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S&P Global Inc. – ‘S-3ASR’ on 10/29/07

On:  Monday, 10/29/07, at 8:17am ET   ·   Effective:  10/29/07   ·   Accession #:  1193125-7-227601   ·   File #:  333-146981

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

10/29/07  S&P Global Inc.                   S-3ASR     10/29/07    9:770K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement for Securities of a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer   —   Form S-3
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: S-3ASR      Form S-3                                            HTML    215K 
 2: EX-1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement                      HTML    137K 
 3: EX-4.1      Form of Senior Indenture                            HTML    353K 
 4: EX-5.1      Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP                  HTML     16K 
 7: EX-23.1     Consent of Independent Registered Public            HTML      8K 
                          Accounting Firm                                        
 8: EX-24.1     Powers of Attorney                                  HTML     16K 
 9: EX-25.1     Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the Debt    HTML     41K 
                          Securities                                             
 5: EX-12.2     Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges   HTML     13K 
                          of the Company                                         
 6: EX-15.1     Letter Re: Unadited Interim Financial Information   HTML      8K 


S-3ASR   —   Form S-3
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential)   (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page  –  Filing Submission
"Table of Contents
"About This Prospectus
"Where You Can Find More Information
"Incorporation by Reference
"Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
"Risk Factors
"Use of Proceeds
"Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
"Description of the Debt Securities
"Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
"Legal Matters
"Experts

This is an HTML Document rendered as filed.  [ Alternative Formats ]



  Form S-3  
Table of Contents

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 29, 2007

Registration No. 333-            

 


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

NEW YORK   13-1026995

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020

(212) 512-2564

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


Kenneth M. Vittor

General Counsel and Executive Vice President

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, N.Y. 10020

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 


Copies to:

Bruce Czachor

Shearman & Sterling LLP

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(212) 848-4000

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:  From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

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

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

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

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

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Calculation of Registration Fee

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

  Amount
to be
Registered (1)
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
 

Amount of
Registration

Fee (2)

Debt Securities

  $               $               $            
 
(1) There is being registered under this registration statement such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices.
(2) In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 



Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

THE McGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.

DEBT SECURITIES

We may from time to time offer to sell our debt securities covered by this prospectus to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. We will provide specific terms of the debt securities to be offered in supplements to this prospectus or possibly other offering material. The prospectus supplements may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our debt securities.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “MHP.”

 


Investing in our debt securities involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section of our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 


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

 


THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS OCTOBER 29, 2007.


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

     Page

About This Prospectus

   1

Where You Can Find More Information

   2

Incorporation by Reference

   2

Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

   3

Risk Factors

   4

Use of Proceeds

   4

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

   4

Description of the Debt Securities

   5

Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

   15

Legal Matters

   24

Experts

   24

 



Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. You should rely only on the information provided in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or documents to which we otherwise refer you. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of any debt securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document in which it is contained or such other date referred to in such document, regardless of the time of any sale or issuance of a debt security.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities we may offer. Each time we sell or issue debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that specific offering of debt securities and the specific manner in which they may be offered. The prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement may also add to, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement may also contain information about any material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the debt securities described in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement, together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information,” before making an investment decision. This prospectus may not be used to sell our debt securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

References to “McGraw-Hill,” our company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus are references to The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about us and the debt securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC’s web site (www.sec.gov) or at the SEC’s offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file 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. Such information may also be inspected at The New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our common stock is listed.

 


INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it into this prospectus, 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 part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the previously filed information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, other than any portions of the respective filings that were furnished, under applicable SEC rules, rather than filed, until we complete our offerings of the debt securities:

 

   

our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006;

 

   

our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 20, 2007;

 

   

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007, and September 30, 2007; and

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 31, 2007August 3, 2007, and September 18, 2007.

Our filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our Internet website is located at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only. The contents of the website are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, N.Y. 10020

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (212) 512-3998

 

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Table of Contents

STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

We may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including statements contained in filings with the SEC, in reports to shareholders and in press releases and investor Webcasts. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words like “anticipates,” “aspirations,” “believes,” “continues,” “estimates,” “expects,” “goals,” “guidance,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “strategy,” “targets,” “will” and other words of similar meaning. They can also be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.

We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and the accuracy of assumptions. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements and whether to invest in, or remain invested in, our securities. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we are identifying in the following paragraphs important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by us; any such statement is qualified by reference to the following cautionary statements. The most significant of the risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed under the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus supplement and prospective investors are urged to consider these factors carefully.

The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements:

 

   

difficulties or delays in the implementation of, or the failure of, our strategies;

 

   

reduction in the volume of debt securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, which could reduce the number and dollar volume of debt issuances for which Standard & Poor’s provides ratings services;

 

   

a sustained period of market decline or weakness;

 

   

changes in legislation, both at the federal and state level, changes in the state procurement process, changes in the state and local tax base and changes in the condition of the local, state or U.S. economy that may adversely affect our U.S. education textbook and testing business;

 

   

changes in the level of economic activity in the United States, world, national and local events and competition from other forms of media that may adversely impact our advertising revenue;

 

   

changes in our network affiliation agreements that could affect the profitability of our broadcasting operations;

 

   

competition in the markets for credit ratings;

 

   

new legislation, regulations or judicial determinations applicable to credit rating agencies in the United States of America and abroad;

 

   

regulatory developments that may impact our broadcast stations;

 

   

changes in competitive factors;

 

   

fluctuation of compensation costs influenced by general economic factors, including those affecting the cost of health insurance and postretirement benefits, and any trends specific to the employee skill sets we require;

 

   

changes in pension costs and funding requirements due to poor investment returns and/or changes in pension regulations;

 

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fluctuation of paper prices;

 

   

risks associated with legal and technological protections for our intellectual property and proprietary rights; and

 

   

risks of doing business abroad, including inflation, fluctuation in interest rates and currency exchange rates, changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements, export and import restrictions, tariffs, nationalization, expropriation, limits on repatriation of funds, civil unrest, terrorism, unstable governments and legal systems, and other factors.

We elaborate on the above list of important factors throughout this document and in our other filings with the SEC. It should be understood that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Consequently, the above list of important factors and the risk factors discussed in our other filings with the SEC should not be considered to be a complete discussion of all our potential trends, risks and uncertainties. Except as otherwise required by federal securities laws, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement we may make from time to time.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. You should also carefully consider any additional risks discussed or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any such prospectus supplement.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless indicated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of our debt securities for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements, repayment of borrowings, capital expenditures, acquisitions and stock repurchases.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five most recent fiscal years and the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

      Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2007
   Year Ended December 31,
        2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

   15.9    16.6    17.9    16.4    16.4    12.6

 

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Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

General

The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of any debt securities and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions will not apply to such debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.

The debt securities will be issued from time to time in series under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (the indenture). The indenture may be supplemented from time to time.

The statements set forth below are brief summaries of certain provisions contained in the indenture, which summaries do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the indenture, a form of which is an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Terms used herein that are otherwise not defined shall have the meanings given to them in the indenture. Such defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder, and debt securities may be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal amount that may be authorized from time to time by us. Any such limit applicable to a particular series will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement for the following terms of each series of debt securities in respect to which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

   

the title and series of such debt securities;

 

   

the designation, issue date, currency or currency unit of payment if other than U.S. dollars and authorized denominations of such debt securities, if other than U.S. $1,000 and integral multiples;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount offered and any limit on any future issues of additional debt securities of the same series;

 

   

the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates will be determined, on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (or manner of calculation thereof), if any, per annum at which such debt securities will bear interest;

 

   

the date or dates on which interest, if any, on such debt securities will be payable and any regular record dates applicable to the date or dates on which interest will be so payable;

 

   

the place or places where the principal of or any premium or interest on such debt securities will be payable, where any of such debt securities that are issued in registered form may be surrendered for registration of, transfer or exchange, and where any such debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;

 

   

if such debt securities are to be redeemable at our option, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

 

   

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to mandatory or optional redemption (including any sinking, purchase or analogous fund) and any purchase at the option of holders (including whether any such purchase may be paid in cash, common stock or other securities or property);

 

   

if other than principal amount, the portion of the principal amount (or the method by which such portion will be determined) of such debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

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any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on such debt securities;

 

   

provisions specifying whether such debt securities are senior debt securities;

 

   

in the case of subordinated debt securities, provisions specifying the relative degree, if any, to which such subordinated debt securities of the series will be senior to or be subordinated in right of payment to other series of subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness of McGraw-Hill, as the case may be, whether such other series of subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness is outstanding or not;

 

   

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants of McGraw-Hill with respect to such debt securities;

 

   

terms specifying whether the provisions described below under “—Defeasance” will be applicable to such debt securities;

 

   

the terms of any mandatory or optional conversion or exchange provisions;

 

   

whether such debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary with respect to such global securities; and

 

   

any other terms of such debt securities and any other deletions from or modifications or additions to the indenture in respect of such debt securities.

We may issue debt securities of any series at various times and we may reopen any series for further issuances from time to time without notice to existing holders of securities of that series.

Some of the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt securities. Original issue discount debt securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates. These are sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. If we issue these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement, read in conjunction with “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” described in this prospectus, will describe any special tax, accounting or other information that we think is important. We encourage you to consult with your own competent tax and financial advisors on these important matters.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the covenants contained in the indenture will not provide special protection to holders of debt securities if we enter into a highly leveraged transaction, recapitalization or restructuring.

Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on outstanding debt securities will be paid to holders of record on the date that is 15 days prior to the date such interest is to be paid, or, if not a business day, the next preceding business day. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully registered form only. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the principal amount of the debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in New York, New York. The debt securities may be presented for transfer or exchange at such office unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, subject to the limitations provided in the indenture, without any service charge, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection therewith.

Ranking

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our direct unsecured obligations and will rank equally with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

 

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Change of Control

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the debt securities as described below under “—Optional Redemption ,” holders of debt securities will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their debt securities pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) on the terms set forth in the debt securities. In the Change of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of debt securities repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the debt securities repurchased, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, we will be required to mail a notice to holders of debt securities describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the debt securities on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures required by the debt securities and described in such notice. We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the debt securities as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the debt securities, we will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the debt securities by virtue of such conflicts.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, we will be required, to the extent lawful, to:

(1) accept for payment all debt securities or portions of debt securities properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all debt securities or portions of debt securities properly tendered; and

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the debt securities properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of debt securities or portions of debt securities being purchased.

The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of debt securities properly tendered the purchase price for the debt securities, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new debt security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any debt securities surrendered; provided that each new debt security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

We will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the debt securities upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all debt securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

For purposes of the foregoing discussion of a repurchase at the option of holders, the following definitions are applicable:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the debt securities are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the debt securities is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a below investment grade rating event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect to a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a below investment grade rating event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event hereunder) if the rating agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do

 

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not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee or us in writing at its or our request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the below investment grade rating event).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of McGraw-Hill and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person or group of related persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a “Group”) other than McGraw-Hill or one of its subsidiaries;

(2) the approval by the holders of McGraw-Hill’s common stock of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of McGraw-Hill (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of the indenture);

(3) the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (individually and as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) and Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of McGraw-Hill’s voting stock; or

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of McGraw-Hill’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Continuing Director” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of McGraw-Hill who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the issuance of the debt securities; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of McGraw-Hill’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection or opposition to such nomination).

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings Ltd.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch and Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“Person” has the meaning set forth in the indenture and includes a “person” as used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch and Moody’s; and (2) if any of Fitch or Moody’s ceases to rate the debt securities or fails to make a rating of the debt securities publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch or Moody’s, or all of them, as the case may be.

Optional Redemption

Unless otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture or board resolution establishing the relevant series of debt securities, the debt securities may be redeemed in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

   

100% of the principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding to be redeemed; or

 

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the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the debt securities to be redeemed (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable treasury rate plus a number of basis points to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the redemption date.

“Treasury rate” means, with respect to any redemption date:

 

   

the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the comparable treasury issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining life (as defined below), yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the comparable treasury issue will be determined and the treasury rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or

 

   

if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the comparable treasury issue, calculated using a price for the comparable U.S. treasury issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the comparable treasury price for such redemption date.

The treasury rate will be calculated on the third business day preceding the date fixed for redemption.

“Comparable treasury issue” means the U.S. treasury security selected by an independent investment banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“remaining life”) of the debt securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such debt securities.

“Comparable treasury price” means (1) the average of five reference treasury dealer quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest reference treasury dealer quotations, or (2) if the independent investment banker obtains fewer than four such reference treasury dealer quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Independent investment banker” means either Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. or Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., as specified by us, or if these firms are unwilling or unable to select the comparable treasury issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by us, in our sole discretion.

“Reference treasury dealer” means (1) any of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. and their respective successors, provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a “primary treasury dealer”), we will substitute therefor another primary treasury dealer and (2) any three other primary treasury dealers selected by us after consultation with the independent investment banker.

“Reference treasury dealer quotations” means, with respect to each reference treasury dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the independent investment banker, of the bid and asked prices for the comparable treasury issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the independent investment banker at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

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We will mail a notice of redemption to each holder of debt securities to be redeemed by first-class mail at least 30 (unless otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture or board resolution establishing the relevant series of debt securities) and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Unless we default on payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities or portions thereof called for redemption. If fewer than all of the debt securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select, not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, the particular debt securities or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding debt securities not previously called by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate.

Certain Covenants

Limitation on Liens.

We covenant in the indenture that we will not create, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed (referred to as “Debt”) secured by a lien on any of our properties or assets without providing that the debt securities of any series will be secured equally and ratably with such Debt for so long as such Debt will be so secured, unless the aggregate principal amount of such secured Debt then outstanding does not exceed an amount equal to 10% of our total consolidated assets as of the end of the most recent quarter, as set forth on our most recently filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual report on Form 10-K.

The restrictions do not apply to Debt that is secured by:

 

   

liens existing, in the case of any debt securities, on the date such debt securities are issued;

 

   

liens on any property or any indebtedness of a person existing at the time the person becomes a subsidiary (whether by acquisition, merger or consolidation);

 

   

certain liens in favor of or required by contracts with governmental entities;

 

   

liens in favor of us or our subsidiaries;

 

   

liens existing at the time of acquisition of the assets secured thereby and purchase money liens;

 

   

liens on any property to secure all or part of the cost of improvements or construction thereon or indebtedness incurred to provide funds for such purpose in a principal amount not exceeding 110% of the cost of such improvements or constructions;

 

   

liens on shares of stock, indebtedness or other securities of a Person that is not a subsidiary of ours; and

 

   

extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing types of liens.

Limitation on Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer on Certain Terms.

We shall not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey or transfer our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

(1) any successor or purchaser is a corporation, partnership or trust organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State or the District of Columbia;

(2) the person formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or the person which acquires by conveyance or transfer our properties and assets substantially as an entirety shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the debt securities and the performance of every covenant of the indenture (as supplemented from time to time) on our part to be performed or observed;

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no event of default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

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(4) we have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this paragraph and that all conditions precedent provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of our properties and assets, substantially as an entirety as set forth above, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power we have under the indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named, in the indenture. In the event of any such conveyance or transfer, we as the predecessor shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the indenture and the debt securities and may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated at any time thereafter.

Subject to the foregoing, the indenture and the debt securities do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a recapitalization or highly leveraged transaction involving us.

Any additional covenants pertaining to a series of debt securities will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.

Defeasance

The indenture provides that we at our option,

(a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of any series of debt securities (except in each case for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust) or

(b) need not comply with the covenants described above under “Description of the Debt Securities—Certain Covenants” and any other restrictive covenants described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities and certain events of default (other than those arising out of the failure to pay interest or principal on the debt securities of a particular series and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization) will no longer constitute events of default with respect to such series of debt securities,

in each case if we deposit with the Trustee, in trust, money or the equivalent in securities of the government which issued the currency in which the debt securities are denominated or government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of such government, or a combination thereof, which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and interest on, such series on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such series.

To exercise any such option, we are required, among other things, to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that

(i) the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes and, in the case of a discharge pursuant to clause (a), accompanied by a ruling to such effect received from or published by the United States Internal Revenue Service and

(ii) the creation of the defeasance trust will not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

In addition, we are required to deliver to the Trustee an officers’ certificate stating that such deposit was not made by us with the intent of preferring the holders over other creditors of ours or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding our creditors or others.

 

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Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

The indenture provides that, if an event of default specified therein with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder shall have occurred and be continuing, either the Trustee thereunder or the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series (or 25% in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding debt securities under the indenture, in the case of certain events of default affecting all series of debt securities under the indenture) may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable.

Events of default in respect of any series are defined in the indenture as being:

 

   

default for 30 days in payment of any interest installment with respect to such series;

 

   

default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, or any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to, debt securities of such series when due at their stated maturity, by declaration or acceleration, when called for redemption or otherwise;

 

   

default for 90 days after written notice to us by the Trustee thereunder or by holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities (excluding any subordinated indebtedness) of such series in the performance, or breach, of any covenant pertaining to debt securities of such series;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization with respect to us or the entry of an order ordering the winding up or liquidation of our affairs; and

 

   

any other events of default as may be specified in such series.

Any additions, deletions or other changes to the events of default which will be applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.

The indenture provides that the Trustee thereunder will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series, 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 default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the debt securities of such series, the Trustee thereunder 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. The term “default” for the purpose of this provision means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to debt securities of such series.

The indenture contains provisions entitling the Trustee, subject to the duty of the Trustee during an event of default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the holders of the debt securities before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the request of holders of the debt securities.

The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting proceedings for remedies available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee in respect of such series, subject to certain conditions.

In certain cases, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of such series, any past default or event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series except, among other things, a default not theretofore cured in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the debt securities of such series or payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligations with respect to such debt securities.

 

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The indenture includes a covenant that we will file annually with the Trustee a certificate of no default or specifying any default that exists.

Modification of the Indenture

We and the Trustee may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, enter into indentures supplemental to the indenture for, among others, one or more of the following purposes:

  (1) to evidence the succession of another person to us, and the assumption by such successor of our company’s obligations under the indenture and the debt securities of any series relating thereto;

  (2) to add to our covenants or to surrender any of our rights or powers for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any or all series;

  (3) to cure any ambiguity, or correct any inconsistency in the indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture;

  (4) to add to the indenture any provisions that may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or “the Act,” excluding the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Act as in effect at the date as of which this instrument was executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted;

  (5) to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities, to provide for the issuance of any series of debt securities and/or to add to the rights of the holders of debt securities;

  (6) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of any successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of debt securities or to add or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by one or more trustees in accordance with the indenture;

  (7) to provide any additional events of default;

  (8) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; provided that the uncertificated securities are issued in registered form for certain Federal tax purposes;

  (9) to secure any series of debt securities pursuant to the indenture’s limitation on liens; and

  (10) to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Act.

No supplemental indenture for the purpose identified in clauses (2), (3) or (7) above may be entered into if to do so would adversely affect the rights of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect.

The indenture contains provisions permitting us and the Trustee thereunder, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series to be affected voting as a single class, to execute a supplemental indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or modifying the rights of the holders of the debt securities of such series to be affected, except that no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the holders of affected debt securities, among other things:

  (1) change the fixed maturity of any debt securities; or

  (2) reduce the principal amount thereof; or

  (3) reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon; or

  (4) impair the right of a holder to institute suit for payment on any debt securities.

 

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The Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon is the Trustee under the indenture. The Trustee is a depository for funds and performs other services for, and transacts other banking business with, us in the normal course of business.

Governing Law

The indenture will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Global Securities

We may issue debt securities through global securities. A global security is a security, typically held by a depositary, that represents the beneficial interests of a number of purchasers of the security. If we do issue global securities, the following procedures will apply.

We will deposit global securities with the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. After we issue a global security, the depositary will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of persons who have accounts with the depositary. These account holders are known as “participants.” The underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Only a participant or a person who holds an interest through a participant may be the beneficial owner of a global security. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants.

We and the Trustee will treat the depositary or its nominee as the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by a global security. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names. They also will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities.

Principal, any premium and any interest payments on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security. None of us, the Trustee or any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or the maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payments, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the depositary’s records. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street names,” and will be the responsibility of the participants.

If the depositary 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 registered securities in exchange for the global security. In addition, we may at any time in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for the global securities.

 

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the debt securities offered by this prospectus. This summary is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”), administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change and to different interpretations. Changes to any of the foregoing authorities could apply on a retroactive basis, and could affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences described below.

This summary does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor’s circumstances, and does not discuss any aspect of U.S. federal tax law other than income taxation and does not cover any state, local, non-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities. This summary addresses only debt securities held as capital assets within the meaning of the Code (generally, property held for investment) and does not address U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special tax rules, such as:

 

   

securities dealers or brokers, or traders in securities electing mark-to-market treatment;

 

   

banks, thrifts, or other financial institutions;

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations;

 

   

persons holding our debt securities as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “synthetic security” or “conversion transaction” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or as part of some other integrated investment;

 

   

partnerships or other pass-through entities;

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

certain former citizens or residents of the United States;

 

   

foreign corporations that are classified as “passive foreign investment companies” or “controlled foreign corporations” for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or

 

   

“U.S. Holders” (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

The tax consequences with respect to special features of a particular offering of debt securities are not discussed in this prospectus. The discussion below must be read with the discussion of “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” that may appear in the relevant prospectus supplement for that offering.

As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of debt securities that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (A) a United States court has the authority to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons (as defined under the Code) are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. A “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of a debt security that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is an individual, corporation, trust or estate that is not a U.S. Holder.

If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds debt securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner

 

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and the activities of the partnership. A partnership holding debt securities, and partners in such a partnership, should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities by the partnership.

Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the application of the tax consequences discussed below to their particular situations as well as the application of any state, local, foreign or other tax laws, including gift and estate tax laws.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders of Debt Securities

Payments of Interest. Except as set forth below, interest on debt securities that constitutes “qualified stated interest” generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income from domestic sources at the time that such interest is paid or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A “qualified stated interest” payment is stated interest that is unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed rate or at a qualifying variable rate as discussed below (appropriately taking into account the length of the interval between payments).

Original Issue Discount. Special rules apply to debt securities issued with “original issue discount” (“OID”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“OID debt securities”). In general, debt securities will be treated as issued with OID if the “issue price” of the debt securities is less than their “stated redemption price at maturity” unless the amount of such difference is de minimis (i.e., less than 0.25% of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity). Regardless of the regular method of accounting used by a U.S. Holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, OID generally must be accrued into gross income on a constant yield basis, in advance of the receipt of some or all of the cash attributable to such OID.

The “issue price” of debt securities will be the initial offering price to the public at which a substantial amount of the debt securities is sold for cash (ignoring sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers). The “stated redemption price at maturity” of debt securities is the sum of all payments to be made on the debt securities other than qualified stated interest payments.

For OID debt securities having a term to maturity of more than one year, the amount of OID includible in gross income by a U.S. Holder of the OID debt securities is the sum of the “daily portions” of OID with respect to the OID debt securities for each day during the taxable year in which such U.S. Holder held the OID debt securities (“accrued OID”). The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in any “accrual period” a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to such accrual period.

The amount of OID allocable to any accrual period is equal to the excess (if any) of (i) the product of the “adjusted issue price” of the OID debt securities at the beginning of such accrual period and the yield to maturity of the OID debt securities, as determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period, over (ii) the sum of any qualified stated interest payments allocable to the accrual period. For this purpose, accrual periods may be of any length and may vary in length over the term of the OID debt securities provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs at the beginning or the end of an accrual period.

The adjusted issue price of OID debt securities at the start of any accrual period is equal to the issue price, increased by the accrued OID for each prior accrual period, and reduced by any prior payments with respect to the OID debt securities that were not qualified stated interest payments. Under the constant yield method for accruing OID, a U.S. Holder generally will have to include in gross income increasingly greater amounts of OID in successive accrual periods.

 

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Optional Redemption. Debt securities may contain provisions allowing the debt securities to be redeemed prior to their stated maturity date at our option or at the option of holders. For purposes of determining yield to maturity, debt securities that may be redeemed prior to their stated maturity date at the option of the issuer generally will be treated from the time of issuance as having a maturity date for U.S. federal income tax purposes on such redemption date if such redemption would result in a lower yield to maturity. Conversely, debt securities that may be redeemed prior to their stated maturity date at the option of the holder generally will be treated from the time of issuance as having a maturity date for U.S. federal income tax purposes on such redemption date if such redemption would result in a higher yield to maturity. If the exercise of such an option does not occur, contrary to the assumptions made as of the issue date, then solely for purposes of the accrual of OID, the debt securities will be treated as reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an amount equal to their adjusted issue price.

Short-Term Debt Securities. In the case of debt securities that have a fixed maturity of one year or less (“short-term debt securities”), all payments, including all payments of stated interest, will be included in the stated redemption price at maturity. The short-term debt securities generally will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having been issued with OID in the amount of the difference between their issue price and stated redemption price at maturity (unless the U.S. Holder elects to compute OID using tax basis instead of issue price). In general, U.S. Holders that use the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and certain other U.S. Holders are required to accrue OID in respect of short-term debt securities into gross income either on a straight-line basis or, if a U.S. Holder so elects, on a constant yield basis using daily compounding. U.S. Holders that are individuals and certain other U.S. Holders that use the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes are not required to accrue OID on short-term debt securities in advance of the receipt of payment unless they elect to do so. If such a U.S. Holder does not elect to accrue OID on short-term debt securities into gross income, then gain subsequently recognized upon the sale, retirement or other disposition of the short-term debt securities generally will be treated as ordinary interest income to the extent of the OID that has accrued through the date of such disposition. Furthermore, a non-electing U.S. Holder of short-term debt securities may be required to defer deductions for a portion of the U.S. Holder’s interest expense with respect to any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry the short-term debt securities.

Variable Rate Debt Securities. Treasury regulations prescribe special rules for “variable rate debt instruments” that provide for the payment of interest based on certain floating or objective rates. In general, debt securities will qualify as variable rate debt instruments (“variable rate debt securities”) if (i) the issue price of the debt securities does not exceed the total non-contingent principal payments due in respect of the debt securities by more than an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 0.015 multiplied by the product of the total non-contingent principal payments and the number of complete years to maturity from the issue date and (B) 15% of the total non-contingent principal payments, and (ii) the debt securities provide for stated interest, paid or compounded at least annually, at “current values” of (A) one or more “qualified floating rates,” (B) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates, (C) a single “objective rate,” or (D) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a “qualified inverse floating rate.” A current value of a rate is the value of the rate on any date that is no earlier than three months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than one year following that first day.

A “qualified floating rate” is any variable rate where variations in the value of such rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the variable rate debt securities are denominated. Although a multiple of a qualified floating rate generally will not itself constitute a qualified floating rate, a variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35 can constitute a qualified floating rate. A variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate, will also constitute a qualified floating rate. In addition, two or more qualified floating rates that can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the variable rate debt securities (e.g., two or more qualified floating rates with values within 25 basis

 

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points of each other as determined on the issue date) will be treated as a single qualified floating rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a variable rate that would otherwise constitute a qualified floating rate but which is subject to one or more restrictions such as a maximum numerical limitation (i.e., a cap), a minimum numerical limitation (i.e., a floor) or a restriction on the amount of increase or decrease in the stated interest (i.e., a governor) may, under certain circumstances, fail to be treated as a qualified floating rate unless such restrictions are fixed throughout the term of the variable rate debt securities or are reasonably expected to not have a significant effect on the yield of the variable rate debt securities.

An “objective rate” is a rate that is not itself a qualified floating rate but which is determined using a single fixed formula and that is based on objective financial or economic information. A rate will not qualify as an objective rate if it is based on information that is within the control of the issuer (or a related party) or that is unique to the circumstances of the issuer (or a related party), such as dividends, profits, or the value of the issuer’s stock (although a rate does not fail to be an objective rate merely because it is based on the credit quality of the issuer). An objective rate is a “qualified inverse floating rate” if the rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, as long as variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the qualified floating rate. The Treasury regulations also provide that if debt securities provide for stated interest at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by a variable rate that is either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate and if the variable rate on the issue date is intended to approximate the fixed rate (e.g., the value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of the fixed rate by more than 25 basis points), then the fixed rate and the variable rate together will constitute either a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, as the case may be.

If variable rate debt securities provide for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout their term, and such interest is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually, then all stated interest on such variable rate debt securities will constitute qualified stated interest that is included in gross income by U.S. Holders as received or accrued in accordance with their regular methods of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, such variable rate debt securities generally will not be treated as having been issued with OID unless the variable rate securities are sold at a discount from their stated principal amount, subject to a de minimis exception. In general, the amount of qualified stated interest and OID, if any, that accrues during an accrual period on such variable rate debt securities is determined under the rules described above by assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to (i) in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or (ii) in the case of an objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate), a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the variable rate debt securities. The qualified stated interest allocable to an accrual period is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest that was accrued under the foregoing approach.

For other variable rate debt securities, the timing and amount of OID and qualified stated interest will be determined by converting the variable rate debt securities into “equivalent fixed rate debt instruments.” The conversion of the variable rate debt securities into equivalent fixed rate debt instruments generally involves substituting for any qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate a fixed rate equal to the value of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be, as of the issue date, or substituting for any objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate) a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the variable rate debt securities. In the case of variable rate debt securities that provide for stated interest at a fixed rate in addition to either one or more qualified floating rates or a qualified inverse floating rate, the fixed rate is initially converted into a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, if the variable rate debt securities provide for a qualified inverse floating rate). Under such circumstances, the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the variable rate debt securities as of their issue date is approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for either the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate rather than the fixed rate. Subsequent to converting the fixed rate into either a qualified floating rate or a qualified inverse rate, the variable rate debt securities are then converted into equivalent fixed rate debt instruments in the manner described above.

 

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Once the variable rate debt securities are converted into equivalent fixed rate debt instruments pursuant to the foregoing rules, the timing and amount of OID and qualified stated interest, if any, are determined for the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments by applying the general OID rules to the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments. A U.S. Holder of such variable rate debt securities will account for OID and qualified stated interest as if the U.S. Holder held the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments. For each accrual period, appropriate adjustments will be made to the amount of qualified stated interest or OID assumed to have been accrued or paid with respect to the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments in the event that such amounts differ from the actual amount of interest accrued or paid on the variable rate debt securities during the accrual period.

Contingent Payment Debt Securities. If debt securities provide for variable rates of interest or other contingent payments but fail to qualify as variable rate debt securities under the rules described above, then the debt securities may become subject to the Treasury regulations governing “contingent payment debt instruments” (“contingent payment debt securities”). Under these Treasury regulations, a U.S. Holder of contingent payment debt securities generally would be required to accrue interest income each taxable year based upon a “comparable yield” for a hypothetical fixed rate debt instrument with no contingent payments but with terms and conditions otherwise similar to the contingent payment debt securities. We would be required to determine the comparable yield and prepare, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a projected payment schedule that includes all non-contingent payments and estimates of the amount and timing of all contingent payments on the debt securities.

If the actual contingent payments made on the contingent payment debt securities in a taxable year differ from the projected contingent payments set forth on the projected payment schedule, adjustments will be made for such differences. A net positive adjustment, for the amount by which actual contingent payments during the taxable year exceed the projected contingent payments for such taxable year, will be treated as additional interest income. A net negative adjustment, for the amount by which actual contingent payments during the taxable year are less than the projected contingent payments for such taxable year (i) first, will reduce the amount of interest required to be accrued in the current taxable year, (ii) then, will be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that the total interest inclusions previously accrued in respect of the contingent payment debt securities exceed the total amount of net negative adjustments treated as ordinary loss in prior taxable years, and (iii) thereafter, will be treated as a regular negative adjustment in the succeeding taxable year.

Upon the sale, retirement or other disposition of contingent payment debt securities, any gain recognized by a U.S. Holder would be treated as ordinary income. Any loss arising in such a disposition would be treated as an ordinary loss to the extent of any prior interest inclusions in respect of the contingent payment debt securities that have not previously been reversed. The balance of such loss generally would constitute a capital loss.

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of any debt securities that will be treated as contingent payment debt securities subject to these Treasury regulations will be more fully described in the relevant prospectus supplement. The rules regarding contingent payment debt securities are complex. U.S. Holders should carefully examine the relevant prospectus supplement for any such debt securities and should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of such debt securities before deciding to purchase such debt securities.

Market Discount. If a U.S. Holder purchases debt securities (other than debt securities purchased at original issue at or above the issue price and other than short-term debt securities) for an amount that is less than their stated redemption price at maturity, or, in the case of OID debt securities, their adjusted issue price, the amount of the difference will be treated as “market discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, unless that difference is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to treat any payments received in respect of the debt securities, other than payments of qualified stated interest, and any gain derived from the sale, retirement or other disposition of the debt securities, as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount that has accrued on the debt securities (on a ratable basis or, at the election of the U.S. Holder, a constant yield basis) but has not previously been included in gross income by the

 

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U.S. Holder. In addition, a U.S. Holder may be required to defer until the maturity of the debt securities, or their earlier disposition in a taxable transaction, the deduction of all or a portion of any interest expense incurred on indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry such debt securities.

A U.S. Holder may elect to currently include market discount in gross income as it accrues, under either a ratable or constant yield method, in which case the rules described above regarding characterization of payments and gain as ordinary income and the deferral of interest deductions will not apply. An election to currently include market discount in gross income, once made, applies to all market discount obligations acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first taxable year to which the election applies and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors before making this election.

Acquisition Premium. If a U.S. Holder acquires OID debt securities for an amount greater than their adjusted issue price but less than the sum of all amounts (other than qualified stated interest) payable with respect to the OID debt securities after the date of acquisition, the OID debt securities will be treated as acquired at an acquisition premium. For OID debt securities acquired with acquisition premium, the amount of OID that the U.S. Holder must include in gross income with respect to the OID debt securities for any taxable year will be reduced by the portion of acquisition premium properly allocable to such taxable year.

Amortizable Bond Premium. If a U.S. Holder purchases debt securities for an amount in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the debt securities after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, the U.S. Holder will be considered to have purchased the debt securities at a “premium” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In such case, the U.S. Holder generally may elect to amortize the premium over the remaining term of the debt securities, on a constant yield method, as an offset to interest includible in gross income with respect to the debt securities, and the U.S. Holder would not be required to include OID, if any, in gross income in respect of the debt securities. A U.S. Holder who elects to amortize bond premium must reduce his tax basis in the debt security by the amount of the premium amortized in any year. In the case of debt securities that provide for alternative payment schedules, the amount of premium generally is determined by assuming that a holder will exercise or not exercise options in a manner that maximizes the holder’s yield, and that the issuer will exercise or not exercise options in a manner that minimizes the holder’s yield. Any election to amortize premium would apply to all debt securities (other than debt securities the interest on which is excludable from gross income) held or subsequently acquired by a U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies and is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors before making this election.

Election to Treat All Interest as OID. U.S. Holders may elect to treat all interest in respect of debt securities as OID and to calculate the amount includible in gross income for any taxable year under the constant yield method described above. For purposes of this election, interest includes stated interest, acquisition discount, OID, de minimis OID, market discount, de minimis market discount, and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium. If a U.S. Holder makes this election for debt securities with amortizable bond premium, the election is treated as an election under the amortizable bond premium rules described above and the electing U.S. Holder will be required to amortize bond premium for all other debt instruments with amortizable bond premium held or subsequently acquired by the U.S. Holder. The election to treat all interest as OID must be made for the taxable year in which the U.S. Holder acquires the debt securities, and the election may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors before making this election.

Sale, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition of Debt Securities. Upon the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of debt securities, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize U.S. source gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition (other than amounts representing accrued and unpaid qualified stated interest, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included in gross income) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the debt securities. In general, the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis of the debt securities will equal the U.S. Holder’s cost for the debt securities, increased by all accrued OID or market discount previously included in gross income and reduced by

 

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any amortized premium and any cash payments previously received in respect of the debt securities other than qualified stated interest payments. Except as described above with respect to certain short-term debt securities, contingent payment debt securities and debt securities acquired at a market discount, and except with respect to gain or loss attributable to changes in exchange rates (as discussed below), such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, retirement or other taxable disposition the debt securities have been held for more than one year. Certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income taxation in respect of long-term capital gains, which rates presently are scheduled to increase for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.

Reportable Transactions. Treasury regulations dealing with the disclosure of certain “reportable transactions” could apply to investments in debt securities in some circumstances. In particular, under the Treasury regulations, a sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of foreign currency debt securities would be subject to disclosure requirements if such sale, retirement or other taxable disposition results in a tax loss in excess of a threshold amount. Prospective investors in foreign currency debt securities should consult their own tax advisors to determine the disclosure obligations, if any, with respect to an investment in the debt securities, including any requirement to file IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement).

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, a U.S. Holder (other than corporations and other exempt holders) will be subject to information reporting requirements with respect to payments of principal, premium, and interest (including OID, if any) paid in respect of, and the proceeds from a sale, redemption or other disposition before maturity of the debt securities. In addition, such a U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding (currently at a 28% rate) on such payments if the U.S. Holder (i) fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number to the payor; (ii) has been notified by the IRS of a failure to report all interest or dividends required to be shown on its U.S. federal income tax returns; or (iii) in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules in their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders of Debt Securities

Under present U.S. federal income tax law, and subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding:

(a) payments of interest (including OID, if any) on the debt securities by McGraw-Hill or our paying agent to any Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that:

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of McGraw-Hill entitled to vote;

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to McGraw-Hill through stock ownership or a bank receiving interest described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;

 

   

the interest (including OID, if any) is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States (or, if a tax treaty applies, is not attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States);

 

   

the interest (including OID, if any) is not considered contingent interest under section 871(h)(4)(A) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder; and

 

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the statement requirement set forth in section 871(h) or section 881(c) of the Code has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner, as discussed below; and

(b) a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of the debt securities, unless:

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met; or

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States).

The certification requirement referred to in subparagraph (a) above will be fulfilled if (i) the beneficial owner of the debt securities certifies on IRS Form W-8BEN or other successor form, under penalties of perjury, that such beneficial owner is not a U.S. person and provides its name and address, and (ii) the beneficial owner files IRS Form W-8BEN or other successor form with the withholding agent, or in the case of debt securities held on behalf of the beneficial owner by a securities clearing organization, bank, or other financial institution holding customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business, such financial institution files with the withholding agent a statement that it has received the IRS Form W-8BEN or other successor form from the beneficial owner and furnishes the withholding agent with a copy. With respect to debt securities held by a foreign partnership, unless the foreign partnership has entered into a withholding agreement with the IRS, the foreign partnership generally will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8IMY or other successor form and to associate with such form an appropriate certification or other appropriate documentation from each partner. Prospective investors, including foreign partnerships and their partners, should consult their tax advisors regarding possible additional reporting requirements.

If a Non-U.S. Holder of debt securities is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and if premium (if any) or interest (including OID) on the debt securities, or gain realized on its sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of the debt securities, is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if required by an applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), the Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from the withholding tax discussed in the preceding paragraphs, will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on its effectively connected income, generally in the same manner as a U.S. Holder. See “U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders of Debt Securities” above. In lieu of the certificates described in the preceding paragraph, such a Non-U.S. Holder will be required to provide to the withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI or other successor form to claim an exemption from withholding tax. In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax (unless reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty) on its earnings and profits for the taxable year attributable to its effectively connected income, subject to certain adjustments.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, McGraw-Hill or our paying agent must report to the IRS and to a Non-U.S. Holder the amount of interest (including OID) on the debt securities, and dividends on the common or preferred stock, paid to the Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of U.S. federal withholding tax, if any, deducted from those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest and dividend payments and any associated U.S. federal withholding tax also may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the Non- U.S. Holder resides under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty. A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments that we make on the debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock provided that McGraw-Hill or our paying agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person (as defined under the Code), and McGraw-Hill or our paying agent has received from the Non-U.S. Holder an appropriate certification of non-U.S. status (i.e., IRS Form W-8BEN or other applicable IRS Form W-8). Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances,

 

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backup withholding will apply to the payment of the proceeds of a sale of debt securities that is effected within the United States or effected outside the United States through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalty of perjury as to its non-U.S. status, and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a U.S. person, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis. Non-U.S. Holders of debt securities should consult their tax advisers regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining an exemption, if applicable.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the debt securities will be passed upon for us by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 (including the schedule appearing therein), and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements (and schedule) and management’s assessment are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

With respect to the unaudited consolidated interim financial information of our company for the (i) three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2006; (ii) three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006; and (iii) three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, Ernst & Young LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate reports dated (i) April 25, 2007; (ii) July 25, 2007; and (iii) October 23, 2007, respectively, included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2007June 30, 2007, and September 30, 2007, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express opinions on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Ernst & Young LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act for their reports on the unaudited interim financial information because those reports are not “reports” or a “part” of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by Ernst & Young LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.

 

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PART II: INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The estimated expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the offering of debt securities under this Registration Statement are as follows:

 

SEC registration fee

   $ (1)

Trustee fees and expenses

     25,000

Legal fees and expenses

     500,000

Accounting fees and expenses

     100.000

Printing and engraving expenses

     50,000

Rating agencies

     700,000

Miscellaneous expenses

     50,000
      

Total

   $ 1,425,000
      
 
  (1) To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and calculated in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r).

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Reference is made to Sections 721 to 725 of the New York Business Corporation Law (“NYBCL”) which provide for indemnification of directors and officers, subject to certain limitations, for liabilities and expenses in connection with actions or proceedings involving them in such capacity. Pursuant to Section 721 of the NYBCL, no indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his or her acts were committed in bad faith or were the results of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled. Section 402(b) of the NYBCL permits a certificate of incorporation to set forth a provision limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors to a corporation or its shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity, provided that no such provision shall eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to him or her establishes that his or her acts were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or (ii) that he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled, or (iii) in certain other cases specified in Section 719 of the NYBCL.

Article ELEVENTH of Registrant’s Amended Certificate of Incorporation and Article IV-B of the By-Laws provide that, except to the extent limitation of liability or indemnification is not permitted by applicable law: (i) a director or officer of the Registrant shall not be liable to the Registrant or any of its shareholders for damages for any breach of duty in such capacity, and (ii) the Registrant shall fully indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal, including an investigative, administrative or legislative proceedings, and including an action by or in the right of the Registrant or any other enterprise, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant any other enterprise as a director, officer or in any other capacity, against any and all damages incurred as a result of or in connection with such action or proceeding, or any appeal thereof and, except in the case of an action or proceeding specifically approved by the Board of Directors of the Registrant, the Registrant shall pay expenses incurred by or on behalf of such person in defending such action or proceeding or any appeal thereof in advance of the final disposition thereof promptly upon receipt by the Registrant, from time to time, of a written demand of the person for the advancement, together with an undertaking by or on behalf of the person to repay any expenses so advanced to the extent that the person is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification for the expenses.

As permitted by Section 726 of the NYBCL, Registrant has insurance (a) to indemnify Registrant for obligations it incurs for indemnification of its directors and officers, and (b) to indemnify directors and officers of Registrant for losses, costs and expenses incurred by them in actions brought against them in connection with

 

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their acts as directors or officers for which they are not indemnified by Registrant. No insurance payment, other than cost of defense, may be made to any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his or her acts of active and deliberate dishonesty were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled. Registrant may also purchase insurance coverage the directors and officers of Registrant against certain liabilities that could arise in connection with administration of Registrant’s employee benefit plans.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against Registrant by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Section 7 of Registrant’s Underwriting Agreement Basic Provisions (Exhibit 1.2 to this registration Statement) provides for indemnification of the Registrant’s directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement by the underwriters against certain liabilities which might arise under the Act or otherwise from certain written information furnished to Registrant by or on behalf of the underwriters.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed on the Index to Exhibits to this Registration Statement, which Index to Exhibits is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of debt securities offered (if the total dollar value of debt securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and 1(iii) above do not apply if information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or

 

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furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;

(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the debt securities offered therein, and the offering of such debt securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the debt securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

(4) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of debt securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the debt securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such debt securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date;

(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the debt securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of debt securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the debt securities to the purchaser, if the debt securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such debt securities to such purchaser:

(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;

(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned registrant or its debt securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the

 

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Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the debt securities offered therein, and the offering of such debt securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions set forth in response to Item 15, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the debt securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the Trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in The City of New York, State of New York, on October 29, 2007.

 

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
(Registrant)
By:   /S/    ROBERT J. BAHASH
 

Robert J. Bahash

 

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on October 29, 2007.

 

Signature

  

Title

*

Harold W. McGraw, III

  

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

/S/    ROBERT J. BAHASH

Robert J. Bahash

  

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

*

Pedro Aspe

   Director

*

Sir Winfried F.W. Bischoff

   Director

*

Douglas N. Daft

   Director

*

Linda Koch Lorimer

   Director

*

Robert P. McGraw

   Director

*

Hilda Ochoa-Brillembourg

   Director

*

James H. Ross

   Director

*

Edward B. Rust, Jr.

   Director

*

Kurt L. Schmoke

   Director

*

Sidney Taurel

   Director

 

*By:   /S/    ROBERT J. BAHASH
 

Name: Robert J. Bahash

As Attorney in Fact

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
       

Description of Exhibits

1.1       Form of Underwriting Agreement
4.1       Form of Senior Indenture between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon
5.1       Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP
12.1*       Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of the Company for the five most recent fiscal years (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12 to the Company’s 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006)
12.2       Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges of the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2007
15.1       Letter re: unaudited interim financial information
23.1       Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2*       Consent of Shearman & Sterling LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1       Powers of Attorney
25.1       Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for the debt securities

* Indicates exhibits incorporated by reference as indicated.

 

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Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

This ‘S-3ASR’ Filing    Date    Other Filings
12/31/1010-K,  11-K/A
Filed on / Effective on:10/29/07424B3
10/23/07
9/30/0710-Q
9/18/078-K
8/3/078-K
7/25/07
6/30/0710-Q
4/25/07DEF 14A
3/31/0710-Q
3/20/07DEF 14A
1/31/078-K
12/31/0610-K
9/30/0610-Q
6/30/0610-Q,  4
3/31/0610-Q
 List all Filings 
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