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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-147829

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not offers to sell these securities nor solicitations of offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, Dated December 16, 2008

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus dated December 4, 2007

Kraft Foods Inc.

$                     % Notes due    

This is an offering of $             of         % Notes due                      to be issued by Kraft Foods Inc., a Virginia corporation. We will pay interest on the notes on                      and                      of each year beginning on                     , 2009. The notes will be issued in registered form and only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will mature on             ,         .

If we experience a change of control triggering event, we may be required to offer to purchase the notes from holders. See “Description of Notes—Change of Control” in this prospectus supplement. The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness.

Please read the information provided under the caption “Description of Notes” in this prospectus supplement and “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus for a more detailed description of the notes.

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement to read about important factors you should consider before buying the notes.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

		Per Note			Total
Initial public offering price			%		$
Underwriting discount			%		$
Proceeds, before expenses, to Kraft			%		$

The initial public offering price set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the notes will accrue from                     , 2008 and must be paid by the purchasers if the notes are delivered after                     , 2008.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers in registered book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the EuroclearSystem, and its indirect participants, against payment in New York, New York on or about December     , 2008.

Joint Book-Running Managers

BNP PARIBAS       Citi       Deutsche Bank Securities        RBS Greenwich Capital

Senior Co-Managers

Co-Manager

Prospectus Supplement dated December     , 2008.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

About this Prospectus Supplement		S-1
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		S-1
Summary of the Offering		S-2
About the Company		S-4
Recent Developments		S-4
Risk Factors		S-9
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		S-9
Use of Proceeds		S-9
Capitalization		S-10
Summary Historical Financial Data		S-11
Description of Notes		S-12
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations		S-23
Underwriting		S-27
Experts		S-30
Legal Opinions		S-30
Prospectus
About this Prospectus		1
About the Company		1
Risk Factors		2
Where You Can Find More Information		2
Incorporation by Reference		2
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		3
Use of Proceeds		3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		4
Description of Debt Securities		4
Plan of Distribution		15
Experts		16
Legal Matters		16

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any permitted free writing prospectus we have authorized for use with respect to this offering. No one has been authorized to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

In connection with this offering, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. or their respective affiliates may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the notes at levels which might not otherwise prevail. In any jurisdiction where there can only be one stabilizing agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. or its affiliates shall effect such transactions. This stabilizing, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time and will be carried out in compliance with the applicable laws, regulations and rules.

The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering or sale of the notes in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose

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possession this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus come are required by us and the underwriters to inform themselves about and to observe any applicable restrictions.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which that offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make that offer or solicitation.

This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (consisting of the European Union plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (2003/71/EC), each, a Relevant Member State, will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for any offer of such notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant Member State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus supplement may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State in relation to such offer. Further, neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive in relation to such offer.

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RISK FACTORS

Our business is subject to uncertainties and risks. You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2007, as modified by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings filed after such annual report. It is possible that our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations could be adversely affected by any of these risks.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008		Years Ended December 31,(1)
				2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Ratios of earnings to fixed charges		3.4x		5.3	x		6.4	x		6.1	x		5.8	x		7.2	x

 

(1)

On August 4, 2008, we completed the split-off of the Post cereals business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2008, the results of the Post cereals business were presented as discontinued operations. The ratios of earnings to fixed charges presented for the five years ended December 31, 2007 include the results of the divested Post cereals business in earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of accounting change, as the impact of the divestment was not material to any of the periods presented.

Earnings available for fixed charges represent earnings before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of accounting change and fixed charges excluding capitalized interest, net of amortization, reduced by undistributed earnings of our less than 50% owned affiliates. Fixed charges represent interest expense, amortization of debt discount and expenses, capitalized interest, plus that portion of rental expense deemed to be the equivalent of interest.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered notes (estimated at $             before expenses but after deducting the underwriting discount) for general corporate purposes, including the repayment of outstanding commercial paper borrowings. See “Underwriting.”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization on a consolidated basis as of September 30, 2008. We have presented our capitalization:

 

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on an actual basis; and

 

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on an as adjusted basis to reflect:

 

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the issuance of notes offered hereby; and

 

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the use of net proceeds (before expenses but after deducting the underwriting discount) from the issuance of notes offered hereby as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

You should read the following table along with our financial statements and the accompanying notes to those statements, together with management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, contained in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and our summary historical financial data included in this prospectus supplement under the caption “Summary Historical Financial Data.”

 

		As of September 30, 2008
		Actual				As Adjusted
		(unaudited)
		(in millions)
Short-term borrowings, including current maturities		$	1,719			$
% Notes due			—
Other long term debt			18,874				18,874
Total debt			20,593
Shareholders’ equity:
Common Stock			—				—
Additional paid-in capital			23,505				23,505
Retained earnings			13,623				13,623
Accumulated other comprehensive losses			(2,005	)			(2,005	)
Treasury stock, at cost			(8,722	)			(8,722	)
Total shareholders’ equity			26,401				26,401
Total capitalization		$	46,994			$

 

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SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

The following table presents our summary historical financial data and has been derived from and should be read along with our financial statements and the accompanying notes to those statements, management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and other financial information that we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. In addition, on August 4, 2008, we completed the split-off of the Post cereals business. Beginning in the third quarter of 2008, the results of the Post cereals business were presented as discontinued operations. On December 16, 2008, we filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC that presented our unaudited, restated results for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 to reflect the Post cereals business as discontinued operations. The summary historical financial data below reflects this presentation for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

		As of and for the Nine Months Ended September 30,								As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
		2008				2007				2007				2006
		(In millions, except percentages and per share data) (Unaudited)
Summary of Operations:
Net revenues		$	31,434			$	25,991			$	36,134			$	33,256
Cost of sales			20,813				17,018				24,057				21,344
Operating income			3,515				3,006				3,966				4,154
Interest and other debt expense, net			934				378				604				510
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes			2,581				2,628				3,362				3,644
Pre-tax profit margin from continuing operations			8.2	%			10.1	%			9.3	%			11.0	%
Provision for income taxes			818				803				1,002				816
Earnings and gain from discontinued operations, net of income taxes			975				180				230				232
Net earnings			2,738				2,005				2,590				3,060
Basic EPS:
Continuing operations			1.17				1.15				1.50				1.72
Discontinued operations			0.65				0.11				0.14				0.14
Net Earnings			1.82				1.26				1.64				1.86
Diluted EPS:
Continuing operations			1.16				1.13				1.48				1.71
Discontinued operations			0.64				0.12				0.14				0.14
Net Earnings			1.80				1.25				1.62				1.85
Dividends declared per share			0.83				0.77				1.04				0.96
Weighted average shares (millions)-Basic			1,501				1,590				1,575				1,643
Weighted average shares (millions)-Diluted			1,520				1,608				1,594				1,655
Capital expenditures			901				858				1,241				1,169
Depreciation			734				653				873				884
Property, plant and equipment, net			10,638				9,967				10,778				9,693
Inventories			4,664				4,375				4,096				3,506
Total assets			66,945				57,359				67,993				55,574
Short-term borrowings, including current maturities			1,719				2,856				8,107				3,740
Long-term debt			18,874				10,600				12,902				7,081
Total debt			20,593				13,456				21,009				10,821
Total liabilities			40,544				30,477				40,698				27,019
Shareholders’ equity			26,401				26,882				27,295				28,555

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

The following description of the particular terms of the notes, which we refer to as the “notes,” supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth under “Description of Debt Securities” beginning on page 4 of the accompanying prospectus. The accompanying prospectus contains a detailed summary of additional provisions of the notes and of the indenture, dated as of October 17, 2001, between Kraft Foods Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (as successor to The Bank of New York and The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee, under which the notes will be issued. To the extent of any inconsistency, the following description replaces the description of the debt securities in the accompanying prospectus. Terms used in this prospectus supplement that are otherwise not defined will have the meanings given to them in the accompanying prospectus.

Certain Terms of the         % Notes due         

We will offer $             principal amount of the         % Notes due                      as a series of notes under the indenture. Unless an earlier redemption has occurred, the entire principal amount of notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on                     ,                     . The notes will bear interest at the rate of         % per annum from                     , 2008, payable semiannually in arrears on                      and                      of each year, beginning on                     , 2009 to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the preceding                      or                     , each a record date, as the case may be. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

General

In some circumstances, we may elect to discharge our obligations on the notes through full defeasance or covenant defeasance. See “Description of Debt Securities—Defeasance” beginning on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus for more information.

We may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes (except for the issue date, issue price, and, in some cases, the first payment of interest or interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional notes). Any additional notes having such similar terms, together with the notes offered by this prospectus, will constitute a single series of notes under the indenture. No additional notes may be issued if an event of default has occurred with respect to the applicable series of notes.

The notes will not be entitled to any sinking fund.

Change of Control

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes upon the occurrence of specified events involving U.S. taxation as described below under “—Redemption for Tax Reasons,” holders of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) on the terms set forth in the notes. In the Change of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, we will be required to mail a notice to holders of

 

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notes describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures required by the notes and described in such notice. We must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the notes, we will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflicts.

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

 

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accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

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deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

 

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deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased.

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

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

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

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies (as defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a below investment grade rating event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect to a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a below investment grade rating event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event hereunder) if the rating agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the below investment grade rating event).

 

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“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Kraft and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person or group of related persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a “Group”) other than Kraft or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the approval by the holders of Common Stock of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Kraft (whether or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of the indenture); (3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person or Group becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of Kraft’s voting stock; or (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of Kraft’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors.

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of Kraft and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require Kraft to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of Kraft and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or Group may be uncertain.

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

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

“Fitch” means Fitch, Inc.

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

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

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

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

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 

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Book-Entry Notes

The notes will be offered and sold in principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We will issue the notes in the form of one or more permanent global notes in fully registered, book-entry form, which we refer to as the “global notes.” Each such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or any successor thereto, as depositary (the “Depositary”), and registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee). Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for notes in definitive form, no global note may be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of such Depositary. Investors may elect to hold interests in the global notes through either the Depositary (in the U.S.) or through Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg (“Clearstream”) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems.

The information set forth in this section is subject to any change in or reinterpretation of the rules, regulations and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear currently in effect. The information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take any responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Investors wishing to use the facilities of any of DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear are advised to confirm the continued applicability of the rules, regulations and procedures of DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear. We will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the notes held through the facilities of DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Clearstream and Euroclear each will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Citibank, N.A. will act as depositary for Clearstream and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. will act as depositary for Euroclear (in such capacities, the “U.S. Depositaries”).

DTC has advised us that:

 

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DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provision of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

 

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DTC holds securities that its participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC and facilitates post-trade settlement among its Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between accounts of the Direct Participants. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates.

 

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Direct Participants in DTC include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations.

 

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DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries.

 

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Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”).

 

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The rules applicable to DTC and its Direct and Indirect Participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of the notes under DTC’s book-entry system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the notes on the records of DTC. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of the notes, which we refer to as the “beneficial owner,” is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the global notes will be effected only through entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in the global notes.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the global notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner and holder of the global notes, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by the global notes for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described below, beneficial owners of interests in the global notes will not be entitled to have book-entry notes represented by the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if the person is not a Direct or Indirect Participant, on the procedures of the Direct or Indirect Participants through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, in the event that we request any action of holders or that an owner of a beneficial interest in the notes desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, DTC would authorize the Direct Participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and those Direct or any Indirect Participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those Direct or Indirect Participants to give or to take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and/or Indirect Participants to beneficial owners, will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the notes within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.

 

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Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent with respect to notes unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s MMI Procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

Payments of principal of and interest on the notes and redemption proceeds will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. We will send all required reports and notices solely to DTC as long as DTC is the registered holder of the global notes. Neither we, the trustee, nor any other agent of ours or agent of the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in global notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests. We believe, however, that it is currently the policy of DTC to credit the accounts of the Direct Participants upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or our agent on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Direct or Indirect Participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name” and will be the responsibility of the Direct or Indirect Participants subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payments of principal of and interest on the notes and redemption proceeds to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or our agent, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

A beneficial owner shall give notice to elect to have its notes purchased or tendered, through its Participant, to the tender agent, and shall effect delivery of such notes by causing the Direct Participant to transfer the Participant’s interest in the notes, on DTC’s records, to the tender agent. The requirement for physical delivery of notes in connection with an optional tender or a mandatory purchase will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the notes are transferred by Direct Participants on DTC’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of tendered notes to the tender agent’s DTC account.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or our agent. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, physical notes are required to be printed and delivered. We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, physical certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

Clearstream advises that it is incorporated as a limited liability company under the laws of Luxembourg. Clearstream is owned by Cedel International, société anonyme, and Deutsche Bôrse AG. The shareholders of these two entities are, amongst others, financial institutions and institutional investors. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. Indirect access to Clearstream is available to other institutions that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant. In the

 

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U.S., Clearstream Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks, and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly. Clearstream is an indirect participant in DTC. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear. As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by Clearstream.

Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear Participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing, and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. The Euroclear System is owned by Euroclear Clearance System Public Limited Company (ECSplc) and operated through a license agreement by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., a bank incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Belgium (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the “Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Euroclear Operator advises that it is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear.

Notes will not be issued in definitive form except in very limited circumstances. If any of Euroclear, Clearstream or DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a clearing system in connection with the global notes or, in the case of DTC only, DTC ceases to be a clearing system

 

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registered under the Exchange Act, and in each case a successor clearing system is not appointed by us within 90 days after receiving such notice from Euroclear, Clearstream or DTC or on becoming aware that DTC is no longer so registered, we will issue or cause to be issued individual certificates in registered form on registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, book-entry interests in the notes represented by such global notes upon delivery of such global notes for cancellation.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Initial settlement for the notes will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between the Direct or Indirect Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the Depositary’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with the DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering interests in the notes to or receiving interests in the notes from DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to DTC.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in the notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a Depositary Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and will be credited the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions involving interests in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of interests in the notes by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a Depositary Participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.

DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have each published rules and operating procedures designed to facilitate transfers of beneficial interests in global notes among participants and accountholders of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued or changed at any time. We will not be responsible for any performance by DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear or their respective direct or indirect participants or accountholders of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations and we will have no liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in the notes represented by global notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

 

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Notices

Notices to holders of the notes will be sent by mail or email to the registered holders.

Payment of Additional Amounts

We will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay to the beneficial owner of any note who is a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined below under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) or is a partnership that is not created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S. or any political subdivision thereof such additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that every net payment on such note, after deduction or withholding by us or any of our paying agents for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon or as a result of such payment by the U.S. or any political subdivision or taxing authority of the U.S., will not be less than the amount provided in such note to be then due and payable. However, we will not pay additional amounts if the beneficial owner is subject to taxation solely for reasons other than its ownership of the note, nor will we pay additional amounts for or on account of:

(a) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the existence of any present or former connection (other than the mere fact of being a beneficial owner of a note) between the beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or person holding a power over such beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is an estate or trust, or a partner, member or shareholder of the beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation) of a note and the U.S., including, without limitation, such beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, person holding a power, partner, member or shareholder) being or having been a citizen or resident of the U.S. or treated as being or having been a resident thereof;

(b) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner (or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or person holding a power over such beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is an estate or trust, or a partner, member or shareholder of the beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation) (1) being or having been present in, or engaged in a trade or business in, the U.S., (2) being treated as having been present in, or engaged in a trade or business in, the U.S., or (3) having or having had a permanent establishment in the U.S.;

(c) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner (or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary or person holding a power over such beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is an estate or trust, or a partner, member or shareholder of the beneficial owner, if the beneficial owner is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation) being or having been with respect to the U.S. a personal holding company, a controlled foreign corporation, a passive foreign investment company, a foreign private foundation or other foreign tax-exempt organization, or being a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

(d) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on a beneficial owner that actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all of our classes of stock that are entitled to vote within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”);

(e) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been so imposed but for the presentation of such note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which such payment is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

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(f) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is payable by any method other than withholding or deduction by us or any paying agent from payments in respect of such note;

(g) any gift, estate, inheritance, sales, transfer, personal property or excise tax or any similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

(h) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment in respect of any note if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent;

(i) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of a change in law, regulation, or administrative or judicial interpretation that becomes effective more than 15 days after the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

(j) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed as a result of the failure of the holder or beneficial owner of a note to comply with a request to comply with applicable certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the U.S. of the holder or beneficial owner of a note, if such compliance is required by statute or regulation of the U.S. as a precondition to relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

(k) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by reason of the failure of the beneficial owner to fulfill the statement requirements of Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code; or

(l) any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k).

In addition, we will not pay additional amounts to a beneficial owner of a note that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity, or to a beneficial owner of a note that is not the sole beneficial owner of such note, as the case may be. This exception, however, will apply only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, or a beneficial owner, partner or member of the partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity, would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner, partner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “beneficial owner” includes any person holding a note on behalf of or for the account of a beneficial owner.

Redemption for Tax Reasons

The notes will mature and be redeemed at par on their maturity date of                      and are not redeemable prior to maturity except upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event or certain tax events described below.

We may redeem the notes prior to maturity in whole, but not in part, on not more than 60 days’ notice and not less than 30 days’ notice at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of such notes plus any accrued interest and additional amounts to the date fixed for redemption if:

 

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as a result of a change in or amendment to the tax laws, regulations or rulings of the U.S. or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the U.S. or any change in official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings (including a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction in the U.S.) that is announced or becomes effective on or after                     , 2008, we have or will become obligated to pay additional amounts with respect to the notes as described above under “Payment of Additional Amounts,” and we, in our business judgment, determine that such obligations cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures available to us, or

 

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on or after                     , 2008, any action is taken by a taxing authority of, or any decision has been rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction in, the U.S. or any political subdivision of or in the U.S., including any of those actions specified above, whether or not such action was taken or decision was rendered with respect to us, or any change, amendment, application or interpretation is officially proposed, which, in any such case, in the written opinion of independent legal counsel of recognized standing, will result in a material probability that we will become obligated to pay additional amounts with respect to the notes, and we, in our business judgment, determine that such obligations cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures available to us.

If we exercise our option to redeem the notes, we will deliver to the trustee a certificate signed by an authorized officer stating that we are entitled to redeem the notes and an opinion of independent tax counsel to the effect that the circumstances described in the above bullets exist.

 

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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Unless otherwise indicated, this summary addresses only notes purchased at original issue at their initial offering price and applies only to beneficial owners that hold the notes as “capital assets” within the meaning of section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code.

This summary does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of the holder’s individual circumstances or to holders subject to special rules under U.S. federal income tax laws, such as banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, partnerships (or entities properly classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entities, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting, persons liable for U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, former citizens or residents of the U.S., and persons holding notes as part of a hedging or conversion transaction or a straddle. The discussion does not address any foreign, state, local or non-income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of the notes.

As used in this offering memorandum, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note who or that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

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a citizen or individual resident of the U.S.;

 

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a corporation (or other entity properly classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S., any State within the U.S., or the District of Columbia;

 

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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

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a trust, if (i) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more “United States persons” (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) in the case of a trust that was in existence on August 20, 1996 and was validly treated as a domestic trust, a valid election is in place under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to treat such trust as a domestic trust.

The term “Non-U.S. Holder” means any beneficial owner of a note who or that is not a U.S. Holder and is not a partnership or other entity properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For the purposes of this offering memorandum, U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders are referred to collectively as “Holders.”

If a partnership (or other entity properly classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of a note, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A beneficial owner of a note that is a partnership and partners in such partnerships are urged to consult with their own tax advisors about the U.S. federal income and other tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the notes.

This discussion is for general purposes only. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations and the consequences under federal estate or gift tax laws, as well as foreign, state, or local laws and tax treaties, and the possible effects of changes in tax laws.

 

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

Payments of Interest

Interest on notes beneficially owned by a U.S. Holder generally will be taxable as ordinary interest income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Sale, Exchange or Redemption of the Notes

Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, other than amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest (which will be taxed as ordinary interest income to the extent such interest has not been previously included in income), and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the notes. The amount realized by a U.S. Holder is the sum of cash plus the fair market value of all other property received on such sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the notes generally will be its cost for the notes.

The gain or loss a U.S. Holder recognizes on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes generally will be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if a U.S. Holder has held the notes for more than 12 consecutive months. For individuals, long-term capital gains are generally taxed at a lower rate than ordinary income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the deductibility of capital losses in light of their particular circumstances.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, a U.S. Holder that is not an “exempt recipient” (such as a domestic corporation) will be subject to U.S. federal backup withholding tax at the applicable rate (currently 28%) with respect to payments on the notes and the proceeds of a sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of the notes, unless the U.S. Holder provides its taxpayer identification number to the paying agent and certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is not subject to backup withholding on an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder may be allowed as a credit against such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such U.S. Holder to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner. In addition, payments on the notes made to, and the proceeds of a sale or other taxable disposition by, a U.S. Holder that is not an exempt recipient generally will be subject to information reporting requirements.

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

Payments of Interest

Subject to the discussion below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting,” a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on interest paid on the notes so long as that interest is not “effectively connected” with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (or, if a treaty applies, is not attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S.) and:

 

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

 

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the Non-U.S. Holder is not a “controlled foreign corporation” that is related to us, actually or by attribution, through stock ownership;

 

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the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving the interest pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of the Non-U.S. Holder’s trade or business; and either

 

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(i) the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury on Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding) or a suitable substitute form that it is not a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code), and provides its name and address, and U.S. taxpayer identification number, if any, or (ii) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the notes on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalties of perjury that the certification referred to in clause (i) has been received from the Non-U.S. Holder or an intermediate financial institution and furnishes to us a copy thereof.

A Non-U.S. Holder that does not qualify for exemption from withholding as described above generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on payments of interest on the notes (except as described below with respect to effectively connected income). A Non-U.S. Holder may be entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty under which interest on the notes is subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax or is exempt from U.S. withholding tax, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes us with a properly executed Form W-8BEN claiming the reduction or exemption and the Non-U.S. Holder complies with any other applicable procedures.

Special rules regarding exemption from, or reduced rates of, U.S. withholding tax may apply in the case of notes held by partnerships or certain types of trusts. Partnerships and trusts that are prospective purchasers are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding special rules that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Sale, Exchange or Redemption of the Notes

Generally, any gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of a note (other than amounts attributable to accrued and unpaid interest, which will be treated as described under “—Payments of Interest” above) will be exempt from U.S. federal income and withholding tax, unless:

 

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the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (and, if a treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S.); or

 

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

Effectively Connected Income

If interest or gain recognized by a Non-U.S. Holder on a note is “effectively connected” with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (and, if a treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the U.S.), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the withholding tax previously discussed if the Non-U.S. Holder provides us with a properly completed and executed Form W-8ECI (Certificate of Foreign Person’s Claim That Income Is Effectively Connected With the Conduct of a Trade or Business in the U.S.), but the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest or gain as if it were a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code). In addition to such U.S. federal income tax, if the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, it may be subject to an additional branch profits tax.

 

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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to a Non-U.S. Holder the amount of interest paid to the Non-U.S. Holder and the tax withheld from those payments. These reporting requirements apply regardless of whether U.S. withholding tax on such payments was reduced or eliminated by any applicable tax treaty or otherwise. Copies of the information returns reporting those payments and the amounts withheld may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country where a Non-U.S. Holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or agreement.

Under some circumstances, U.S. Treasury regulations require backup withholding and additional information reporting on payments of interest and other “reportable payments.” Such backup withholding and additional information reporting will not apply to payments on the notes made by us or our paying agent to a Non-U.S. Holder if the certification described above under “—Payments of Interest” is received from the Non-U.S. Holder.

Backup withholding and information reporting generally will not apply to payments of proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note made to a Non-U.S. Holder by or through the foreign office of a broker. However, information reporting requirements, and possibly backup withholding, will apply if such broker is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) or has certain other enumerated connections with the U.S, unless such broker has documentary evidence in its records that the Non-U.S. Holder is not a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and certain other conditions are met, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Payments of proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note made to a Non-U.S. Holder by or through the U.S. office of a broker are subject to information reporting and backup withholding at the applicable rate unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and it satisfies certain other conditions, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder may be allowed as a credit against such Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner.

Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if available.

The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is included for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a Holder’s particular situation. You are urged to consult your own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences to you of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes, including the tax consequences under state, local, estate, foreign and other tax laws and tax treaties and the possible effects of changes in U.S. or other tax laws.

 

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UNDERWRITING

The Company and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., as representatives of the underwriters for the offering named below, have entered into an amended and restated underwriting agreement and a terms agreement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the principal amount of notes indicated in the following table.

 

Underwriter		$              Principal Amount of         % Notes due
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.		$
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
Total		$

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken.

Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. If all the notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Company has been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering. The underwriters may close out any short positions by purchasing notes in the open market. A short position is more likely to be created if underwriters expect that there may be downward pressure on the price of the notes in the open market while the offering is in progress. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may 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.

These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

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

 

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that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of notes in that Relevant Member State at any time:

(a) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000; and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or

(c) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by us of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of notes shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression “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 Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

Each underwriter has represented and agreed that:

(a) 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 us; and

(b) 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.

The notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), 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.

 

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The notes offered hereby have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948 as amended, the FIEL) 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 FIEL and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus 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, or 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 Company estimates that its share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $            .

The Company has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, commercial and investment banking services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

Certain affiliates of the underwriters are lenders under our $4.5 billion five-year revolving credit agreement, dated as of April 15, 2005, or the five-year facility agreement. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are joint lead arrangers and bookrunners under the five-year facility agreement. Citibank, N.A., an affiliate of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., is an administrative agent under the five-year facility agreement. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is also a syndication agent under the five-year facility agreement. BNP Paribas, an affiliate of BNP Paribas Securities Corp., and ABN AMRO Bank, N.V., a subsidiary undertaking of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, which is the ultimate parent of Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., are arrangers and documentation agents under the five-year facility agreement. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, an affiliate of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., is the trustee under our indenture, dated as of October 17, 2001, under which the notes will be issued. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. also received commissions related to the issuance of debt by one of our affiliates in connection with the split-off of the Post cereals business on August 4, 2008. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates act as agents and/or brokers in connection with our share repurchase program. This offering is being conducted pursuant to Conduct Rule 2710(h) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2007 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

LEGAL OPINIONS

The validity of the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Jones Day and for the underwriters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Certain matters involving the laws of Virginia will be passed upon for us by Hunton & Williams LLP, our Virginia counsel. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP will rely on Hunton & Williams LLP as to matters of Virginia law. Jones Day is also representing us with respect to certain U.S. federal income tax matters.

 

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PROSPECTUS

Kraft Foods Inc.

Debt Securities

 

This prospectus contains a general description of the debt securities Kraft Foods Inc. may offer for sale from time to time in one or more offerings. We will describe the specific terms of the debt securities that we offer, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, in one or more supplements to this prospectus at the time of each offering. We may sell the debt securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents, or through a combination of these methods. If any offering involves underwriters, dealers or agents, we will describe our arrangements with them in the prospectus supplement that relates to that offering. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell the debt securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. A prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, carefully before you invest.

Our principal executive offices are located at Kraft Foods Inc., Three Lakes Drive, Northfield, Illinois 60093 and our telephone number is (847) 646-2000.

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.

Investing in our securities involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus.

The date of this prospectus is December 4, 2007.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
ABOUT THE COMPANY		1
RISK FACTORS		2
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		2
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE		2
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		3
USE OF PROCEEDS		3
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		4
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		15
EXPERTS		16
LEGAL MATTERS		16

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information with respect to this offering. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. You should only assume that the information in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on the front of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. By using an automatic shelf registration statement, we may, at any time and from time to time, sell debt securities under this prospectus in one or more offerings in an unlimited amount. As allowed by the SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, we refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the SEC’s rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of these matters.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer debt securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Therefore, if there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

To understand the terms of our debt securities, you should carefully read this document and the applicable prospectus supplement. Together they give the specific terms of the debt securities we are offering. You should also read the documents we have referred you to under “Where You Can Find More Information” below for information on our company and our financial statements. The registration statement and exhibits can be read at the SEC’s website or at the SEC as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

References in this prospectus to “Kraft,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Kraft Foods Inc. and its subsidiaries.

References herein to “$” and “dollars” are to United States dollars, and financial data included or incorporated by reference herein have been presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Kraft was incorporated in 2000 in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to June 13, 2001, Kraft was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. (“Altria”). On June 13, 2001, Kraft completed an initial public offering of its common shares. At December 31, 2006, Altria owned 89.0% of the outstanding shares of Kraft’s capital stock. In the first quarter of 2007, Altria spun off its entire interest in Kraft on a pro rata basis to Altria stockholders in a tax-free transaction. Effective as of the close of business on March 30, 2007, all shares of Kraft owned by Altria were distributed to Altria’s stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 16, 2007, and Kraft’s separation from Altria was completed. Accordingly, Kraft is now a fully independent publicly-traded company.

Our corporate headquarters are located at Kraft Foods Inc., Three Lakes Drive, Northfield, Illinois 60093, our telephone number is (847) 646-2000 and our website is www.kraft.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Our business is subject to uncertainties and risks. You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as updated by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings filed after such annual report. It is possible that our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. In addition, we have filed a registration statement and related exhibits with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or at our website at www.kraft.com (as noted above, the information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus). You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, you can inspect reports and other information we file at the office of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

You may also obtain copies of this information at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room.

Our SEC filings are available at the office of the New York Stock Exchange. For further information on obtaining copies of our public filings at the New York Stock Exchange, you should call (212) 656-3000.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information which we file with the SEC. This 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 that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede any inconsistent information in this prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC.

We incorporate by reference the following documents that we previously filed with the SEC (other than information in such documents that is deemed not to be filed):

 

•

our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007 (file no. 001-16483);

 

•

our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2007 (file no. 001-16483);

 

•

our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on August 3, 2007 (file no. 001-16483);

 

•

our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on November 2, 2007 (file no. 001-16483); and

 

•

our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 8, 2007, January 23, 2007, January 29, 2007, January 31, 2007 (except information furnished under Item 2.02), February 1, 2007, February 5, 2007, February 20, 2007 (except the information furnished under Item 7.01), March 6, 2007, March 30, 2007, April 5, 2007, April 23, 2007, April 30, 2007, May 9, 2007, May 31, 2007, July 6, 2007, August 13, 2007, August 14, 2007, September 4, 2007, September 12, 2007, November 7, 2007, November 15, 2007 and November 20, 2007 and on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on November 20, 2007 (file no. 001-16483).

 

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These documents contain important information about our business and our financial performance.

We also incorporate by reference any future filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on or after the date of the filing of the registration statement and prior to the termination of the offering. Our future filings with the SEC will automatically update and supersede any inconsistent information in this prospectus.

You may obtain a free copy of these filings from us by telephoning or writing to us at the following address and telephone number:

Kraft Foods Inc.

Three Lakes Drive

Northfield, IL 60093

Attention: Office of the Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (847) 646-2000

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information included in this prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by use of words such as “strategy,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “will,” “continues,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “targets” and other words of similar meaning. You can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although we believe that we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties, and the possibility of inaccurate assumptions. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements and whether to invest in or remain invested in our securities. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we identify from time to time important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf. These factors include the ones discussed under “Risk Factors” in our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference. It is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of the document in which they appear. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that we may make from time to time.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we otherwise state in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include repayment of debt, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, investments in our subsidiaries, possible acquisitions and the repurchase, redemption or retirement of securities, including our common shares. The net proceeds may be temporarily invested or applied to repay short-term or revolving debt prior to use.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30,		Years Ended December 31,
		2007		2006		2005		2004		2003		2002
Ratios of earnings to fixed charges		6.0x		6.4x		6.1x		5.8x		7.2x		6.1x

Earnings available for fixed charges represent earnings before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of an accounting change and fixed charges excluding capitalized interest, net of amortization, reduced by undistributed earnings of our less than 50% owned affiliates. Fixed charges represent interest expense, amortization of debt discount and expenses, capitalized interest, plus that portion of rental expense deemed to be the equivalent of interest.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our direct unsecured obligations. The debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture dated as of October 17, 2001 between us and The Bank of New York (as successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee.

This prospectus briefly describes the material indenture provisions. Those descriptions are qualified in all respects by reference to the actual text of the indenture. For your reference, in the summary that follows, we have included references to section numbers of the indenture so that you can more easily locate these provisions.

The material financial, legal and other terms particular to debt securities of each series will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of that series. The prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of the series will be attached to the front of this prospectus. The following briefly summarizes the material provisions of the indenture and the debt securities, other than pricing and related terms disclosed in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the terms summarized below do not apply to the series of debt securities being offered. You should read the more detailed provisions of the indenture, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. You should also read the particular terms of a series of debt securities, which will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Prospective purchasers of debt securities should be aware that special United States federal income tax, accounting and other considerations not addressed in this prospectus may be applicable to instruments such as the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an issue of debt securities will describe these considerations, if they apply.

Capitalized terms used below are defined under “Defined Terms.”

General

The debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt we may issue under the indenture and provides that additional debt securities may be issued up to the aggregate principal amount authorized by a board resolution. We may issue the debt securities from time to time in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a discount or at a

 

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premium. The prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering, including the particular amount, price and other terms of those debt securities. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

•

the title of the debt securities;

 

•

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

•

the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable or their manner of determination;

 

•

if the securities will bear interest:

 

•

the interest rate or rates;

 

•

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue;

 

•

the interest payment dates for the debt securities; and

 

•

the regular record date for any interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

•

or, in each case, their method of determination;

 

•

the place or places where the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities will be payable;

 

•

currency or units of two or more currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars, and the holders’ rights, if any, to elect payment in a foreign currency or a foreign currency unit other than that in which the debt securities are payable;

 

•

whether the amounts of payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities are to be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, and if so, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

•

whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of global securities and, if so, the depositary and the global exchange agent for the global securities, whether permanent or temporary;

 

•

whether the debt securities will be issued as registered securities, bearer securities or both, and any restrictions on the exchange of one form of debt securities for another and on the offer, sale and delivery of the debt securities in either form;

 

•

if the debt securities are issuable in definitive form upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, the form and terms of such conditions;

 

•

if denominations other than $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000, the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued;

 

•

the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms on which any of the debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part at our option, and any remarketing arrangements;

 

•

the terms on which we would be required to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities required by any sinking fund, mandatory redemption or similar provision; and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions on which the debt securities will be so redeemed, repaid and purchased in whole or in part;

 

•

the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that is payable on the declaration of acceleration of the maturity, if other than their principal amount; these debt securities could include original issue discount, or OID, debt securities or indexed debt securities, which are each described below;

 

•

any special tax implications of the debt securities, including whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts under any debt securities held by a person who is not a United

 

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States person for tax payments, assessments or other governmental charges and whether we have the option to redeem the debt securities which are affected by the additional amounts instead of paying the additional amounts;

 

•

any addition to or modification or deletion of any provisions for the satisfaction and discharge of our obligations under the indenture and specific series of debt securities;

 

•

whether and to what extent the debt securities are subject to defeasance on terms different from those described under the heading “Defeasance”;

 

•

any trustees, paying agents, transfer agents, registrars, depositaries or similar agents with respect to the debt securities;

 

•

if the debt securities bear no interest, any dates on which lists of holders of these debt securities must be provided to the trustee;

 

•

any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any event of default or any covenant specified in the indenture; and

 

•

any other specific terms of the debt securities.

(Section 301)

We may issue debt securities as original issue discount, or OID, debt securities. OID debt securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates and are sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. If we issue OID debt securities, the prospectus supplement will contain the issue price of the securities and the rate at which and the date from which discount will accrete.

We may also issue indexed debt securities. Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, indexed debt securities are determined with reference to the rate of exchange between the currency or currency unit in which the debt security is denominated and any other currency or currency unit specified by us, to the relationship between two or more currencies or currency units, to the price of one or more specified securities or commodities, to one or more securities or commodities exchange indices or other indices or by other similar methods or formulas, all as specified in the prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities other than the debt securities described in this prospectus. There is no requirement that any other debt securities that we issue be issued under the indenture. Thus, any other debt securities that we issue may be issued under other indentures or documentation containing provisions different from those included in the indenture or applicable to one or more issues of the debt securities described in this prospectus. (Section 301)

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We have agreed not to consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer or lease substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, unless:

 

•

we are a continuing corporation or any successor purchaser is an entity organized under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States;

 

•

the successor corporation expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, all the debt securities and the performance of every covenant in the indenture that we would otherwise have to perform as if it were an original party to the indenture;

 

•

immediately after the effective date of the transaction, no event of default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture; and

 

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•

we deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and the supplemental indenture comply with these provisions.

The successor corporation will assume all our obligations under the indenture as if it were an original party to the indenture. After assuming such obligations, the successor corporation will have all our rights and powers under the indenture.

(Section 801)

Waivers Under the Indenture

Under the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, may on behalf of all holders of that series:

 

•

waive our compliance with certain covenants of the indenture; and

(Section 1009)

 

•

waive any past default under the indenture, except:

 

•

a default in the payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt securities of the series; and

 

•

a default under any provision of the indenture which itself cannot be modified without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security of the series.

(Section 513)

Events of Default

When we use the term “Event of Default” in the indenture with respect to a particular series of debt securities, we mean any of the following:

 

•

we fail to pay interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after payment was due;

 

•

we fail to make payment of the principal of, or any premium on, any debt security of that series when due;

 

•

we fail to make any sinking fund payment when due with respect to debt securities of that series;

 

•

we fail to perform any other covenant or warranty in the indenture and this failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of it from the trustee or holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series;

 

•

we or a court take certain actions relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company; or

 

•

any other event of default that may be specified for the debt securities of the series or in the board resolution with respect to the debt securities of that series.

(Section 501)

The supplemental indenture or the form of security for a particular series of debt securities may include additional Events of Default or changes to the Events of Default described above. The Events of Default applicable to a particular series of debt securities will be discussed in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.

 

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A default with respect to a single series of debt securities under the indenture will not necessarily constitute a default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. A default under our other indebtedness will not be a default under the indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except for defaults that involve our failure to pay principal or interest, if it determines in good faith that the withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders. (Section 602)

If an Event of Default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues (other than an Event of Default involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization), either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series may require us upon notice in writing to us, to immediately repay the entire principal (or, in the case of (a) OID debt securities, a lesser amount as provided in those OID debt securities or (b) indexed debt securities, an amount determined by the terms of those indexed debt securities), of all the debt securities of such series together with accrued interest on the debt securities.

If an Event of Default occurs which involves our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, then all unpaid principal amounts (or, if the debt securities are (a) OID debt securities, then the portion of the principal amount that is specified in those OID debt securities or (b) indexed debt securities, then the portion of the principal amount that is determined by the terms of those indexed debt securities) and accrued interest on all debt securities of each series will immediately become due and payable, without any action by the trustee or any holder of debt securities. (Section 502)

Subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may rescind a declaration of acceleration if all Events of Default, besides the failure to pay principal or interest due solely because of the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. (Section 502)

Other than its duties in case of a default, the trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of any series of debt securities may, subject to certain limitations, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the trustee, for any series of debt securities.

The indenture requires us to file each year with the trustee, an officer’s certificate that states that:

 

•

the signing officer has supervised a review of the activities and performance under the indenture; and

 

•

to the best of his or her knowledge, based on the review, we comply with all conditions and covenants of the indenture.

(Section 1005)

A judgment for money damages by courts in the United States, including a money judgment based on an obligation expressed in a foreign currency, will ordinarily be rendered only in U.S. dollars. New York statutory law provides that a court shall render a judgment or decree in the foreign currency of the underlying obligation and that the judgment or decree shall be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree. If a court requires a conversion to be made on a date other than a judgment date, the indenture requires us to pay additional amounts necessary to ensure that the amount paid in U.S. dollars to a holder is equal to the amount due in such foreign currency. (Section 516)

Payment and Transfer

We will pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, fully registered securities at the place or places that we will designate for such purposes. We will make payment to the persons in whose names the debt

 

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securities are registered on the close of business on the day or days that we will specify in accordance with the indenture. We will pay the principal of, and any premium on, registered debt securities only against surrender of those debt securities. Any other payments, including payment on any securities issued in bearer form, will be made as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders may transfer or exchange fully registered securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee or at any other office or agency, maintained for such purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge. (Section 305)

Restrictive Covenants

The indenture includes the following restrictive covenants:

Limitations on Liens

The indenture limits the amount of liens that we or our Subsidiaries may incur or otherwise create in order to secure indebtedness for borrowed money, upon any Principal Facility or any shares of capital stock that any of our Subsidiaries owning any Principal Facility has issued to us or any of our Subsidiaries. If we or any of our Subsidiaries incur such liens, then we will secure the debt securities to the same extent and in the same proportion as the debt that is secured by such liens. This covenant does not apply, however, to any of the following:

 

•

in the case of a Principal Facility, liens incurred in connection with the issuance by a state or its political subdivision of any securities the interest on which is exempt from United States federal income taxes by virtue of Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code or any other laws and regulations in effect at the time of such issuance;

 

•

liens existing on the date of the indenture;

 

•

liens on property or shares of stock existing at the time we or any of our Subsidiaries acquire such property or shares of stock, including through a merger, share exchange or consolidation, or securing the payment of all or part of the purchase price, construction or improvement of such property incurred prior to, during, or within 180 days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction or improvement or commencement of full operation of such property or within 180 days after the acquisition of such shares for the purpose of financing all or a portion of such purchase of the property or construction or improvement on it; or

 

•

liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing all or a part of the indebtedness secured by any lien referred to in the previous bullet points or in this bullet point if the extension, removal and replacement is limited to all or a part of the property secured by the original lien.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we and/or any of our Subsidiaries may incur liens that would otherwise be subject to the restriction described above, without securing debt securities issued under the indenture equally and ratably, if the aggregate value of all outstanding indebtedness secured by the liens and the value of Sale and Leaseback Transactions does not at the time exceed the greater of:

 

•

10% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; or

 

•

10% of our Consolidated Capitalization.

At September 30, 2007, our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets were $11.4 billion and our Consolidated Capitalization was $43.3 billion.

 

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(Section 1007)

Sale and Leaseback Transactions

A Sale and Leaseback Transaction of any Principal Facility is prohibited, unless within 180 days of the effective date of the arrangement, an amount equal to the greater of the proceeds of the sale or the fair value of the property (“value”) is applied to the retirement of long-term non-subordinated indebtedness for money borrowed with more than one year stated maturity, including our debt securities, except that such sales and leasebacks are permitted to the extent that the “value” thereof plus the other secured debt referred to in the previous paragraph does not exceed the amount stated in the previous paragraph. (Section 1008)

There are no other restrictive covenants in the indenture. The indenture does not require us to maintain any financial ratios, minimum levels of net worth or liquidity or restrict the payment of dividends, the making of other distributions on our capital stock or the redemption or purchase of our capital stock. Moreover, the indenture does not contain any provision requiring us to repurchase or redeem any debt securities or debt warrants or modify the terms thereof or afford the holders thereof any other protection in the event of our change of control, any highly leveraged transaction or any other event involving us that may materially adversely affect our creditworthiness or the value of the debt securities or debt warrants.

Defined Terms

We define Subsidiaries as any corporation of which at least a majority of all outstanding stock having ordinary voting power in the election of directors of such corporation is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by us or by one or more Subsidiaries or by us and one or more Subsidiaries. (Section 101)

We define Principal Facility as all real property owned and operated by us or any Subsidiary located within the United States and constituting part of any manufacturing plant or distribution facility, including all attached plumbing, electrical, ventilating, heating, cooling, lighting and other utility systems, ducts and pipes but excluding trade fixtures (unless their removal would cause substantial damage to the manufacturing plant or distribution facility), business machinery, equipment, motorized vehicles, tools, supplies and materials, security systems, cameras, inventory and other personal property and materials. However, no manufacturing plant or distribution facility will be a Principal Facility unless its net book value exceeds 0.25% of Consolidated Capitalization. (Section 1007)

We define a Sale and Leaseback Transaction as the sale or transfer of a Principal Facility with the intention of taking back a lease of the property, except a lease for a temporary period of less than 3 years, including renewals, with the intent that the use by us or any Subsidiary will be discontinued on or before the expiration of such period. (Section 1008)

We define Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as the excess of all assets over current liabilities appearing on our most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet, less goodwill and other intangible assets and the minority interests of others in Subsidiaries. (Section 101)

We define Consolidated Capitalization as the total of all of the assets appearing on our most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet, less:

 

•

current liabilities, including liabilities for indebtedness maturing more than 12 months from the date of the original creation thereof, but maturing within 12 months from the date of our most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet; and

 

•

deferred income tax liabilities reflected in such consolidated balance sheet.

 

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(Section 101)

Global Securities

We may issue the securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may issue the global securities in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Once a global security is issued, the depositary will credit on its book-entry system the respective principal amounts of the individual securities represented by that global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depositary. These institutions are known as participants.

The underwriters for the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. However, if we have offered or sold the securities either directly or through agents, we or the agents will designate the appropriate accounts to be credited.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary’s participants or persons that may hold through participants. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities. Those laws may limit the market for beneficial interests in a global security.

So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

•

will not be entitled to have securities represented by global securities registered in their names;

 

•

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities in definitive form; and

 

•

will not be considered owners or holders of these securities under the indenture.

Payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, the individual securities registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of that global security.

Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests of a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to beneficial ownership interests and each of us and the trustee may act or refrain from acting without liability on any information provided by the depositary.

We expect that the depositary, after receiving any payment of principal of, and any premium and interest on, a global security, will immediately credit the accounts of the participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in a global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participants.

 

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Debt securities represented by a global security will be exchangeable for debt securities in definitive form of like tenor in authorized denominations only if:

 

•

the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as the depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days;

 

•

we deliver to the trustee for securities of such series in registered form a company order stating that the securities of such series shall be exchangeable; or

 

•

an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to securities of such series.

Unless and until a global security is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive certificated form, it may not be transferred or exchanged except as a whole by the depositary.

You may transfer or exchange certificated securities at any office that we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. We will not charge a service fee for any transfer or exchange of certificated securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that we are required to pay in connection with a transfer or exchange.

(Section 305)

Registration of Transfer

You may effect the transfer of certificated securities and the right to receive the principal of, and any premium and interest on, certificated securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.

We are not required to:

 

•

issue, register, transfer or exchange securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day we transmit a notice of redemption of the securities of the series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the transmission;

 

•

register, transfer or exchange any security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any security being redeemed in part; or

 

•

exchange any bearer securities selected for redemption except if a bearer security is exchanged for a registered security of the same tenor that is simultaneously surrendered for redemption.

(Section 305)

Exchange

At your option, you may exchange your registered debt securities of any series, except a global security, for an equal principal amount of other registered debt securities of the same series having authorized denominations upon surrender to our designated agent.

We may at any time exchange debt securities issued as one or more global securities for an equal principal amount of debt securities of the same series in definitive registered form. In this case, we will deliver to the holders new debt securities in definitive registered form in the same aggregate principal amount as the global securities being exchanged.

The depositary of the global securities may also decide at any time to surrender one or more global securities in exchange for debt securities of the same series in definitive registered form, in which case we will deliver the new debt securities in definitive form to the persons specified by the depositary, in an aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, each person’s beneficial interest in the global securities.

 

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Notwithstanding the above, we will not be required to exchange any debt securities if, as a result of the exchange, we would suffer adverse consequences under any United States law or regulation.

(Section 305)

Defeasance

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we can terminate all of our obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, other than the obligation to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities and certain other obligations, at any time by:

 

•

depositing money or United States government obligations with the trustee in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities to their maturity; and

 

•

complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of our defeasance.

In addition, unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we can terminate all of our obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, with minor exceptions, including the obligation to pay the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities, at any time by:

 

•

depositing money or United States government obligations with the trustee in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and the interest and any premium on, the debt securities to their maturity; and

 

•

complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel stating that there has been a ruling by the Internal Revenue Service, or a change in the United States federal tax law since the date of the indenture, to the effect that holders of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of our defeasance.

(Sections 402-404)

Payments of Unclaimed Moneys

Moneys deposited with the trustee or any paying agent for the payment of principal of, or any premium and interest on, any debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years will be repaid to us at our request, unless the law requires otherwise. If this happens and you want to claim these moneys, you must look to us and not to the trustee or paying agent. (Section 409)

Supplemental Indentures Not Requiring Consent of Holders

Without the consent of any holders of debt securities, we and the trustee may supplement the indenture, among other things, to:

 

•

pledge property to the trustee as security for the debt securities;

 

•

reflect that another entity has succeeded us and assumed the covenants and obligations of us under the debt securities and the indenture;

 

•

cure any ambiguity or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities or make any other provisions necessary or desirable, as long as the interests of the holders of the debt securities are not adversely affected in any material respect;

 

•

issue and establish the form and terms of any series of debt securities as provided in the indenture;

 

•

add to our covenants further covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities, and if the covenants are for the benefit of less than all series of debt securities, stating which series are entitled to benefit;

 

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•

add any additional event of default and if the new event of default applies to fewer than all series of debt securities, stating to which series it applies;

 

•

change the trustee or provide for an additional trustee;

 

•

provide additional provisions for bearer debt securities so long as the action does not adversely affect the interests of holders of any debt securities in any material respect; or

 

•

modify the indenture in order to continue its qualification under the Trustee Indenture Act of 1939 or as may be necessary or desirable in accordance with amendments to that Act.

(Section 901)

Supplemental Indentures Requiring Consent of Holders

With the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of each series of the debt securities that would be affected by a modification of the indenture, the indenture permits us and the trustee to supplement the indenture or modify in any way the terms of the indenture or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of such series. However, without the consent of each holder of all of the debt securities affected by that modification, we and the trustee may not:

 

•

modify the maturity date of, or reduce the principal of, or premium on, or change the stated final maturity of, any debt security;

 

•

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any debt security or, in the case of OID debt securities, reduce the rate of accretion of the OID;

 

•

change any of our obligations to pay additional amounts under the indenture;

 

•

reduce or alter the method of computation of any amount payable upon redemption, repayment or purchase of any debt security by us, or the time when the redemption, repayment or purchase may be made;

 

•

make the principal or interest on any debt security payable in a currency other than that stated in the debt security or change the place of payment;

 

•

reduce the amount of principal due on an OID debt security upon acceleration of maturity or provable in bankruptcy or reduce the amount payable under the terms of an indexed debt security upon acceleration of maturity or provable in bankruptcy;

 

•

impair any right of repayment or purchase at the option of any holder of debt securities;

 

•

reduce the right of any holder of debt securities to receive or sue for payment of the principal or interest on a debt security that would be due and payable at the maturity thereof or upon redemption; or

 

•

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series required to supplement the indenture or to waive any of its provisions.

(Section 902)

A supplemental indenture that modifies or eliminates a provision intended to benefit the holders of one series of debt securities will not affect the rights under the indenture of holders of other series of debt securities.

 

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Redemption

The specific terms of any redemption of a series of debt securities will be contained in the prospectus supplement for that series. Generally, we must send notice of redemption to the holders at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. The notice will specify:

 

•

the principal amount being redeemed;

 

•

the redemption date;

 

•

the redemption price;

 

•

the place or places of payment;

 

•

the CUSIP number of the debt securities being redeemed;

 

•

whether the redemption is pursuant to a sinking fund;

 

•

that on the redemption date, interest, or, in the case of OID debt securities, original issue discount, will cease to accrue; and

 

•

if bearer debt securities are being redeemed, that those bearer debt securities must be accompanied by all coupons maturing after the redemption date or the amount of the missing coupons will be deducted from the redemption price, or indemnity must be furnished, and whether those bearer debt securities may be exchanged for registered debt securities not being redeemed.

(Section 1104)

On or before any redemption date, we will deposit an amount of money with the trustee or with a paying agent sufficient to pay the redemption price. (Section 1105)

If less than all the debt securities are being redeemed, the trustee shall select the debt securities to be redeemed using a method it considers fair. (Section 1103) After the redemption date, holders of debt securities which were redeemed will have no rights with respect to the debt securities except the right to receive the redemption price and any unpaid interest to the redemption date. (Section 1106)

Concerning the Trustee

The Bank of New York (as successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank) is the trustee under the indenture. The Bank of New York has performed and will perform other services for us and certain of our subsidiaries in the normal course of its business.

Governing Law

The laws of the State of New York govern the indenture and will govern the debt securities. (Section 112)

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in any of the following ways:

 

•

directly to one or more purchasers;

 

•

through agents;

 

•

through underwriters, brokers or dealers; or

 

•

through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, brokers, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

 

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EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the debt securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement will be passed upon for us by Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago, Illinois.

 

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$             % Notes due    

Kraft Foods Inc.

Joint Book-Running Managers

BNP PARIBAS

Citi

Deutsche Bank Securities

RBS Greenwich Capital

Senior Co-Managers

Co-Manager