Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-141138
The information contained in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2009
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED MARCH 8, 2007
$
Chevron Corporation
$ % Notes Due 20
$ % Notes Due 20
The 20 notes will mature on , 20 , and the 20 notes will mature on , 20 . Chevron Corporation will pay interest on the notes of each series on and of each year starting on , 2009. Chevron will have the right to redeem the notes of each series in whole or in part at any time prior to maturity at the redemption price described in this prospectus supplement.
Price to Public(1) |
Underwriting Commission |
Proceeds to Chevron(1) | ||||
Per 20 note |
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Total |
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Per 20 note |
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Total |
(1) | Plus accrued interest, if any, from , 2009. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined that this prospectus supplement or the prospectus to which it relates is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters have agreed to purchase the notes on a firm commitment basis. It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, including its participants Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, against payment in New York, New York on or about , 2009.
Joint Book-Running Managers
BARCLAYS CAPITAL | MORGAN STANLEY |
The date of this prospectus supplement is , 2009.
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You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Chevron has not, and the Underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The information contained in this prospectus supplement is current only as to the date appearing at the bottom of the cover.
The notes are being offered globally for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. If you possess this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should find out about and observe these restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. See Underwriting commencing on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement for more information.
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Chevron Corporation, a Delaware corporation, manages its investments in subsidiaries and affiliates and provides administrative, financial, management and technology support to U.S. and international subsidiaries that engage in fully integrated petroleum operations, chemicals operations, mining operations, power generation and energy services. Exploration and production (upstream) operations consist of exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas and also marketing natural gas. Refining, marketing and transportation (downstream) operations relate to refining crude oil into finished petroleum products; marketing crude oil and the many products derived from petroleum; and transporting crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car. Chemical operations include the manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant oil additives.
Chevrons executive offices are located at 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, California 94583 (telephone: (925) 842-1000).
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows Chevron to incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the information in documents that Chevron files with it. This means that Chevron can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents which it has filed separately with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and the information that Chevron files with the Commission after the date hereof will automatically update and may supersede this information. Chevron incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings which Chevron makes with the Commission under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until the termination of the offering of securities by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
· | Chevrons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. |
· | The information contained in Chevrons Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2008 and incorporated into Part III of Chevrons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. |
· | Chevrons Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2008 and December 11, 2008. |
Upon written or oral request, Chevron will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus has been delivered, a copy of any or all of the documents described above which have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Requests for copies should be directed to:
Chevron Corporation
6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., Building E
San Ramon, California 94583
Attention: Corporate Finance
Telephone: (925) 842-8049
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Chevron is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All of the reports, proxy statements and other documents filed with the Commission by Chevron, including such documents incorporated by reference herein, can be inspected and copied at the public reference facility maintained by the Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Further information about the public reference room is available from the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Chevrons filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the Internet web site maintained by the Commission at www.sec.gov. Chevron is not required to, and does not, provide annual reports to holders of its debt securities unless specifically requested to do so.
Chevron has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. Some information has been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information, please refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with it.
The net proceeds from the sale of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including refinancing a portion of the existing commercial paper borrowings or long-term or short-term debt of Chevron or its subsidiaries, or financing capital programs.
General
The % Notes due 20 , referred to as the 20 notes, and the % Notes due 20 , referred to as the 20 notes, are being issued under an Indenture dated as of June 15, 1995 between Chevron and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as successor to The Bank of New York, as trustee. Provisions of the indenture are more fully described under Description of the Indentures, commencing on page 6 of the accompanying prospectus. The 20 notes and the 20 notes, referred to collectively as the notes, originally will be issued in fully registered book-entry form and each series of notes will be represented by one or more global notes registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as depository, or its nominee. Upon any exchange under the provisions of the indenture of the global notes for notes in definitive form, such definitive notes shall be issued in authorized denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 thereof.
The 20 notes will mature on , 20 , and the 20 notes will mature on , 20 . Interest on the notes will accrue from , 2009 and will be payable on , 2009 and on each and thereafter. Interest on each note will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Payments of interest and principal on the notes will be made to the persons in whose name the notes are registered on the date which is fifteen days prior to the relevant payment date. As long as the notes are in the form of global notes, all payments of principal and interest on the notes will be made by the trustee to the depository or its nominee in immediately available funds.
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Redemption
Chevron has the option to redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of
(1) | 100% of the principal amount of the notes of that series being redeemed, and |
(2) | the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including the portion of any such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as hereinafter defined), plus interest accrued on the notes being redeemed to the redemption date. The redemption price is calculated assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. |
Adjusted Treasury Rate is to be determined on the third business day preceding the redemption date and means
(1) | the arithmetic mean of the yields under the heading Week Ending published in the Statistical Release (as hereinafter defined) most recently published prior to the date of determination under the caption Treasury Constant Maturities for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining term, as of the redemption date, of the notes of that series being redeemed, plus |
(2) | 0. % for the 20 notes and 0. % for the 20 notes. |
If no maturity set forth under such heading exactly corresponds to the remaining term of the notes of that series being redeemed, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the remaining term of the notes of that series being redeemed will be calculated as described in the preceding sentence, and the Adjusted Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding each of the relevant periods to the nearest month.
Statistical Release means the statistical release designation H.15(519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively-traded United States government securities adjusted to constant maturities, or, if such statistical release is not published at the time of any determination under the terms of the notes, then such other reasonably comparable index as Chevron shall designate.
Chevron will mail notice of any redemption to each holder of notes to be redeemed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date.
Unless Chevron defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
Book-Entry System
The notes of each series will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global notes which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Except as hereinafter set forth, the notes will be available for purchase in book-entry form only. The term depository as used in this prospectus supplement refers to DTC or any successor depository.
Investors may hold interests in the global notes either through DTC or through Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through
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customers securities accounts in Clearstreams and Euroclears names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers securities accounts in the depositaries names on the books of DTC. Citibank, N.A. will act as depositary for Clearstream and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as depositary for Euroclear.
Neither Chevron nor the trustee will have any responsibility, obligation or liability to any participant, to any indirect participant or to any beneficial owner with respect to
· | the accuracy of any records maintained by DTC, Cede & Co., any participant or any indirect participant, |
· | the payment by DTC or any participant or indirect participant of any amount with respect to the principal of or interest on the notes, |
· | any notice which is permitted or required to be given to registered owners of notes under the indenture or |
· | any consent given or other action taken by DTC as the registered owner of the notes, or by participants as assignees of DTC as the registered owner of each issue of notes. |
Euroclear and Clearstream are indirect participants in DTC.
The Depository Trust Company
DTC has advised Chevron as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC and facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by the depository only through direct or indirect participants.
DTC also advises that pursuant to procedures established by it, upon deposit by Chevron of the global notes with DTC or its custodian, DTC or its nominee will credit, on its internal system, the respective principal amounts of the notes represented by such global notes to the accounts of direct participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters. Ownership of beneficial interests in notes represented by the global notes will be limited to participants or persons that hold interests through participants. Ownership of such beneficial interests in notes will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository (with respect to interests of direct participants), or by direct and indirect participants or persons that may hold interests through such participants (with respect to persons other than participants).
So long as the depository or its nominee is the registered owner of a global note, the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented
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thereby for all purposes under the indenture. Except as hereinafter provided, owners of beneficial interests in the global notes will not be entitled to have the notes represented by a global note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture. Unless and until a global note is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing the notes represented thereby, such global note may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository to a nominee of the depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository or another nominee of the depository or by the depository or any nominee of the depository to a successor depository or any nominee of such successor depository.
Payments of principal of and interest on the notes represented by a global note will be made to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the notes. Chevron has been informed by DTC that, upon receipt of any payment on the global notes, DTCs practice is to credit participants accounts on the payment date therefor with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the notes represented by the global notes as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name. Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.
Because DTC can only act on behalf of participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in notes represented by the global notes to pledge such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interest.
Chevron will recognize DTC or its nominee as the sole registered owner of the notes for all purposes, including notices and consents. Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to participants, by participants to indirect participants, and by participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory and regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
So long as the notes are outstanding in the form of global notes registered in the name of DTC or its nominee Cede & Co.,
· | all payments of interest on and principal of the notes shall be delivered only to DTC or Cede & Co.; |
· | all notices delivered by Chevron or the trustee pursuant to the indenture shall be delivered only to DTC or Cede & Co. and |
· | all rights of the registered owners of notes under the indenture, including, without limitation, voting rights, rights to approve, waive or consent, and rights to transfer and exchange notes, shall be rights of DTC or Cede & Co. |
The beneficial owners of the notes must rely on the participants or indirect participants for timely payments and notices and for otherwise making available to the beneficial owner rights of a registered owner. No assurance can be provided that in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of DTC, a participant or an indirect participant through which a beneficial owner holds interests in the notes, payment will be made by DTC, such participant or such indirect participant on a timely basis.
The DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information about DTC can found at www.dtcc.com.
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If the depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depository and a successor depository is not appointed by Chevron within 90 days, Chevron will issue individual notes in definitive form in exchange for the global notes. In addition, Chevron may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have the notes in the form of a global security, and, in such event, Chevron will issue individual notes in definitive form in exchange for the global notes. In either instance, Chevron will issue notes in definitive form, equal in aggregate principal amount to the global notes, in such names and in such principal amounts as the depository shall direct. Notes so issued in definitive form will be issued as fully registered notes in denominations of $2,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000.
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme
Clearstream has advised Chevron that it is a limited liability company organized under the laws of Luxembourg. Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its customers through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its customers, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Clearstream is regulated as a bank in Luxembourg, and as such, is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream customers are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream customer either directly or indirectly. Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by Clearstream.
Euroclear System
The Euroclear System has advised Chevron that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for cross-market transfers with DTC.
Euroclear is operated by the Euroclear Operator under a contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation, or the Euroclear Clearance System. The Euroclear Operator conducts all operations, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear Clearance System. The Euroclear Clearance System establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters or one or more of their affiliates. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect DTC participant.
The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank, which is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.
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The Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear, the related Operating Procedures of Euroclear and applicable Belgian law govern securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Specifically, these terms and conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawal of securities and cash from Euroclear and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear.
All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the terms and conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding securities through Euroclear participants. Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with Euroclears terms and conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Operator and by Euroclear.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Settlement for the notes will be made by the underwriters in immediately available funds.
DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, as applicable, have advised Chevron as follows: Secondary market trading in the notes between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between Clearstream customers and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by the U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream customers and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their U.S. depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of notes by or through a Clearstream customer or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time.
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CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
General
The following is a discussion of certain U.S. federal tax consequences of the holding and disposition of the notes. It is applicable to holders that purchase notes in the initial offering at their issue price (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of notes are sold for cash to persons other than bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) and that hold the notes as capital assets. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other applicable authorities, all as in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a particular holder or to holders subject to special treatment under the Code, such as financial institutions, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities electing mark to market treatment, insurance companies, former U.S. citizens or long-term residents, tax-exempt organizations, persons that are, or that hold their notes through, partnerships (including an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entities, U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, or persons that hold notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, synthetic security or constructive sale transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Except as specifically provided below with respect to non-U.S. holders (as described below), the discussion is limited to holders of notes that are U.S. holders.
For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of notes that for U.S. federal income tax purposes is:
· | a citizen or resident of the United States, |
· | a corporation (including an 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 of its states or the District of Columbia, |
· | an estate whose income is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source or |
· | any trust if (i) the administration of the trust is subject to the primary supervision of a court in the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
A non-U.S. holder means any beneficial owner of a note that is not a partnership (or an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and is not a U.S. holder.
If a partnership, including an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a beneficial owner of the notes, the treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership.
If you are considering buying the notes, we urge you to consult your tax advisor about the particular federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes and the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation.
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U.S. Holders
Interest
A U.S. holder of the notes will be required to report interest earned on the notes as ordinary income in accordance with the U.S. holders regular method of tax accounting.
Disposition of notes
Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement, repurchase or other taxable disposition of a note, a U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference (if any) between the amount realized (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid stated interest which will be taxable as ordinary income if not previously included in such holders income) and such U.S. holders tax basis in the note. The U.S. holders tax basis for a note will be the purchase price for the note. This gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the note was held for more than one year. Under current law, long-term capital gain recognized by certain noncorporate U.S. holders, including individuals, will be subject to a reduced tax rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Non-U.S. Holders
The rules governing the U.S. federal income taxation of non-U.S. holders are complex, and no attempt will be made herein to provide more than a summary of such rules. Prospective non-U.S. holders should consult with their own tax advisors to determine the impact of federal, state, local, and non-U.S. laws with regard to the notes.
Interest
A non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on payments of interest on a note, provided that
· | the non-U.S. holder is not: |
· | a direct or indirect, actual or constructive, owner of 10% or more of the total voting power of all our voting stock, |
· | a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership or |
· | a bank whose receipt of interest on a note is pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business; |
· | such interest payments are not effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States; and |
· | we or our paying agent receives certain information from the non-U.S. holder (or a financial institution that holds the notes in the ordinary course of its trade or business), including certification that such holder is a non-U.S. holder. |
A non-U.S. holder that is not exempt from tax under these rules will be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding at a rate of 30% unless:
· | the income is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment under an applicable income tax treaty) or |
· | an applicable income tax treaty provides for a lower rate of, or exemption from, withholding tax. |
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Except to the extent provided by an applicable income tax treaty, interest on a note that is effectively connected with the conduct by a non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the United States will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis at the rates applicable to U.S. persons generally (and, if received by corporate holders, may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax unless reduced or prohibited by an applicable income tax treaty). If interest is subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis in accordance with the rules described in the preceding sentence, payments of such interest will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax so long as the non-U.S. holder provides us or the paying agent with an IRS Form W-8ECI. To claim the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder must timely provide the appropriate and properly executed IRS forms.
Disposition of Notes
Subject to the rules described below under Information Reporting and Backup Withholding, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on gain from the sale or other taxable disposition of a note unless:
· | such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business within the United States and, if the non-U.S. holder is entitled to the benefits under an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base in the United States, or |
· | such non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and meets certain other requirements. |
Except to the extent provided by an applicable income tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to gain from the sale or disposition of a note that is effectively connected with the conduct by the non-U.S. holder of a trade or business in the United States (and non-U.S. holders that are corporations may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax unless reduced or prohibited by an applicable income tax treaty). If such gain is realized by a non-U.S. holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year (and certain other conditions are met), then such individual will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or at a reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on the amount by which capital gains from U.S. sources (including gains from the sale or other disposition of the notes) exceed capital losses allocable to U.S. sources. To claim the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty, the non-U.S. holder must timely provide the appropriate and properly executed IRS forms.
U.S. Federal Estate Tax
A note held by an individual who at death is not a U.S. citizen or resident will not be includible in the individuals gross estate for purposes of the U.S. federal estate tax as a result of the individuals death if (a) the individual did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total voting power of all our voting stock and (b) the income on the note would not have been effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the individual at the individuals death.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with payments on the notes and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the notes, unless an exemption exists. A non-exempt U.S. holder may be subject to U.S. backup withholding tax on these payments if it fails to provide its taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and comply with certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding. A non-U.S. holder may be subject to U.S. information reporting and backup withholding tax on these payments unless the non-U.S. holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person. The certification
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procedures required of non-U.S. holders to claim the exemption from withholding tax on certain payments on the notes, described above, will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding tax as well. Copies of applicable IRS information returns may be made available, under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or agreement, to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment will be allowed as a credit against the holders U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
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Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, Chevron has agreed to sell to the underwriters named below, for whom Barclays Capital Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated are acting as representatives, and each of them has agreed to purchase the principal amount of the notes set forth opposite its name at the public offering prices less the underwriting commission set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement.
Underwriters |
Principal Amount of 20-- Notes |
Principal Amount of 20-- Notes | ||||
Barclays Capital Inc. |
$ | $ | ||||
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated |
||||||
Total |
$ | $ | ||||
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters are obligated to purchase and pay for all of the notes if any are purchased. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering of the notes may be terminated.
Chevron has been advised by the underwriters that they propose to offer the notes initially directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. The underwriters may also offer notes to dealers at that price less concessions not in excess of % of the principal amount of the 20 notes and less concessions not in excess of % of the principal amount of the 20 notes. The underwriters may allow, and these dealers may reallow, a concession to other dealers not in excess of % of the principal amount of the 20 notes and not in excess of % of the principal amount of the 20 notes. After the initial public offering of the notes is completed, the public offering prices and these concessions may change.
The notes of each series are new issues of securities with no established trading market. Chevron has been advised by the underwriters that one or more of the underwriters intend to make a secondary market in each series of the notes, however, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue secondary market making for the notes at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading markets for the notes. Chevron has no intention to list the notes on any securities exchange.
Chevron has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments which the several underwriters may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates have in the past and may in the future provide investment and commercial banking and other related services to Chevron and its affiliated companies in the ordinary course of business for which such underwriters or their affiliates have received or may receive customary fees and reimbursement of their out-of-pocket expenses.
Chevron estimates that its out-of-pocket expenses for this offering, excluding underwriter commissions, will not exceed $ .
S-12
In connection with the offering, the representatives, on behalf of the underwriters, may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions.
· | Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes in excess of the principal amount of notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. |
· | Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. |
· | Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress. |
The representatives, on behalf of the underwriters, may also impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the representative, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchases notes originally sold by that syndicate member.
Any of these activities may cause the price of the notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
The notes are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States, Asia, Europe and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers. No action has been taken, or will be taken, which would permit a public offering of the notes in any jurisdiction outside the United States.
Each of the underwriters has severally represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or delivered and that it will not offer, sell or deliver, directly or indirectly, any of the notes, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that are reasonably designed to result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof.
You may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges in accordance with the laws and practices of the country in which you purchase the notes. These taxes and charges are in addition to the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement.
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each underwriter represents that it has not made and will not make an offer of the notes to the public in that Relevant Member State, except that it may make an offer of the notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive (as defined below), if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State: (a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; (b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year, (2) a total balance sheet of more than 43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; (c) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive); or (d) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of notes shall result in a requirement for the publication by Chevron or any underwriter of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
S-13
For the purposes of this section, the expression an offer of the notes to the public in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to purchase the notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State, and references to the Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
United Kingdom
Each underwriter represents that, in connection with the distribution of the notes, it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) of the United Kingdom) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes or any investments representing the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to Chevron and that it has complied and will comply with all the applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Hong Kong
The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), (ii) to professional investors within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a prospectus within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to professional investors within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Japan
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
The validity of the notes will be passed upon for Chevron by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.
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PROSPECTUS
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Canada Funding Company
Chevron Funding Corporation
unconditionally guaranteed by
Chevron Corporation
Any of Chevron Corporation, Chevron Canada Funding Company or Chevron Funding Corporation may offer debt securities from time to time. Market conditions at the time of sale will determine the terms of any securities offered.
Securities offered by Chevron Canada Funding Company or Chevron Funding Corporation, which are referred to collectively in this prospectus as the subsidiary issuers, will be unconditionally guaranteed by Chevron.
Chevron or any subsidiary issuer may issue securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium or with an original issue discount. The securities may be offered through underwriters or agents, or directly to investors or dealers. At the issuers option and as described in the relevant prospectus supplement, the securities may be denominated in U.S. dollars or in any other currency.
This prospectus describes generally the terms of the securities. A supplement or supplements to this prospectus will describe the specific terms of each issuance of debt securities. If any offering involves underwriters, dealers or agents, arrangements with them will be described in the prospectus supplement that relates to that offering.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is March 8, 2007
This prospectus is part of a shelf registration statement that Chevron and the subsidiary issuers have filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to herein as the Commission. By using a shelf registration statement, Chevron or any subsidiary issuer may sell debt securities in one or more offerings. This prospectus only provides a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time Chevron or a subsidiary issuer sells securities under the shelf registration, a supplement to this prospectus containing specific information about the terms of the securities will be provided. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should read carefully both this prospectus and any supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Chevron files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Chevrons filings are also available to the public over the Internet at its web site (www.chevron.com) or at the Commissions website (www.sec.gov). Copies of all such reports, proxy statements and other documents are also available at the Commissions public reference room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Commissions public reference room by calling the Commission at (800) SEC-0330. Chevron is not required to, and does not, provide annual reports to holders of its debt securities unless specifically requested to do so.
Chevron has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. Some information has been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information, please refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with it.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The Commission allows Chevron to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information in documents that Chevron files with it. This means that Chevron can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents which it has filed separately with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and the information that Chevron files with the Commission after the date hereof will automatically update and may supercede this information. Chevron incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings which Chevron makes with the Commission under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until the termination of the offering of securities by this prospectus.
· | Chevrons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. |
· | Chevrons Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 5, 2007. |
Upon written or oral request, Chevron will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, a copy of any or all of the documents described above which have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. Requests for copies should be directed to:
Chevron Corporation
6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., Building E
San Ramon, California 94583
Attention: Corporate Finance
Telephone: (925) 842-8049
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Chevron Corporation, a Delaware corporation, manages its investments in subsidiaries and affiliates and provides administrative, financial, management and technology support to U.S. and foreign subsidiaries that engage in fully integrated petroleum operations, chemicals operations, mining operations of coal and other minerals, power generation and energy services. Chevron conducts business activities in the United States and approximately 180 other countries. Exploration and production (upstream) operations consist of exploring for, developing and producing crude oil and natural gas and also marketing natural gas. Refining, marketing and transportation (downstream) operations relate to refining crude oil into finished petroleum products; marketing crude oil and the many products derived from petroleum; and transporting crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car. Chemicals operations include the manufacture and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant oil additives.
Chevrons executive offices are located at 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, California 94583 (telephone: (925) 842-1000).
CHEVRON CANADA FUNDING COMPANY
Chevron Canada Funding Company, formerly ChevronTexaco Capital Company, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron, incorporated on May 7, 2002 and organized under the laws of Nova Scotia, Canada. Its principal executive offices are located at 500 5th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P OL7 (telephone: (403) 234-5000). Its business activities consist primarily of providing funds to non-U.S. affiliates of Chevron for general corporate purposes.
Chevron Funding Corporation, formerly ChevronTexaco Funding Corporation, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron, incorporated on June 11, 2002 and organized under the laws of the state of Delaware. Its principal executive offices are located at 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, California 94583 (telephone: (925) 842-1000). Its business activities consist primarily of providing funds to its sole stockholder, Chevron Australia Holdings Pty Ltd., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron, for general corporate purposes.
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Except as any accompanying prospectus supplement may state, the net proceeds from the sale of securities will be used for general corporate purposes, including refinancing a portion of the existing commercial paper borrowings or long-term or short-term debt of Chevron or its subsidiaries, or financing capital programs.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements that have been made pursuant to the provisions of, and in reliance on the safe harbor under, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the petroleum, chemicals and other energy-related industries. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, targets, projects, believes, seeks, schedules, estimates, budgets and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of Chevron and the subsidiary issuers and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement containing the forward-looking statements or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference, the date referenced in those documents. Neither Chevron nor any subsidiary issuer is obligated to update these statements or publicly release the result of any revision to them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference, the date referenced in those documents, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
The following is a general description of the securities that may be offered by this prospectus. This summary is not meant to be a complete description of the securities. The accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions of the securities offered by such prospectus supplement.
Each series of securities will be issued under one of the following indentures:
· | Indenture, dated as of June 15, 1995, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated October 13, 1999, each being between Chevron and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as successor to Chemical Bank), as trustee. |
· | Indenture, dated as of July 15, 2002, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 10, 2002 and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 12, 2003, each being among Chevron, as guarantor, Chevron Canada Funding Company and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank), as trustee. |
· | Indenture, dated as of August 15, 2003, among Chevron, as guarantor, Chevron Funding Corporation and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank), as trustee. |
Each indenture provides for the issuance of securities without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. See Description of the Indentures, below.
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For each series of securities, the following terms will be described in the prospectus supplement applicable to that series:
· | the identity of the issuer and the applicable indenture; |
· | the designation of the series of securities; |
· | the aggregate principal amount of the series of securities; |
· | the stated maturity or maturities for payment of principal of the series of securities; |
· | any sinking fund or analogous provisions; |
· | the rate or rates at which the series of securities bears interest, the method of calculating the interest rate or rates and the interest payment dates for the series; |
· | the currencies in which principal of and interest and any premium on the series of securities will be payable, if other than U.S. dollars; |
· | the redemption date or dates, if any, and the redemption price or prices and other applicable redemption provisions for the series of securities; |
· | whether the series will be issued as one or more global securities, and if so, the depository for the securities; |
· | if not issued as global securities, the denominations in which the securities of the series will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000; |
· | the date from which interest on the series of securities will accrue; |
· | the basis upon which interest on the series of securities will be computed, if other than a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
· | if other than the principal amount of the series of securities, the portion of the principal amount of the series of securities that will be payable upon any declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the series of securities pursuant to the applicable indenture; |
· | if other than the trustee under the applicable indenture, the person or persons who shall be registrar for the series of securities; |
· | the record date; and |
· | any other term or provision relating to the series of securities which is not inconsistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture. |
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The following description of the indentures is only a summary. A copy of each indenture is filed as an exhibit to, or incorporated by reference in, this registration statement. We encourage you to read each indenture in its entirety.
Chevron may issue securities from time to time under an Indenture dated as of June 15, 1995, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 13, 1999, each being between Chevron and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as successor to Chemical Bank), as trustee, and which are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the Chevron indenture. Chevron Canada Funding Company may issue securities from time to time under an Indenture dated as of July 15, 2002, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 10, 2002 and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 12, 2003, each being among Chevron, as guarantor, Chevron Canada Funding Company and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank), as trustee. Chevron Funding Corporation may issue securities from time to time under an Indenture dated as of August 15, 2003 among Chevron, as guarantor, Chevron Funding Corporation and The Bank of New York (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank), as trustee. The subsidiary issuers indentures are referred to collectively in this prospectus as the subsidiary indentures. The subsidiary indentures, together with the Chevron indenture, are referred to collectively in this prospectus as the indentures.
The following terms apply to securities issued under any of the indentures. Terms of the indentures which apply only to securities issued by the subsidiary issuers appear below, under The Subsidiary Indentures.
Capitalized terms used in the following description are defined terms. The definitions of these terms are located under Definitions applicable to covenants.
Corporate existence
In each indenture, Chevron agrees that, so long as securities are outstanding under the indenture, Chevron will not sell substantially all of its assets, dissolve, or consolidate or merge with any corporation unless the purchaser of the assets or the surviving company in any merger or consolidation:
· | is incorporated and existing under the laws of one of the states of the United States of America; |
· | assumes Chevrons obligations under the indenture and the securities issued under the indenture; and |
· | is not, after the sale, merger or consolidation, in default under any provision of the indenture. |
Securities to be secured in certain events
In each indenture, Chevron agrees that prior to consummating any consolidation or merger that would subject any Principal Property to any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance, it will secure all securities outstanding under the indenture equally and ratably with the debt or other obligation secured by the encumbrance resulting from the consolidation or merger. Chevron may also secure, together with the securities issued under the indenture, any of its other
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indebtedness or any indebtedness it guarantees that ranks equally with securities issued under the indenture. This covenant does not apply to debts or obligations that Chevron or any Restricted Subsidiary could have incurred without securing securities issued under the indenture pursuant to the covenant Limitation on liens, described in this prospectus.
Limitations on liens
In each indenture, Chevron agrees that it will not, and it will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any debt secured by a mortgage, pledge or lien on any Property, without effectively providing that the securities outstanding under that indenture shall be equally and ratably secured. Chevron may also secure, together with the securities issued under that indenture, any of its other indebtedness or any indebtedness it guarantees that ranks equally with securities issued under that indenture. This covenant does not apply to debt secured by:
· | liens on Property of any corporation existing at the time the corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; |
· | liens on Property existing at the time Chevron acquired the Property; |
· | liens on Property that secure debt incurred for the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of the Property; |
· | liens on Property that secure a debt incurred prior to, at the time of or within two years after the acquisition of the Property for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of the Property; |
· | liens on Property to secure a debt incurred to fund all or any part of the cost of exploration, drilling or development of the Property or the cost of improvements to the Property; |
· | liens that secure debt owing by a Restricted Subsidiary to Chevron or any subsidiary of Chevron; |
· | liens on personal property, other than shares of stock or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, to secure loans maturing in less than one year; |
· | liens on Property to secure debt incurred in connection with any financing done in accordance with the provisions of section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; or |
· | any extension, renewal or replacement, in whole or in part, of any lien referred to in the above list or any debt secured by a lien referred to in the above list. |
For purposes of this covenant, the following types of transactions are deemed not to create debt secured by a lien:
· | the sale or other transfer of oil, gas or other minerals in place for a period of time until, or in an amount such that, the purchaser will realize from the sale or transfer a specified amount of money, however determined, or a specified amount of the minerals, or the sale or other transfer of any other interest in property of the character commonly referred to as a production payment; and |
· | the mortgage or pledge of any property of Chevron or any Subsidiary in favor of the United States, or any state, or any department, agency or instrumentality of either, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments to Chevron or any Subsidiary pursuant to the provisions of any contract or statute. |
Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in this covenant, Chevron may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee debt without equally and ratably securing the securities issued under the indenture, provided that the aggregate amount of that debt and Attributable Debt with respect to sale and leaseback arrangements does not exceed ten percent of Chevrons Consolidated Adjusted Tangible Assets.
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Limitation on sale and leaseback
In each indenture, Chevron agrees that it will not, and it will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any sale and leaseback arrangement unless either:
· | Chevron or any Restricted Subsidiary could create debt secured by a mortgage pursuant to the covenant Limitation on liens on the property to be leased without equally and ratably securing the securities issued under that indenture; or |
· | within one year before or after the sale or transfer, Chevron has applied or applies an amount equal to the greater of (a) the net proceeds of the sale of the leased property or (b) the fair value of the leased property at the time of the sale and leaseback transaction to: |
· | the voluntary retirement of debt of Chevron or a Restricted Subsidiary or debt of a Subsidiary that matures more than one year after being incurred; or |
· | the acquisition, development or improvement of a Principal Property. |
This covenant does not apply to temporary leases for a term of not more than three years or sale or transfer and leaseback transactions involving the acquisition or improvement of Principal Properties, provided within one year before or after the sale or transfer, Chevron has applied or applies an amount equal to the greater of (a) the net proceeds of the sale of the leased property or (b) the fair value of the leased property at the time of the transaction to:
· | the voluntary retirement of debt of Chevron or a Restricted Subsidiary or debt of a Subsidiary that matures more than one year after being incurred; or |
· | the acquisition, development or improvement of a Principal Property. |
Definitions applicable to covenants
Terms used in this description of Chevrons covenants under the indentures have the following meanings:
Attributable Debt for a sale-leaseback transaction means the lesser of
· | the fair value of the property subject to the transaction (as determined by Chevrons Board of Directors); or |
· | the present value of rent for the remaining term of the lease. |
Consolidated Adjusted Tangible Assets means the consolidated total assets of Chevron and its subsidiaries as reflected in Chevrons most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with Chevrons accounting policies and generally accepted accounting principles, less
· | goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other deferred charges; |
· | total current liabilities except for (a) notes and loans payable, (b) current maturities of long-term debt and (c) current maturities of obligations under capital leases; and |
· | deferred credits and other noncurrent obligations, including minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and reservesemployee annuity plans and other reserves which may hereafter be defined in Chevrons accounting policies. |
Principal Property means any oil or gas producing property located in the United States of America, onshore or offshore, or any refinery or manufacturing plant located in the United States of America, in each case now owned or hereafter acquired by Chevron or a Restricted Subsidiary, except any oil or
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gas producing property, refinery or plant that in the opinion of the Board of Directors of Chevron is not of material importance to the total business conducted by Chevron and its consolidated Subsidiaries.
Property means Principal Properties or any shares of stock of or indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary.
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of Chevron that has substantially all of its assets located in the United States of America and owns a Principal Property, and in which Chevrons direct or indirect capital investment, together with the outstanding balance of
· | any loans or advances made to such Subsidiary by Chevron or any other Subsidiary and |
· | any debt of such Subsidiary guaranteed by Chevron or any other Subsidiary, |
exceeds $100 million.
Subsidiary of Chevron means any corporation at least a majority of the outstanding securities of which having ordinary voting power (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) is owned by Chevron or by one or more Subsidiaries or by Chevron and one or more Subsidiaries.
Any additional covenants
Any additional covenants with respect to any particular series of securities issued under an indenture will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. The indentures do not contain any covenants specifically designed to protect securityholders against a reduction in the creditworthiness of Chevron in the event of a highly leveraged transaction. The indentures do not limit the amount of additional indebtedness that Chevron, or any of its subsidiaries, may incur.
The indentures define an event of default with respect to any particular series of securities as any one of the following events:
· | default for 30 days in any payment of interest on any security issued under the indenture; |
· | default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any security issued under the indenture; |
· | default in the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment obligation relating to any series of securities issued under the indenture; |
· | failure to perform any agreement or covenant in the securities of any series, in the indenture or any supplemental indenture, for 90 days after receiving notice of the failure; |
· | particular events of bankruptcy, insolvency or similar reorganization of Chevron. |
An event of default with respect to one series of securities will not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of securities. If an event of default with respect to the securities of any one or more series occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25 percent in principal amount of the securities of each such series may declare the principal amount of all of the securities of that series, together with any accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. In the case of any original issue discount securities, the terms of those securities will specify what portion of the principal amount the holders may declare due and payable upon a continuing event of default. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may, under some circumstances, rescind and annul the acceleration.
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If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee under the applicable indenture may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal or any premium or interest on the securities of the series to which the default relates or to enforce the performance of any provision of that series of securities or the indenture under which the securities were issued.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may waive any past event of default with respect to that series and its consequences, except a continuing default:
· | in the payment of the principal of or any redemption premium or interest on such securities; |
· | in the satisfaction of any sinking fund obligation relating to such series of securities; or |
· | in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture under which the series of securities was issued which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each security affected by the default. |
Modifications of the Indenture
Without the consent of any holder of securities, Chevron and the trustee, in the case of the Chevron indenture, or Chevron, the subsidiary issuer and the trustee, in the case of a subsidiary indenture, may enter into a supplemental indenture to amend the indenture or the securities issued under that indenture for any of the following purposes:
· | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
· | to permit a successor to assume Chevrons obligations or the obligations of any subsidiary issuer under the indenture as permitted by the indenture; |
· | to eliminate or change any provision of the indenture, provided the change does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding securities; |
· | to provide for the issuance and establish the terms and conditions of securities of any series; |
· | to add to Chevrons covenants or the covenants of any subsidiary issuer further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of all or any particular series of securities; or |
· | to appoint, at the request of the trustee, a successor trustee for a particular series of securities. |
Chevron and the trustee and, if applicable, a subsidiary issuer, may modify or amend an indenture and the rights and obligations of Chevron and, if applicable, the subsidiary issuer, or the rights and obligations of the holders of the securities at any time with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all series of securities then outstanding and affected by the proposed modification or amendment, voting as one class. However, without the consent of the holder of each affected outstanding security, no amendment or modification may, among other things:
· | change the fixed maturity or redemption date of any outstanding security; |
· | reduce the rate of interest on any outstanding security; |
· | alter the method of determining the rate of interest on any outstanding security; |
· | extend the time of payment of interest; |
· | reduce the principal amount of any outstanding security; |
· | reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any outstanding security; |
· | change the coin or currency in which any outstanding securities or the interest thereon are payable; |
· | impair the securityholders right to institute suit for the enforcement of payment; |
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· | reduce the percentage of the holders of outstanding securities whose consent is required for any modification or amendment; |
· | change the time of payment or reduce the amount of any minimum sinking account or fund payment; or |
· | modify any provisions of the indenture relating to the amendment of the indenture or the creation of a supplemental indenture, unless the change increases the rights of the securityholders. |
Each indenture provides that Chevron and, if applicable, the subsidiary issuer, may terminate and be fully discharged from their obligations with respect to any series of securities issued under that indenture if Chevron or the subsidiary issuer deposits in trust with the applicable trustee money, direct obligations of the United States of America or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America sufficient to pay principal, premium and interest, if any, on that series of securities to the date of its redemption or maturity. In the case of securities issued in a currency other than U.S. currency, Chevron or the subsidiary issuer may instead deposit direct obligations of or obligations guaranteed by the government that issued that currency. In order to terminate their obligations in this manner, Chevron or the subsidiary issuer must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of that series of securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result.
Chevron may also terminate its obligations to comply with covenants applicable to any outstanding securities, including the covenants described in Covenants of Chevron, if it or any subsidiary issuer deposits in trust with the trustee money, direct obligations of the United States of America or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America sufficient to pay principal, premium and interest, if any, on that series of securities to the date of its redemption or maturity.
The indentures and each security issued under the indentures are to be deemed to be contracts made under, and are to be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
The Bank of New York is the trustee of the Chevron indenture and each of the subsidiary indentures. In certain instances, Chevron or the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding principal amount of the securities may remove a trustee and appoint a successor trustee. A trustee may become the owner or pledgee of any of the securities issued under an indenture with the same rights it would have if it were not the trustee. Each trustee and any successor trustee must be a corporation:
· | organized and doing business as a commercial bank under the laws of the United States or of any state within the United States or of the District of Columbia; |
· | authorized under applicable laws to exercise corporate trust powers; |
· | having a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million; and |
· | subject to examination by federal or state or District of Columbia authority. |
From time to time, a trustee may also serve as trustee under other indentures relating to securities issued by Chevron or affiliated companies and may engage in commercial transactions with Chevron and affiliated companies.
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In addition to the general terms above, each subsidiary indenture includes the following terms.
Under the terms of each subsidiary indenture, Chevron fully and unconditionally guarantees to the holders of the securities the full and prompt payment of the interest, principal and any redemption premium on the securities. Chevrons guarantee will remain in effect until the entire principal amount, all interest and any premium on the securities has been paid in full or otherwise discharged in accordance with the terms of the applicable subsidiary indenture. Chevrons obligations under its guarantee contained in each subsidiary indenture are unconditional, irrespective of any invalidity, illegality, irregularity or unenforceability of any security or that subsidiary indenture. The trustee has the right to proceed first and directly against Chevron, without first proceeding against any subsidiary issuer or exhausting any other remedies it may have, in the event of a default in:
· | the payment of interest on any security; |
· | the payment of principal of a security; |
· | the payment of any premium on any security; or |
· | any sinking fund payment. |
Successors to Subsidiary Issuers
All of the rights and obligations of a subsidiary issuer under any subsidiary indenture and the securities outstanding under a subsidiary indenture may be assigned and transferred to:
· | another person with which the subsidiary is consolidated or merged or which acquires by conveyance or transfer any of the properties or assets of the subsidiary; |
· | Chevron; or |
· | a corporation, all of the outstanding shares of which, other than directors qualifying shares, are owned directly or indirectly by Chevron. |
Provided that the requirements of this covenant have been met, upon the assignment or transfer, all of the obligations of the subsidiary issuer under the applicable indenture and the securities issued under that indenture shall cease and the subsidiary shall be released from its liability as obligor and from all other obligations under the applicable indenture. In connection with any assignment other than to Chevron, either
· | Chevrons guarantee will remain in full force and effect or |
· | Chevron will execute a new guarantee agreement containing substantially the same terms as those set forth in the applicable indenture. |
Any successor to any subsidiary under an indenture must be organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or one of the states of the United States of America. In the event a subsidiary issuer assigns all of its rights and obligations in respect of an indenture and any outstanding securities to Chevron, the covenants of Chevron described above under Covenants of Chevron and any other covenants for the benefit of any series of securities issued under that indenture will remain in effect.
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Securities may be sold in any one or more of the following ways:
· | directly to purchasers or a single purchaser; |
· | through agents; |
· | through dealers; |
· | through one or more underwriters acting alone or through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing underwriters; |
each as may be identified in a prospectus supplement relating to an issuance of securities.
If securities described in a prospectus supplement are underwritten, the prospectus supplement will name each underwriter of the securities. Only underwriters named in a prospectus supplement will be deemed to be underwriters of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. Prospectus supplements relating to underwritten offerings of securities will also describe:
· | the discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the underwriters; |
· | all other items constituting underwriting compensation; |
· | the discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers, if any; and |
· | the exchanges, if any, on which the securities will be listed. |
Securities may be sold directly by Chevron or any of the subsidiary issuers through agents designated by Chevron or a subsidiary issuer from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of securities, and any commission payable by Chevron or a subsidiary issuer to such agent, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent involved in the offer or sale of securities will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
If indicated in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters will be subject to conditions precedent. With respect to a sale of securities, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all securities offered if any are purchased.
Chevron will indemnify any underwriters and agents against various civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for Chevron, the subsidiary issuers and affiliated companies in the ordinary course of business.
As to matters of U.S. law, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP will pass on the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus and any guarantees by Chevron of securities offered by this prospectus. As to any matters of Nova Scotia law, a law firm named in the applicable prospectus supplement will pass on the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus.
The consolidated financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Chevron for the year ended December 31, 2006, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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$
Chevron Corporation
% Notes Due 20
% Notes Due 20
BARCLAYS CAPITAL
MORGAN STANLEY