniform resource locators” and are for informational reference only. We assume no responsibility for the information contained on this web site.

This prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated in this prospectus by reference contain statements which may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of and subject to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside our control.

We use words such as “aim”, “will likely result”, “will continue”, “contemplate”, “seek to”, “future”, “objective”, “goal”, “should”, “will pursue”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe” and words and terms of similar substance to identify forward-looking statements, but they are not the only way we identify such statements. All forward-looking statements are management’s present expectations of future events and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In addition to the risks related to our business discussed under Item 3.D. “Key Information — Risk Factors” of our Annual Report incorporated in this prospectus by reference, other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:

By their nature, certain disclosures relating to these and other risks are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future. As a result, actual future gains or losses that may affect our financial condition and results of operations could differ materially from those that have been estimated. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, we are not under any obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

We are a public limited liability company (société anonyme) organized under the laws of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg on December 22, 2003. Our registered office is located at 46a, Avenue John F. Kennedy, 2nd Floor, L-1855, Luxembourg, telephone (352) 26 68 31 52. Our agent for U.S. federal securities law purposes is Ternium International U.S.A. Corporation, located at 2200 West Loop South, 8th Floor, Houston, TX 77027, United States.

Ternium is a leading steel producer in Latin America, manufacturing and processing a wide range of flat and long steel products for customers active in the construction, home appliances, capital goods, container, food, energy and automotive industries. Ternium believes that it is a competitive steel producer due to its proximity to customers and high-quality raw material sources, state-of-the-art and flexible production facilities and downstream integration into value-added steel products.

Ternium produces and distributes mainly finished and semi-finished flat and long steel products which are sold either directly to steel processors or to end-users, after different value-adding processes. Flat steel products include slabs (steel in its basic, semi-finished state), hot-rolled coils and sheets, cold-rolled coils and sheets, tin plate, hot dipped galvanized and electrogalvanized sheets and pre-painted sheets. Long steel products include billets (steel in its basic, semi-finished state), wire rod and bars.

Ternium has steel production facilities, service centers and distribution centers, in North, Central and South America and iron ore mining operations in North America. Ternium primarily sells its flat and long steel products in the regional markets of the Americas where it can leverage its strategically located manufacturing facilities to provide specialized products and delivery services to its clients and reduce freight costs. We believe that Ternium is the leading supplier of flat steel products in Mexico, the leading supplier of flat steel products in Argentina, and a competitive player in the international steel market for flat and long steel products. Through its network of commercial offices in several countries in Latin America, the United States and Spain, Ternium maintains an international presence that allows it to reach customers outside its local markets, achieve improved effectiveness in the supply of its products and in the procurement of semi-finished steel, and maintain a fluid commercial relationship with its customers by providing continuous services and assistance.

We have set forth risk factors in our Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Prospective investors should carefully consider all of the risks factors set forth therein. Prospective investors in ADSs should particularly consider the risk factors included in our Annual Report under the caption “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our ADSs”. We have also set forth below certain additional risk factors that relate specifically to debt securities or shares we may offer using this prospectus. We may include further risk factors in future reports on Form 6-K incorporated in this prospectus by reference, or in any prospectus supplement. You should carefully consider all these risk factors in addition to the other information presented or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before deciding to invest in our securities.

If a liquid market for our debt securities does not develop, the price of our debt securities and the ability of a holder of our debt securities to resell such debt securities may be limited. Even if a secondary market for our debt securities develops, it may not provide significant liquidity and we expect transaction costs would be high.

The debt securities will be obligations of the Company. We conduct all of our operations and hold substantially all of our assets through our subsidiaries. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors and bank and other lenders, will have priority over the holders of our debt securities in claims to assets of our subsidiaries. In addition, our ability to meet our obligations, including obligations under the debt securities, will depend, in significant part, on our receipt of cash dividends, advances and other payments from our subsidiaries.

If proceedings were brought in Luxembourg seeking to enforce in Luxembourg our obligations in respect of debt securities, we would be required to discharge our obligations in Luxembourg in a currency of legal tender in Luxembourg. Under Luxembourg law, an obligation denominated in a currency which is not of legal tender in Luxembourg will be enforceable in a currency of legal tender in Luxembourg. As a result, the amount paid by us in a currency of legal tender in Luxembourg may not be readily convertible into the amount of U.S. dollars that we are obligated to pay under the indenture for our debt securities. However, any exchange losses incurred by the holders of our debt securities should be recoverable under Luxembourg law.

Under Luxembourg law, if we were declared bankrupt, our obligations under the debt securities:

As permitted by Luxembourg corporate law with respect to debt securities issued by a Luxembourg company under a law other than Luxembourg law, the debt securities will not be subject to the provisions of articles 86 to 94-8 of the Luxembourg law of 10th August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended (the “Luxembourg Companies

There may be less publicly available information about us than is regularly published by or about U.S. issuers. Also, Luxembourg corporate and securities regulations governing Luxembourg companies may not be as extensive as those in effect in the United States, and Luxembourg law and regulations in respect of corporate governance matters might not be as protective of minority shareholders as state corporation laws in the United States. Furthermore, IFRS, the accounting standards in accordance with which we prepare our consolidated financial statements, differ in certain material aspects from U.S. GAAP.

Pursuant to Luxembourg corporate law, existing shareholders of the Company are generally entitled to preemptive subscription rights in the event of capital increases and issues of shares against cash contributions. Under the Company’s articles of association, the board of directors has been authorized to waive, limit or suppress such preemptive subscription rights until July 15, 2015. The Company may, however, issue shares without preemptive rights only in connection with any issuance of shares for, within, in conjunction with or related to an initial public offering of the Company’s shares on one or more regulated markets (in one or more instances), or if the newly-issued shares are issued for consideration other than cash, or are issued to directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company, its direct or indirect subsidiaries or its affiliates, or are issued upon conversion of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares (provided, however, that the preemptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders will apply in connection with any issuance of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares). We intend to evaluate, at the time of any rights offering, the costs and potential liabilities associated with the exercise by holders of shares of the preemptive rights for shares, and any other factors we consider appropriate at the time, and then to make a decision as to whether to register additional shares.

The Company is a corporation organized under the laws of Luxembourg, and most of its assets are located outside the United States. Furthermore, most of the Company’s directors and officers named in our annual report reside outside the United States. As a result, investors may not be able to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors or officers or to enforce against us or them in U.S. courts judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities law. Likewise, it may be difficult for a U.S. investor to bring an original action in a Luxembourg court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against the Company, directors and officers. There is also uncertainty with regard to the enforceability of original actions in courts outside the United States of civil liabilities predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws. Furthermore, the enforceability in courts outside the United States of judgments entered by U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities law will be subject to compliance with procedural requirements under applicable local law, including the condition that the judgment does not violate the public policy of the applicable jurisdiction.

Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from any sales by us of the securities offered under this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to provide additional funds for general corporate purposes. We may set forth additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of securities we or selling security holders offer under this prospectus in the prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering.

The following table sets out Ternium’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010, calculated in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and IFRIC interpretations as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and adopted by the European Union, or IFRS. IFRS differ in certain significant respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, commonly referred to as U.S. GAAP.

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings have been calculated by adding income before equity in earnings of associated companies and income tax, fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income of equity investees and subtracting interest capitalized, and preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries. Fixed charges consist of adding interest expense, amortized premiums related to indebtedness and an appropriate portion of rentals representative of the interest factor within rental expense.

The Company’s ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “TX”. Trading on the NYSE began on February 1, 2006. As of December 6, 2010 a total of 2,004,743,442 shares were registered in the Company’s shareholder register.

As of January 28, 2011, a total of 27,364,319 ADSs were oustanding under Ternium’s ADS program. On January 28, 2011, the closing sales price for the ADSs on the NYSE was USD 38.30 per ADS.

Each ADS represents ten shares of the Company’s stock. The Bank of New York Mellon acts as the Company’s depositary for issuing ADRs evidencing the ADSs. The following tables sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low daily quoted closing prices for the Company’s shares, in the form of ADSs, traded on the NYSE.

The following table sets forth Ternium’s consolidated capitalization as of September 30, 2010. This table was prepared in accordance with IFRS. You should read this table in conjunction with the financial statements and other financial information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus that were prepared in accordance with IFRS.

We, or the selling security holders, as the case may be, may from time to time offer under this prospectus, separately or together:

In this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement, when we refer to the “holders” of securities as being entitled to specified rights or payments, we mean only the actual legal holders of the securities. While you will be the holder if you hold a security registered in your name, more often than not the registered holder (also referred to as the “direct” holder) will actually be either a broker, bank, other financial institution or, in the case of a global security, a depositary. Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee, any warrant agent, any transfer agent, any registrar, any depositary and any third parties employed by us or the other entities listed above, run only to persons who are registered as holders of our securities, except as may be specifically provided for in a warrant agreement, warrant certificate, deposit agreement or other contract governing the securities. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment even if that registered holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a street name customer but does not do so.

If we choose or the selling security holder chooses to issue, offer or sell ordinary shares represented by ADSs, the underlying ordinary shares represented by ADSs will be directly held by a custodian or depositary. Your rights and obligations will be determined by reference to the terms of the relevant deposit agreement. A copy of the deposit agreement, as amended from time to time, with respect to our ordinary shares is on file with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You may obtain a copy of the deposit agreement from the SEC’s Public Reference Room. See “Available Information.”

Holding securities in accounts at banks or brokers is called holding in “street name.” If you hold our securities in street name, we will recognize only the bank or broker, or the financial institution that the bank or broker uses to hold the securities, as a holder. These intermediary banks, brokers, other financial institutions and depositaries pass along principal, interest, dividends and other payments, if any, on the securities, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. This means that if you are an indirect holder, you will need to coordinate with the institution through which you hold your interest in a security in order to determine how the provisions involving holders described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement will actually apply to you. For example, if a debt security in which you hold a beneficial interest in street name can be repaid at the option of the holder, you cannot redeem it yourself by following the procedures described in the prospectus supplement relating to that security. Instead, you would need to cause the institution through which you hold your interest to take those actions on your behalf. Your institution may have procedures and deadlines different from or additional to those described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If you hold our securities in street name or through other indirect means, you should check with the institution through which you hold your interest in a security to find out:

A global security is a special type of indirectly held security. If we choose to issue our securities, in whole or in part, in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be indirect holders. We do this by requiring that the global security be registered in the name of one or more financial institutions or clearing systems, or their nominees, which we select and by requiring that the securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described under the heading “— Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated” occur. A financial institution or clearing system that we select for any security for this purpose is called the “depositary.” A security will usually have only one depositary which will act as the sole direct holder of the global security but it may have more. Any person wishing to own a security issued in global form must do so indirectly through an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. As a result, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect owner of the interest in the global security. The prospectus supplement will indicate whether the securities will be issued only as global securities.

Each series of securities will have one or more of the following as the depositaries:

The depositaries named above may also be participants in one another’s systems. Thus, for example, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, investors may hold beneficial interests in that security through Euroclear or Clearstream, as DTC participants. The prospectus supplement will indicate whether the securities will be issued only as global securities and will name the depositary or depositaries for the securities.

A global security may represent one or any other number of individual securities. Generally, all securities represented by the same global security will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple securities of the same kind, such as debt securities, that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security. Your prospectus supplement will indicate whether your securities are represented by a master global security.

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. We describe the situations in which this can occur below under “— Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

As an indirect owner, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the depositary and those of the investor’s financial institution or other intermediary through which it holds its interest (e.g., Euroclear or Clearstream, if DTC is the depositary), as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor or any intermediary as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be direct holders.

Unless we specify otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:

The prospectus supplement may also list additional circumstances in which a global security may be terminated that would apply to the particular securities covered by the prospectus supplement. If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not us or the trustee for any debt securities, is responsible for deciding the

Euroclear and Clearstream are securities clearance systems in Europe. Both systems clear and settle securities transactions between their participants through electronic, book-entry delivery of securities against payment.

Euroclear and Clearstream may be depositaries for a global security. In addition, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the global security as participants in DTC. As long as any global security is held by Euroclear or Clearstream, as depositary, you may hold an interest in the global security only through an organization that participates, directly or indirectly, in Euroclear or Clearstream. If Euroclear or Clearstream is the depositary for a global security and there is no depositary in the United States, you will not be able to hold interests in that global security through any securities clearance system in the United States.

Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities made through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time. We do not have control over those systems or their participants and we take no responsibility for their activities. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and participants in DTC, on the other hand, when DTC is the depositary, would also be subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg City or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date. In addition, investors who hold their interests through both DTC and Euroclear or Clearstream may need to make special arrangements to finance any purchases or sales of their interests between the U.S. and European clearing systems, and those transactions may settle later than would be the case for transactions within one clearing system.

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue (separately or upon exercise of a debt warrant) in the form of one or more series of debt securities. You should read the more detailed provisions of the indenture, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. You should also read the particular terms of a series of debt securities, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture and its associated documents, including the definitions of certain terms, and, with respect to any particular debt security, to the description of the terms of such debt securities that will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The debt securities will be issued under an indenture, to be entered into between us and a trustee to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indenture will provide that debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series, without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any particular series. Specific issuances of debt securities may also be governed by a supplemental indenture, an officer’s certificate or a document evidencing the authorization of any corporate body required by applicable law. The particular terms of each series, or of debt securities forming part of a series, will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. Those terms may vary from the terms described here. This section summarizes material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, unless otherwise indicated in this section or in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series.

We may issue debt securities at par, at a premium or as original issue discount securities, which are debt securities that are offered and sold at a substantial discount to their stated principal amount. We may also issue debt securities as indexed securities or securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any such debt securities. We will describe the U.S. federal income tax consequences and any other special considerations applicable to original issue discount, indexed or foreign currency debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:

In addition, the prospectus supplement will state whether we will list the debt securities of the series on any stock exchange and, if so, which one.

Debt securities may bear interest at fixed or floating rates. We may issue our debt securities at an original issue discount, bearing no interest or bearing interest at a rate that, at the time of issuance, is below market rate, to be sold at a discount below their principal amount. Certain special U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Moreover, certain special U.S. federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to any debt securities which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than the U.S. dollar may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The debt securities will be issued, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations that are even multiples of $1,000 and in global registered form. You may have your debt securities broken into more debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. This is called an exchange. You may exchange or transfer your registered debt securities at the office of the trustee. The trustee will maintain an office in New York,

You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange of a registered debt security will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

If we designate additional transfer agents, they will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If the debt securities are redeemable and we redeem less than all of the debt securities of a particular series, we may block the transfer or exchange of debt securities in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption. However, we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed.

If your debt securities are in registered form, we will pay interest to you if you are a direct holder listed in the trustee’s records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if you no longer own the security on the interest due date. That particular day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “regular record date” and will be stated in the prospectus supplement.

We will pay interest, principal, additional amounts and any other money due on the registered debt securities at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee in New York City. You must make arrangements to have your payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks. Interest on global securities will be paid to the holder thereof by wire transfer of same-day funds.

Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to, in the case of registered debt securities, the one who is the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to pro-rate interest fairly between the buyer and seller. This pro-rated interest amount is called “accrued interest.”

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments.

We may also arrange for additional payment offices, and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called “paying agents.” We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. We must notify you of changes in the paying agents for the debt securities of any series that you hold.

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, our debt securities will not be secured by any of our assets or properties. As a result, the securities will effectively be subordinated to our secured indebtedness, if any, and indebtedness preferred by law.

The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate whether the debt securities are subordinated to any of our other debt obligations. If they are not subordinated, in the event of bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding against us, they will rank equally with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, except for indebtedness having priority by operation of law.

Other than as described below under “— Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets,” the indenture will not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to make payments, dispose of assets, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, issue and sell capital stock, enter into transactions with affiliates, create or incur liens on our property, engage in businesses other than our present business or incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or other transaction involving us. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit rating. Restrictive covenants, if any, with respect to any of our debt securities may be contained in the applicable supplemental indenture and described in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to those securities. You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for information about any deletions from, modifications of or additions to, the Events of Default or covenants of ours contained in the indenture, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

Under the indenture, except as described below, we will be generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We will also be permitted to sell or lease all or substantially all of our assets to another entity or to buy or lease all or substantially all of the assets of another entity. Generally, no vote by holders of debt securities approving any of these actions will be required, unless as part of the transaction we make changes to the indenture requiring your approval, as described later under “— Modification and Waiver.” We may take these actions as part of a transaction involving non-related third parties or as part of an internal corporate reorganization. We may take these actions even if they result in:

We will have no obligation under the indenture to seek to avoid these results, or any other legal or financial effects that are disadvantageous to you, in connection with a merger, consolidation or sale or lease of assets that will be permitted under the indenture.

We may merge into or consolidate with or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to another entity, provided that we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

Notwithstanding the restrictions noted above, we may transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any wholly owned subsidiary, provided that we may not take such actions unless such wholly owned subsidiary expressly assumes the obligations under the debt securities and the indenture pursuant to a full and unconditional guarantee.

It is possible that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or another relevant tax authority may deem a merger or other similar transaction to cause for U.S. federal income tax purposes an exchange of debt securities for new securities by the holders of the debt securities. This could result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss and possible other adverse tax consequences.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, your debt security will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund; that is, we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial account to repay your debt securities. In addition, other than as set forth in “— Optional Tax Redemption” below, we will not be entitled to redeem your debt security before its stated maturity unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date. You will not be entitled to require us to buy your debt security from you, before its stated maturity, unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies one or more repayment dates.

If the applicable prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date or a repayment date, it will also specify one or more redemption prices or repayment prices, which may be expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of your debt security or by reference to one or more formulas used to determine the applicable redemption price. It may also specify one or more redemption periods during which the redemption price or prices relating to the redemption of debt securities during those periods will apply.

If the applicable prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, we may redeem your debt security at our option at any time on or after that date. If we redeem your debt security, we will do so at the specified redemption price, together with interest accrued to the redemption date. If different prices are specified for different redemption periods, the price we pay will be the price that applies to the redemption period during which your debt security is redeemed. If less than all of the debt securities are redeemed, the trustee will choose the debt securities to be redeemed by lot, or in the trustee’s discretion, pro-rata.

If the applicable prospectus supplement specifies a repayment date, your debt security will be repayable by us at our option on the specified repayment date at the specified repayment price, together with interest accrued and any additional amounts to the repayment date.

In the event that we exercise an option to redeem any debt security, we will give to the trustee and the holder written notice of the principal amount of the debt security to be redeemed, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date. We will give the notice in the manner described under the heading “— Notices.”

If a debt security represented by a global security is subject to repayment at the holder’s option, the depositary or its nominee, as the holder, will be the only person that can exercise the right to repayment. Any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security and wish to exercise a repayment right must give proper and timely instructions to their banks or brokers through which they hold their interests, requesting that they notify the depositary to exercise the repayment right on their behalf. Different firms have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers, and you should take care to act promptly enough to ensure that your request is given effect by the depositary before the applicable deadline for exercise.

Street name and other indirect holders should contact their banks or brokers for information about how to exercise a repayment right in a timely manner.

In the event that the option of the holder to elect repayment as described above is deemed to be a “tender offer” within the meaning of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, we will comply with Rule 14e-1 as then in effect to the extent it is applicable to us and the transaction.

Subject to any restrictions that will be described in the prospectus supplement, we or our affiliates may purchase debt securities from investors who are willing to sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Debt securities that we or they purchase may, in our discretion, be held, resold or canceled.

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we shall have the option (but not the obligation) to redeem, in whole but not in part, the debt securities where, as a result of a change in, execution of or amendment to any laws or treaties or the official application or interpretation of any laws or treaties, we would be required to pay additional amounts as described later under “Payment of Additional Amounts.” This applies only in the case of

If the debt securities are redeemed, the redemption price for debt securities (other than original issue discount debt securities) will be equal to the principal amount of the debt securities being redeemed plus accrued interest and any additional amounts due up to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price for original issue discount debt securities will be specified in the prospectus supplement for such securities. Furthermore, we must give you between 30 and 60 days’ notice before redeeming the debt securities.

If debt securities of any series are convertible or exchangeable, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify:

Unless otherwise required by law, we will not deduct or withhold from payments made with respect to the debt securities on account of any current or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature, which we refer to as “Taxes,” imposed or levied by or on behalf of Luxembourg or, if succeeded by another entity, the jurisdiction in which such successor entity is organized, or any political subdivisions or taxing authority thereof or therein having power to tax, which we refer to as a “Taxing Authority.” In the event that we are required to withhold or deduct any amount for or on account of such Taxes from any payment made under or with respect to any debt securities, we will except in the circumstances set forth below pay such additional amounts so that the net amount received by each holder of debt securities, including the additional amounts, will equal the amount that such holder would have received if such Taxes had not been required to be withheld or deducted. We refer to the amounts that we are required to pay to preserve the net amount receivable by the holders of debt securities as “Additional Amounts.”

Our obligation to pay Additional Amounts is, however, subject to several important exceptions. Additional Amounts will not be payable with respect to a payment made to a holder of debt securities to the extent:

Such Additional Amounts also will not be payable where, had the beneficial owner of the debt securities been the holder of such debt securities, it would not have been entitled to payment of Additional Amounts by reason of the conditions set forth above. The prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities may describe additional circumstances in which we would not be required to pay additional amounts.

We will also:

At least 30 days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the debt securities is due and payable, if we will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment, we will deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating the fact that such Additional Amounts will be payable, the amounts so payable and such other information as is necessary to enable the trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to holders of the debt securities on the payment date.

In addition, we will pay any stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes and duties, including interest, penalties and Additional Amounts with respect thereto, payable in Luxembourg or the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the foregoing in respect of the creation, issue, offering,

The foregoing provisions shall survive any termination or the discharge of the indenture and shall apply to any jurisdiction in which any successor to us is organized or is engaged in business for tax purposes or any political subdivisions or taxing authority or agency thereof or therein.

Whenever in the indenture, the debt securities, in this “Description of Debt Securities” or in the applicable prospectus supplement there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of principal, premium, if any, redemption price, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any note, such mention includes the payment of Additional Amounts to the extent payable in the particular context.

In the event that Additional Amounts actually paid with respect to the debt securities pursuant to the preceding paragraphs are based on rates of deduction or withholding of Taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the holder of such debt securities, and as a result thereof such holder is entitled to make a claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the Taxing Authority imposing such Taxes, then such holder shall, by accepting such debt securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to us. However, by making such assignment, the holder makes no representation or warranty that we will be entitled to receive such claim for a refund or credit and incurs no other obligation with respect thereto.

We may, to the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, elect, at our option at any time, to have the provisions of the indenture relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness or to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants in the indenture, applied to the debt securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series.

Defeasance and Discharge.  Upon the exercise of our option, if any, to have applied the provisions of the indenture relating to defeasance and discharge, we will be discharged from all our payment and other obligations, and the provisions relating to subordination, if any, will cease to be effective, with respect to such debt securities, subject to certain exceptions, upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities of money or U.S. Government Obligations, as such term is defined in the indenture, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on their respective stated maturities. Such defeasance may occur only if we have complied with certain conditions that will be set forth in the relevant indenture.

Defeasance of Certain Covenants.  Upon the exercise of our option, if any, to have applied the provisions of the indenture relating to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants in the indenture, we may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants, including any that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the occurrence of certain events of default as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will be deemed not to be or result in an event of default and the provisions relating to subordination, if any, will cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such debt securities, subject to certain exceptions, upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities of money or U.S. Government Obligations, as such term is defined in the indenture, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such debt securities on the respective stated maturities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if we have complied with certain conditions that will be set forth in the relevant indenture.

Each of the following will constitute an event of default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series:

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any additional events of default.

If an event of default (other than an event of default related to certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding shall occur and be continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 37.5% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series by notice as provided in the indenture may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of such series (or, in the case of any debt security that is an original issue discount security or the principal amount of which is not then determinable, such portion of the principal amount of such security, or such other amount in lieu of such principal amount, as may be specified in the terms of such debt security) to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default related to certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding shall occur, the principal amount of all the debt securities of such series (or, in the case of any such original issue discount security or other debt security, such specified amount) will automatically, and without any action by the trustee or any holder, become immediately due and payable. After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “— Modification and Waiver.”

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

No holder of a debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless (i) such holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series, (ii) the holders of at least 37.5% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series have made written request, and such holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity, to the trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee and (iii) the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer. However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of a debt security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such debt security on or after the applicable due date specified in such debt security.

We will be required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement by certain of our officers as to whether or not we, to their knowledge, are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults. The indenture provides that if a default occurs with respect to debt securities of any series, the trustee will give the holders of the relevant series notice of the default when, as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. However, in the case of any default under any covenant with respect to the series, no notice of default to holders will be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence of the default.

An event of default under any of our other outstanding or future debt instruments or guarantees shall not constitute an event of default under the terms of the indenture and the debt securities described in this prospectus.

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture and the debt securities.

Changes Requiring Your Approval.  First, there are changes that cannot be made to your debt securities without your specific approval. These are the following types of changes:

Changes Requiring a Majority Vote.  The second type of change to the indenture and the debt securities is the kind that requires a vote of approval by the holders of debt securities that together represent a majority of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the particular series affected. Most changes fall into this category, except for clarifying changes, amendments, supplements and other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the debt securities in any material respect. For example, this vote would be required for us to obtain a waiver of all or part of any covenants described in an applicable prospectus supplement or a waiver of a past default. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of the indenture or the debt securities listed in the first category described previously beginning above under “Modification and Waiver — Changes Requiring Your Approval” unless we obtain your individual consent to the waiver.