PROSPECTUS APOLLOCOMMERCIALREALESTATEFINANCE,INC. DirectStockPurchaseandDividendReinvestmentPlan OurDirectStockPurchaseandDividendReinvestmentPlan,orthePlan,providesnewinvestorsandexisting holdersofourcommonstockwithaconvenientandeconomicalmethodtopurchasesharesofourcommonstock. ByparticipatinginthePlan,youmaypurchaseadditionalsharesofourcommonstockbyreinvestingsomeorall ofthecashdividendsthatyoureceiveonyoursharesofourcommonstock.Inaddition,thePlanpermitsyouto makeoptionalcashinvestmentsofupto$10,000permonth,and,withourpriorapproval,optionalcash investmentsinexcessof$10,000permonth,forthepurchaseofadditionalsharesofourcommonstock.Wemay, inthefuture,offeradiscountfromthemarketpriceofourcommonstockrangingfrom0%to5%,includingthe paymentbyusofapplicablebrokeragefees,pursuanttothedividendreinvestmentoroptionalcashinvestment featuresofthePlan,atoursolediscretion. Planhighlightsinclude: • AnyregisteredholderofourcommonstockmayelecttoparticipateinthePlan. • Interestednewinvestorswhoarenotcurrentlyholdersofourcommonstockmaymaketheirinitial purchasethroughthePlan. • Fullorpartialdividendreinvestmentoptions. • Optionalcashinvestmentsofupto$10,000permonth,and,withourpriorapproval,optionalcash investmentsinexcessof$10,000permonth,forthepurchaseofadditionalsharesofourcommon stock;wemay,inthefuture,offeradiscountfromthemarketpriceofourcommonstockrangingfrom 0%to5%,includingthepaymentbyusofapplicablebrokeragefees,atoursolediscretion. • Youmaybuildyourinvestmentovertime,startingwithaslittleas$250,or$100,ifyouauthorize automaticmonthlycashinvestments. • Youmayaccessyouraccountonlinetoreviewandmanageyourinvestment. • Optionalautomaticinvestmentwithdrawalsfromyourbankaccount. Thisprospectusrelatestotheofferandsaleofupto2,000,000authorizedbutunissuedsharesofour commonstockunderthePlan.Planparticipantsshouldretainthisprospectusforfuturereference. Toensurethatwemaycontinuetoqualifyasarealestateinvestmenttrust,orREIT,forU.S.federalincome taxpurposes,nostockholdermayownmorethan9.8%(invalueornumber,whicheverismorerestrictive)ofthe outstandingsharesofourcommonorcapitalstock,unlessourboardofdirectorswaivesthislimitation.Seethe discussionunder“U.S.FederalIncomeTaxConsiderations”formoreinformation. OurcommonstockislistedontheNewYorkStockExchange,orNYSE,underthesymbol“ARI.” Aninvestmentinourcommonstockentailscertainmaterialrisksanduncertaintiesthatshouldbe considered.See“RiskFactors”beginningonpage5ofourAnnualReportonForm10-Kfortheyear endedDecember31,2010. NeithertheSecuritiesandExchangeCommissionnoranystatesecuritiescommissionhasapprovedor disapprovedofthesesecuritiesorpassedupontheadequacyoraccuracyofthisprospectus.Any representationtothecontraryisacriminaloffense. ProspectusdatedOctober18,2011 TABLEOFCONTENTS Page SUMMARYINFORMATION............................................................. 1 RISKFACTORS ....................................................................... 1 FORWARD-LOOKINGSTATEMENTS .................................................... 2 DESCRIPTIONOFTHEPLAN ........................................................... 4 OTHERPLANINFORMATION........................................................... 22 SUMMARYOFIMPORTANTDEADLINES ................................................ 24 USEOFPROCEEDS .................................................................... 26 PLANOFDISTRIBUTION ............................................................... 26 U.S.FEDERALINCOMETAXCONSIDERATIONS.......................................... 27 LEGALMATTERS ..................................................................... 52 EXPERTS ............................................................................. 52 WHEREYOUCANFINDMOREINFORMATION ........................................... 52 -i- Thefollowinginformationisqualifiedinitsentiretybythemoredetailedinformationandfinancial statementsandnotestheretoappearingelsewherein,orincorporatedbyreferenceinto,thisprospectus.We encourageyoutoreadthisprospectus,aswellastheinformationwhichisincorporatedbyreferenceherein,in theirentireties.Youshouldcarefullyconsiderthematerialrisksofinvestinginourcommonstockreferenced underthecaption“RiskFactors”ofthisprospectusbeforemakingadecisiontoparticipateinthePlan.Inthis prospectus,unlessotherwisespecifiedorifthecontextrequiresotherwise,weusetheterms“company,”“we,” “us”and“our”torefertoApolloCommercialRealEstateFinance,Inc.,aMarylandcorporation,togetherwith itsconsolidatedsubsidiaries;referencesinthisprospectusto“Apollo”refertoApolloGlobalManagement, LLC,aDelawarelimitedliabilitycompany,togetherwithitssubsidiaries;referencesinthisprospectusto“our Manager”refertoACREFIManagement,LLC,aDelawarelimitedliabilitycompanyandanindirectsubsidiary ofApolloGlobalManagement,LLC. SUMMARYINFORMATION Weareacommercialrealestatefinancecompanythatoriginates,acquires,investsinandmanages performingcommercialfirstmortgageloans,commercialmortgage-backedsecurities,orCMBS,mezzanine loansandB-Notesandothercommercialrealestate-relateddebtinvestmentsintheUnitedStates.Wereferto theseassetclassesasourtargetassets. WeareexternallymanagedandadvisedbyACREFIManagement,LLC,orourManager,anindirect subsidiaryofApolloGlobalManagement,LLC.Pursuanttothetermsofthemanagementagreementbetweenus andourManager,ourManagerisresponsibleforadministeringourbusinessactivitiesandday-to-dayoperations andprovidinguswithourmanagementteamandappropriatesupportpersonnel.Wearetaxedasarealestate investmenttrust,oraREIT,forU.S.federalincometaxpurposes. Ourprincipalexecutiveofficesarelocatedat9West57thStreet,43rdFloor,NewYork,NewYork10019. Ourtelephonenumberis(212)515-3200.Ourwebsiteiswww.ApolloReit.com.Theinformationonourwebsite isnotconsideredpartofthisprospectus. RISKFACTORS Investmentinourcommonstockinvolvesahighdegreeofrisk.Youshouldcarefullyconsidertherisks describedinthesection“RiskFactors”containedinourAnnualReportonForm10-Kfortheyearended December31,2010,whichhasbeenfiledwiththeSecuritiesandExchangeCommission,ortheSEC,aswellas otherinformationinthisprospectusandanyaccompanyingprospectussupplementbeforepurchasingour commonstock.Eachoftherisksdescribedcouldmateriallyadverselyaffectourbusiness,financialcondition, resultsofoperations,orabilitytomakedistributionstoourstockholders.Insuchcase,youcouldloseallora portionofyouroriginalinvestment.See“WhereYouCanFindMoreInformation”beginningonpage52ofthis prospectus. -1- FORWARD-LOOKINGSTATEMENTS Certainstatementsinthisprospectusandthedocumentsincorporatedbyreferenceinthisdocument,other thanpurelyhistoricalinformation,includingestimates,projections,statementsrelatingtoourbusinessplans, objectivesandexpectedresults,andtheassumptionsuponwhichthosestatementsarebased,are “forward-lookingstatements”withinthemeaningofthePrivateSecuritiesLitigationReformActof1995, Section27AoftheSecuritiesActof1933,asamended,ortheSecuritiesAct,andSection21EoftheSecurities ExchangeActof1934,asamended,ortheExchangeAct,andsuchstatementsareintendedtobecoveredbythe safeharborprovidedbythesame.Forward-lookingstatementsaresubjecttosubstantialrisksanduncertainties, manyofwhicharedifficulttopredictandaregenerallybeyondourcontrol.Theseforward-lookingstatements includeinformationaboutpossibleorassumedfutureresultsofourbusiness,financialcondition,liquidity, resultsofoperations,plansandobjectives.Whenweusethewords“believe,”“expect,”“anticipate,”“project,” “estimate,”“plan,”“continue,”“intend,”“should,”“may”orsimilarexpressions,weintendtoidentify forward-lookingstatements.Statementsregardingthefollowingsubjects,amongothers,maybeforward-looking: • markettrendsinourindustry,interestrates,realestatevalues,thedebtsecuritiesmarketsorthegeneral economyorthedemandforcommercialrealestateloans; • ourbusinessandinvestmentstrategy; • ourprojectedoperatingresults; • actionsandinitiativesoftheU.S.governmentandchangestoU.S.governmentpoliciesandthe executionandimpactoftheseactions,initiativesandpolicies; • thestateoftheU.S.economygenerallyorinspecificgeographicregions; • economictrendsandeconomicrecoveries; • ourabilitytoobtainandmaintainfinancingarrangements,includingsecuritizations; • theamountofcommercialmortgageloansrequiringrefinancingoverthe2011to2015period; • theanticipatedshortfallofdebtfinancingfromtraditionallenders; • thevolumeofshort-termloanextensions; • thedemandfornewcapitaltoreplacematuringloans; • ourexpectedleverage; • generalvolatilityofthesecuritiesmarketsinwhichweparticipate; • changesinthevalueofourassets; • interestratemismatchesbetweenourtargetassetsandanyborrowingsusedtofundsuchassets; • changesininterestratesandthemarketvalueofourtargetassets; • changesinprepaymentratesonourtargetassets; • effectsofhedginginstrumentsonourtargetassets; • ratesofdefaultordecreasedrecoveryratesonourtargetassets; • thedegreetowhichourhedgingstrategiesmayormaynotprotectusfrominterestratevolatility; • impactofandchangesingovernmentalregulations,taxlawandrates,accountingguidanceandsimilar matters; • ourabilitytomaintainourqualificationasaREITforU.S.federalincometaxpurposes; -2- • ourabilitytomaintainourexemptionfromregistrationundertheInvestmentCompanyActof1940,as amended,ortheInvestmentCompanyAct; • availabilityofopportunitiestoacquirecommercialmortgage-related,realestate-relatedandother securities; • availabilityofqualifiedpersonnel; • estimatesrelatingtoourabilitytomakedistributionstoourstockholdersinthefuture;and • ourunderstandingofourcompetition. Wecautionthattheforegoinglistoffactorsisnotexclusive.Allsubsequentwrittenandoral forward-lookingstatementsconcerningusoranypersonactingonourbehalfareexpresslyqualifiedintheir entiretybythecautionarystatementsabove.Wecautionnottoplaceunduerelianceuponanyforward-looking statements,whichspeakonlyasofthedatemade.Wedonotundertakeoracceptanyobligationorundertaking toreleasepubliclyanyupdatesorrevisionstoanyforward-lookingstatementtoreflectanychangeinour expectationsoranychangeinevents,conditionsorcircumstancesonwhichanysuchstatementisbased. Theforward-lookingstatementscontainedinthisprospectusandthedocumentsincorporatedbyreference hereinreflectourbeliefs,assumptionsandexpectationsofourfutureperformance,takingintoaccountall informationcurrentlyavailabletous.Forward-lookingstatementsarenotpredictionsoffutureevents.These beliefs,assumptionsandexpectationsaresubjecttorisksanduncertaintiesandcanchangeasaresultofmany possibleeventsorfactors,notallofwhichareknowntous.SomeofthesefactorsareincludedinourAnnual ReportonForm10-KforthefiscalyearendedDecember31,2010,and“Management’sDiscussionandAnalysis ofFinancialConditionandResultsofOperations”includedinourQuarterlyReportsonForm10-Qforthe quartersendedMarch31,2011andJune30,2011whichisincorporatedbyreferenceintothisprospectus.Ifa changeoccurs,ourbusiness,financialcondition,liquidityandresultsofoperationsmayvarymateriallyfrom thoseexpressedinourforward-lookingstatements.Anyforward-lookingstatementspeaksonlyasofthedateon whichitismade.Newrisksanduncertaintiesariseovertime,anditisnotpossibleforustopredictthoseevents orhowtheymayaffectus.Suchnewrisksanduncertaintiesmaybeincludedinthedocumentsthatwefile pursuanttoSections13(a),13(c),14or15(d)oftheExchangeActafterthedateofthisprospectuswhichwillbe consideredtobeincorporatedbyreferenceintothisprospectus.Exceptasrequiredbylaw,wearenotobligated to,anddonotintendto,updateorreviseanyforward-lookingstatements,whetherasaresultofnewinformation, futureeventsorotherwise.Youshouldcarefullyconsidertheserisksbeforeyoumakeaninvestmentdecision withrespecttoourcommonstock. Formoreinformationregardingrisksthatmaycauseouractualresultstodiffermateriallyfromany forward-lookingstatements,see“RiskFactors”inourAnnualReportonForm10-Kfortheyearended December31,2010andinthedocumentsthatwefilepursuanttoSections13(a),13(c),14or15(d)ofthe ExchangeActafterthedateofthisprospectus,whichwillbeconsideredtobeincorporatedbyreferenceintothis prospectus. -3- DESCRIPTIONOFTHEPLAN OurDirectStockPurchaseandDividendReinvestmentPlanisdescribedinthefollowingquestionsand answers: 1. WhyisthePlanbeingoffered? ThepurposeofthePlanistoprovideaconvenientandeconomicalmethodforourcurrentstockholdersto acquiresharesofourcommonstockbyinvestingcashdividendspaidontheirsharesofourcommonstock topurchaseadditionalsharesofourcommonstock.ThePlanalsoprovidesourcurrentstockholdersand newinvestorswithaconvenientwaytoacquiresharesofourcommonstockbymakingoptionalcash investmentstopurchasesharesofourcommonstock.Intheseways,thePlanisintendedtobenefitour long-terminvestorsbyallowingthemtoincreasetheirinvestmentinourcommonstock.ThePlanalso providesuswithacost-efficientwaytoraiseadditionalcapitalthroughthedirectsaleofourcommonstock toparticipantsinthePlan.Sharesofourcommonstockcreditedtoaparticipant’saccountareconsidered “PlanShares.” 2. WhatfeaturesdoesthePlanoffer? • Automaticdividendreinvestment.Youcanincreaseyourholdingsofourcommonstockthrough automaticreinvestmentofyourcashdividends.Youcanelecttoreinvestallorapercentageofyour dividends. • Optionalcashinvestments.Youcanincreaseyourholdingsofourcommonstockthroughoptional cashinvestmentsof$100ormore.Youcanmakeoptionalcashinvestmentsbycheckorbyauthorizing aone-timedebitorautomaticmonthlydeductionsfromyourbankcheckingorsavingsaccount(see Question9). • Initialinvestment.Ifyouarenotacurrentstockholder,youcanmakeaninitialinvestmentinour commonstock,startingwithaslittleas$250,or$100ifyousignupforautomaticmonthlyinvestments (seeQuestion7). • Automatedtransactions.YoucanexecutemanyofyourPlantransactionsonlineorbyphoneifyou haveestablishedautomatedprivileges. RefertoQuestion8fordetailsonfeeschargedforthesetransactionsandservices. 3. WhataretheprimarybenefitsanddisadvantagesofthePlan? TheprimarybenefitsofparticipatinginthePlanareasfollows: • Youmayautomaticallyreinvestcashdividendsonalloraportionofyourholdingsofour commonstockinadditionalsharesofourcommonstock. • Youmayalsoinvestinsharesofourcommonstockbymakingoptionalcashinvestments.Subject tocertainexceptionsinthecaseofLargeCashPurchases(asdefinedherein)(seeQuestion26), yourtotaloptionalcashinvestmentforanymonthislimitedto$10,000.Youcanmakeoptional cashinvestmentsbycheckorbyauthorizingaone-timedebitorautomaticmonthlydeductions fromyourbankcheckingorsavingsaccount. • IfweissuenewsharesofourcommonstocktoparticipantsinthePlan,wemaysellthemata discountofupto5%fromthemarketpriceofourcommonstock.IfthePlanAdministrator acquiresoursharesintheopenmarketforparticipantsinthePlan,wemaydiscountsuchshares bypayingupto5%ofthepurchasepriceforsuchshares,treatinganybrokeragefeeswepayas includedinthediscount.Youshouldnote,however,thatwearenotinitiallyanticipatingoffering -4- sharesatadiscountordiscountingthepurchasepriceofoursharesunderthePlan.Anysuch discountswillbemadeatoursolediscretion. • ThePlanprovidesparticipantswiththeopportunitytoacquireadditionalsharesofourcommon stockdirectlyfromuswithouthavingtopay,subjecttocertainexceptions,thetradingfeesor servicechargesassociatedwithanindependentpurchase(seeQuestion8). • YoumaydirectthePlanAdministratortotransfer,atanytimeandatnocosttoyou,allora portionofyoursharesinthePlantoaPlanaccountforanotherpersonaslongasyoumeetallof thetransferrequirementssetforthinQuestion19. • ThePlanoffersa“sharesafekeeping”servicethatallowsyoutodeposityourcompanystock certificateswiththePlanAdministratoratnocosttoyouandtohaveyourownershipofcommon stockpurchasedunderthePlanmaintainedonthePlanAdministrator’srecordsinuncertificated formaspartofyourPlanaccount,ifyousodesire. • Inordertosimplifyyourrecordkeeping,thePlanAdministratorwillsendyouanaccount statementassoonaspracticableaftereachdividendreinvestmentandaftereachoptionalcash investment.ThePlanAdministrator(asdefinedinQuestion11below)willalsosendyouan accountstatementafteranytransfer,saleorwithdrawalofPlanShares. TheprimarydisadvantagesofparticipatinginthePlanareasfollows: • YourinvestmentinthePlanisnodifferentfromanyinvestmentinsharesofourcommonheldby you.IfyouchoosetoparticipateinthePlan,thenyoushouldrecognizethatnoneofus,our subsidiariesandaffiliates,northePlanAdministratorcanassureyouofaprofitorprotectyou againstlossonthesharesthatyoupurchaseunderthePlan.Youbeartheriskoflossinvalueand enjoythebenefitsofgainswithrespecttoallofyourshares. • WhenyoureinvestdividendsunderthePlan,youwillbetreatedforU.S.federalincometax purposesashavingreceivedadividendontherelateddateofpurchaseofsharesofcommonstock underthePlan,whichmaygiverisetoataxpaymentobligationwithoutprovidingyouwith immediatecashtopaysuchtaxwhenitbecomesdue.SeeQuestion24. • Youwillhavelimitedcontroloverthespecifictimingofpurchasesandsalesofourcommonstock underthePlan.BecausethePlanAdministratormustreceivefundsforacashpurchasepriortothe actualpurchasedateofthecommonstock,yourinvestmentsmaybeexposedtochangesinmarket conditions. • NointerestwillbepaidonfundsthatthePlanAdministratorholdspendinginvestmentorthat mayultimatelybereturnedtoyou.SeeQuestion9. • ThepurchasepriceforsharesofcommonstockpurchasedunderthePlanmayexceedthepriceof acquiringsharesofcommonstockontheopenmarketatanygiventimeontheactualpurchase date. 4. WhomayparticipateinthePlan? YoumayparticipateinthePlanifyouare: • acurrentownerofsharesofourcommonstock; • afirst-timeinvestorthatisaU.S.citizenoracorporationorotherentityorganizedordomiciledin theUnitedStates;or • afirst-timeinvestorthatisaforeigncitizenoracorporationorotherentityorganizedordomiciled outsidetheU.S.,iftherearenolawsorgovernmentalregulationsthatwouldprohibityoufrom participating,orthatwouldaffectthetermsofthePlan. -5- 5. HowdoIenrollinthePlanifIamacurrentstockholderofrecord? Ifyoualreadyownsharesofourcommonstockandthesharesareregisteredinyourname,youcanjointhe PlanbyenrollingonlinebyaccessingyourshareowneraccountthroughthePlanAdministrator’swebsiteat www.shareowneronline.comorbycompletinganenrollmentformandreturningittothePlan Administrator. 6. HowdoIenrollifmysharesareheldotherthaninmyname? Ifyouholdsharesofourcommonstockin“streetname”inabrokerage,bankorotherintermediaryaccount, youcanparticipateinthePlanbyinstructingyourbroker,bankorotherintermediarytohaveyourshares transferredintoyourname.Afteryoursharesaretransferredintoyournameyouwillreceiveashareowner accountstatementandinstructionsforenrollinginthePlanasdescribedinQuestion5above.Ifyoudonot wishtotransferyoursharesofcommonstockintoyournamefromyourbrokerage,bankorother intermediary,youcanparticipatebymakingcashinvestmentsinthePlanasdescribedinQuestion7below. 7. HowdoIenrollifIamnotcurrentlyastockholder? Ifyoudonotcurrentlyownanysharesofourcommonstock,orifyouholdsharesofourcommonstockin “streetname”inabrokerage,bankorotherintermediaryaccountandyoudonotwishtotransferyourshares ofcommonstockintoyourname,youcanenrollinthePlanby: • enrollingonlineatwww.shareowneronline.comandauthorizingthePlanAdministratortomakea one-timedeductionfromyourbankaccountofatleast$250; • completingandreturninganenrollmentform,togetherwithaninitialinvestmentofatleast$250; • enrollingonlineatwww.shareowneronline.comandagreeingtomakeaone-timedeductionfrom yourbankaccountofatleast$100andauthorizingfuturemonthlycashinvestmentsofatleast $100;or • completingandreturninganenrollmentformtogetherwithaninitialinvestmentofatleast$100 authorizingfutureautomaticmonthlycashinvestmentsofatleast$100. Regulationsincertaincountriesmaylimitorprohibitparticipationinthistypeofplan.Persons residingoutsidetheUnitedStateswhowishtoparticipateinthePlanshouldfirstdeterminewhether theyaresubjecttoanygovernmentalregulationprohibitingtheirparticipation. 8. WhatarethefeesassociatedwithparticipationinthePlan? ThereisnofeetoenrollinthePlan. -6- Wewillpayallofyouroptionalcashpurchaseanddividendreinvestmenttransactionfeesandtrading commissionstotheextentthatsuchfees,includinganydiscountweofferontheshares,donotexceed5%of thefairmarketvalueofthesharesyouacquire.Youwillpaytheapplicablefeesandtradingcommissions whenyousellyoursharesofourcommonstockthroughthePlanasdescribedbelow.Thefollowingsets forththefeesapplicabletoyourparticipationinthePlan: AdministrationFeesandInvestmentFees DividendReinvestmentFee None OptionalCashInvestmentsFee None ExpensesandTransactionFees StockSales Š PlanSales(partialorfull) $15.00persale Š Saleoffractionalsharesatterminationorwithdrawal $15.00persale Š Processingfeeonsalesofshares(includinganybrokeragecommissionsthe PlanAdministratorisrequiredtopay) $0.12pershare ReturnedChecksorReturnedElectronicPaymentFee $35.00peritem PriorYearDuplicateStatements $25.00peryear(no chargeforcurrentor mostrecent year-end) Wemaychangetheseparticipationfeesatanytime.Wewillgiveyounoticeofanyfeeincreasebeforeit appliestoyou. Forsaletransactions,transactionfeesandbrokeragecommissionsaredeductedfromthesale proceeds. 9. Whataremyoptionsforoptionalcashinvestments? YoumaypurchasesharesofourcommonstockbyusingthePlan’soptionalcashinvestmentfeature,but youhavenoobligationtomakesuchaninvestment.OptionalcashinvestmentsareappliedbythePlan Administratortothepurchaseofsharesofourcommonstockonaweeklybasis.IfyouarenotaPlan participantatthetimeyouwishtomakeyourfirstoptionalcashinvestment,youmustenrollinthePlanin ordertomakethatinvestment.IfyourinitialinvestmentinthePlanismadeintheformofanoptionalcash investment,yourinitialminimuminvestmentmustbeatleast$250or$100togetherwithanauthorization forautomaticfuturemonthlycashinvestmentsof$100(SeeQuestion8).Thereafter,additionaloptional cashinvestmentsmaybemademonthlyinanyamountbetween$100and$10,000.Ifyouareanexisting holderofsharesofourcommonstock,youmayalsomakeoptionalcashinvestmentsmonthlyinany amountbetween$100and$10,000. MinimumandMaximumInvestments.AfteryouhaveenrolledinthePlanandeitherdepositedsharesofour commonstockintoyouraccountorsatisfiedtherequirementsforopeningyouraccountbymakinganinitial cashinvestment,youmaypurchaseadditionalsharesusingtheoptionalcashinvestmentfeature.Youmust investatleast$100foranyoptionalcashinvestment.Unlessweapproveyourrequesttoinvestmorethan $10,000monthly(a“LargeCashPurchase”),youmaynotinvestmorethan$10,000inanymonth.See Question26belowformoreinformationonhowtomakeaLargeCashPurchaserequestinanyparticular month.Anyoptionalcashinvestmentthatislessormorethanthepermittedinvestmentamountswillbe returnedtoyouwithoutinterest. -7- WeeklyInvestmentDates.InvestmentsofoptionalcashcontributionsreceivedbythePlanAdministrator willbemadeonMondayofeachweek(unlessthatdayisnotadaythattheNYSEisopenfortrading,in whichcasetheinvestmentwillbemadeonthenextNYSEtradingday,eachsuchdate,an“Investment Date”). ContributionofFundsforInvestment.ThePlanAdministratormustreceiveyourfundsforinvestmentno laterthantwobusinessdayspriortoanInvestmentDateforaninitialcashinvestmentandonebusinessday priortoanInvestmentDateforanysubsequentoptionalcashinvestments.IfthePlanAdministratordoes notreceiveyourfundsbythesedeadlines,itmayholdthosefundsandinvestthemthefollowingweek.No interestwillbepaidonfundsheldbythePlanAdministratorpendinginvestment.Accordingly,youmay wanttotakethoseactionsyoudeemnecessarytobeassuredthatanyoptionalcashcontributionswillbe deliveredtothePlanAdministratorinsufficienttimetobeinvestedonthedesiredInvestmentDate.To obtainthereturnoffundstransmittedforinvestmentbeforeanyInvestmentDate,thePlanAdministrator mustreceiveawrittenrequestfromyounolaterthanthesecondbusinessdaybeforetherelevantInvestment Date. ContributionPaymentOptions.Youhavethreecontributionpaymentoptions: • ByOnlineInvestment:Youmaymakeoptionalcashinvestmentsbyaccessingyouraccountonline atwww.shareowneronline.com.Topurchasesharesviaonlineinvestment,youmustauthorizethe withdrawaloffundsfromyourU.S.orCanadianbankaccountbyelectronicfundstransfer. • ByAutomaticMonthlyWithdrawalsfromYourBankAccount:Ifyouwishtomakeregular periodicpurchaseswithoutwritingchecks,youcanauthorizeautomaticmonthlywithdrawals fromyourU.S.bankaccount.Participants’bankaccountsaredebitedonthe25thdayofeach month(or,ifthatdayisnotabusinessday,thenonthepriorbusinessday),andfundswillbe investedbeginningonthenextInvestmentDate.Youcanauthorizeautomaticmonthly withdrawalsbyaccessingyouraccountatwww.shareowneronline.com,orbycompletingand submittingtothePlanAdministratoranAutomaticCashWithdrawalandInvestmentform,which youmayobtainonlineorbytelephoningthePlanAdministrator.Youshouldallowthreetofour weeksforyourfirstautomaticwithdrawaltobeinitiated.Youmaychangeorterminateyour automaticwithdrawalauthorizationonlineorbywrittennoticetothePlanAdministratoratleast fifteenbusinessdaysbeforethenextscheduledcashwithdrawal. • ByCheck:YoumaysendthePlanAdministratoracheckinU.S.dollarsdrawnonaU.S.bankor Canadianfinancialinstitutionandmadepayableto“ShareownerServices.”Ifyouarenotinthe UnitedStates,pleasecontactyourbanktoverifythatitcanprovideyouwithacheckthatclears throughaU.S.bankorCanadianfinancialinstitutionandthatthedollaramountprintedisinU.S. Dollars.ThePlanAdministratorisunabletoacceptpaymentintheformofchecksthatclear throughnon-U.S.banks.ThePlanAdministratorwillnotacceptpaymentintheformofcash, moneyorders,traveler’schecksorthird-partychecks.Tofacilitatetheprocessingofyour investment,pleaseusetheOptionalCashInvestmentformattachedtoyouraccountstatementand mailyourcheckandformtoShareownerServicesasindicatedontheform.Youmayobtainan OptionalCashInvestmentformbyaccessingyouraccountonlineatwww.shareowneronline.com orbycallingthePlanAdministrator.Duringtheperiodthatoptionalcashinvestmentsareheldby thePlanAdministratorpendingtheirinvestmentunderthePlan,suchfundsmaybeinvestedin certain“PermittedInvestments.”ForpurposesofthisPlan,“PermittedInvestments”meansany moneymarketmutualfundsregisteredundertheInvestmentCompanyAct(includingthoseofan affiliateofthePlanAdministratororforwhichthePlanAdministratororanyofitsaffiliates providesmanagementadvisoryorotherservices)consistingentirelyof(1)directobligationsof theUnitedStates,or(2)obligationsfullyguaranteedbytheUnitedStates.Theriskofanyloss fromsuchPermittedInvestmentsshallbetheresponsibilityofthePlanAdministrator.Investment incomefromsuchPermittedInvestmentsshallberetainedbythePlanAdministrator. -8-
Description: