PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We will describe the terms of a particular offering of debt securities in the accompanying prospectus supplement, including the following:
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the names of any underwriters, agents or dealers;
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their compensation, including any underwriting discounts, dealer concessions or commissions;
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the net proceeds to us;
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the purchase price of the debt securities;
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the initial public offering price of the debt securities;
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any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers; and
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any exchange on which the debt securities may be listed.
We may sell the debt securities using any of the following methods:
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to or through underwriters, agents or dealers;
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directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters, agents or dealers; or
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through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
We may effect the distribution of the debt securities from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed prices or at prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
We may offer the debt securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or through underwriters without a syndicate. If we use an underwriter or underwriters in the sale of the debt securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with those underwriters at the time of sale of those debt securities. Underwriters will acquire the debt securities for their own account. The underwriters may then resell the debt securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the debt securities in a particular offering will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the debt securities in a particular offering if any of the debt securities are purchased.
Securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus and a prospectus supplement is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Agents may be appointed to sell debt securities on a continuous basis, including pursuant to “at the market offerings.”
Underwriters and agents may from time to time purchase and sell the debt securities described in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement in the secondary market but are not obligated to do so. No assurance can be given that there will be a secondary market for the debt securities or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. From time to time, underwriters and agents may make a market in the debt securities.
In order to facilitate the offering of the debt securities, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of these debt securities or any other debt securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on these debt securities. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in the debt securities for their own accounts. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the debt securities or of any other debt securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the debt securities or any other debt securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the debt securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the