SUMMARY
This summary highlights some of the information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement
to help you understand our business and the notes. It does not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should carefully read this prospectus supplement in its entirety, including the information incorporated by reference into
this prospectus supplement, to understand fully the terms of the notes, as well as the other considerations that are important to you in making your investment decision. You should pay special attention to the “Risk Factors” beginning on
page S-10 and the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page S-i.
Unless stated otherwise, the discussion in this prospectus supplement of our business includes the business of Ally Financial Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated
or the context otherwise requires, “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Ally Financial Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and the term “Ally” refers only to
Ally Financial Inc.
Ally Financial Inc.
We are a leading, independent, financial services firm with $166.2 billion in assets at March 31, 2013. Founded in
1919, we are a leading automotive financial services company with over 90 years experience providing a broad array of financial products and services to automotive dealers and their customers. We became a bank holding company on December 24,
2008, under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Our banking subsidiary, Ally Bank, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ally and a leading franchise in the growing direct (internet, telephone, mobile, and mail) banking market with
$49.5 billion of deposits at March 31, 2013. Our principal executive offices are located at 200 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265, and our telephone number is (866) 710-4623.
Our Business
Our Dealer Financial Services operations offer a wide range of financial services and insurance products to almost 16,000 automotive dealerships and approximately 4 million of their retail customers. We
have deep dealer relationships that have been built over our greater-than 90-year history and our dealer-focused business model makes us a preferred automotive finance company for many automotive dealers. Our broad set of product offerings and
customer-focused marketing programs differentiate Ally in the marketplace and help drive higher product penetration in our dealer relationships. Our ability to generate attractive automotive assets is driven by our platform and scale, strong
relationships with automotive dealers, a full suite of dealer financial products, automotive loan-servicing capabilities, dealer-based incentive programs, and superior customer service.
Our automotive financial services include providing retail installment sales financing, loans, and leases, offering term
loans to dealers, financing dealer floorplans and other lines of credit to dealers, fleet leasing, and vehicle remarketing services. We also offer vehicle service contracts and commercial insurance, primarily covering dealers’ wholesale vehicle
inventories. We are a leading provider of vehicle service contracts, and maintenance coverages.
Ally Bank,
our direct banking platform, provides us with a stable and diversified low-cost funding source. Our focus is on building a stable deposit base driven by our compelling brand and strong value proposition. Ally Bank raises deposits directly from
customers through the direct banking channel via the internet, over the telephone, and through mobile applications. Ally Bank offers a full spectrum of deposit product offerings including certificates of deposit, savings accounts, money market
accounts, IRA (individual retirement account) deposit products, as well as an online checking product. We continue to expand the product offerings in
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our banking platform in order to meet customer needs. Ally Bank’s assets and operating results are divided between our Automotive Finance operations and Mortgage operations based on its
underlying business activities.
For more information about our lines of business, please refer to
“Item 1. Business” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, as well as any descriptions of our business in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K,
which are incorporated by reference herein.
The Note Guarantors
The notes will be guaranteed on a joint and several basis by Ally US LLC and IB Finance Holding Company, LLC, each a
subsidiary of Ally. Debt of the note guarantors or of subsidiaries of the note guarantors that is owed to Ally or other subsidiaries of Ally will, pursuant to the terms of one or more subordination agreements, rank junior to the note guarantees or
will be held by a note guarantor.
Each note guarantor is a 100% directly owned subsidiary of Ally. In
connection with the disposition of our international automotive finance operations and in order to simplify our note guarantor structure, Ally executed a series of transactions in which certain guarantors of our previous notes were sold or merged
with and into, or otherwise consolidated with, IB Finance Holding Company, LLC (“IB Finance”). Following the completion of these transactions, Ally US LLC and IB Finance remain as our only note guarantors of our previous notes and will
continue to fully and unconditionally guarantee our previous notes.
Ally US LLC.
Ally US LLC (“US
LLC”), a Delaware limited liability company, was incorporated on May 30, 2007 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ally. US LLC does not currently hold any material assets or liabilities. The registered office of US LLC is at Corporation
Trust Center, 1209 N. Orange Street, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1120.
IB Finance
Holding Company, LLC.
IB Finance Holding Company, LLC (“IB Finance”), a Delaware limited liability company, was incorporated on October 10, 2006 and is wholly owned by Ally. The registered office of IB Finance is at Corporation
Trust Center, 1209 N. Orange Street, New Castle County, Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1120. IB Finance is a holding company that conducts no business other than holding equity interests in Ally Bank and other subsidiaries. Ally Bank is a Utah chartered
commercial non-member bank that raises deposits directly from customers through the direct banking channel via the internet and over the telephone. Neither Ally Bank nor any other subsidiary of IB Finance is directly guaranteeing the notes.
Recent Developments
On May 14, 2012, Residential Capital, LLC (“ResCap”) and certain of its wholly owned direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for
relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”).
On May 14, 2013, Ally Financial Inc., on behalf of itself and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the
“Ally Parties”) entered into a Plan Support Agreement (the “PSA”) with the Debtors, the official committee of unsecured creditors appointed in the Debtors’ Chapter 11 cases (the “Creditors’ Committee”), and
certain consenting claimants (collectively, the “Consenting Claimants”).
On May 23, 2013, the
Debtors filed a motion in the Bankruptcy Court to approve the PSA, which was approved on June 26, 2013. The PSA provides for the parties to support a Chapter 11 plan in the Debtors’ Chapter 11 cases (the “Plan”) that will,
among other things, settle and provide the Ally Parties full releases for all existing and potential claims between the Ally Parties and the Debtors and all pending and potential claims held by third parties related to the Debtors that could be
brought against the Ally Parties, except for securities claims by the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, as receiver for certain failed banks.
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The PSA provides, among other things, that, on the effective date of
the Plan, the Ally Parties will contribute to the Debtors’ estates $1.95 billion in cash or cash equivalents, and will further contribute $150 million received by the Ally Parties for claims that the Ally Parties pursue against their
insurance carriers related to the claims released in connection with the Plan, with such amount guaranteed by Ally to be paid no later than September 30, 2014 (collectively, the “Ally Contribution”) in exchange for the releases of the
Ally Parties to be included in the Plan. The Ally Contribution and other assets of the Debtors’ estates will be distributed to creditors under the Plan. In addition, the PSA contemplated the payoff of Ally secured debt on or before the
effective date of the Plan. On June 13, 2013, the Debtors paid Ally approximately $1.127 billion in full satisfaction of the Ally revolving credit facility and line of credit. The payment to Ally was approved by the Bankruptcy Court with an express
reservation of rights, claims and remedies against Ally and a reciprocal reservation of rights, claims and remedies for Ally’s benefit in the event the Plan does not become effective. The Plan will also include a settlement of insurance
disputes between the Ally Parties and the Debtors.
Further, the PSA requires that all litigation against Ally
Parties by the Debtors, the Creditors’ Committee and the Consenting Claimants be stayed so long as the PSA has not been terminated.
In connection with the PSA, and as a result of an expected increase to our reserve for litigation, Ally Financial Inc. expects to record a charge of approximately $1.55 billion in the second quarter of
2013.
The PSA requires, among other things, that several milestones be satisfied. The PSA includes a number
of events that could result in the PSA being terminated, including the failure to satisfy any milestone set forth in the PSA. Additionally, the PSA requires that several additional conditions be satisfied or waived before the Plan can be effective.
The foregoing milestones, termination events and conditions to effectiveness are described in greater detail in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on May 23, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement.
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and the years ended
December 31, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 0.93, 1.13, 0.96, 0.95, 0.30 and 2.04, respectively. See “Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.”
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Summary of the Notes and the Note Guarantees
The summary below describes the principal terms of the notes and the note guarantees. Certain of the terms and
conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The “Description of Notes” section of this prospectus supplement contains more detailed descriptions of the terms and conditions of the notes.
For a description of certain considerations that should be taken into account in connection with an investment in the
notes, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10.
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Issuer
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Ally Financial Inc.
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Notes Offered
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$ aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Guaranteed Notes due
(the “notes”).
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Maturity Date
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The notes will mature on ,
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Interest
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The notes will bear interest at a floating rate, reset quarterly, equal to three-month LIBOR plus % per year, payable quarterly, in arrears, on
, , and
of each year, commencing on , 2013.
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Ranking
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The notes will constitute unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness of Ally.
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rank equally in right of payment with all of Ally’s existing and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness;
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rank senior in right of payment to all of Ally’s existing and future indebtedness that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the notes;
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be effectively subordinated to Ally’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such
indebtedness; and
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be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of Ally’s
subsidiaries not guaranteeing the notes to the extent of the value of the assets of such subsidiaries.
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As of March 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $76.1 billion in principal amount of total debt outstanding, consisting of $37.3 billion and
$38.8 billion in principal amount of unsecured and secured debt, respectively. As of March 31, 2013, Ally on a standalone basis had approximately $36.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of total debt outstanding, all of which was unsecured.
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Note Guarantees
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The note guarantees will constitute unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness of each note guarantor and will:
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rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness of such note guarantor;
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rank senior in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness of such note guarantor that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the
note guarantee of such note guarantor;
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be effectively subordinated to the note guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing
such indebtedness; and
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be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of such note
guarantor’s non-guarantor subsidiaries to the extent of the value of the assets of such subsidiaries.
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The obligations of a note guarantor under its note guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount that will result in the obligations of such note
guarantor under the note guarantee not to be deemed to constitute a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Note Guarantees—Because each note guarantor’s liability
under the note guarantees may be reduced, voided or released under circumstances, you may not receive any payments from some or all of the note guarantors.”
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Redemption
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The notes are not subject to redemption prior to maturity.
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Certain Covenants
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The indenture governing the notes contains covenants that, among other things,
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limit Ally’s ability to:
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grant liens on its assets to secure indebtedness without equally and ratably securing the notes; and
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merge or consolidate, or transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets; and
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require Ally to provide certain periodic and interim reports to the holders of the notes.
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The notes will contain covenants that will, among other things:
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require Ally to use the net sale proceeds of any sale, disposal or transfer of equity interests of any note
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guarantor held by Ally in a transaction following which Ally ceases to own a majority of the equity interests of such note guarantor to make an investment in one or more note guarantors or
subsidiaries of note guarantors, including any subsidiary of Ally that becomes a note guarantor or a subsidiary of a note guarantor, as described in “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Sale of Equity Interests of
Note Guarantors”;
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limit the ability of Ally’s subsidiaries (other than any note guarantor) to guarantee the payment of certain other debt;
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limit the ability of Ally and its subsidiaries to make payments to holders of notes in return for a consent, waiver or amendment to the terms of the
notes; and
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require Ally to provide certain additional financial information to the holders of the notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, under
certain circumstances, as described in the last sentence of “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—SEC Reports and Reports to Holders.”
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The guarantee agreement will contain covenants that will, among other things:
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limit the ability of the note guarantors to merge or consolidate, or to sell or convey all or substantially all of their assets; and
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limit the ability of the note guarantors or any subsidiary of a note guarantor to:
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grant liens on their assets to secure certain indebtedness without equally and ratably securing the notes;
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grant liens on their assets to secure any debt of Residential Capital, LLC (“ResCap”) or any subsidiary of ResCap;
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guarantee any debt of ResCap or any subsidiary of ResCap;
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engage in certain asset sales to Ally or any subsidiary or other affiliate of Ally that is not a note guarantor or a subsidiary of a note guarantor;
and
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engage in certain transactions with affiliates of Ally.
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No Prior Market
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The notes will be new securities for which there is no market. Although the underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes, they are not
obligated to do so, and any market making with respect to the notes may be discontinued without notice. We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid market for the notes will develop
or be maintained.
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Use of Proceeds
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We intend to use the proceeds from this offering for the redemption of Smart Notes. See “Use of Proceeds.”
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Considerations for Benefit Plan Investors
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For a discussion of certain prohibited transactions and fiduciary duty issues pertaining to purchases by or on behalf of an employee benefit plan, see “Certain Benefit
Plan and IRA Considerations.”
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Risk Factors
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For a discussion of risks that you should consider carefully before making an investment in the notes, please read “Risk Factors.”
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately
$ , after deducting the underwriting discount and before estimated offering expenses payable by us. We estimate that our expenses,
other than the underwriting discount, will be approximately $ .
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the redemption of outstanding SmartNotes. As of March 31,
2013, we had $7.5 billion aggregate principal amount of SmartNotes outstanding with maturities ranging between April 2013 and March 2025 and interest rates ranging from 5.25% to 9.0%. Subsequent to March 31, 2013, we have called for redemption
approximately $0.5 billion aggregate principal amount of outstanding SmartNotes. Pending the application of the proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in short-term securities.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges were as follows for the periods presented:
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Three months
ended
March 31,
2013(a)
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Year ended December 31,
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2012(a)
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2011(a)
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2010(a)
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2009(a)
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2008(a)
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(b)
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0.93
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1.13
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0.96
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0.95
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0.30
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2.04
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(a)
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During 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009, we committed to dispose certain operations of our Automotive Finance operations, Insurance operations,
Mortgage operations, and Commercial Finance Group. We report these businesses separately as discontinued operations in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to Note 2 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further
discussion of our discontinued operations. All reported periods of the calculation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges exclude discontinued operations.
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The ratio indicates a less than one-to-one coverage for the three months ended March 31, 2013, and the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and
2009. Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2013, and the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The deficient amounts for the ratio were $66 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2013, and $183 million, $244 million and $3,351 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
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RISK FACTORS
Your decision whether to acquire the notes will involve risk. The risks described below are intended to highlight risks that are
specific to the notes being offered and the related guarantees, but are not the only risks we face.
You should be
aware of, and carefully consider, the following risk factors, along with all of the risks and other information provided or referred to in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein,
including the discussion in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 including all of the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section
thereof, before deciding whether to participate in the offering of the notes. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of those risks actually
occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations would suffer. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking
statements. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus supplement.
Risks Relating to the Notes
Our substantial level of indebtedness could materially adversely affect our ability to generate sufficient cash to fulfill our obligations under the notes, our ability to react to changes in our
business and our ability to incur additional indebtedness to fund future needs.
We have a substantial
amount of indebtedness, which requires significant interest and principal payments. As of March 31, 2013 we had approximately $76.1 billion in principal amount of indebtedness outstanding. We may incur additional indebtedness from time to time. If
we do so, the risks related to our high level of indebtedness could be increased.
Our substantial level of
indebtedness could have important consequences to holders of the notes, including the following:
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making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, including the notes;
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requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available
for other purposes;
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increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our
competitors that have relatively less indebtedness;
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limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate; and
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limiting our ability to borrow additional funds, or to dispose of assets to raise funds, if needed, for working capital, capital expenditures,
acquisitions, research and development and other corporate purposes.
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In addition, a breach
of any of the restrictions or covenants in our debt agreements could cause a cross-default under other debt agreements. A significant portion of our indebtedness then may become immediately due and payable. We are not certain whether we would have,
or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. If any of our indebtedness is accelerated, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full such indebtedness and our other indebtedness.
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We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness,
including the notes.
Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal and interest or to satisfy
our obligations in respect of our indebtedness, to refinance our indebtedness or to fund capital expenditures will depend on our future operating performance. Prevailing economic conditions (including interest rates), regulatory constraints,
including, among other things, on distributions to us from our subsidiaries and required capital levels with respect to certain of our banking and insurance subsidiaries, and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our
control, will also affect our ability to meet these needs. We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows from operations, or obtain future borrowings in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness, or to fund our other liquidity
needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We may not be able to refinance any of our indebtedness when needed on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Our subsidiaries that are not note guarantors (including subsidiaries of the note guarantors that are not note guarantors) will not
guarantee the notes and will not be restricted under the indenture for the notes. Your right to receive payments on the notes and the note guarantees are effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor
subsidiaries.
Our subsidiaries that are not note guarantors will not guarantee the notes and will not
be restricted under the indenture for the notes. Accordingly, in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency, the claims of creditors of those non-guarantor subsidiaries would also rank effectively senior to the notes, to the extent of the assets of
those subsidiaries. None of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, or any of their respective subsidiaries, has any obligation to pay any amounts due on the notes or to provide us with funds for our payment obligations, whether by dividends, distributions,
loans or other payments. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of our non-guarantor subsidiaries, holders of their liabilities, including trade creditors, will generally be entitled to payment of their claims from the
assets of those non-guarantor subsidiaries before any assets are made available for distribution to us. The notes and the indenture and the guarantee agreement relating thereto will permit us to sell our interests in (through merger, consolidation
or otherwise) the non-guarantor subsidiaries, or sell all or substantially all of the assets of any of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, in each case, without the consent of the holders of the notes in certain circumstances.
Our less than wholly owned subsidiaries may also be subject to restrictions on their ability to distribute cash to us in
their financing or other agreements. As a result, we may not be able to access their cash flows to service our debt obligations, including obligations in respect of the notes.
The notes and the note guarantees will be effectively subordinated to our and the note guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness which is secured by a lien on certain of our assets
or certain assets of the note guarantors.
As of March 31, 2013, we had approximately $38.8 billion in
aggregate principal amount of secured indebtedness outstanding. The notes and the note guarantees will not be secured by any of our assets. As a result, our and the note guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness will rank effectively
senior to the indebtedness represented by the notes and the note guarantees, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In the event of any distribution or payment of our or the note guarantors’ assets in any
foreclosure, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, or other bankruptcy proceeding, our or the note guarantors’ secured creditors will have a superior claim to their collateral, as applicable. If any of the foregoing occurs, we
cannot assure you that there will be sufficient assets to pay amounts due on the notes. The existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, excluding those subsidiaries that do guarantee the notes, will be structurally senior to the
indebtedness represented by the notes to the extent of the value of the assets of such subsidiaries.
In
addition, if we default under any of our existing or future secured indebtedness, the holders of such indebtedness could declare all of the funds borrowed thereunder, together with accrued interest, immediately due
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and payable. If we are unable to repay such indebtedness, the holders of such indebtedness could foreclose on the pledged assets to the exclusion of the holders of the notes, even if an event of
default exists under the indenture governing the notes at such time. In any such event, because the notes will not be secured by any of our assets, it is possible that there would be no assets remaining from which your claims could be satisfied or,
if any assets remained, they might be insufficient to satisfy your claims in full.
Your ability to transfer the notes
may be limited by the absence of an active trading market, and there is no assurance that any active trading market will develop for the notes.
The notes are issues of securities for which there is no established public market. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes, as permitted by applicable laws and
regulations; however, the underwriters are not obligated to make a market in any of the notes and they may discontinue their market-making activities at any time without notice. Therefore, an active market for any of the notes may not develop or, if
developed, it may not continue. The liquidity of any market for the notes will depend upon, among other things, the number of holders of the notes, our performance, the market for similar securities, the interest of securities dealers in making a
market in the notes and other factors. A liquid trading market may not develop for the notes. If a market develops, the notes could trade at prices that may be lower than the initial offering price of the notes. If an active market does not develop
or is not maintained, the price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt securities has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of
securities similar to the notes. The market, if any, for any of the notes may not be free from similar disruptions and any such disruptions may adversely affect the prices at which you may sell your notes.
A court could deem the issuance of the notes to be a fraudulent conveyance and void all or a portion of the obligations represented
by the notes.
In a bankruptcy proceeding by Ally, a trustee, debtor in possession, or someone else
acting on behalf of the bankruptcy estate may seek to recover transfers made or void obligations incurred prior to the bankruptcy proceeding on the basis that such transfers and obligations constituted fraudulent conveyances. Fraudulent conveyances
are generally defined to include transfers made or obligations incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration when the debtor was insolvent, inadequately capitalized or in similar financial distress or that rendered the
debtor insolvent, inadequately capitalized or unable to pay its debts as they become due, or transfers made or obligations incurred with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding current or future creditors. A trustee or such other parties may
recover such transfers and avoid such obligations made within two years prior to the commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, creditors may generally recover transfers or void obligations outside of
bankruptcy under applicable fraudulent transfer laws, within the applicable limitation period, which are typically longer than two years. In bankruptcy, a representative of the estate may also assert such claims. If a court were to find that Ally
issued the notes under circumstances constituting a fraudulent conveyance, the court could void all or a portion of the obligations under the notes. In addition, under such circumstances, the value of any consideration holders received with respect
to the notes could also be subject to recovery from such holders and possibly from subsequent transferees.
Therefore, a note could be voided, or claims in respect of a note could be subordinated to all other debts of Ally, if
Ally at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by the notes received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the issuance of the notes, and:
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was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such issuance or incurrence;
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was engaged in a business or transaction for which Ally’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or
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intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature.
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The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws
will vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, a debtor would be considered insolvent if:
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the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than all of its assets at fair valuation;
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the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts,
including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or
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it could not pay its debts as they become due.
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We cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply in determining whether Ally would be considered to be
insolvent. If a court determined that Ally was insolvent after giving effect to the issuance of the new securities, it could void the notes, or potentially impose other forms of damages.
With respect to certain actions under the indenture governing the notes, holders of the notes will vote together as a single class
with holders of all other debt securities issued under the indenture governing the notes that are adversely affected by such actions; therefore the voting interest of a holder of notes under the indenture with respect to such actions will be
diluted.
For purposes of the indenture governing the notes, the notes offered
hereby and all other debt securities issued thereunder will generally constitute a single class of debt securities. Therefore, any action under the indenture governing the notes other than those actions affecting only the notes will require the
consent of the holders of not less than
66
2
/
3
% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities issued thereunder that are affected thereby. See “Description of Notes—Modification of the Indenture.” Consequently, any action
requiring the consent of holders of the notes under the indenture governing the notes may also require the consent of holders of a significant portion of the remaining debt securities issued thereunder, and the individual voting interest of each
holder of the notes may be accordingly diluted with respect to such actions. In addition, holders of debt securities could vote in favor of certain actions under the indenture that holders of the notes vote against, and the requisite consent to such
action could be received nonetheless. We also may, from time to time, issue additional debt securities under the indenture governing the notes which could further dilute the individual voting interest of each holder of the notes with respect to such
actions.
In the event that a bankruptcy court orders the substantive consolidation of any of the note guarantors
with Ally or any of its other subsidiaries, payments on the notes could be delayed or reduced.
We
believe that Ally and the note guarantors have observed and will observe certain corporate and other formalities and operating procedures that are generally recognized requirements for maintaining the separate existence of the note guarantors and
that the assets and liabilities of the note guarantors can be readily identified as distinct from those of Ally and its other subsidiaries. However, we cannot assure you that a bankruptcy court would agree in the event that Ally or any of its
subsidiaries becomes a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code. If a bankruptcy court so orders the substantive consolidation of the note guarantors with Ally or any of its other subsidiaries, noteholders should expect payments on the notes
to be delayed and/or reduced.
Uncertainty relating to the LIBOR calculation process may adversely affect the value of
your floating rate notes.
Regulators and law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom and elsewhere
are conducting civil and criminal investigations into whether the banks that provide rates to the British Bankers’ Association, or the BBA, in connection with the calculation of LIBOR may have been under-reporting or otherwise manipulating or
attempting to manipulate LIBOR.
S-13
Actions by the BBA, regulators or law enforcement agencies may result in
changes to the manner in which LIBOR is determined. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of any such changes and any other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Uncertainty as to the nature of
such potential changes may adversely affect the trading market for LIBOR-based securities, including the floating rate notes.
Risks Relating to the Note Guarantees
Because each note guarantor’s liability under the note guarantees may be reduced, voided or released under certain circumstances, you may not receive any payments from some or all of the note
guarantors.
The holders of the notes will have the benefit of the guarantees of the note guarantors.
However, the guarantees by the note guarantors are limited to the maximum amount that the note guarantors are permitted to guarantee under applicable law. As a result, a note guarantor’s liability under its note guarantee could be reduced
depending on the amount of other obligations of such note guarantor. Further, under the circumstances discussed below, a court under Federal or applicable fraudulent conveyance and transfer statutes could void the obligations under a note guarantee
or further subordinate it to all other obligations of the note guarantor. In addition, the holders of the notes will lose the benefit of a particular note guarantee if it is released under certain circumstances described under “Description of
Notes—Note Guarantees.”
A court could deem the note guarantees a fraudulent conveyance and void all or a
portion of the obligations of the note guarantors.
If a court were to find that any of the note
guarantors issued the note guarantees under circumstances constituting a fraudulent conveyance, the court could void all or a portion of the obligations under such note guarantee and, if payment had already been made under the relevant note
guarantee, require that the recipient return the payment to the relevant note guarantor.
A note guarantee
could be voided, or claims in respect of a note guarantee could be subordinated to all other debts of the applicable note guarantor if the note guarantor at the time it incurred the obligation evidenced by the note guarantee received less than
reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the issuance of the note guarantee, and:
|
|
•
|
|
was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such issuance or incurrence;
|
|
|
•
|
|
was engaged in a business or transaction for which such applicable note guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or
|
|
|
•
|
|
intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature.
|
We cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply in determining whether a note guarantor would be considered
to be insolvent. If a court decided any note guarantee provided by any note guarantor was a fraudulent conveyance and voided such note guarantee, or held it unenforceable for any other reason, you would cease to have any claim in respect of such
note guarantor providing such voided note guarantee and would be a creditor solely of Ally as issuer of the notes and the remaining note guarantors.
The guarantee agreement relating to the notes will contain a provision intended to limit each note guarantor’s liability to the maximum amount that it could incur without causing the incurrence of
obligations under its note guarantee to be a fraudulent transfer. This provision may not be effective to protect the note guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer law, or may eliminate the note guarantor’s obligations or reduce
the note guarantor’s obligations to an amount that effectively makes the note guarantee worthless.
S-14
If the note guarantees were legally challenged, any note guarantee could
also be subject to the claim that, since the note guarantee was incurred for Ally’s benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of the applicable note guarantor, the obligations of the applicable note guarantor were incurred for less than fair
consideration. A court could thus void the obligations under the note guarantees, subordinate them to the applicable note guarantor’s other debt or take other action detrimental to the holders of the notes.
The notes, the indenture and guarantee agreement related thereto contain only limited restrictions on the business and activities
of the note guarantors and our ability to sell the equity interests in note guarantors.
The notes,
the guarantee agreement and the indenture relating thereto will permit the note guarantors to, among other things, transfer less than substantially all of their assets, pledge their assets or incur indebtedness or other obligations in each case
without the consent of the holders of the notes and subject to certain limited exceptions. To the extent that the note guarantors engage in any such transactions, the amount of assets of such note guarantors available to satisfy their obligations
under the note guarantees may be reduced or eliminated.
Although we will be required to use the proceeds of
any sale, disposal or transfer of the equity interests of any note guarantor held by Ally in a transaction following which Ally ceases to own a majority of the equity interests of such note guarantor to reinvest in a note guarantor or a subsidiary
of a note guarantor, upon such a sale, the note guarantee of such former subsidiary will be released and it will have no further obligation with respect to the notes.
S-15
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth on a consolidated basis:
|
|
•
|
|
the actual capitalization of Ally as of March 31, 2013; and
|
|
|
•
|
|
the adjusted capitalization of Ally as of March 31, 2013 on an as adjusted basis to reflect the issuance of the notes.
|
This table should be read in conjunction with the “Selected Historical Consolidated
Financial Data” elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes that are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and our Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted
|
|
|
|
|
(in millions)
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
7,437
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Secured
|
|
|
4,382
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unsecured
|
|
|
3,236
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total short-term debt
|
|
|
7,618
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Secured
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due within one year
|
|
|
10,964
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due after one year
|
|
|
23,444
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total secured long-term debt
|
|
|
34,408
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unsecured
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Existing debt due within one year
|
|
|
3,809
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Existing debt due after one year(1)
|
|
|
29,404
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New % senior guaranteed notes due
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total unsecured long-term debt
|
|
|
33,213
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term debt
|
|
|
67,621
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity
|
|
|
20,474
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
88,095
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totals may not add up due to rounding.
|
(1)
|
Balance includes $956 million of fair value adjustments that was unallocated on March 31, 2013, which is required to balance total debt.
|
S-16
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables set forth selected historical financial information for Ally on a consolidated basis. The
consolidated statement of income data for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2012 and 2011 are derived from, and qualified by reference to, our audited consolidated
financial statements, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and should be read in conjunction with those consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. The consolidated statement of income data for the years ended
December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
The condensed consolidated statement of income data for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 and the condensed consolidated balance sheet data at March 31, 2013 and 2012 are derived from, and qualified by reference to, our unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and should be read in conjunction with those condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
The selected historical financial information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and the corresponding notes, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At and for the
three months
ended March 31,
2013
|
|
|
At and for the year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
($ in millions)
|
|
|
Financial statement data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of income data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total financing revenue and other interest income
|
|
$
|
1,956
|
|
|
$
|
7,342
|
|
|
$
|
6,671
|
|
|
$
|
7,156
|
|
|
$
|
8,069
|
|
|
$
|
10,465
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
881
|
|
|
|
4,052
|
|
|
|
4,606
|
|
|
|
4,832
|
|
|
|
4,876
|
|
|
|
5,858
|
|
|
Depreciation expense on operating lease assets
|
|
|
435
|
|
|
|
1,399
|
|
|
|
941
|
|
|
|
1,251
|
|
|
|
2,256
|
|
|
|
3,159
|
|
|
Impairment of investment in operating leases
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,082
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net financing revenue
|
|
|
640
|
|
|
|
1,891
|
|
|
|
1,124
|
|
|
|
1,073
|
|
|
|
937
|
|
|
|
366
|
|
|
Total other revenue(a)
|
|
|
386
|
|
|
|
2,574
|
|
|
|
2,288
|
|
|
|
2,672
|
|
|
|
3,226
|
|
|
|
10,996
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total net revenue
|
|
|
1,026
|
|
|
|
4,465
|
|
|
|
3,412
|
|
|
|
3,745
|
|
|
|
4,163
|
|
|
|
11,362
|
|
|
Provision for loan losses
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
|
329
|
|
|
|
161
|
|
|
|
361
|
|
|
|
3,584
|
|
|
|
1,701
|
|
|
Total noninterest expense
|
|
|
958
|
|
|
|
3,622
|
|
|
|
3,428
|
|
|
|
3,621
|
|
|
|
3,937
|
|
|
|
4,213
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense
|
|
|
(63
|
)
|
|
|
514
|
|
|
|
(177
|
)
|
|
|
(237
|
)
|
|
|
(3,358
|
)
|
|
|
5,448
|
|
|
Income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations(b)
|
|
|
(123
|
)
|
|
|
(856
|
)
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
(87
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
1,370
|
|
|
|
(219
|
)
|
|
|
(334
|
)
|
|
|
(3,370
|
)
|
|
|
5,535
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
|
|
1,033
|
|
|
|
(174
|
)
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
|
1,363
|
|
|
|
(6,973
|
)
|
|
|
(3,667
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
1,093
|
|
|
$
|
1,196
|
|
|
$
|
(157
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,029
|
|
|
$
|
(10,343
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,868
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance sheet data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
166,199
|
|
|
$
|
182,347
|
|
|
$
|
184,059
|
|
|
$
|
172,008
|
|
|
$
|
172,306
|
|
|
$
|
189,476
|
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
$
|
67,621
|
|
|
$
|
74,561
|
|
|
$
|
92,885
|
|
|
$
|
86,703
|
|
|
$
|
88,066
|
|
|
$
|
115,935
|
|
|
Total equity
|
|
$
|
20,474
|
|
|
$
|
19,898
|
|
|
$
|
19,280
|
|
|
$
|
20,398
|
|
|
$
|
20,794
|
|
|
$
|
21,854
|
|
|
(a)
|
Total other revenue for 2008 includes $12.6 billion of gains on the extinguishment of debt, primarily related to private exchange and cash tender
offers settled during the fourth quarter.
|
|
(b)
|
Effective June 30, 2009, we converted from a limited liability company into a corporation and, as a result, became subject to corporate U.S.
federal, state, and local taxes. Our conversion to a corporation resulted in a change in tax status and a net deferred tax liability of $1.2 billion was established through income tax expense.
|
S-17
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
General
Ally will issue Floating Rate Senior Guaranteed Notes due
(the “notes”) under the indenture dated as of July 1, 1982 (as amended by the first supplemental indenture dated as of April 1, 1986, the second
supplemental indenture dated as of June 15, 1987, the third supplemental indenture dated as of September 30, 1996, the fourth supplemental indenture dated as of January 1, 1998, and the fifth supplemental indenture dated as of
September 30, 1998, and together with such supplemental indentures, the “Indenture”) among Ally and The Bank of New York Mellon (successor to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as trustee (the “Trustee”). The notes
will constitute a separate series of notes from those series previously issued under such Indenture. Those terms of the notes that differ from or that are in addition to the terms of the Indenture will be set forth in the resolution or resolutions
of the board of directors or the executive committee of Ally authorizing the issuance of the notes. For purposes of amending or modifying the Indenture, the holders of the notes will generally vote as a single class with the holders of debt
securities of all other series at the time outstanding under the Indenture (together with the notes, the “Debt Securities”).
The following description is a summary of certain provisions of the Indenture, the notes, and the Guarantee Agreement (as defined below). It does not restate the Indenture, the notes, or the Guarantee
Agreement in their entirety and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents. You may request copies of the Indenture at Ally’s address set forth under “Incorporation by Reference; Where You Can Find More Information.”
Except as specified otherwise, a “business day” is any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close and is also a London business day as defined below in “Principal Amount; Maturity and Interest.”
The notes will be issued only in fully registered book-entry form without coupons only in minimum denominations of $2,000
principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will be issued in the form of global notes. Global notes will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC, New York, New York, as described under “Book-Entry,
Delivery and Form of Notes.”
The notes offered hereby will be issued on or about July
, 2013.
Principal Amount; Maturity and Interest
Ally will issue the notes offered by this prospectus supplement in an initial aggregate principal amount of
$ . The notes will mature on .
The notes will be denominated in U.S. dollars and all payments of principal and interest thereon will be paid in U.S. dollars.
We will pay interest on the notes quarterly on ,
, and of each year, beginning
, 2013 (each an “interest payment date”). Interest on the notes will accrue from and including the date the notes are
issued (the “issue date”) or from and including the most recent interest payment date. If any interest payment date would otherwise be a day that is not a business day, the interest payment date will be postponed to the immediately
succeeding day that is a business day, except that if that business day is in the immediately succeeding calendar month, the interest payment date shall be the immediately preceding business day.
The “regular record date” for payments is the date 15 calendar days prior to each interest payment date.
The interest rate on the notes will be will be reset quarterly on
, , and
of each year, commencing , 2013 and at maturity (each an “interest reset date”). If any
interest reset date would otherwise be a day that is not a business day, the interest reset date will be postponed to the immediately succeeding day that is a business day, except that if that business day is in the immediately succeeding calendar
month, the interest reset date shall be the immediately preceding business day.
S-18
The “initial interest reset period” (or “initial interest
period”) will be the period from and including the settlement date to but excluding the first interest reset date. Thereafter, each “interest reset period” (or “interest period”) will be the period from and including an
interest reset date to but excluding the immediately succeeding interest reset date; provided that the final interest reset period for the notes will be the period from and including the interest reset date immediately preceding the maturity date of
such notes to but excluding the maturity date. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a 360-day year.
The interest rate for the first interest period (or “initial interest reset period”) will be the three-month U.S. dollar London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), as determined on
, plus a margin of %. Thereafter, the interest rate for any interest period will be U.S. dollar LIBOR, as determined on the applicable interest
determination date (as defined below), plus a margin of %.
The interest rate
applicable to each interest reset period commencing on the related interest reset date, or the settlement date in the case of the initial interest period, will be the rate determined as of the applicable interest determination date. The
“interest determination date” will be the second London business day immediately preceding the settlement date, in the case of the initial interest reset period, or thereafter the applicable interest reset date. A “London business
day” means a day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.
The Bank of New York Mellon, or its successor appointed by us, will act as calculation agent. Three-month LIBOR will be determined by the calculation agent as of the applicable interest determination date
in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) LIBOR is the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars for the
three-month period which appears on Reuters LIBOR 01 (as defined below) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the applicable interest determination date. “Reuters LIBOR 01” means the display designated on page “LIBOR 01”
on the Reuters Service (or such other page as may replace the LIBOR 01 page on that service, any successor service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association for the purpose of displaying London
interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits). If no rate appears on Reuters LIBOR 01, LIBOR for such interest determination date will be determined in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (ii) below.
(ii) With respect to an interest determination date on which no rate appears on Reuters LIBOR 01 as of approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, on such interest determination date, the calculation agent shall request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks (which may include affiliates of the underwriters) in the London interbank market
selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with the company) to provide the calculation agent with a quotation of the rate at which deposits of U.S. dollars having a three-month maturity, commencing on the second London business day
immediately following such interest determination date, are offered by it to prime banks in the London interbank market as of approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such interest determination date in a principal amount equal to an amount of not
less than U.S. $1,000,000 that is representative for a single transaction in such market at such time. If at least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR for such interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations as
calculated by the calculation agent. If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR for such interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted as of approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such interest
determination date by three major banks (which may include affiliates of the underwriters) selected by the calculation agent (after consultation with the company) for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having a three-month maturity
commencing on the second London business day immediately following such interest determination date and in a principal amount equal to an amount of not less than U.S. $1,000,000 that is representative for a single transaction in such market at such
time; provided, however, that if the banks selected as aforesaid by the calculation agent are not quoting such rates as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR for such interest determination date will be LIBOR determined with respect to the immediately
preceding interest determination date.
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Note Guarantees
Each of IB Finance and US LLC (each a subsidiary of Ally and each a “note guarantor”) will, pursuant to a
guarantee agreement to be dated as of the issue date (the “Guarantee Agreement”) among Ally, each note guarantor and the Trustee, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee (the “note guarantees”) on an
unsubordinated basis the performance and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all payment obligations of Ally in respect of the notes (pursuant to the terms thereof and of the Indenture), whether for
payment of (w) principal of, or premium, if any, interest or additional interest on the notes, (x) expenses, (y) indemnification or (z) otherwise (all such obligations guaranteed by such note guarantors being herein called the
“guaranteed obligations”).
Each note guarantee will be limited to an amount not to exceed the
maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the applicable note guarantor without rendering the note guarantee, as it relates to such note guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws
affecting the rights of creditors generally. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Note Guarantees.”
Each note guarantee will be a continuing guarantee and shall:
(1) subject to the next succeeding paragraph, remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the guaranteed obligations;
(2) subject to the next succeeding paragraph, be binding upon each such note guarantor and its
successors; and
(3) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Trustee and the holders
of the notes and their successors, transferees and assigns.
A note guarantee of a note guarantor will be
automatically released upon:
(1) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through
merger or consolidation) of a majority of the equity interests (including any sale, disposition or other transfer following which the applicable note guarantor is no longer a subsidiary of Ally), of the applicable note guarantor if such sale,
disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with the Indenture; or
(2) the discharge
of Ally’s obligations in respect of the notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the notes.
Not all of Ally’s subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all debt and
other liabilities (including trade payables and lease obligations) of subsidiaries that do not provide note guarantees.
Ranking
The notes will rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated unsecured
indebtedness of Ally, including all Debt Securities, and senior in right of payment to existing and future indebtedness of Ally that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to any secured
indebtedness of Ally to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. As of March 31, 2013, we had approximately $38.8 billion in aggregate principal amount of secured debt outstanding.
The notes will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities
(including trade payables) of subsidiaries of Ally that do not provide note guarantees to the extent of the value of the assets of such subsidiaries.
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Each note guarantee will rank equally in right of payment with all existing
and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness of the applicable note guarantor, and senior in right of payment to existing and future indebtedness of such note guarantor, if any, that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the note guarantee
of such note guarantor. Each note guarantee will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness of such note guarantor to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt and will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing
and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of any non-guarantor subsidiaries of such note guarantor.
Redemption
The notes are not subject to redemption prior to maturity, and there is no sinking fund for the notes.
Certain Covenants
Limitation on Liens
The Indenture provides that Ally will not pledge or otherwise subject to any lien any of its property or assets unless
the notes are secured by such pledge or lien equally and ratably with any and all other obligations and indebtedness secured thereby so long as any such other obligations and indebtedness shall be so secured. This covenant does not apply to:
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the pledge of any assets to secure any financing by Ally of the exporting of goods to or between, or the marketing thereof in, foreign countries
(other than Canada), in connection with which Ally reserves the right, in accordance with customary and established banking practice, to deposit, or otherwise subject to a lien, cash, securities or receivables, for the purpose of securing banking
accommodations or as the basis for the issuance of bankers’ acceptances or in aid of other similar borrowing arrangements;
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the pledge of receivables payable in foreign currencies (other than Canadian dollars) to secure borrowings in foreign countries (other than Canada);
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any deposit of assets of Ally with any surety company or clerk of any court, or in escrow, as collateral in connection with, or in lieu of, any bond
on appeal by Ally from any judgment or decree against it, or in connection with other proceedings in actions at law or in equity by or against Ally;
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any lien or charge on any property, tangible or intangible, real or personal, existing at the time of acquisition of such property (including
acquisition through merger or consolidation) or given to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price thereof or to secure any indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 60 days after, the acquisition thereof for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof; and
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any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any lien, charge or pledge
referred to in the foregoing four clauses of this paragraph; provided, however, that the amount of any and all obligations and indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the amount thereof so secured immediately prior to the time of such
extension, renewal or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the charge or lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).
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Merger and Consolidation
The Indenture provides that Ally will not merge or consolidate with another corporation or sell or convey all or
substantially all of Ally’s assets to another person, firm or corporation unless either Ally is the continuing corporation or the new corporation shall expressly assume the interest and principal (and premium, if
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any) due under the Debt Securities. In either case, the Indenture provides that neither Ally nor a successor corporation may be in default of performance immediately after such merger or
consolidation or sale or conveyance. Additionally, the Indenture provides that in the case of any such merger or consolidation or sale or conveyance, the successor corporation may continue to issue securities under the Indenture.
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor will merge or consolidate with another corporation or sell or
convey all or substantially all of its assets to another person, firm or corporation unless either it is the continuing corporation or the new corporation shall expressly assume the obligation to serve as a note guarantor of Ally’s obligations
under the notes. In either case, the Guarantee Agreement will provide that neither the note guarantor nor any successor corporation may be in default of performance immediately after such merger or consolidation or sale or conveyance.
SEC Reports and Reports to Holders
Ally will be required to file with the Trustee within fifteen days after Ally is required to file the same with the SEC,
copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which Ally may be required to file with the SEC
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if Ally is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with the rules
and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered
on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations. In addition, Ally will be required to file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the SEC, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by Ally with the conditions and covenants provided for in the Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations. Ally has also
agreed that, for so long as any notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the
Exchange Act, it will furnish to the holders of the notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Limitation on Sale of Equity Interests of Note Guarantors
Ally will not be permitted to sell, dispose of or otherwise transfer any of the equity interests of any note guarantor
held by Ally in a transaction following which Ally ceases to own a majority of the equity interests of such note guarantor (a “note guarantor equity sale”) unless the net sale proceeds of such note guarantor equity sale are used within
five business days following the receipt by Ally of such net sale proceeds from such note guarantor equity sale to make an investment in one or more note guarantors or subsidiaries of note guarantors, including any subsidiary of Ally that becomes a
note guarantor or a subsidiary of a note guarantor. For purposes of this description of notes, the term “subsidiary” when used in respect to any person shall include a direct or indirect subsidiary of such person.
Limitation on Liens on Assets of Note Guarantors
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that, so long as the notes remain outstanding, no note guarantor nor any subsidiary
of a note guarantor will pledge or otherwise subject to any lien any of its property or assets to secure (a) any debt (as defined below) of Ally or any direct or indirect parent of Ally or ResCap or any subsidiary of ResCap or (b) any debt
incurred to repay, retire, redeem, refund, refinance, replace, defease, cancel, repurchase or exchange any such debt described in the foregoing clause (a), in each case unless the notes are secured by such pledge or lien equally and ratably with
such debt so long as any such other debt shall be so secured; provided, that financings, securitizations and hedging activities conducted by a subsidiary of Ally in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in contemplation of the payment of
debt described in clause (a) prior to its stated maturity shall not be deemed to be covered by clause (b).
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The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor, nor any
subsidiary of a note guarantor, will pledge or otherwise subject to any lien any of its property or assets to secure any debt of ResCap or any subsidiary of ResCap.
“debt” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, any indebtedness of such person: (1) in respect
of borrowed money of such person; (2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments issued by such person; (3) in respect of letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or other similar instruments issued on account of such
person; (4) representing the portion of capital lease obligations (that does not constitute interest expense) and attributable debt in respect of sale leaseback transactions; (5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase
price of any property or services acquired by or rendered to such person due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed; (6) representing obligations of such person with respect to the redemption,
repayment or other repurchase of any preferred stock; and (7) hedging obligations in connection with debt referred to in clauses (1) through (6).
“person” means any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust association, organization or other entity of any kind or
nature.
Limitation on Guarantees of Debt
Ally will not permit any of its subsidiaries, other than any note guarantor, to guarantee the payment of (a) any
debt of Ally or any direct or indirect parent of Ally or (b) any debt incurred to repay, retire, redeem, refund, refinance, replace, defease, cancel, repurchase or exchange any such debt referred to in clause (a), unless in each case such
subsidiary executes and delivers a joinder to the Guarantee Agreement providing for a guarantee by such subsidiary of the notes on an unsubordinated basis; provided, that financings, securitizations and hedging activities conducted by a subsidiary
of Ally in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in contemplation of the payment of debt described in clause (a) prior to its stated maturity shall not be deemed to be covered by clause (b). In the event that any subsidiary rendering
a guarantee of the notes is released and discharged in full of the guarantee of all such other debt, then the guarantee of the notes shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged.
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor, nor any subsidiary of a note guarantor, will guarantee the
payment of any debt of ResCap or any subsidiary of ResCap.
Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor, nor any subsidiary of a note guarantor,
will make an Asset Sale (as defined below) to Ally or any subsidiary or other affiliate of Ally that is not a note guarantor or a subsidiary of a note guarantor, other than:
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any Asset Sale on terms not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor or subsidiary, as applicable, than those that might
reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a person who is not Ally or a subsidiary or other affiliate of Ally (as determined in good faith by such note guarantor or subsidiary or, if
the consideration received in connection with such Asset Sale (or series of related Asset Sales) exceeds $250 million, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Ally, or, if the consideration received in connection with such Asset
Sale (or series of related Asset Sales) exceeds $500 million, subject to a customary fairness opinion from an independent accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing to the effect that (i) the financial terms of such
Asset Sale are fair to such note guarantor or subsidiary of such note guarantor, as applicable, from a financial point of view or (ii) the financial terms of such Asset Sale are not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor
or subsidiary of such note guarantor, as applicable, than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis from a person who is not an affiliate of Ally);
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any Asset Sale to a note guarantor or to a subsidiary of a note guarantor (other than to ResCap or any of its subsidiaries if ResCap or such
subsidiaries become note guarantors or subsidiaries of note guarantors);
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any Asset Sale of the equity interests of a subsidiary of a note guarantor provided that such subsidiary shall become a note guarantor as of the
time such Asset Sale occurs;
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any Asset Sale in connection with financing, securitization and hedging activities conducted by Ally or any subsidiary of Ally in the ordinary
course of business on terms not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor or subsidiary, as applicable, than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length basis
from a person who is not Ally or a subsidiary or other affiliate of Ally; or
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any Asset Sale in connection with the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any note guarantor in a manner permitted pursuant to
the provisions described in the second paragraph above under “—Merger and Consolidation.”
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“Asset Sale” means:
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the conveyance, sale, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets of a
note guarantor or any of its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any agreement with respect to a transaction that has the effect of conveying or monetizing the value of such property or assets) (each referred to in this definition as a
“disposition”); or
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the issuance or sale of equity interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties
to the extent received by applicable law) of any subsidiary of a note guarantor (including, without limitation, any agreement with respect to a transaction that has the effect of conveying or monetizing the value of such equity interests), whether
in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,
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in each case, other than:
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(a)
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any disposition of property or assets by a note guarantor or subsidiary of a note guarantor or issuance of securities by a subsidiary of a note
guarantor to a note guarantor or another subsidiary of a note guarantor (other than to ResCap or any of its subsidiaries if ResCap or such subsidiaries become note guarantors or subsidiaries of note guarantors);
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(b)
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any disposition of cash or cash equivalents other than the disposition of any cash or cash equivalents that represent proceeds from the disposition
of property or assets or the sale or the issuance or sale of capital stock (collectively, “Subject Assets”), and the disposition of such Subject Assets (if made in lieu of such disposition of cash or cash equivalents) would not otherwise
comply with the covenant “Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors”;
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(c)
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any disposition of property or assets by any note guarantor or subsidiary of a note guarantor or issuance or sale of equity interests of any
subsidiary of a note guarantor which property, assets or equity interests, as applicable, so sold or issued in any transaction or series of related transactions, have an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by such note guarantor
or subsidiary) of less than $25 million;
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the granting of any lien permitted by the covenant described above under “—Limitation on Liens on Assets of Note Guarantors”; and
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foreclosure on assets or property.
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Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that each note guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to,
make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of related transactions, contract, agreement,
loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any affiliate of Ally involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25 million (each of the foregoing, an “affiliate transaction”), unless: (i) such affiliate transaction is on
terms that are not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor or the relevant subsidiary than those that could reasonably have been obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction by such note guarantor or such subsidiary
with an unaffiliated party; and (ii) with respect to any affiliate transaction or series of related affiliate transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $250 million, such affiliate transaction is approved by the board of
directors of Ally; and (iii) with respect to any affiliate transaction or series of related affiliate transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $500 million, Ally must obtain and deliver to the trustee a written opinion of a
nationally recognized investment banking, accounting or appraisal firm stating that the transaction is fair to such note guarantor or such subsidiary, as the case may be, from a financial point of view.
The foregoing limitation does not limit, and shall not apply to:
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any disposition permitted under the covenant “—Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors”;
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the payment of reasonable and customary fees and indemnities to members of the board of directors of Ally or a subsidiary;
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the payment of reasonable and customary compensation and other benefits (including retirement, health, option, deferred compensation and other
benefit plans) and indemnities to officers and employees of Ally or any subsidiary;
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transactions between or among any note guarantor or subsidiary of a note guarantor and any other note guarantor or any subsidiary of a note
guarantor, provided, however that this exception shall not apply to ResCap or any of its subsidiaries if ResCap or such subsidiaries become note guarantors or subsidiaries of note guarantors;
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the issuance of equity interests of any note guarantor otherwise permitted hereunder and capital contributions to any note guarantor;
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(6)
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any agreement or arrangement as in effect on the issue date of the notes and any amendment or modification thereto so long as such amendment or
modification is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the notes in any material respect; and
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transactions with GM or any of its subsidiaries, or any customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case,
in the ordinary course of business.
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Payments for Consent
Ally will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any
consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any holder of any notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the notes unless such consideration is offered
to be paid or agreed to be paid to all holders of the notes which so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
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Modification of the Indenture
The Indenture contains provisions permitting Ally and the Trustee to modify or amend the Indenture or any supplemental
indenture or the rights of the holders of the Debt Securities issued, with the consent of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities which are affected by such modification or amendment, voting as one
class, provided that, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected, no such modification shall:
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extend the fixed maturity of any Debt Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or premium, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time
of payment of interest thereon, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected; or
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reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such modification, without the consent
of the holders of all Debt Securities then outstanding under the Indenture.
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The Indenture
contains provisions permitting Ally and the Trustee to enter into indentures supplemental to the Indenture, without the consent of the holders of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding, for one or more of the following purposes:
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to evidence the succession of another corporation to Ally, or successive successions, and the assumption by any successor corporation of certain
covenants, agreements and obligations;
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to add to the covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as Ally’s board of directors and the Trustee shall
consider to be for the protection of the holders of Debt Securities;
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to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities in coupon form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and to provide for
exchangeability of such securities with securities issued thereunder in fully registered form;
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to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained therein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision contained therein or in any supplemental indenture; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee; or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising
under the Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any Debt Securities; or
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment by a successor trustee.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of the notes shall vote as a separate class with respect to amendments,
modifications or waivers affecting only the notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to amendments to or waivers of the following covenants that will be set forth in the notes: the covenant described in the last sentence under
“—Certain Covenants—SEC Reports and Reports to Holders”, the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Sale of Equity Interests of Note Guarantors”, the covenant described in the first
paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Guarantees of Debt” and the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Payments for Consent”, and all such covenants and provisions hereinafter referred to
as, the “Additional Covenants”) and the holders of other Debt Securities shall not have any voting rights with respect to such matters as they relate to the notes.
The Guarantee Agreement will contain provisions:
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permitting Ally, the note guarantors and the Trustee to modify or amend the Guarantee Agreement with the consent of the holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes voting together as a single class provided that, without the consent of the holder of each note, no
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such modification shall, except with respect to the covenant described in the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Merger and Consolidation,” the covenant described
under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Liens on Assets of Note Guarantors,” the covenant described in the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Guarantees of Debt,” the covenant described
under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors” and the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates” and as otherwise expressly permitted,
modify the note guarantees in any way adverse to the holders of the notes; and
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permitting Ally, the note guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of the notes to (i) enter into modifications or
amendments to the Guarantee Agreement to add note guarantors, (ii) provide for the assumption by a successor guarantor of the obligations under the Guarantee Agreement, (iii) release any note guarantee in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement, (iv) add to the covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as Ally’s board of directors and the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of notes,
(v) cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained therein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein, (vi) make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising
under the Guarantee Agreement as shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any notes and (vii) evidence and provide for a successor trustee.
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Events of Default
An event of default with respect to the
notes is defined in the Indenture as being (the “Indenture Events of Default”):
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default in payment of any principal or premium, if any;
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default for 30 days in payment of any interest;
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default in the performance of any other covenant in the Indenture or the notes for 30 days after notice by the Trustee or holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities at the time outstanding; or
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Ally.
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Furthermore, an event of default (the “Guarantee Event of Default,” and a Guarantee Event of Default or any
Indenture Event of Default, an “Event of Default”) shall have occurred if at any time (a) any note guarantee of any note guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such note guarantee
and the Indenture), (b) any note guarantee of any note guarantor is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid or (c) any note guarantor asserts in writing that its note guarantee is not in effect or is not its legal,
valid or binding obligation (other than by reason of release of a note guarantor from its note guarantee in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and the note guarantee).
In case any of the first, second or third Indenture Events of Default above, or the Guarantee Event of Default, shall
occur and be continuing with respect to the notes, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities affected thereby then outstanding may declare the principal amount of all of the Debt Securities
affected thereby to be due and payable. In case an event of default as set out in the fourth Indenture Event of Default above shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the
Debt Securities then outstanding, voting as one class, may declare the principal of all outstanding Debt Securities to be due and payable. Any Event of Default with respect to the notes may be waived and a declaration of acceleration of payment
rescinded by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes, or of all the outstanding Debt Securities, as the case may be, if sums
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sufficient to pay all amounts due other than amounts due upon acceleration are provided to the Trustee and all defaults are remedied. For such purposes, if the principal of all series of Debt
Securities shall have been declared to be payable, all series will be treated as a single class. Ally is required to file with the Trustee annually an officers’ certificate as to the absence of certain defaults under the terms of the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to the securityholders of any default, except in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it considers it in the interest of the securityholders to do so.
The holders of the notes shall vote as a separate class from the holders of the other Debt Securities with respect to any
defaults or events of default or remedies relating thereto as a result of any covenants, obligations or provisions affecting only the notes, including the Additional Covenants.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee in case an Event of Default shall occur
and be continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the securityholders, unless such securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it.
Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee
and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred on the Trustee.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the notes if at any time (a) Ally shall have
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all notes theretofore authenticated (other than any notes which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid), or (b) all such notes not theretofore delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of
notice of redemption, and Ally shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to Ally) sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all notes
not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if in either case Ally shall also
pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by Ally with respect to the notes.
All
such moneys deposited with the Trustee shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including Ally acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the notes for the payment or redemption of
which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest (and premium, if any).
Further Issues
Ally may from time to time, without notice
to or the consent of the registered holders of the notes, create and issue further notes ranking equally with the notes offered by this prospectus supplement in all respects, or in all respects except for the issue date and price to public, the
payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further notes or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of such further notes. Such further notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the notes
offered by this prospectus supplement and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the notes offered by this prospectus supplement.
Concerning the Trustee
The Trustee will be designated by
Ally as the initial paying agent, transfer agent and registrar to the notes. The Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is currently located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W, New York, N.Y. 10286, U.S.A., Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
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The Indenture provides that the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event
of Default and after the curing of all such Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. If any such Event of Default has occurred (which has not
been cured), the Trustee will use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise of the rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. The
Indenture also provides that the Trustee or any agent of Ally or the Trustee, in their individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee provided, however, that
all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as provided in the Indenture, be held in trust thereunder for the purposes for which they were received and need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction
The Indenture is and the notes will be governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.
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BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM OF NOTES
Except as set forth below, notes will be issued in registered global form (the “Global Notes”) without interest
coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, in New York, New York, and registered in the name of DTC or its
nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below.
Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC
or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated
Notes.” Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes (as defined below). Transfers of beneficial interests in the
Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream), which may change from time to time.
Initially, the Trustee will act as paying agent and registrar. The notes may be presented for registration of transfer
and exchange at the offices of the registrar.
Certain Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a
matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them from time to time. We take no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urge
investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised us
that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between
Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system
is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”).
Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the
Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.
DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to procedures established by it, ownership of interests in the Global Notes will
be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interest
in the Global Notes).
The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in
definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf
of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such
interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
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Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will
not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof under the indenture governing the notes for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on a Global Note registered in the
name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the indenture governing the notes. Under the terms of the indenture governing the notes, we and the Trustee will treat the persons in whose names the
notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Consequently, none of us, the Trustee or any of our or the Trustee’s agents has or
will have any responsibility or liability for (i) any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in the Global Notes, or
for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or (ii) any other matter relating to the
actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants. DTC has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit
the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date, in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in the principal amount of beneficial interest in the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC unless DTC
has reason to believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the
responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the Trustee or us. Neither we nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial
owners of the notes, and we and the Trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Except for trades involving only Euroclear and Clearstream participants, interests in the Global Notes are expected to be eligible to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and secondary
market trading activity in such interests will, therefore, settle in immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures of DTC and its Participants. See “—Same-Day Settlement and Payment.” Subject to the
transfer restrictions set forth under “Transfer Restrictions,” transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in
Euroclear or Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Crossmarket transfers between the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on
behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system
in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective
depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable
to DTC. Euroclear and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositaries for Euroclear or Clearstream.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global
Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the notes, DTC reserves the right
to exchange the Global Notes for legended notes in certificated form and to distribute such notes to its Participants.
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Neither we nor the Trustee nor any of our or their respective agents will
have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Participants or Indirect Participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes
A
Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) if (i) DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and we thereupon fail to
appoint a successor depositary within 90 days or (ii) we at any time determine not to have the notes represented by the Global Notes. In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for Certificated Notes upon request, but
only upon prior written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the indenture governing the notes, and in accordance with the certification requirements set forth in the indenture governing the notes. In all cases,
Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of DTC (in accordance with its customary procedures)
and will bear the applicable restrictive legend referred to in “Transfer Restrictions,” unless we determine otherwise in compliance with applicable law.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
Payments in respect of
the notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note holder. With respect to notes in certificated
form, we will make all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such
holder’s registered address. The notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC
to be settled in immediately available funds. We expect that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such
crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has
advised us that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC, but
will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.
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CERTAIN BENEFIT PLAN AND IRA CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase of the notes, holding and, to the
extent relevant, disposition of notes by an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), a plan described in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “Code”), including an individual retirement account (“IRA”) or a Keogh plan, a plan subject to provisions under applicable federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to the
provisions of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (“Similar Laws”) and any entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any such employee benefit or retirement plan’s investment in such
entity (each of which we refer to as a “Plan”).
General Fiduciary Matters
. ERISA and the
Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (an “ERISA Plan”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan with its fiduciaries
or other interested parties. In general, under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of such an ERISA Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such an ERISA Plan, or
who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to such an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan. Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain
church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA or Section 4975(g)(3) of the Code) and non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) are not subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (but may
be subject to similar prohibitions under Similar Laws).
In considering the purchase, holding and, to the
extent relevant, disposition of notes with a portion of the assets of a Plan, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code
or any Similar Law relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan including, without limitation, the prudence, diversification, delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.
Prohibited Transaction Issues
. Section 406 of ERISA prohibits ERISA Plans from engaging in
specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of Section 3(14) of ERISA, and Section 4975 of the Code imposes an excise tax on certain “disqualified
persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, who engage in similar transactions, in each case unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may
be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of an ERISA Plan that engages in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and
the Code. In the case of an IRA, the occurrence of a prohibited transaction could cause the IRA to lose its tax-exempt status.
The purchase and/or holding of notes by an ERISA Plan with respect to which Ally, the underwriters or a note guarantor (or certain of our or their affiliates) is considered a party in interest or a
disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable
statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, or “PTCEs,” that may apply to the acquisition and holding of the notes. These
class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE 84-14 respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE 90-1 respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38 respecting bank collective
investment funds, PTCE 95-60 respecting life insurance company general accounts and PTCE 96-23 respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers. In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code each
provides a limited exemption, commonly referred to as the “service provider exemption,” from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code for certain transactions between an ERISA Plan and a person that
is a party in interest and/or a disqualified person (other than a fiduciary or an affiliate that, directly or indirectly, has or exercises any discretionary authority or control or renders any investment advice with respect to the assets of any
ERISA Plan involved in
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the transaction) solely by reason of providing services to the Plan or by relationship to a service provider, provided that the ERISA Plan pays no more or receives no less than adequate
consideration in connection with the transaction. There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied at the time that the notes are acquired by a purchaser, or thereafter, if the facts relied upon for
utilizing a prohibited transaction exemption change.
Because of the foregoing, the notes should not be
acquired or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such acquisition and holding will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or similar violation of any
applicable Similar Laws.
Representation
. Each purchaser and holder of notes will be deemed to have
represented and warranted that either (i) it is not a Plan, such as an IRA, and no portion of the assets used to acquire or hold the notes constitutes assets of any Plan or (ii) the purchase and holding of a note will not constitute a
non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a violation under any applicable Similar Laws.
The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all-inclusive. Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt
prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing notes on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA,
Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such investment and whether an exemption would be applicable to the purchase and holding of the notes. The sale of any notes to any Plan is in no respect a representation by us or any of our
affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by such Plans generally or any particular plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for Plans generally or any particular
Plan.
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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following summary describes material U.S. federal income tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the notes.
This discussion applies only to notes that:
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are purchased in this offering by initial holders at the “issue price,” which will equal the first price to the public (not including bond
houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold for money; and
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•
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are held as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
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This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you
in light of your particular circumstances or if you are subject to special rules, such as:
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a financial institution (such as a bank or an insurance company);
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a tax-exempt organization;
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a dealer in securities;
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a person holding notes as part of a “straddle” or an integrated transaction;
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•
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a U.S. Holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
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•
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a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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•
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a person subject to the alternative minimum tax.
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If you are a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of your partners
will generally depend upon your activities and the status of the partners. If you are a partner in a partnership holding notes, you are urged to consult your tax adviser as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding and
disposing of the notes.
This summary is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions
and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, changes to any of which after the date of this prospectus supplement may affect the tax consequences described herein, possibly on a retroactive basis.
This summary does not discuss unearned income Medicare contribution taxation under Section 1411 of the Code, any aspect
of state, local, or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. federal tax considerations other than income taxation (such as estate or gift taxation).
If you are considering the purchase of notes, you are urged to consult your tax adviser with regard to the application of the U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation as well as any tax
consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction.
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “U.S. Holder.” You are a “U.S. Holder” if you are a
beneficial owner of a note that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a citizen or individual resident of the United States;
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an entity taxable as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or
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an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.
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Payments of Interest
Interest paid on a note will be taxable to you as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is received, in accordance with your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Sale, Retirement or Other Disposition
Upon the sale, retirement or other disposition of a note, you will generally recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount realized on the sale, retirement or other disposition and your tax basis in the note (generally, its cost). For these purposes, the amount realized does not include any amount attributable to accrued interest. Amounts
attributable to accrued interest and not previously included in income are treated as interest as described under “Payments of Interest” above.
Gain or loss realized on the sale, retirement or other disposition of a note will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, retirement or other
disposition, the note has been held for more than one year. If you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, any long-term capital gain you recognize is subject to a reduced rate of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Information returns may be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) in connection with payments on
the notes and the proceeds from a sale, retirement or other disposition of the notes. You will be subject to U.S. backup withholding on these payments if you fail timely to provide your correct taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and
comply with certain certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may
entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder.” You are a “Non-U.S.
Holder” if you are a beneficial owner of a note that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a nonresident alien individual;
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a foreign corporation; or
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a foreign estate or trust.
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Subject to the discussion below concerning effectively connected income and backup withholding:
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Payments of interest on the notes will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax (including 30% U.S. federal withholding tax), provided that:
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you do not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Ally entitled to vote and are
not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to Ally through stock ownership; and
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you have fulfilled the certification requirement described below.
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You will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale, retirement or other disposition of a note, unless (i) the gain
is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, in which case you will be subject to tax as and to the extent described below or (ii) you are an individual who is present in the United States for a period
or periods aggregating 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met, in which case you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain (net of certain U.S.-source capital losses) at a rate of
30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate).
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The certification requirement described above
generally will be satisfied if you certify on IRS Form W-8BEN (or other appropriate form), under penalties of perjury, that you are not a U.S. person.
If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if income or gain on the note is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business, (i) that income or gain,
although exempt from the withholding tax referred to above, will generally be subject to tax in the same manner as income or gain realized by a U.S. Holder (see “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders” above), subject to an applicable
income tax treaty providing otherwise, and (ii) you will generally be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or other appropriate form) in order to receive payments of interest free of withholding. In that event, you should
consult your tax adviser with respect to other U.S. tax consequences of owning and disposing of notes, including, if you are a foreign corporation, the possible imposition of a branch profits tax on your effectively connected earnings and profits at
a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with interest payments on the notes. Unless you comply with
certification procedures to establish that you are not a U.S. person, information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with the payment of proceeds of a sale, retirement or other disposition of a note, and you may be subject to backup
withholding with respect to payments on your notes or on the proceeds from the sale, retirement or other disposition of a note. Compliance with the certification procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax on interest described
above will avoid backup withholding as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required
information is timely furnished to the IRS.
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UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions in the underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell
to the underwriters, and the underwriters have severally agreed to purchase from us, the entire principal amount of the notes indicated in the following table.
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Name of Underwriter
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Principal Amount of
Notes
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Barclays Capital Inc.
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$
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
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Goldman, Sachs & Co.
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Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
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Total
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$
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The obligations of the underwriters under the underwriting agreement, including their
agreement to purchase notes from us, are several and not joint. The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters will purchase all the notes if any of them are purchased.
The underwriters initially propose to offer the notes to the public at the public offering price that appears on the
cover of this prospectus supplement. After the initial offering, the underwriters may change the public offering price and any other selling terms. The underwriters may offer and sell notes through certain of their affiliates. The offering of the
notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.
In the underwriting agreement, we have agreed that:
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we will not, during the offering of the notes, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman,
Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of in a capital markets transaction any debt securities issued or guaranteed by us or any of the note guarantors and having a tenor of more
than one year; and
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we will indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments
that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
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The
following table shows the underwriting discount that we will pay to the underwriters in connection with the offering of the notes.
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Per Note
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|
Total
|
|
|
Price to Public (1)
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
Underwriting discount
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
Proceeds, before expenses, to Ally
|
|
|
|
%
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Plus accrued interest, if any, from July , 2013.
|
The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at approximately
$ and are payable by us.
In
relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which
the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member
S-38
State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) it has not made and will not make an offer of the notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to
the public in that Relevant Member State other than:
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|
(a)
|
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
|
|
|
(b)
|
to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal
persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive; or
|
|
|
(c)
|
in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,
|
provided that no such offer of the notes shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of
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 the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and
amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending
Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.
Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:
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|
(a)
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it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in
investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the
FSMA does not apply to the issuer; and
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|
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(b)
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it has complied and will comply with all 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.
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Each underwriter has represented and agreed that it
has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell in the Netherlands any notes with a denomination of less than €50,000 (or its other currency equivalent) other than to persons who trade or
invest in securities in the conduct of a profession or business (which includes banks, stockbrokers, insurance companies, pension funds, other institutional investors and finance companies and treasury departments of large enterprises) unless one of
the other exemptions from or exceptions to the prohibition contained in Section 5:2 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (
Wet op het financieel toezicht
) is applicable and the conditions attached to such exemption or exception are
complied with.
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 securities, 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 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
S-39
Kong), or (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.
This prospectus supplement has not been
registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be
circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under
Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275
of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold
investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each
beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust
has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified
in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.
The notes are a new issue of securities, and there is currently no established trading market for the notes. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any national securities exchange or for
inclusion of the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes, but they are not obligated to do so. The underwriters may discontinue any market making in the notes at
any time in their sole discretion. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the notes, that you will be able to sell your notes at a particular time or that prices that you receive when you sell will be
favorable.
You should be aware that the laws and practices of certain countries require investors to pay
stamp taxes and other charges in connection with purchases of securities.
In connection with the offering of
the notes, the underwriters may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position for the underwriters. Stabilizing
transactions involve bids to purchase the notes in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the notes. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has
been completed in order to cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the notes to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of those transactions. If the underwriters engage
in stabilizing or syndicate covering transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
The underwriters
may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such
underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
S-40
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial
institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, lending, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage
activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, currently perform, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us, for which they have
received customary compensation and may provide such services and receive customary compensation in the future. Certain of the relationships involve transactions that are material to us or our affiliates and for which the underwriters and/or their
respective affiliates have received significant fees. In addition, the underwriters and/or their affiliates serve as agents and lenders under certain of our existing credit facilities.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or
hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and such investment and
securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the issuer. If the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or those affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those
underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, the underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist
of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the
notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend
to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
In connection
with acting as underwriters in various transactions for subsidiaries of the Company, certain of the underwriters for this offering are named as defendants in litigation relating to those transactions and may seek indemnification from such
subsidiaries of the Company under the applicable underwriting agreement for any liability and expenses arising from such litigation.
Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates may hold SmartNotes and to the extent such SmartNotes are redeemed by us in connection with the use of proceeds of this offering, such underwriter or
its affiliate may receive a portion of the proceeds of this offering.
S-41
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE; WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the information
in other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and
information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus
supplement the documents listed below:
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|
(a)
|
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012;
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|
|
(b)
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013; and
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(c)
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Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 10, 2013, February 5, 2013 (only the report for Items 2.01 and 9.01), April 2, 2013,
April 18, 2013, April 25, 2013, May 2, 2013, May 8, 2013, May 20, 2013, May 23, 2013, May 31, 2013, June 3, 2013, June 28, 2013 and July 9, 2013.
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We are also incorporating by reference any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the consummation of the offering, except that, unless otherwise indicated, we are not incorporating any
information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K.
Any statement
contained in this prospectus supplement or in a document (or part thereof) incorporated or considered to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement shall be considered to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus
supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document (or part thereof) that is, or is considered to be, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement modifies or
supersedes that statement. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be considered, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this prospectus supplement.
Copies of each of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing)
may be obtained at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address and telephone number:
Ally Financial Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
440 South Church Street, 16th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Tel: (866) 710-4623
Ally is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith files reports and information statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document Ally files with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You may also obtain copies of the same documents from the public reference room of the SEC in Washington by paying a
fee. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visit the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov for further information on the public reference room. Ally’s filings are also electronically available from the SEC’s Electronic Document Gathering
and Retrieval System, which is commonly known by the acronym “EDGAR,” and which may be accessed at www.sec.gov, as well as from commercial document retrieval services.
S-42
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for Ally by Davis Polk &
Wardwell LLP. Certain legal matters with respect to the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cahill Gordon & Reindel
LLP
.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The consolidated financial statements of Ally, as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by
reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 1, 2013, and the effectiveness of Ally’s internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference from the aforementioned Form 10-K. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-43
PROSPECTUS
ALLY FINANCIAL INC.
SENIOR GUARANTEED NOTES
GUARANTEES OF SENIOR GUARANTEED NOTES
Ally Financial Inc. may sell from time to time senior guaranteed notes in one or more offerings. The senior guaranteed
notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by Ally US LLC, IB Finance Holding Company, LLC, GMAC Latin America Holdings LLC, GMAC International Holdings B.V. and GMAC Continental LLC, each a subsidiary of Ally on an unsubordinated basis.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to
investors, on a continuous or delayed basis. The applicable prospectus supplement will provide the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the specific terms of the plan of distribution and any applicable underwriting discounts and
commissions. The securities offered by this prospectus, unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, will not be listed on any exchange, listing authority or quotation system.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement that will describe the
method of sale and terms of the related offering. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
Investing in
the securities offered by this prospectus involves risks. See “
Risk Factors
” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus and contained in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well
as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
The securities offered by this prospectus will not be savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank and
will not be insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
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 January 3, 2011
We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that
contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any
other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any
prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates.
References in this prospectus to “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Ally Financial Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (including Residential
Capital, LLC, or “ResCap”) on a consolidated basis, unless the context otherwise requires, and the term “Ally” refers only to Ally Financial Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a
“shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may from time to time sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may
offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Information Incorporated by Reference; Where You Can Find More Information”.
ii
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE; WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information
incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in
this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below:
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(a)
|
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, portions of which have been updated by the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed
on August 6, 2010 and October 13, 2010;
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|
|
(b)
|
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010 (as amended by the Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q/A filed on November 15, 2010) and September 30, 2010; and
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|
|
(c)
|
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2010 (two reports and other than with respect to Item 7.01 and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 of
Item 9.01), January 12, 2010 (two reports), March 9, 2010, April 2, 2010, April 12, 2010, April 16, 2010 (two reports), May 7, 2010, May 11, 2010, May 24,
2010, May 26, 2010, July 16, 2010, August 6, 2010, August 12, 2010, October 13, 2010, October 19, 2010, November 4, 2010, December 27, 2010 and December 30, 2010.
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We are also incorporating by reference all future filings we make with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement, except that, unless otherwise indicated, we are not incorporating any information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not incorporating any document or
information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules.
Ally is subject to the
informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, files reports and information statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that Ally files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public
Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of the same documents from the public reference room of the SEC in Washington by paying a fee. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visit the SEC’s
website at
http://www.sec.gov
for further information on the public reference room. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at
http://www.sec.gov
, from which interested persons can electronically access our SEC filings,
including the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto.
You may also obtain a copy of
any or all of the documents referred to above that may have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus (excluding certain exhibits to the documents) at no cost to you by writing or telephoning us at the following address and
telephone number:
Ally Financial Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
440 South Church Street, 14th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Tel: (866) 710-4623
iii
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference documents containing
various forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based upon our current expectations and assumptions concerning future events that
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.
The words “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “initiative,” “objective,” “plan,” “goal,” “project,”
“outlook,” “priorities,” “target,” “intend,” “evaluate,” “pursue,” “seek,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “believe,”
“potential,” “continue,” or the negative of any of these words or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than
statements of historical fact, including without limitation statements about future events and financial performance, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties.
While these statements represent our current judgment on what the future may hold, and we believe these judgments are
reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to numerous important factors that are described in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2009, as updated by our subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and the other documents specifically incorporated by reference herein. See “Information
Incorporated by Reference; Where You Can Find More Information”. Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond our control, and may cause our actual results and performance to differ materially from our expectations.
Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made. We undertake
no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where expressly required by law.
iv
SUMMARY
This summary highlights some of the information contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus to help
you understand our business and the senior guaranteed notes (the “notes”). It does not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should carefully read this prospectus in its entirety, including the information
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, to understand fully the terms of the notes, as well as the other considerations that are important to you in making your investment decision. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus
supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement when
making your investment decision. You should pay special attention to the “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 and incorporated by reference herein and the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
beginning on page iv.
Our Company
Ally Financial Inc. (formerly GMAC Inc.) is one of the world’s largest automotive financial services companies.
Founded in 1919 as a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation (currently General Motors Company or GM), Ally is the official preferred source of financing for GM, Chrysler, Saab, Suzuki, Fiat, and Thor Industries vehicles and offers a
full suite of automotive financing products and services in key markets around the world. Our other business units include mortgage operations and commercial finance, and our subsidiary, Ally Bank, which offers online retail banking products. Ally
also operates as a bank holding company. On December 24, 2008, we became a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.
Our principal executive offices are located at 200 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265, and our telephone number
is (866) 710-4623.
The Note Guarantors
The notes will be guaranteed on a joint and several basis by the following subsidiaries of Ally: Ally US LLC (formerly
known as GMAC US LLC), IB Finance Holding Company, LLC, GMAC Latin America Holdings LLC, GMAC International Holdings B.V. and GMAC Continental LLC. Debt of the note guarantors or of subsidiaries of the note guarantors that is owed to Ally or other
subsidiaries of Ally will rank junior to the note guarantees or will be held by a note guarantor.
Each note
guarantor is a first-tier wholly owned subsidiary of Ally. A simplified structure chart of Ally and each of the note guarantors is set forth below:
1
Securities Being Offered
The notes will be unsubordinated unsecured obligations of Ally and will rank equally in right of payment with all of
Ally’s existing and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all
existing and future secured indebtedness of Ally to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of
subsidiaries of Ally that are not note guarantors, to the extent of the value of the assets of those subsidiaries.
The notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by Ally US LLC, IB Finance Holding Company, LLC, GMAC Latin America Holdings LLC, GMAC International Holdings B.V. and GMAC Continental LLC, each a subsidiary
of Ally (collectively, the “note guarantors”), on an unsubordinated basis (the “note guarantees”). The note guarantees will be unsubordinated unsecured obligations of each note guarantor and will rank equally in right of payment
with all of each applicable note guarantor’s existing and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness, including each note guarantor’s guarantee of certain outstanding Ally notes, and senior in right of payment to all existing and future
indebtedness of the applicable note guarantor that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the applicable note guarantee. Each note guarantee will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness of such note guarantor to the extent of the
value of the assets securing such indebtedness and will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of any non-guarantor subsidiaries of such note guarantor to the
extent of the value of the assets of such subsidiaries. See “Description of Notes—Ranking.”
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the notes will not be subject to redemption prior to
maturity and there will be no sinking fund for the notes.
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were 0.04,
1.52, 0.91, 1.14 and 1.27, respectively. Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 1.18. See “Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.”
2
RISK FACTORS
Your decision whether to acquire the notes will involve risk. The risks described below are intended to highlight
risks that are specific to the notes and the related guarantees, but are not the only risks we face. You should be aware of, and carefully consider, the following risk factors, along with all of the risks and other information provided or referred
to in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including the discussions in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (as may be amended or supplemented in subsequent reports on Form 10-K,
Form 10-Q or Form 8-K). In addition, other risks that we face are described from time to time in periodic reports that we file with the SEC. If any of the following risks actually occur, the value of the notes could decline, and you may lose all or
part of your investment. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements, and our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements.
Risks Relating To The Notes
Our substantial level of indebtedness could materially adversely affect our ability to generate sufficient cash to fulfill our obligations under the notes, our ability to react to changes in our
business and our ability to incur additional indebtedness to fund future needs.
We have a substantial
amount of indebtedness, which requires significant interest and principal payments. Our existing and future secured indebtedness will rank effectively senior to the notes offered hereby to the extent of the value of the assets securing such
indebtedness. We may incur additional indebtedness from time to time. If we do so, the risks related to our high level of indebtedness could be increased.
Our substantial level of indebtedness could have important consequences to holders of the notes, including the following:
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making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness, including the notes;
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•
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requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available
for other purposes;
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•
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increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our
competitors that have relatively less indebtedness;
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•
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limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate; and
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•
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limiting our ability to borrow additional funds, or to dispose of assets to raise funds, if needed, for working capital, capital expenditures,
acquisitions, research and development and other corporate purposes.
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In addition, a breach
of any of the restrictions or covenants in our debt agreements could cause a cross-default under other debt agreements. A significant portion of our indebtedness then may become immediately due and payable. We are not certain whether we would have,
or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. If any of our indebtedness is accelerated, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full such indebtedness and our other indebtedness.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, including the notes.
Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal and interest or to satisfy our obligations in respect of our
indebtedness, to refinance our indebtedness or to fund capital expenditures will depend on our future operating performance. Prevailing economic conditions (including interest rates), regulatory constraints, including, among other things, on
distributions to us from our subsidiaries and required capital levels with respect to certain of our banking and insurance subsidiaries, and financial, business and other factors, many of
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which are beyond our control, will also affect our ability to meet these needs. We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows from operations, or obtain future borrowings in an amount
sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We may not be able to refinance any of our indebtedness when needed on
commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Our subsidiaries that are not note guarantors (including
subsidiaries of the note guarantors that are not note guarantors) will not guarantee the notes and will not be restricted under the indenture for the notes or the note guarantees. Your right to receive payments on the notes and the note
guarantees are effectively subordinated to the indebtedness of our non-guarantor subsidiaries.
Our
subsidiaries that are not note guarantors will not guarantee the notes and will not be restricted under the indenture for the notes or the note guarantees. Accordingly, in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency, the claims of creditors of
those non-guarantor subsidiaries would also rank effectively senior to the notes, to the extent of the assets of those subsidiaries. None of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, or any of their respective subsidiaries, has any obligation
to pay any amounts due on the notes or to provide us with funds for our payment obligations, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of our non-guarantor
subsidiaries, holders of their liabilities, including trade creditors, will generally be entitled to payment of their claims from the assets of those non-guarantor subsidiaries before any assets are made available for distribution to us. The
notes and the indenture and the guarantee agreement relating thereto will permit us to sell our interests in (through merger, consolidation or otherwise) the non-guarantor subsidiaries, or sell all or substantially all of the assets of any of the
non-guarantor subsidiaries, in each case, without the consent of the holders of the notes in certain circumstances.
Our less than wholly owned subsidiaries may also be subject to restrictions on their ability to distribute cash to us in their financing or other agreements. As a result, we may not be able to access
their cash flows to service our debt obligations, including obligations in respect of the notes.
The notes and the note
guarantees will be effectively subordinated to our and the note guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness which is secured by a lien on certain of our assets or certain assets of the note guarantors.
The notes and the note guarantees will not be secured by any of our assets. As a result, our and the note
guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness will rank effectively senior to the indebtedness represented by the notes and the note guarantees, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In the event of any
distribution or payment of our or the note guarantors’ assets in any foreclosure, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, or other bankruptcy proceeding, our or the note guarantors’ secured creditors will have a superior
claim to their collateral, as applicable. If any of the foregoing occurs, we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient assets to pay amounts due on the notes. The existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, excluding those
subsidiaries that do guarantee the notes, will be structurally senior to the indebtedness represented by the notes to the extent of the value of the assets of such subsidiaries.
In addition, if we default under any of our existing or future secured indebtedness, the holders of such indebtedness
could declare all of the funds borrowed thereunder, together with accrued interest, immediately due and payable. If we are unable to repay such indebtedness, the holders of such indebtedness could foreclose on the pledged assets to the exclusion of
the holders of the notes, even if an event of default exists under the indenture governing the notes at such time. In any such event, because the notes will not be secured by any of our assets, it is possible that there would be no assets remaining
from which your claims could be satisfied or, if any assets remained, they might be insufficient to satisfy your claims in full.
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A court could deem the issuance of the notes to be a fraudulent conveyance and void
all or a portion of the obligations represented by the notes.
In a bankruptcy proceeding, a trustee,
debtor in possession, or someone else acting on behalf of the bankruptcy estate may seek to recover transfers made or void obligations incurred prior to the bankruptcy proceeding on the basis that such transfers and obligations constituted
fraudulent conveyances. Fraudulent conveyances are generally defined to include transfers made or obligations incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration when the debtor was insolvent, inadequately capitalized or in
similar financial distress or that rendered the debtor insolvent, inadequately capitalized or unable to pay its debts as they become due, or transfers made or obligations incurred with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding current or
future creditors. A trustee or such other parties may recover such transfers and avoid such obligations made within two years prior to the commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, creditors may generally
recover transfers or void obligations outside of bankruptcy under applicable fraudulent transfer laws, within the applicable limitation period, which are typically longer than two years. In bankruptcy, a representative of the estate may also assert
such claims. If a court were to find that Ally issued the notes under circumstances constituting a fraudulent conveyance, the court could void all or a portion of the obligations under the notes. In addition, under such circumstances, the value of
any consideration holders received with respect to the notes could also be subject to recovery from such holders and possibly from subsequent transferees.
Therefore, a note could be voided, or claims in respect of a note could be subordinated to all other debts of Ally, if Ally at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by the notes received less
than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the issuance of the notes, and:
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was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such issuance or incurrence;
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was engaged in a business or transaction for which Ally’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or
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intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature.
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The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary depending upon the law applied in any
proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, a debtor would be considered insolvent if:
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the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than all of its assets at fair valuation;
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the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts,
including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or
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it could not pay its debts as they become due.
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We cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply in determining whether Ally would be considered to be
insolvent. If a court determined that Ally was insolvent after giving effect to the issuance of the new securities, it could void the notes, or potentially impose other forms of damages.
With respect to certain actions under the indenture governing the notes, holders of the notes will vote together as a single class
with holders of all other debt securities issued under the indenture governing the notes that are adversely affected by such actions; therefore the voting interest of a holder of notes under the indenture with respect to such actions will be
diluted.
For purposes of the indenture governing the notes, the notes offered hereby and all other
debt securities issued thereunder will generally constitute a single class of debt securities. Therefore, any action under the
5
indenture governing the notes other than those actions affecting only the notes will require the consent of the holders of not less than 66
2
/
3
% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities issued thereunder that are affected thereby. See “Description of Notes—Modification of the Indenture.” Consequently, any action
requiring the consent of holders of the notes under the indenture governing the notes may also require the consent of holders of a significant portion of the remaining debt securities issued thereunder, and the individual voting interest of each
holder of the notes may be accordingly diluted with respect to such actions. In addition, holders of debt securities could vote in favor of certain actions under the indenture that holders of the notes vote against, and the requisite consent to such
action could be received nonetheless. We also may, from time to time, issue additional debt securities under the indenture governing the notes which could further dilute the individual voting interest of each holder of the notes with respect to such
actions.
In the event that a bankruptcy court orders the substantive consolidation of any of the note guarantors
with Ally or any of its other subsidiaries, payments on the notes could be delayed or reduced.
We
believe that Ally and the note guarantors have observed and will observe certain corporate and other formalities and operating procedures that are generally recognized requirements for maintaining the separate existence of the note guarantors and
that the assets and liabilities of the note guarantors can be readily identified as distinct from those of Ally and its other subsidiaries. However, we cannot assure you that a bankruptcy court would agree in the event that Ally or any of its
subsidiaries becomes a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code. If a bankruptcy court so orders the substantive consolidation of the note guarantors with Ally or any of its other subsidiaries, noteholders should expect payments on the notes
to be delayed and/or reduced.
Risks Relating To The Note Guarantees
Because each note guarantor’s liability under the note guarantees may be reduced, voided or released under certain
circumstances, you may not receive any payments from some or all of the note guarantors.
The holders
of the notes will have the benefit of the guarantees of the note guarantors. However, the guarantees by the note guarantors are limited to the maximum amount that the note guarantors are permitted to guarantee under applicable law. As a result, a
note guarantor’s liability under its note guarantee could be reduced depending on the amount of other obligations of such note guarantor. Further, under the circumstances discussed below, a court under Federal or applicable fraudulent
conveyance and transfer statutes could void the obligations under a note guarantee or further subordinate it to all other obligations of the note guarantor. In addition, the holders of the notes will lose the benefit of a particular note guarantee
if it is released under certain circumstances described under “Description of Notes—Note Guarantees.”
A
court could deem the note guarantees a fraudulent conveyance and void all or a portion of the obligations of the note guarantors.
If a court were to find that any of the note guarantors issued the note guarantees under circumstances constituting a fraudulent conveyance, the court could void all or a portion of the obligations under
such note guarantee and, if payment had already been made under the relevant note guarantee, require that the recipient return the payment to the relevant note guarantor.
A note guarantee could be voided, or claims in respect of a note guarantee could be subordinated to all other debts of
the applicable note guarantor if the note guarantor at the time it incurred the obligation evidenced by the note guarantee received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the issuance of the note guarantee, and:
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was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such issuance or incurrence;
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was engaged in a business or transaction for which such applicable note guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or
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intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature.
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We cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply in determining whether a note guarantor would be considered
to be insolvent. If a court decided any note guarantee provided by any note guarantor was a fraudulent conveyance and voided such note guarantee, or held it unenforceable for any other reason, you would cease to have any claim in respect of such
note guarantor providing such voided note guarantee and would be a creditor solely of Ally as issuer of the notes and the remaining note guarantors.
The guarantee agreement relating to the notes will contain a provision intended to limit each note guarantor’s liability to the maximum amount that it could incur without causing the incurrence of
obligations under its note guarantee to be a fraudulent transfer. This provision may not be effective to protect the note guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer law, or may eliminate the note guarantor’s obligations or reduce
the note guarantor’s obligations to an amount that effectively makes the note guarantee worthless. In a recent Florida bankruptcy case, a similar provision was found to be ineffective to protect the note guarantees.
If the note guarantees were legally challenged, any note guarantee could also be subject to the claim that, since the
note guarantee was incurred for Ally’s benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of the applicable note guarantor, the obligations of the applicable note guarantor were incurred for less than fair consideration. A court could thus void the
obligations under the note guarantees, subordinate them to the applicable note guarantor’s other debt or take other action detrimental to the holders of the notes.
A court could deem the note guarantee of GMAC International Holdings a fraudulent conveyance or a violation of other laws and void all or a portion of the obligations of GMAC International Holdings
under Dutch law.
To the extent that Dutch law applies, a guarantee granted by a legal entity may,
under certain circumstances, be nullified by any of its creditors, if (i) the guarantee was granted without an obligation to do so (
onverplicht
), (ii) the creditor concerned was prejudiced as a consequence of the guarantee and
(iii) at the time the guarantee was granted both the legal entity and, unless the guarantee was granted for no consideration (
om niet
), the beneficiary of the guarantee knew or should have known that one or more of the entities’
creditors (existing or future) would be prejudiced. Also to the extent that Dutch insolvency law applies, a guarantee or security may be nullified by the receiver (
curator
) on behalf of and for the benefit of all creditors of the insolvent
debtor.
In addition, if a Dutch company grants a guarantee and that guarantee is not in the company’s
corporate interest, the guarantee may be nullified by the Dutch company, its receiver and its administrator (
bewindvoerder
) and, as a consequence, not be valid, binding and enforceable against it. In determining whether the granting of such
guarantee is in the interest of the relevant company, the Dutch courts would consider the text of the objects clause in the articles of association of the company and whether the company derives certain commercial benefits from the transaction in
respect of which the guarantee was granted. In addition, if it is determined that there are no, or insufficient, commercial benefits from the transaction for the company that grants the guarantee, then such company (and any bankruptcy receiver) may
contest the enforcement of the guarantee. It remains possible that even where strong financial and commercial interdependence exists, the transaction may be declared void if it appears that the granting of the guarantee cannot serve the realization
of the relevant company’s objectives.
If Dutch law applies, a guarantee or security governed by Dutch
law may be voided by a court, if the document was executed through undue influence (
misbruik van omstandigheden
), fraud (
bedrog
), duress (
bedreiging
) or mistake (
dwaling
) of a party to the agreement contained in that
document.
In addition, a guarantee issued by a Dutch company may be suspended or voided by the Enterprise
Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Amsterdam (
Ondernemingskamer van het Gerechtshof te Amsterdam
) on the motion of a trade union and of other entities entitled thereto in the articles of association (
statuten
) of the relevant
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Dutch company. Likewise, the guarantee or security itself may be upheld by the Enterprise Chamber, yet actual payment under it may be suspended or avoided.
The notes, the indenture and guarantee agreement related thereto contain only limited restrictions on the business and activities
of the note guarantors and our ability to sell the equity interests in note guarantors.
The notes,
the guarantee agreement and the indenture relating thereto will permit the note guarantors to, among other things, transfer less than substantially all of their assets, pledge their assets or incur indebtedness or other obligations in each case
without the consent of the holders of the notes and subject to certain limited exceptions. To the extent that the note guarantors engage in any such transactions, the amount of assets of such note guarantors available to satisfy their obligations
under the note guarantees may be reduced or eliminated.
Although we will be required to use the proceeds of
any sale, disposal or transfer of the equity interests of any note guarantor held by Ally in a transaction following which Ally ceases to own a majority of the equity interests of such note guarantor to reinvest in a note guarantor or a subsidiary
of a note guarantor, upon such a sale, the note guarantee of such former subsidiary will be released and it will have no further obligation with respect to the notes.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the notes will be used for
general corporate purposes, which could include working capital, retirement of debt and other business purposes.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented:
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Nine months
ended
September 30,
2010 (a)
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Year ended December 31,
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($ in millions)
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2009 (a)
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2008 (a)
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2007 (a)
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2006 (a)
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2005 (a)
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (b)
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1.18
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0.04
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1.52
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0.91
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1.14
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1.27
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(a)
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During 2009, we committed to sell certain operations of our International Automotive Finance operations, Insurance operations, Mortgage operations,
and Commercial Finance Group. We report these businesses separately as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of our discontinued operations.
All reported periods of the calculation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges exclude discontinued operations.
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(b)
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The ratio indicates a less than one-to-one coverage for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2007. Earnings available for fixed charges for
the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2007, were inadequate to cover total fixed charges. The deficit amounts for the ratio were $6,938 million and $1,293 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2007, respectively.
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DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR GUARANTEED
NOTES AND GUARANTEES OF SENIOR GUARANTEED NOTES
The following description of the terms of the senior
guaranteed notes and the guarantees of the senior guaranteed notes provides general terms and provisions of the securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. We will describe in any prospectus supplement the particular terms of the
senior guaranteed notes offered and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions apply to the senior guaranteed notes.
General
Ally will issue the notes under the indenture dated as of July 1, 1982 (as amended by the first
supplemental indenture dated as of April 1, 1986, the second supplemental indenture dated as of June 15, 1987, the third supplemental indenture dated as of September 30, 1996, the fourth supplemental indenture dated as of
January 1, 1998, and the fifth supplemental indenture dated as of September 30, 1998, and together with such supplemental indentures, the “Indenture”) among Ally and The Bank of New York Mellon (successor to Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York), as trustee (the “Trustee”). The notes will constitute a separate series of notes from those series previously issued under such Indenture. Those terms of the notes that differ from or that are in addition to the terms
of the Indenture will be set forth in the resolution or resolutions of the board of directors or the executive committee of Ally authorizing the issuance of the notes. For purposes of amending or modifying the Indenture, the holders of the notes
will generally vote as a single class with the holders of debt securities of all other series at the time outstanding under the Indenture (together with the notes, the “Debt Securities”).
The following description is a summary of certain provisions of the Indenture, the notes, and the Guarantee Agreement (as
defined below). It does not restate the Indenture, the notes, or the Guarantee Agreement in their entirety and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such documents. You may request copies of the Indenture at Ally’s address set forth
under “Information Incorporated by Reference; Where You Can Find More Information”.
The notes will
be issued only in fully registered book-entry form without coupons only in minimum denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 above that amount. The notes will be issued in the form of global notes. Global notes will
be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC, New York, New York, as described under “Book-Entry, Delivery and Form of Notes.”
Principal Amount; Maturity and Interest
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the notes will be denominated in U.S. dollars and all payments of principal and interest thereon will be paid in U.S. dollars.
The notes will bear interest at a fixed or floating rate or rates for the period or periods of time specified
in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Interest on the notes will accrue from and including the date the notes are issued (the “issue date”) or from
and including the most recent interest payment date (whether or not such interest payment date was a business day) for which interest has been paid or provided for to but excluding the relevant interest payment date.
If an interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day, the interest payment will be postponed to the next
succeeding business day, with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest will accrue as a result of such delay.
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Note Guarantees
Each of Latin America LLC, GMAC International Holdings, Continental LLC, IB Finance and US LLC (each a subsidiary of Ally
and each a “note guarantor”) will, pursuant to a guarantee agreement to be dated as of the issue date (the “Guarantee Agreement”) among Ally, each note guarantor and the Trustee, jointly and severally, irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee (the “note guarantees”) on an unsubordinated basis the performance and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all payment obligations of Ally in respect of the notes
(pursuant to the terms thereof and of the Indenture), whether for payment of (w) principal of, or premium, if any, interest or additional interest on the notes, (x) expenses, (y) indemnification or (z) otherwise (all such
obligations guaranteed by such note guarantors being herein called the “guaranteed obligations”).
Each note guarantee will be limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the
applicable note guarantor without rendering the note guarantee, as it relates to such note guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Note Guarantees.”
Each note guarantee will be a
continuing guarantee and shall:
(1) subject to the next succeeding paragraph, remain in full
force and effect until payment in full of all the guaranteed obligations;
(2) subject to the
next succeeding paragraph, be binding upon each such note guarantor and its successors; and
(3) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Trustee and the holders of the notes and their
successors, transferees and assigns.
A note guarantee of a note guarantor will be automatically released
upon:
(1) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger or consolidation)
of a majority of the equity interests (including any sale, disposition or other transfer following which the applicable note guarantor is no longer a subsidiary of Ally), of the applicable note guarantor if such sale, disposition or other transfer
is made in compliance with the Indenture; or
(2) the discharge of Ally’s obligations in
respect of the notes in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the notes.
Not all of Ally’s
subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all debt and other liabilities (including trade payables and lease obligations) of subsidiaries that do not provide note guarantees.
Ranking
The notes will rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness of
Ally, including all Debt Securities, and senior in right of payment to existing and future indebtedness of Ally that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the notes. The notes will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness of Ally
to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.
The notes will be structurally subordinated to
all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of subsidiaries of Ally that do not provide note guarantees to the extent of the value of the assets of such subsidiaries.
Each note guarantee will rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsubordinated unsecured
indebtedness of the applicable note guarantor, and senior in right of payment to existing and future
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indebtedness of such note guarantor, if any, that by its terms is expressly subordinated to the note guarantee of such note guarantor. Each note guarantee will be effectively subordinated to any
secured indebtedness of such note guarantor to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt and will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of any
non-guarantor subsidiaries of such note guarantor.
Redemption
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the notes will not be subject to redemption prior to
maturity and there will be no sinking fund for the notes.
Certain Covenants
Limitation on Liens
The Indenture provides that Ally will not pledge or otherwise subject to any lien any of its property or assets unless the notes are secured by such pledge or lien equally and ratably with any and all
other obligations and indebtedness secured thereby so long as any such other obligations and indebtedness shall be so secured. This covenant does not apply to:
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the pledge of any assets to secure any financing by Ally of the exporting of goods to or between, or the marketing thereof in, foreign countries
(other than Canada), in connection with which Ally reserves the right, in accordance with customary and established banking practice, to deposit, or otherwise subject to a lien, cash, securities or receivables, for the purpose of securing banking
accommodations or as the basis for the issuance of bankers’ acceptances or in aid of other similar borrowing arrangements;
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the pledge of receivables payable in foreign currencies (other than Canadian dollars) to secure borrowings in foreign countries (other than Canada);
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any deposit of assets of Ally with any surety company or clerk of any court, or in escrow, as collateral in connection with, or in lieu of, any bond
on appeal by Ally from any judgment or decree against it, or in connection with other proceedings in actions at law or in equity by or against Ally;
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any lien or charge on any property, tangible or intangible, real or personal, existing at the time of acquisition of such property (including
acquisition through merger or consolidation) or given to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price thereof or to secure any indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 60 days after, the acquisition thereof for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof; and
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any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any lien, charge or pledge
referred to in the foregoing four clauses of this paragraph; provided, however, that the amount of any and all obligations and indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the amount thereof so secured immediately prior to the time of such
extension, renewal or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the charge or lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).
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Merger and Consolidation
The Indenture provides that Ally will not merge or consolidate with another corporation or sell or convey all or
substantially all of Ally’s assets to another person, firm or corporation unless either Ally is the continuing corporation or the new corporation shall expressly assume the interest and principal (and premium, if any) due under the Debt
Securities. In either case, the Indenture provides that neither Ally nor a successor
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corporation may be in default of performance immediately after such merger or consolidation or sale or conveyance. Additionally, the Indenture provides that in the case of any such merger or
consolidation or sale or conveyance, the successor corporation may continue to issue securities under the Indenture.
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor will merge or consolidate with another corporation or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to another person, firm or
corporation unless either it is the continuing corporation or the new corporation shall expressly assume the obligation to serve as a note guarantor of Ally’s obligations under the notes. In either case, the Guarantee Agreement will provide
that neither the note guarantor nor any successor corporation may be in default of performance immediately after such merger or consolidation or sale or conveyance.
SEC Reports and Reports to Holders
Ally will be
required to file with the Trustee within fifteen days after Ally is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the
SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which Ally may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if Ally is not required to file information, documents or
reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports
which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations. In addition, Ally will be
required to file with the Trustee and the SEC, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by Ally with the conditions and
covenants provided for in the Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations. Ally has also agreed that, for so long as any notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the Exchange Act, it will furnish to the holders of the notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information
required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Limitation on Sale
of Equity Interests of Note Guarantors
Ally will not be permitted to sell, dispose of or otherwise
transfer any of the equity interests of any note guarantor held by Ally in a transaction following which Ally ceases to own a majority of the equity interests of such note guarantor (a “note guarantor equity sale”) unless the net sale
proceeds of such note guarantor equity sale are used within five business days following the receipt by Ally of such net sale proceeds from such note guarantor equity sale to make an investment in one or more note guarantors or subsidiaries of note
guarantors, including any subsidiary of Ally that becomes a note guarantor or a subsidiary of a note guarantor. For purposes of this description of notes, the term “subsidiary” when used in respect to any person shall include a direct or
indirect subsidiary of such person.
Limitation on Liens on Assets of Note Guarantors
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that, so long as the notes remain outstanding, no note guarantor nor any subsidiary
of a note guarantor will pledge or otherwise subject to any lien any of its property or assets to secure (a) any debt (as defined below) of Ally or any direct or indirect parent of Ally or ResCap or any subsidiary of ResCap or (b) any debt
incurred to repay, retire, redeem, refund, refinance, replace, defease, cancel, repurchase or exchange any such debt described in the foregoing clause (a), in each case unless the notes are secured by such pledge or lien equally and ratably with
such debt so long as any such other debt shall be so secured; provided, that financings, securitizations and hedging activities conducted by a subsidiary of Ally in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in contemplation of the payment of
debt described in clause (a) prior to its stated maturity shall not be deemed to be covered by clause (b).
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The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor, nor any
subsidiary of a note guarantor, will pledge or otherwise subject to any lien any of its property or assets to secure any debt of ResCap or any subsidiary of ResCap.
“debt” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, any indebtedness of such person: (1) in respect
of borrowed money of such person; (2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments issued by such person; (3) in respect of letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or other similar instruments issued on account of such
person; (4) representing the portion of capital lease obligations (that does not constitute interest expense) and attributable debt in respect of sale leaseback transactions; (5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase
price of any property or services acquired by or rendered to such person due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed; (6) representing obligations of such person with respect to the redemption,
repayment or other repurchase of any preferred stock; and (7) hedging obligations in connection with debt referred to in clauses (1) through (6).
“person” means any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust association, organization or other entity of any kind or
nature.
Limitation on Guarantees of Debt
Ally will not permit any of its subsidiaries, other than any note guarantor, to guarantee the payment of (a) any
debt of Ally or any direct or indirect parent of Ally or (b) any debt incurred to repay, retire, redeem, refund, refinance, replace, defease, cancel, repurchase or exchange any such debt referred to in clause (a), unless in each case such
subsidiary executes and delivers a joinder to the Guarantee Agreement providing for a guarantee by such subsidiary of the notes on an unsubordinated basis; provided, that financings, securitizations and hedging activities conducted by a subsidiary
of Ally in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in contemplation of the payment of debt described in clause (a) prior to its stated maturity shall not be deemed to be covered by clause (b). In the event that any subsidiary rendering
a guarantee of the notes is released and discharged in full of the guarantee of all such other debt, then the guarantee of the notes shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged.
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor, nor any subsidiary of a note guarantor, will guarantee the
payment of any debt of ResCap or any subsidiary of ResCap.
Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that no note guarantor, nor any subsidiary of a note guarantor,
will make an Asset Sale (as defined below) to Ally or any subsidiary or other affiliate of Ally that is not a note guarantor or a subsidiary of a note guarantor, other than:
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any Asset Sale on terms not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor or subsidiary, as applicable, than those that might
reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s length basis from a person who is not Ally or a subsidiary or other affiliate of Ally (as determined in good faith by such note guarantor or subsidiary or, if
the consideration received in connection with such Asset Sale (or series of related Asset Sales) exceeds $250 million, as determined in good faith by the board of directors of Ally, or, if the consideration received in connection with such Asset
Sale (or series of related Asset Sales) exceeds $500 million, subject to a customary fairness opinion from an independent accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing to the effect that (i) the financial terms of such
Asset Sale are fair to such note guarantor or subsidiary of such note guarantor, as applicable, from a financial point of view or (ii) the financial terms of such Asset Sale are not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor
or subsidiary of such note guarantor, as applicable, than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s length basis from a person who is not an affiliate of Ally);
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any Asset Sale to a note guarantor or to a subsidiary of a note guarantor (other than to ResCap or any of its subsidiaries if ResCap or such
subsidiaries become note guarantors or subsidiaries of note guarantors);
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any Asset Sale of the equity interests of a subsidiary of a note guarantor provided that such subsidiary shall become a note guarantor as of the
time such Asset Sale occurs;
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any Asset Sale in connection with financing, securitization and hedging activities conducted by Ally or any subsidiary of Ally in the ordinary
course of business on terms not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor or subsidiary, as applicable, than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s length basis
from a person who is not Ally or a subsidiary or other affiliate of Ally; or
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any Asset Sale in connection with the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any note guarantor in a manner permitted pursuant to
the provisions described in the second paragraph above under “—Merger and Consolidation.”
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“Asset Sale” means:
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(1)
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the conveyance, sale, transfer or other disposition, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of property or assets of a
note guarantor or any of its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any agreement with respect to a transaction that has the effect of conveying or monetizing the value of such property or assets) (each referred to in this definition as a
“disposition”); or
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(2)
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the issuance or sale of equity interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties
to the extent received by applicable law) of any subsidiary of a note guarantor (including, without limitation, any agreement with respect to a transaction that has the effect of conveying or monetizing the value of such equity interests), whether
in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,
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in each case, other than:
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(a)
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any disposition of property or assets by a note guarantor or subsidiary of a note guarantor or issuance of securities by a subsidiary of a note
guarantor to a note guarantor or another subsidiary of a note guarantor (other than to ResCap or any of its subsidiaries if ResCap or such subsidiaries become note guarantors or subsidiaries of note guarantors);
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(b)
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any disposition of cash or cash equivalents other than the disposition of any cash or cash equivalents that represent proceeds from the disposition
of property or assets or the sale or the issuance or sale of capital stock (collectively, “Subject Assets”), and the disposition of such Subject Assets (if made in lieu of such disposition of cash or cash equivalents) would not otherwise
comply with the covenant “Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors”;
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(c)
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any disposition of property or assets by any note guarantor or subsidiary of a note guarantor or issuance or sale of equity interests of any
subsidiary of a note guarantor which property, assets or equity interests, as applicable, so sold or issued in any transaction or series of related transactions, have an aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by such note guarantor
or subsidiary) of less than $25 million;
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(d)
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the granting of any lien permitted by the covenant described above under “—Limitation on Liens on Assets of Note Guarantors”; and
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(e)
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foreclosure on assets or property.
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Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates
The Guarantee Agreement will provide that each note guarantor will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to,
make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of related transactions, contract, agreement,
loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any affiliate of Ally involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25 million (each of the foregoing, an “affiliate transaction”), unless: (i) such affiliate transaction is on
terms that are not less favorable in any material respect to such note guarantor or the relevant subsidiary than those that could reasonably have been obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction by such note guarantor or such subsidiary
with an unaffiliated party; and (ii) with respect to any affiliate transaction or series of related affiliate transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $250 million, such affiliate transaction is approved by the board of
directors of Ally; and (iii) with respect to any affiliate transaction or series of related affiliate transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $500 million, Ally must obtain and deliver to the trustee a written opinion of a
nationally recognized investment banking, accounting or appraisal firm stating that the transaction is fair to such note guarantor or such subsidiary, as the case may be, from a financial point of view.
The foregoing limitation does not limit, and shall not apply to:
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(1)
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any disposition permitted under the covenant “—Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors”;
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(2)
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the payment of reasonable and customary fees and indemnities to members of the board of directors of Ally or a subsidiary;
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(3)
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the payment of reasonable and customary compensation and other benefits (including retirement, health, option, deferred compensation and other
benefit plans) and indemnities to officers and employees of Ally or any subsidiary;
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(4)
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transactions between or among any note guarantor or subsidiary of a note guarantor and any other note guarantor or any subsidiary of a note
guarantor, provided, however that this exception shall not apply to ResCap or any of its subsidiaries if ResCap or such subsidiaries become note guarantors or subsidiaries of note guarantors;
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(5)
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the issuance of equity interests of any note guarantor otherwise permitted hereunder and capital contributions to any note guarantor;
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(6)
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any agreement or arrangement as in effect on the issue date of the notes and any amendment or modification thereto so long as such amendment or
modification is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the notes in any material respect; and
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(7)
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transactions with GM or any of its subsidiaries, or any customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case,
in the ordinary course of business.
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Payments for Consent
Ally will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any
consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any holder of any notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the notes unless such consideration is offered
to be paid or agreed to be paid to all holders of the notes which so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
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Modification of the Indenture
The Indenture contains provisions permitting Ally and the Trustee to modify or amend the Indenture
or any supplemental indenture or the rights of the holders of the Debt Securities issued, with the consent of the holders of not less than 66-
2
/
3
% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities which are affected by such
modification or amendment, voting as one class, provided that, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected, no such modification shall:
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extend the fixed maturity of any Debt Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or premium, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time
of payment of interest thereon, without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security so affected; or
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reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such modification, without the consent
of the holders of all Debt Securities then outstanding under the Indenture.
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The Indenture
contains provisions permitting Ally and the Trustee to enter into indentures supplemental to the Indenture, without the consent of the holders of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding, for one or more of the following purposes:
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to evidence the succession of another corporation to Ally, or successive successions, and the assumption by any successor corporation of certain
covenants, agreements and obligations;
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to add to the covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as Ally’s board of directors and the Trustee shall
consider to be for the protection of the holders of Debt Securities;
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to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities in coupon form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and to provide for
exchangeability of such securities with securities issued thereunder in fully registered form;
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to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained therein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision contained therein or in any supplemental indenture; to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee; or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising
under the Indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any Debt Securities; or
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment by a successor trustee.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of the notes shall vote as a separate class with respect to amendments,
modifications or waivers affecting only the notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to amendments to or waivers of the following covenants that will be set forth in the notes: the covenant described in the last sentence under
“—Certain Covenants—SEC Reports and Reports to Holders”, the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Sale of Equity Interests of Note Guarantors”, the covenant described in the first
paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Guarantees of Debt” and the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Payments for Consent”, and all such covenants and provisions hereinafter referred to
as, the “Additional Covenants”) and the holders of other Debt Securities shall not have any voting rights with respect to such matters as they relate to the notes.
The Guarantee Agreement will contain provisions:
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permitting Ally, the note guarantors and the Trustee to modify or amend the Guarantee Agreement with the consent of the holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes voting together as a single class provided that, without the consent of the holder of each note, no
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such modification shall, except with respect to the covenant described in the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Merger and Consolidation,” the covenant described
under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Liens on Assets of Note Guarantors,” the covenant described in the second paragraph under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Guarantees of Debt,” the covenant described
under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Asset Sales by Note Guarantors” and the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates” and as otherwise expressly permitted,
modify the note guarantees in any way adverse to the holders of the notes; and
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permitting Ally, the note guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of the notes to (i) enter into modifications or
amendments to the Guarantee Agreement to add note guarantors, (ii) provide for the assumption by a successor guarantor of the obligations under the Guarantee Agreement, (iii) release any note guarantee in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement, (iv) add to the covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as Ally’s board of directors and the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of notes,
(v) cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained therein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained therein, (vi) make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising
under the Guarantee Agreement as shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any notes and (vii) evidence and provide for a successor trustee.
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Events of Default
An event of default with respect to the
notes is defined in the Indenture as being (the “Indenture Events of Default”):
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default in payment of any principal or premium, if any;
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default for 30 days in payment of any interest;
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default in the performance of any other covenant in the Indenture or the notes for 30 days after notice by the Trustee or holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities at the time outstanding; or
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Ally.
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Furthermore, an event of default (the “Guarantee Event of Default,” and a Guarantee Event of Default or any
Indenture Event of Default, an “Event of Default”) shall have occurred if at any time (a) any note guarantee of any note guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such note guarantee
and the Indenture), (b) any note guarantee of any note guarantor is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid or (c) any note guarantor asserts in writing that its note guarantee is not in effect or is not its legal,
valid or binding obligation (other than by reason of release of a note guarantor from its note guarantee in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and the note guarantee).
In case any of the first, second or third Indenture Events of Default above, or the Guarantee Event of Default, shall
occur and be continuing with respect to the notes, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities affected thereby then outstanding may declare the principal amount of all of the Debt Securities
affected thereby to be due and payable. In case an event of default as set out in the fourth Indenture Event of Default above shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all the
Debt Securities then outstanding, voting as one class, may declare the principal of all outstanding Debt Securities to be due and payable. Any Event of Default with respect to the notes may be waived and a declaration of acceleration of payment
rescinded by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes, or of all the outstanding Debt Securities, as the case may be, if sums
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sufficient to pay all amounts due other than amounts due upon acceleration are provided to the Trustee and all defaults are remedied. For such purposes, if the principal of all series of Debt
Securities shall have been declared to be payable, all series will be treated as a single class. Ally is required to file with the Trustee annually an officers’ certificate as to the absence of certain defaults under the terms of the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to the securityholders of any default, except in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it considers it in the interest of the securityholders to do so.
The holders of the notes shall vote as a separate class from the holders of the other Debt Securities with respect to any
defaults or events of default or remedies relating thereto as a result of any covenants, obligations or provisions affecting only the notes, including the Additional Covenants.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee in case an Event of Default shall occur
and be continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the securityholders, unless such securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it.
Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee
and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred on the Trustee.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the notes if at any time (a) Ally shall have
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all notes theretofore authenticated (other than any notes which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid), or (b) all such notes not theretofore delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of
notice of redemption, and Ally shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to Ally) sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all notes
not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if in either case Ally shall also
pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by Ally with respect to the notes.
All
such moneys deposited with the Trustee shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including Ally acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the notes for the payment or redemption of
which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest (and premium, if any).
Further Issues
Ally may from time to time, without notice
to or the consent of the registered holders of the notes, create and issue further notes ranking equally with the notes offered by this prospectus in all respects, or in all respects except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue
date of such further notes or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of such further notes. Such further notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the notes offered by this prospectus and have the same terms
as to status, redemption or otherwise as the notes offered by this prospectus.
Concerning the Trustee
The Trustee will be designated by Ally as the initial paying agent, transfer agent and registrar to the notes. The
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is currently located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 8W, New York, N.Y. 10286, U.S.A., Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.
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The Indenture provides that the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event
of Default and after the curing of all such Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. If any such Event of Default has occurred (which has not
been cured), the Trustee will use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise of the rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. The
Indenture also provides that the Trustee or any agent of Ally or the Trustee, in their individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee provided, however, that
all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as provided in the Indenture, be held in trust thereunder for the purposes for which they were received and need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction
The Indenture is and the notes will be governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.
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BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM OF
NOTES
Except as set forth below, notes will be issued in registered, global form without coupons in
minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof (the “Global Notes”). The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC, in New York, New York, and registered in the
name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below.
Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes
may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes.” Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of
beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Notes (as defined below).
In addition, transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those of
Euroclear and Clearstream), which may change from time to time.
Initially, the Trustee will act as paying
agent and registrar. The notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the registrar.
Certain
Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream
are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them from time to time. We take no responsibility for these operations
and procedures and urge investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance
and settlement of transactions in those securities between Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and
certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or
indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”).
Persons who are not Participants may
beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the
records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.
DTC has also advised us that, pursuant to procedures
established by it, ownership of interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect
Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interest in the Global Notes).
Investors in the
Global Notes may hold their interests therein directly through DTC, if they are Participants in such system, or indirectly through organizations which are Participants in such system. All interests in a Global Note may be subject to the procedures
and requirements of DTC.
The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery in
definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons
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will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having
beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing
such interests.
Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will not have notes
registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof under the indenture governing the notes for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or
its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the indenture governing the notes. Under the terms of the indenture governing the notes, we and the Trustee will treat the persons in whose names the notes, including
the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Consequently, none of us, the Trustee or any of our or the Trustee’s agents has or will have any
responsibility or liability for (i) any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in the Global Notes, or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes or (ii) any other matter relating to the actions
and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants. DTC has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the
accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date, in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in the principal amount of beneficial interest in the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC unless DTC has
reason to believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the
responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the Trustee or us. Neither we nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial
owners of the notes, and we and the Trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Except for trades involving only Euroclear and Clearstream participants, interests in the Global Notes are expected to be eligible to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and secondary
market trading activity in such interests will, therefore, settle in immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures of DTC and its Participants. See “—Same-Day Settlement and Payment.” Transfers between
Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their
respective rules and operating procedures.
Crossmarket transfers between the Participants in DTC, on the one
hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market
transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines of such system. Euroclear or
Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the
relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositaries for
Euroclear or Clearstream.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder
of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or
Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the notes, DTC
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reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for notes in certificated form and to distribute such notes to its Participants.
Neither we nor the Trustee nor any of our or their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by
DTC or its Participants or Indirect Participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Exchange of Book-Entry Notes for Certificated Notes
A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) if (i) DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for
the Global Notes and we thereupon fail to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days or (ii) we at any time determine not to have the notes represented by the Global Notes. In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged
for Certificated Notes upon request, but only upon prior written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the indenture governing the notes, and in accordance with the certification requirements set forth in the
indenture governing the notes. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of DTC (in
accordance with its customary procedures).
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
Payments in respect of the notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest)
will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note holder. With respect to notes in certificated form, we will make all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to trade in
DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. We expect that secondary trading in any Certificated
Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.
Because of time zone differences, the securities
account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities
settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised us that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global
Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC, but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for
Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.
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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
The validity of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be passed on
for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Ally, as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 13, 2010, and the effectiveness of Ally’s internal control over
financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference from the aforementioned Form 8-K and the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, respectively. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
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