As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2009

Registration No. 333-      

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Form F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

(Exact name of each Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer identification number)

 

 

 

 

 

Copy to:

Nicolas Grabar

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

(212) 225-2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Class A Shares

American Depositary Shares, each representing one Preferred Class A Share

Common Shares

American Depositary Shares, each representing one Common Share

Vale Capital II may offer from time to time debt securities guaranteed by Vale S.A., or Vale, which debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities. Vale Capital II or Vale may also offer from time to time preferred class A shares or common shares of Vale, including preferred class A shares or common shares represented by American Depositary Shares. An accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the specific terms of the securities, the offering price, and the specific manner in which they may be offered.

We may sell these securities directly or to or through underwriters or dealers, and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters or agents will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

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

 

July 6, 2009

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, in one or more offerings Vale Capital II may sell debt securities guaranteed by Vale, which debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, and Vale Capital II or Vale may sell preferred class A shares or common shares of Vale, including preferred class A shares or common shares represented by American Depositary Shares.

This prospectus provides you only with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will attach a prospectus supplement to the front of this prospectus that will contain specific information about the particular offering and the terms of those securities. We may also add, update or change other information contained in this prospectus by means of a prospectus supplement or by incorporating by reference information we file with the SEC. The registration statement on file with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail on the matters discussed in this prospectus. Before you invest in any securities offered by this prospectus, you should read this prospectus, any related prospectus supplements and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, references to “Vale” are to Vale S.A., its consolidated subsidiaries and its joint ventures and other affiliated companies. Terms such as “we,” “us” and “our” generally refer to one or both of Vale S.A. and Vale Capital II, as the context may require.

Some of the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Many of those forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate” and “potential,” among others. Those statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to:

We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in our SEC reports that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to (a) the countries in which we operate, mainly Brazil and Canada, (b) the global economy, (c) capital markets, (d) the mining and metals businesses and their dependence upon global industrial production, which is cyclical in nature, and (e) the high degree of global competition in the markets in which we operate. For additional information on factors that could cause our actual results to differ from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements, please see “Risk Factors” in our SEC reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments. All forward-looking statements attributed to us or a person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

Vale is the second-largest diversified metals and mining company in the world and the largest metals and mining company in the Americas, based on market capitalization. We are the world’s largest producer of iron ore and iron ore pellets and the world’s second largest producer of nickel. We are one of the world’s largest producers of manganese ore, ferroalloys and kaolin. We also produce bauxite, alumina, aluminum, copper, coal, cobalt, precious metals, potash and other products. To support our growth strategy, we are actively engaged in mineral exploration efforts in 22 countries around the globe. We operate large logistics systems in Brazil, including railroads, maritime terminals and a port, which are integrated with our mining operations. Directly and through affiliates and joint ventures, we have investments in the energy and steel businesses.

Vale’s main lines of business are:

Vale’s legal and commercial name is Vale S.A. Vale is a stock corporation, or sociedade por ações, duly organized on January 11, 1943, and existing under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Vale is organized for an unlimited period of time. Vale’s principal executive offices are located at Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26, 20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Its telephone number is (55-21) 3814-4477.

Vale Capital II is a finance company wholly owned by Vale. Vale Capital II’s business is to issue debt securities to finance the activities of Vale and Vale’s subsidiaries and affiliates. It has no other operations or employees.

Vale Capital II was registered and incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability on June 16, 2009, registration number 227219. Vale Capital II is incorporated for an indefinite period of time. Its registered office is at the offices of Harneys Services (Cayman) Limited, 4th Floor, Genesis Building, 13 Genesis Close, P.O. Box 10240, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, KY1-1002, and its principal executive offices are located at Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26, 20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Its telephone number is (55-21) 3814-4477.

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, Vale Capital II intends to on-lend the net proceeds from the sale of debt securities to Vale or Vale’s subsidiaries and affiliates.

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, Vale intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include funding working capital and capital expenditures, financing potential acquisitions, funding dividend payments and repaying existing debt.

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

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

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

A global security is a special type of indirectly held security. If we issue debt securities in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be indirect holders. We do this by requiring that the global security be registered in the name of a financial institution we select and by requiring that the debt securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct holder of the global security is called the “depositary.” Any person wishing to own a security issued in global form must do so indirectly through an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. The prospectus supplement indicates whether the debt securities will be issued only as global securities.

As an indirect holder, your rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of your financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We will not

recognize you as a holder of the debt securities and instead will deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

You should be aware that if our debt securities are issued only in the form of global securities:

In a few special situations described below, a global security representing our debt securities will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing the debt securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold debt securities directly or in street name will be up to you. You must consult your bank or broker to find out how to have your interests in the debt securities transferred to your name, so that you will be a direct holder.

Unless we specify otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the special situations for termination of a global security representing our debt securities are:

The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary (and not us, the trustee or any registrar) is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

The following briefly summarizes the material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture that will govern the debt securities, other than pricing and related terms and other specifications disclosed in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should read the more detailed provisions of the applicable indenture, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. You should also read the particular terms of your series of debt securities, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Vale Capital II will issue debt securities guaranteed by Vale under an indenture to be entered into among Vale Capital II, Vale and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, which we refer to as the indenture. The trustee under the indenture has two main roles:

The indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. We have agreed in the indenture that New York law governs the indenture and the debt securities. We have filed a copy of the form of the indenture with the SEC as an exhibit to our registration statement. We have consented in the indenture to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. federal and state courts sitting in the borough of Manhattan in the City of New York. (Sections 1.12 and 1.14)

This section summarizes material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, unless otherwise indicated in this section or in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including the definition of various terms used in the indenture. For example, we describe the meanings for only the more important terms that have been given special meanings in the indenture. We also include references in parentheses to some sections of the indenture. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indenture in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement, those sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein or in such prospectus supplement.

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

In addition, the material financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. Those terms may vary from the terms described here. Accordingly, this summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the terms of the series described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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

The debt securities will be issued, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in minimum denominations of US$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. (Section 3.2)

You may have your debt securities broken into more debt securities of smaller authorized denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger authorized denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. This is called an exchange. (Section 3.4)

You may exchange or transfer your registered debt securities at the office of the trustee. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring registered debt securities. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the “security registrar.” It will also register transfers of the registered debt securities. (Sections 3.4 and 10.2)

You will not be required to pay a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the registration of transfer or exchange. The registration of transfer or exchange of a registered debt security will only be made if you have duly endorsed the debt security or provided the security registrar with a written instrument of transfer satisfactory in form to the security registrar. (Section 3.4)

If your debt securities are in registered form, we will pay interest to you if you are listed in the trustee’s records as a direct holder at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if you no longer own the security on the interest due date. That particular day is called the “regular record date” and will be stated in the prospectus supplement. (Sections 3.6 and 3.1.5)

We will pay interest, principal, additional amounts and any other money due on global registered debt securities pursuant to the applicable procedures of the depositary or, if the debt securities are not in global form, at our office or agency maintained for that purpose in New York, New York. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks. We may also arrange for additional payment offices, and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called “paying agents.” We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. (Sections 2.2, 10.2 and 10.3)

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money that we pay as principal, premium or interest to a paying agent, or then held by us in trust, that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to direct holders will be repaid to us or (if then held by us) discharged from trust. After that two-year period, direct holders may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else. (Section 10.3)

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

We and the trustee will send notices only to direct holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustee’s records. (Section 1.6)

The indenture provides several categories of changes that can be made to the indenture and the debt securities. Such changes may or may not require the consent of the holders, as described below. A supplemental indenture will be prepared if holder approval is required.

Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval

The indenture provides that there are changes to that indenture that cannot be made without the approval of each holder of the outstanding debt securities affected thereby. Those types of changes are:

Changes Not Requiring Approval

The indenture provides that some changes do not require any approval by holders of outstanding debt securities under that indenture. This type of change is limited to clarifications of ambiguities, omissions, defects and inconsistencies, amendments, supplements and other changes that would not adversely affect the holders of outstanding debt securities under the indenture in any material respect, such as adding covenants, additional events of default or successor trustees. (Section 9.1)

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

The indenture provides that other changes to the indenture and the outstanding debt securities under the indenture and any waiver of any provision of the indenture must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of each series of securities affected by the change or waiver. The required approval must be given by written consent. (Section 9.2)

The indenture provides that the same majority approval would be required for Vale or Vale Capital II to obtain a waiver of any of its covenants in the indenture. The covenants of Vale and Vale Capital II in the indenture include the promises Vale and Vale Capital II make about merging and creating liens on their assets, which are described below under “— Certain Covenants; Mergers and Similar Transactions” and “— Certain Covenants; Limitation on Liens.” If the holders approve a waiver of a covenant, Vale and Vale Capital II will not have to comply with that covenant. The holders, however, cannot approve a waiver of any provision in the debt securities or the indenture, as it affects any security, that Vale and Vale Capital II cannot change without the approval of the holder of that security as described above in “— Changes Requiring Each Holder’s Approval,” unless that holder approves the waiver. (Section 9.2)

Voting Mechanics

Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore will not be eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust for you money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities held by Vale Capital II, Vale or their affiliates are not considered outstanding. (Section 1.1)

Vale Capital II will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. In limited circumstances, the trustee, and not Vale Capital II, will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If a record date is set for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of a particular series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding debt securities of that series on the record date and must be taken within 180 days following the record date or another period that we or the trustee, as applicable, may specify. This period may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond 180 days). (Sections 1.4.5, 1.4.6 and 1.4.7)

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, your debt security will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund; that is, we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial account to repay your debt securities. In addition, other than as set forth in “Optional Tax Redemption” below, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not be entitled to redeem your debt security before its stated maturity. (Section 11.1.1)

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

If the applicable prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, we may redeem your debt security at our option at any time on or after that date. If we redeem your debt security, we will do so at the specified redemption price, together with interest accrued to the redemption date. If different prices are specified for different redemption periods, the price we pay will be the price that applies to the redemption period during which your debt security is redeemed. If less than all of the debt securities are redeemed, the trustee will authenticate and deliver to the holder of such debt securities without service charge, a new debt security or securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the debt security so surrendered. If less than all of the debt securities are redeemed, the trustee will choose the debt securities to be redeemed by lot, or in the trustee’s discretion, pro rata. (Section 11.5)

In the event that we exercise an option to redeem any debt security, we will give to the trustee and the holder written notice of the principal amount of the debt security to be redeemed, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date. We will give the notice in the manner described above under “— Notices.” (Section 11.2)

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

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we will have the option to redeem, in whole but not in part, the debt securities where, as a result of a change in or amendment to any laws (or any rules or regulations thereunder) or the official interpretation, administration or application of any laws, rules or regulations, we would

be required to pay additional amounts, as described below under “— Payment of Additional Amounts,” in excess of those attributable to Brazilian or Cayman Islands withholding tax on the basis of a statutory rate of 15%, and if the obligation cannot be avoided by Vale or Vale Capital II, as applicable, after taking measures Vale or Vale Capital II, as applicable, considers reasonable to avoid it. This applies only in the case of changes or amendments that occur on or after the date specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable series of debt securities and in the jurisdiction where we are incorporated. If the applicable issuer is succeeded by another entity, the applicable jurisdiction will be the jurisdiction in which the successor entity is organized, and the applicable date will be the date the entity became a successor. (Section 11.1.3 and Section 10.7)

If the debt securities are redeemed, the redemption price for debt securities (other than original issue discount debt securities) will be equal to the principal amount of the debt securities being redeemed and any applicable premium plus accrued interest and any additional amounts due on the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price for original issue discount debt securities will be specified in the prospectus supplement for such securities. Furthermore, we must give you between 30 and 60 days’ notice before redeeming the debt securities. No notice may be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which we, but for such redemption, would be obligated to pay such additional amounts, and the obligation to pay such additional amounts must remain in effect at the time notice is given. (Sections 11.1 and 11.2)

The indenture provides that all payments in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder will be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments, or other governmental charges of whatever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or on behalf of Brazil, the Cayman Islands, a successor jurisdiction or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax unless Vale or Vale Capital II, as applicable, is compelled by law to deduct or withhold such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges. In such event, Vale or Vale Capital II, as applicable, will make such deduction or withholding, make payment of the amount so withheld to the appropriate governmental authority and pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that the net amounts receivable by holders of debt securities after such withholding or deduction shall equal the respective amounts of principal and interest which would have been

receivable in respect of the debt securities in the absence of such withholding or deduction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Vale nor Vale Capital II will have to pay additional amounts:

The prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities may describe additional circumstances in which we would not be required to pay additional amounts. (Section 3.1)

For purposes of the provisions described above, “Relevant Date” means whichever is the later of (i) the date on which such payment first becomes due and (ii) if the full amount payable has not been received by the trustee on or prior to such due date, the date on which notice is given to the holders that the full amount is so received by the trustee. The debt securities are subject in all cases to any tax, fiscal or other law or regulation or administrative or judicial interpretation. Except as specifically provided above, neither Vale Capital II nor Vale shall be required to make a payment with respect to any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by any government or a political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein. (Section 10.7.1)

In the event that additional amounts actually paid with respect to the debt securities described above are based on rates of deduction or withholding of withholding taxes in excess of the appropriate rate applicable to the holder of such debt securities, and, as a result thereof such holder is entitled to make claim for a refund or credit of such excess from the authority imposing such withholding tax, then such holder shall, by accepting such debt securities, be deemed to have assigned and transferred all right, title, and interest to any such claim for a refund or credit of such excess to Vale or Vale Capital II, as the case may be. (Section 10.7.4)

Any reference in this prospectus, the indenture or the debt securities to principal, interest or any other amount payable in respect of the debt securities or the guarantee by Vale Capital II or Vale, as applicable, will be deemed also to refer to any additional amount, unless the context requires otherwise, that may be payable with respect to that amount under the obligations referred to in this subsection. (Section 10.7.5)

Mergers and Similar Transactions

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Vale and Vale Capital II will each covenant that they will not without the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the securities outstanding under the indenture consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or (x) in the case of Vale, convey or transfer all or substantially all of its mining properties or assets to any other person or (y) in the case of Vale Capital II, convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other person, unless:

Upon any consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer in accordance with these conditions, the successor corporation will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, Vale or Vale Capital II under the securities with the same effect as if the successor corporation had been named as the issuer or guarantor, as applicable, of the securities issued under the indenture. If a successor corporation is incorporated in or considered to be resident in a jurisdiction other than Brazil or the Cayman Islands, such jurisdiction will be referred to as a “successor jurisdiction.” No successor corporation will have the right to redeem the debt securities unless Vale or Vale Capital II, as applicable, would have been entitled to redeem the debt securities in similar circumstances. (Article 8)

If the conditions described above are satisfied, neither Vale nor Vale Capital II will need to obtain the consent of the holders in order to merge or consolidate or (x) in the case of Vale, convey or transfer all or substantially all of its mining properties or assets to any other person or (y) in the case of Vale Capital II, convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other person. Also, Vale and Vale Capital II will not need to satisfy these conditions if Vale or Vale Capital II enters into other types of transactions, including the following:

Limitation on Liens

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Vale and Vale Capital II will covenant that for so long as any securities remain outstanding, neither Vale nor Vale Capital II will create, incur, issue or assume any Indebtedness (as defined below) secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other encumbrance (each a “Lien”), except for Permitted Liens (as defined below), without securing the outstanding securities equally and ratably therewith or prior thereto. The (1) giving of a guarantee that is secured by a Lien upon or in respect of any asset of Vale or Vale Capital II, and (2) creation of a Lien upon or in respect of any asset of Vale or Vale Capital II to secure Indebtedness that existed prior to the creation of such Lien, shall be deemed to involve the incurrence of Indebtedness in an amount equal to the principal amount of such Indebtedness secured by such Lien. (Section 10.6)

For purposes of this covenant, “Permitted Liens” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other encumbrance:

You should consult the prospectus supplement relating to your debt securities for further information about these covenants and whether they are applicable to your debt securities.

The following discussion of full defeasance and discharge and covenant defeasance and discharge will only be applicable to your series of debt securities if Vale Capital II chooses to apply them to that series, in which case we will so state in the prospectus supplement. (Section 13.1)

If the applicable prospectus supplement states that full defeasance will apply to a particular series, Vale and Vale Capital II will be legally released from any payment and other obligations on the debt securities, except for various obligations described below (called “full defeasance”), provided that Vale Capital II, in addition to other actions, puts in place the following arrangements for you to be repaid:

If Vale Capital II ever did accomplish full defeasance as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment on the debt securities. You could not look to Vale or Vale Capital II for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. However, even if Vale Capital II takes these actions, a number of our obligations relating to the debt securities will remain. These include the following obligations:

Covenant Defeasance

If the applicable prospectus supplement states that covenant defeasance will apply to a particular series, Vale Capital II can make the same type of deposit described above and be released from all or some of the restrictive covenants (if any) that apply to the debt securities of the particular series. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and securities set aside in trust to repay the debt securities. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, Vale Capital II would be required to take all of the steps described above under “— Defeasance and Discharge” except that the opinion of counsel would not have to refer to a change in United States Federal income tax laws or a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service. (Sections 13.3 and 13.4)

If Vale Capital II were to accomplish covenant defeasance, the following provisions of the indenture and/or the debt securities would no longer apply:

If Vale Capital II accomplishes covenant defeasance, you would still be able to look to it and to Vale for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit. If any event of default occurs and the debt securities become immediately due and payable, there may be such a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall. (Sections 13.3 and 13.4)

The debt securities will rank equally with all the other unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness of Vale Capital II. The guarantees will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated Indebtedness of Vale. (Section 10.13)

The indenture provides that you will have special rights if an event of default occurs and is not cured or waived, as described later in this subsection and as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

What Is an Event of Default?

The indenture provides that the term Event of Default with respect to any series of debt securities means any of the following:

For the purposes of this description of debt securities, “Indebtedness,” with respect to any person, means any amount payable (whether as a direct obligation or indirectly through a guarantee by such person) pursuant to (i) an agreement or instrument involving or evidencing money borrowed, (ii) a conditional sale or a transfer with recourse

or with an obligation to repurchase or (iii) a lease with substantially the same economic effect as any such agreement or instrument and which, under U.S. GAAP, would constitute a capitalized lease obligation; provided, however, that as used in the cross-acceleration provision described in the second bullet point under “— What is an Event of Default?” “Indebtedness” will not include any payment made by Vale on behalf of an affiliate, upon any Indebtedness of such affiliate becoming immediately due and payable as a result of a default by such affiliate, pursuant to a guarantee or similar instrument provided by Vale in connection with such indebtedness, provided that such payment made by Vale is made within five business days of notice being provided to Vale that payment is due under such guarantee or similar instrument.

For the purpose of the definition of Indebtedness, “affiliate” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof that (i) Vale directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with or (ii) in which Vale has a 20% or more holding of voting shares. (Section 1.1)

“Significant subsidiary” means, at any time, a subsidiary of which Vale’s and its other subsidiaries’ proportionate share of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) exceeds 10% of the total assets of the consolidated group as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. (Section 1.1)

An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture, although the default and acceleration of one series of debt securities may trigger a default and acceleration of another series of debt securities. (Section 5.2)

Remedies upon an Event of Default

Except as provided in the next sentence, if an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee at the written request of holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series will declare the entire principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration, the principal, accrued interest and any unpaid additional amounts will become immediately due and payable. If an event of default occurs because of a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to Vale (but not any significant subsidiary) or Vale Capital II, the entire principal amount of the debt securities of that series will be automatically accelerated, without any declaration or action by the trustee or any holder, and any principal, accrued interest or additional amounts will become due and payable.

Each of the situations described above is called an acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities under the indenture. If the maturity of the debt securities of any series is accelerated and a judgment for payment has not yet been obtained, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may cancel the acceleration of the debt securities, provided that Vale Capital II has paid or deposited with the trustee under the indenture a sum sufficient to pay (i) all overdue interest and any additional amounts on all of the debt securities of the series, (ii) the principal of any debt securities of the series which have become due (other than amounts due solely because of the acceleration), (iii) interest upon overdue interest at the rate borne by (or prescribed therefor in) the securities of that series (to the extent that payment of this interest is lawful), and (iv) all sums paid or advanced by the trustee under the indenture and all amounts Vale or Vale Capital II owe the trustee; and all other defaults with respect to the debt securities of that series have been cured or waived. (Section 5.2)

The trustee is not required under the indenture to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties under the indenture, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the trustee has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of the funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. (Section 6.1)

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

Under the indenture, you are entitled, however, at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your security on or after its due date and which was not paid in full by Vale or Vale Capital II. (Section 5.8)

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities.

Waiver of Default

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series may waive any default for the debt securities of the series, except for defaults which cannot be waived without the consent of each holder. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it had not occurred. No one can waive a payment default, however, without the approval of each holder of the affected series of securities. (Section 5.13)

Vale and Vale Capital II will furnish to the trustee within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year every year a written statement of certain of our officers and directors, as the case may be, that will either certify that, to the best of their knowledge, we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities or specify any default. In addition, Vale Capital II will notify the trustee within 15 days after becoming aware of the occurrence of any event of default. (Section 10.4)

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to waive a default.

Payments of amounts due by Vale Capital II under the debt securities and the indenture will be guaranteed by Vale. See “Description of the Guarantees.”

The Bank of New York Mellon will serve as the trustee under the indenture. The Bank of New York Mellon may from time to time have other business relationships with Vale, Vale Capital II and their affiliates.

The following description of the terms and provisions of the guarantees summarizes the general terms that will apply to each guarantee that we deliver in connection with an issuance of debt securities by Vale Capital II. When Vale Capital II sells a series of its debt securities, Vale will execute and deliver a guarantee of that series of debt securities under the indenture.

Pursuant to any guarantee, Vale will irrevocably and unconditionally agree, upon the failure of Vale Capital II to make the required payments under the applicable series of debt securities and the indenture, to make any required payment. The amount to be paid by Vale under the guarantee will be an amount equal to the amount of the payment Vale Capital II fails to make. (Article 12)

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on July 6, 2009, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP will provide an opinion regarding the validity of the debt securities and the guarantees under New York law; Mr. Fabio Eduardo de Pieri Spina, General Counsel of Vale S.A., will provide an opinion regarding the authorization of the guarantees under Brazilian law; and Harney Westwood & Riegels will provide an opinion regarding the authorization of the debt securities under Cayman Islands law.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement. If a document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the copy of the document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. We file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC that apply to foreign private issuers. The registration statement, including exhibits and schedules thereto, and any other materials we may file with the SEC may be inspected without charge at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet web site at http://www.sec.gov, from which you can electronically access the registration statement and its exhibits.

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and certain later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede earlier information filed with the SEC or included in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the following documents:

We will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may be incorporated herein by reference, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests should be directed to Vale’s Investor Relations Department located at Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26, 17th floor, 20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil (telephone no: 55-21-3814-4557).

 

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The laws of the Cayman Islands do not provide for the general indemnification of directors and officers. Article 135 of Vale Capital II’s Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that Vale Capital II shall indemnify officers and directors and their personal representatives against all actions, proceedings costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained in or about the conduct of Vale Capital II’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of their duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred in defending any civil proceedings concerning Vale Capital II in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere, save to the extent any of the same are incurred by reason of any such person’s dishonesty, willful default or fraud. Article 136 of Vale Capital II’s Memorandum and Articles of Association provides, inter alia, that no officer or director or their personal representatives shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects, defaults or omissions of any other director or officer or agent of Vale Capital II, for any loss occasioned by any negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust, error of judgment or oversight on such person’s part or for any loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever which may happen in or arise from the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities, or discretions of such person’s office or in relation thereto unless the same shall happen through such person’s own dishonesty, willful default or fraud.

Neither the laws of Brazil nor Vale’s bylaws or other constitutive documents provide for indemnification of directors and officers. Under the Brazilian Civil Code, a person engaged in an illegal action must indemnify any third person that incurred in losses or damages arising from such illegal action. Vale maintains standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (a) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and (b) to Vale itself with respect to payments which may be made by Vale to such officers and directors pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.

 

(a) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes:

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

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

ii. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this item do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

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

(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement;

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

(i) 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

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of the 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 of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of a registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, such registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the 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 registrant or used or referred to by the registrant; (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the registrant; and (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the registrant to the purchaser.

(b) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 6, 2009.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mr. Roger Agnelli and Mr. Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 6, 2009.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mr. Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa, Mr. Guilherme Perboyre Cavalcanti and Ms. Sonia Zagury, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.