Form S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 8, 2008

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

General Dynamics Corporation*

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   13-1673581

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100

Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513

(703) 876-3000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

David A. Savner, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100

Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513

(703) 876-3000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

Joseph P. Gromacki, Esq.

Brian R. Boch, Esq.

Jenner & Block LLP

330 N. Wabash Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60611

(312) 222-9350

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:   From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨
Non-accelerated filer  ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each

Class of Securities

to be Registered

  Amount to be
Registered
 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price
  Amount of
Registration Fee

Debt Securities

  (1)   (1)   (1)   (1)

Guarantees (2)

       
 
(1) An indeterminate amount of securities to be offered at indeterminate prices is being registered pursuant to this registration statement. The registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 456(b) and is omitting this information in reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r).

 

(2) No separate consideration will be received for any guarantees. Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no separate fee is required to be paid in respect of the guarantees of the debt securities which are being registered concurrently.

 

 

 

*TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Exact name of

Registrant as specified

in its charter

  

State or other
jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization

  

I.R.S.

Employer

Identification

No.

  

Address, including zip code, and telephone
number, including area code, of Registrant’s
principal executive offices

American Overseas

        Marine Corporation

   Delaware    43-1273477   

100 Newport Avenue Extension

Quincy, Massachusetts 02171

(617) 786-8300

        

Bath Iron Works Corporation

   Maine    39-1343528   

700 Washington Street

Bath, Maine 04530

(207) 443-3311

Electric Boat Corporation

   Delaware    51-0369496   

75 Eastern Point Road

Groton, Connecticut 06340-4989

(860) 433-3000

General Dynamics Armament

        and Technical Products, Inc.

   Delaware    54-1828437   

Four LakePointe Plaza

2118 Water Ridge Parkway Charlotte, North Carolina 28217

(704) 714-8000

General Dynamics Government

        Systems Corporation

   Delaware    16-1190245   

2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100

Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513

(703) 876-3000

General Dynamics Land

        Systems Inc.

   Delaware    54-0582680   

38500 Mound Road

Sterling Heights, Michigan 48310-3268

(586) 825-4000

        

General Dynamics Ordnance

        and Tactical Systems, Inc.

   Virginia    06-1458069   

11399 16th Court North, Suite 200

St. Petersburg, Florida 33716

(727) 578-8100

Gulfstream Aerospace

        Corporation

   Delaware    13-3554834   

500 Gulfstream Road

Savannah, Georgia 31408

(912) 965-3000

National Steel and

        Shipbuilding Company

   Nevada    95-2076637   

P.O. Box 85278

San Diego, California 92186-5278

(619) 544-3400


PROSPECTUS

LOGO

DEBT SECURITIES

Guaranteed By:

 

American Overseas Marine Corporation   General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc.   General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc.
Bath Iron Works Corporation   General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation   Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Electric Boat Corporation   General Dynamics Land Systems Inc.   National Steel and Shipbuilding Company

We may offer from time to time our debt securities in one or more series pursuant to this prospectus. We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

We may sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities offered by this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities also will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

Investment in any securities offered by this prospectus involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, in our periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is December 8, 2008


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About this Prospectus

   1

Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements

   2

Where You Can Find More Information

   2

General Dynamics Corporation

   4

Risk Factors

   4

Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

   4

Use of Proceeds

   4

Description of the Debt Securities and Guarantees

   5

Plan of Distribution

   15

Legal Matters

   15

Experts

   15

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time and in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We have not authorized any agent, dealer, underwriter or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. You should not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, and we are not making an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

References to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” are to General Dynamics Corporation, unless expressly indicated otherwise. Reference to “General Dynamics” means General Dynamics Corporation, together with our consolidated subsidiaries, including the Guarantors. “Guarantors” means, initially, American Overseas Marine Corporation, Bath Iron Works Corporation, Electric Boat Corporation, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc., Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and National Steel and Shipbuilding Company.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this prospectus and in the information incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements, which are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “scheduled,” “estimates” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These include but are not limited to projections of revenues, earnings, segment performance, cash flows, contract awards, aircraft production, deliveries and backlog stability. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what is forecast in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

 

   

general U.S. and international political and economic conditions, including the current global credit market dislocation;

 

   

changing priorities in the U.S. government’s defense budget (including the outcome of supplemental defense spending measures, and changes in priorities in response to terrorist threats, continuing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and improved homeland security);

 

   

termination or restructuring of government contracts due to unilateral government action;

 

   

differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts within estimated costs, and performance issues with key suppliers and subcontractors;

 

   

expected recovery on contract claims and requests for equitable adjustment;

 

   

changing customer demand or preferences for business aircraft, including the effects of economic conditions on the business-aircraft market;

 

   

potential for changing prices for energy and raw materials; and

 

   

the status or outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof or, in the case of any document incorporated by reference, the date of that document. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or changes in expectations after the date such statements are made.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically, including General Dynamics Corporation. Except as expressly set forth in the paragraph below, we are not incorporating the contents of the SEC website into this prospectus.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the

 

2


documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (File No. 1-3671) and any future filings made with the SEC by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until we sell all of the securities (other than filings or portions of filings that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed):

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 filed on February 22, 2008;

 

   

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 30, June 29, and September 28, 2008 filed on May 6, 2008, August 5, 2008 and November 4, 2008, respectively; and

 

   

Current Reports filed on Form 8-K filed on March 7, May 8 and August 19, 2008.

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning the office of:

General Dynamics Corporation

2941 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 100

Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (703) 876-3000

You may also find additional information about us, including the documents mentioned above, on our website at www.generaldynamics.com. The information included on or linked to this website or any website referred to in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is not a part of this prospectus.

 

3


GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION

The Company is a Delaware corporation formed in 1952 as successor to the Electric Boat Company. General Dynamics’ businesses include business aviation, land and amphibious combat systems, shipbuilding and marine systems and mission-critical information technology and communications.

General Dynamics operates in four primary business groups—Aerospace, Combat Systems, Marine Systems and Information Systems and Technology.

Our principal executive offices are located at 2941 Fairview Park Drive Suite 100, Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4513 and our telephone number is (703) 876-3000.

RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement before acquiring any of such securities.

CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated:

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 28, 2008
   Year Ended December 31,
      2007    2006    2005    2004    2003

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

   18.5    15.8    12.3    10.6    8.9    10.0

For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of pretax income from continuing operations, adjusted to add back fixed charges, and fixed charges consist of pretax interest on all indebtedness and an estimate of interest within rental expense.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. General corporate purposes may include additions to working capital, capital expenditures, refinancing of existing indebtedness including commercial paper, repayment of debt, and financing of possible acquisitions, investments or stock repurchases.

 

4


DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES

This prospectus sets forth some of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities and the guarantees. We will describe the particular terms of any series of debt securities and related guarantees, and the extent to which the general terms set forth below may apply, in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities.

The debt securities may be issued from time to time in series under an indenture dated as of August 27, 2001, by and among the Company, the guarantors thereunder and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee. This indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder and will govern debt securities up to the aggregate principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. Any such limit applicable to a particular series of debt securities will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. The debt securities may be guaranteed by certain subsidiary guarantors under the guarantees described below.

The summary set forth below highlights certain provisions contained in the indenture. However, this summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indenture, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Wherever defined terms are used but not defined in this section of the prospectus, those terms have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture, it being intended that those defined terms will be incorporated herein by reference.

Definitions

The following are certain terms defined in the indenture:

“Attributable Debt” means, as to any particular lease under which any Person is at the time liable, at any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, the total net amount of rent required to be paid by such Person under such lease during the remaining term thereof (excluding any subsequent renewal or other extension options held by the lessee), discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such date at the rate of 15% per annum, compounded monthly. The net amount of rent required to be paid under any such lease for any such period will be the aggregate amount of the rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after excluding amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, services, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges and contingent rents (such as those based on sales). In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty in an amount which is less than the total discounted net amount of rent required to be paid from the later of the first date upon which such lease may be so terminated or the date of the determination of such net amount of rent, as the case may be, such net amount will also include the amount of such penalty, but no rent will be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated.

“Consolidated Assets” means the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

“Material Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, a subsidiary of the Company whose assets exceed ten percent (10%) of the Company’s Consolidated Assets as of the date of such determination. However, the board of directors of the Company may declare any subsidiary of the Company to be a Material Subsidiary.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Principal Property” means any manufacturing plant or warehouse, together with the land upon which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof, owned by the Company or any Material Subsidiary and located in the United States, the gross book value of which on the date as of which the determination is being made is an

 

5


amount which exceeds 2% of Consolidated Assets, but not including any property financed through the issuance of any tax exempt governmental obligation, or any such manufacturing plant or warehouse or any portion thereof or any such fixture (together, with the land upon which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof) which, in the opinion of the board of directors of the Company, is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as a single enterprise.

General Terms

All of the debt securities:

 

   

will be our general obligations;

 

   

will rank equally with each other and all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated debt; and

 

   

will be guaranteed by the guarantees of each of the Guarantors, which guarantees will rank equally with each other in respect of the debt securities and in respect of all other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated debt of such Guarantors.

The indenture provides for the issuance of debt securities in one or more series. Each time that we issue a new series of debt securities, the prospectus supplement relating to that series will specify the particular terms of those debt securities. Those terms may include but are not limited to the following:

 

   

the designation, issue, date and authorized denominations of such debt securities;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount offered and any limit on any future issues of additional debt of the same series;

 

   

the public offering price of such debt securities;

 

   

the date or dates on which such debt securities will mature, which may be fixed or extendible;

 

   

the rate or rates at which such debt securities will bear interest, which may be at a fixed or floating rate, if any;

 

   

the dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable;

 

   

the index used to determine any payments to be made on the debt securities;

 

   

the terms of any mandatory or optional redemption, including pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions;

 

   

the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous provisions, to redeem, or at the option of the holders, to purchase, such series of debt securities and other related terms and provisions;

 

   

whether such debt securities are to be issued in the form of global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary with respect to such global securities; and

 

   

any other terms of such series.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, debt securities will only be issued in fully registered form, without coupons. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the principal amount of the debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee in New York, New York. No service charge will be made on any security holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement for that series of debt securities; provided, however, that we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection therewith.

 

6


Certificated Debt Securities

Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as Depositary (the “Depositary”), or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”), as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as described under “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

Payment of Interest and Exchange

You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at the office or agency of the Company in accordance with the terms of the indenture. You may transfer certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the old certificate representing those certificated debt securities, and we will execute, and the trustee will authenticate and deliver, a new certificate to the new holder.

Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System

Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary.

The Depositary has indicated it intends to follow the following procedures with respect to book-entry debt securities.

Ownership of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities will be limited to persons that have accounts with the Depositary for the related global debt security (“participants”) or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global debt security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the accounts of the participants with the respective principal amounts of the book-entry debt securities represented by the global debt security beneficially owned by such participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the book-entry debt securities. Ownership of book-entry debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of the ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary for the related global debt security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants). The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities.

So long as the Depositary for a global debt security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global debt security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described herein, beneficial owners of book-entry debt securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of a certificate in definitive form representing securities and will not be considered the owners or holders of those securities under the indenture. Accordingly, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture, each person beneficially owning book-entry debt securities must rely on the procedures of the Depositary for the related global debt security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest.

We understand, however, that under existing industry practice, the Depositary will authorize the persons on whose behalf it holds a global debt security to exercise certain rights of holders of debt securities, and the indenture provides that we, the trustee and our respective agents will treat as the holder of a debt security the

 

7


persons specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to that global debt security for purposes of obtaining any consents or directions required to be given by holders of the debt securities pursuant to the indenture.

We will make payments of principal of, and premium and interest on book-entry debt securities to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the related global debt security. 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 a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the Depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, premium or interest on a global debt security, will immediately credit the accounts of the participants with payments in amounts proportionate to the respective amounts of book-entry debt securities held by each participant as shown on the records of the Depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities held through those participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

We will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for each global debt security if the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not appointed by us within 90 days. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the book-entry debt securities of any series represented by one or more global debt securities and, in that event, we will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for the global debt securities of that series. Global debt securities will also be exchangeable by the holders for certificated debt securities if an event of default with respect to the book-entry debt securities represented by those global debt securities has occurred and is continuing. Any certificated debt securities issued in exchange for a global debt security will be registered in such name or names as the Depositary will instruct the trustee. We expect that such instructions will be based upon directions received by the Depositary from participants with respect to ownership of book-entry debt securities relating to such global debt security.

We have obtained the foregoing information in this section concerning the Depositary and its book-entry system from sources we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Defeasance

The indenture provides that we (and to the extent applicable, the Guarantors), at our option:

 

   

will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of any series of debt securities, except in each case for, among other things, the rights of holders of debt securities to receive, from a trust fund, payments in respect of such securities when such payments are due and certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust; or

 

   

will no longer be obligated to comply with the covenants described below under “—Limitation on Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer” and “—Covenants of the Company,” and the Event of Default described in the fourth bullet point under “—Events of Default; Notice and Waiver” will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to such series of debt securities;

in each case, if we deposit with the trustee, in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of such series, money or the equivalent in securities of the U.S. government or government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, or a combination thereof, which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will

 

8


provide money in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) and any premium of, interest on and any repurchase or redemption obligations with respect to such series on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such series.

To exercise any such option, we are required, among other things, to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that:

 

   

the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes and, in the case of securities being discharged pursuant to the first bullet point above, accompanied by a ruling, if then required, to such effect received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service; and

 

   

the creation of the defeasance trust would not violate the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

In addition, we are required to deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that such deposit was not made by us with the intent of preferring the holders of the debt securities over other creditors of ours or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding our creditors or others.

Events of Default; Notice and Waiver

The indenture provides that, if an Event of Default (as defined below) with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series, and all accrued interest, to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, if an Event of Default described in the fifth bullet point below occurs and is continuing, the principal of and any interest on the debt securities of such series then outstanding shall become immediately due and payable.

“Events of Default” in respect of any series are defined in the indenture as being:

 

   

default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on debt securities of such series when due at their stated maturity;

 

   

default for 30 days in payment of any interest due with respect to such series;

 

   

default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when due by the terms of such series;

 

   

default for 60 days after written notice to us (or the Guarantors, if applicable) by the trustee or to us (or the Guarantors, if applicable) and the trustee by holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty pertaining to debt securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which, or the breach of which, would otherwise constitute an Event of Default);

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization with respect to us or any of our Material Subsidiaries or the entry of an order ordering the winding up or liquidation of our affairs or the affairs of our Material Subsidiaries; and

 

   

any guarantee by a Material Subsidiary ceases for any reason to be, or is asserted in writing by any such Material Subsidiary or the Company not to be, in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms except to the extent contemplated by the indenture and any such guarantee.

Any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default that will be applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.

 

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The indenture provides that the trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series, give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults known to it; provided, however, that except in the case of default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, on any of the debt securities of such series or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment or analogous obligation relating to the debt securities of such series, the trustee will be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of the debt securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of an Event of Default described in the fourth bullet point above, no such notice to the holders of the debt securities of such series shall be given until at least 90 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of the trustee’s duty to notify holders of defaults, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of such series.

The trustee is entitled, subject to the duty of the trustee during an Event of Default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the holders of the debt securities of such series before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the request of holders of the debt securities of such series.

The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting proceedings for remedies available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee in respect of such series, subject to certain conditions.

In certain cases, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of such series, any past default with respect to the debt securities of such series except, among other things, a default not theretofore cured in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, on any of the debt securities of such series or payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to such debt securities.

Limitation on Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

We will not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, lease, convey or transfer all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any Person, if upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or transfer we are not the surviving corporation, unless:

 

   

the Person formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or the Person that acquires by sale, lease, conveyance or transfer all or substantially all of our properties and assets will be organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or the District of Columbia, and (if such Person is not the Company) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the trustee, in form satisfactory to the trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the debt securities and the performance of every covenant of the indenture (as supplemented from time to time) on our part to be performed or observed;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, will have happened and be continuing; and

 

   

we have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with the applicable article of the indenture and that we have complied with all conditions precedent relating to such transaction.

In such event, we will be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the indenture and the debt securities, and may be liquidated and dissolved. The successor Person formed by such consolidation or into

 

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which we are merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or transfer is made will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of ours under the indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company in the indenture.

Modification of the Indenture

The Company, when authorized by a board resolution, and the trustee, at any time and from time to time, may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, enter into indentures supplemental to the indenture for, among others, one or more of the following purposes:

 

   

to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or any Guarantor;

 

   

to add to our covenants, or the covenants of the Guarantors, or to surrender any of our rights or powers, or the rights or powers of the Guarantors, for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any or all series;

 

   

to cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the indenture; provided that any such supplemental indenture will not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series;

 

   

with certain exceptions, to add to the indenture any provisions that may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

 

   

to establish the form of any security, to provide for the issuance and set forth the terms of any series of debt securities and/or to add to the rights of the holders of the debt securities of any series;

 

   

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment of any successor trustee;

 

   

to provide any additional Events of Default;

 

   

to provide for the issuance of debt securities in coupon or in fully registered form;

 

   

to secure any series of debt securities under the indenture’s limitation on liens or otherwise; or

 

   

to evidence the addition of any subsidiary as a Guarantor or the release of any Guarantor and its obligations pursuant to the indenture.

The indenture contains provisions permitting the Company, when authorized by a board resolution, and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture, voting as a single class, to execute supplemental indentures by adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or modifying the rights of the holders of the debt securities of each such series under the indenture, except that no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of each holder of each outstanding debt security affected by such supplemental indenture, among other things:

 

   

change the fixed maturity of any debt securities;

 

   

reduce the principal amount thereof;

 

   

reduce the interest thereon or change the method of computing the interest thereon on any date;

 

   

change the currency or place of any payment;

 

   

amend or modify the terms of any of the guarantee provisions of the indenture in a manner adverse to the holders; or

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture.

 

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Covenants of the Company

The following covenants will apply to each series of debt securities:

Liens

The indenture provides that neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary will incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness for money borrowed that is secured by a lien on any of its assets or properties without securing the debt securities equally and ratably with such indebtedness for so long as any such indebtedness is secured. Exceptions include, among others:

 

   

liens for taxes not yet due or being contested;

 

   

liens imposed by law, such as mechanics’ liens, and other similar liens;

 

   

easements and similar liens not impairing the use or value of the property involved;

 

   

liens existing as of the date of the indenture;

 

   

liens created by subsidiaries of ours to secure indebtedness of such subsidiaries to us or to one or more other subsidiaries of ours;

 

   

liens affecting property of a Person existing at the time it is acquired by us;

 

   

liens on any property existing at the time of acquisition thereof or incurred to finance the purchase price thereof;

 

   

liens on any property to secure all or part of the cost of improvements or construction thereon;

 

   

liens on shares of stock, indebtedness or other securities of a Person that is not the Company or a subsidiary of ours;

 

   

liens to extend, renew or replace any liens referred to above; and

 

   

other liens arising in connection with our indebtedness and our subsidiaries’ indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount for us and our subsidiaries, together with all Attributable Debt with respect to sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Properties (with the exception of the transactions that are excluded as described in “—Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions” below), not exceeding at the time such lien is issued, created or assumed 10% of our Consolidated Assets.

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

The indenture provides that the Company will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction covering any Principal Property that was or is owned or leased by the Company or a Material Subsidiary and that has been or is to be sold or transferred more than 120 days after the completion of construction and commencement of full operation of such Principal Property.

However, a sale and leaseback transaction of this kind will not be prohibited if:

 

   

Attributable Debt of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries in respect of the sale and leaseback transaction and all other sale and leaseback transactions entered into after the date when the Company first issued securities pursuant to the indenture (other than any sale and leaseback transactions that are otherwise permitted or excepted), plus the aggregate principal amount of indebtedness secured by liens on Principal Properties then outstanding (excluding any indebtedness secured by liens that are otherwise permitted under the indenture) without equally and ratably securing the debt securities, would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Assets;

 

   

an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of the sale or transfer or the Attributable Debt of the Principal Property sold (as determined by the Company) is applied within 150 days to the voluntary

 

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retirement of debt securities or other indebtedness of the Company (other than indebtedness subordinated to the debt securities) or indebtedness of a Material Subsidiary, for money borrowed, maturing more than 12 months after the voluntary retirement;

 

   

the lease is for a period not exceeding three years and by the end of which it is intended that the use of such Principal Property by the lessee will be discontinued; or

 

   

the lease is with the Company or another Material Subsidiary.

Guarantees

Each of the Guarantors, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, will fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each holder of debt securities and to the trustee and its successors and assigns:

 

   

the full and punctual payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of ours under the indenture (including obligations to the trustee) and the debt securities; and

 

   

the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of ours under the indenture and the debt securities.

Such guarantees will constitute guarantees of payment, performance and compliance and not merely of collection.

The obligations of each Guarantor under the indenture will be unconditional irrespective of the absence or existence of any action to enforce the same, the recovery of any judgment against us or each other or any waiver or amendment of the provisions of the indenture or the debt securities to the extent that any such action or similar action would otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor (except that each such waiver or amendment will be effective in accordance with its terms).

The obligations of the Guarantors to make any payments may be satisfied by causing us to make such payments.

Each of the Guarantors further agrees to waive presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Company and also waives diligence, notice of acceptance of its guarantee, presentment, demand for payment, notice of protest for nonpayment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Company and any right to require a proceeding first against us. These obligations will be unaffected by any failure or policy of the trustee to exercise any right under the indenture or under any series of debt securities.

If any holder of any debt security or the trustee is required by a court or otherwise to return to us, any Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to us or any of the Guarantors, any amount paid by any of them to the trustee or such holder, the guarantee of such Guarantors, to the extent discharged, will be reinstated in full force and effect.

The indenture provides that the guarantee of each Guarantor is limited to the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by such Guarantor without rendering its guarantee voidable under applicable laws relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

In the event:

 

   

of a merger, consolidation or sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor (other than a merger or consolidation with, or sale or disposition of assets to, us or another of our subsidiaries); or

 

   

there occurs a transfer, sale or other disposition of the voting stock of a Guarantor whereby such Guarantor ceases to constitute a subsidiary of ours,

 

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then in any such case such Guarantor or the entity acquiring the assets (in the event of the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor), will be released and relieved of any obligations under its guarantee. Upon our delivery to the trustee of an officer’s certificate to the effect of the foregoing, such Guarantor will be discharged from all further liability and obligation under the indenture and the trustee will execute any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of such Guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee.

Governing Law

The indenture, the debt securities and the guarantees will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee under the indenture. The trustee is a depository for funds and performs other services for, and transacts other banking business with, us in the normal course of business.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the offered securities through agents, through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the offered securities will be passed on for the Company and the Guarantors by Jenner & Block LLP, Chicago, Illinois.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedules of General Dynamics Corporation as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. Our audit report on the consolidated financial statements refers to a change in accounting for share-based payments and pension and other post-retirement benefits.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following is a statement of the estimated expenses (other than underwriting compensation) to be incurred by us in connection with an offering of an assumed amount of $1,000,000,000 of securities registered under this registration statement. The assumed amount has been used to demonstrate the expenses of an offering and does not represent an estimate of the amount of securities that may be registered or offered because such amount is unknown at this time.

 

SEC registration fee

   $   *

Rating agency fees

     825,000  

Printing

     30,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     200,000  

Trustee fees

     12,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     80,000  

Miscellaneous

     103,000  
        

Total

   $ 1,250,000  
        

 

  * To be paid on a pay-as-you go basis pursuant to Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

General Dynamics Corporation, American Overseas Marine Corporation, Electric Boat Corporation, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

General Dynamics Corporation and certain Guarantors, such being American Overseas Marine Corporation, Electric Boat Corporation, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 (“Section 145”) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as may be amended from time to time (the “General Corporation Law”), provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any of its directors or officers who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any third party proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action (i.e., one by or in the right of a corporation), the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such person in defending any such action, suit or proceeding may be paid or reimbursed by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by it of an undertaking of such person to repay such expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.

 

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Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him or her under Section 145.

The Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that it will indemnify its current and former directors and officers from and against all liabilities and reasonable expenses that they incur in connection with or resulting from any claims, actions, suits or proceedings to the extent that indemnification is not inconsistent with Delaware law. The Corporation also provides directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for the acts and omissions of its directors and officers. In order to be entitled to indemnification under the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a director or officer of the Corporation must be wholly successful with respect to the claim, action, suit or proceeding or have acted in good faith in what he or she reasonably believed to be the best interests of the Corporation, or with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, must have had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Prior to the final disposition of a claim, action, suit or proceeding, the Corporation will advance expenses incurred by a current or former director or officer if the director or officer provides the Corporation with an undertaking to repay the amount advanced if he or she is not entitled to indemnification after the final disposition.

The Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Corporation’s directors will not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duties as directors except (a) for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law, which makes directors liable for unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or (d) for transactions from which directors derive improper personal benefit. While this provision provides directors with protection from awards for monetary damages for breaches of their duty of care, it does not eliminate that duty.

The Bylaws of American Overseas Marine Corporation, Electric Boat Corporation, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. and Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation provide for the indemnification of all current and former directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. Additionally, prior to the final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding, these corporations will advance expenses incurred by a current or former director or officer if the director or officer provides the respective corporation with an undertaking to repay the amount advanced if he or she is not entitled to indemnification after the final disposition.

Bath Iron Works Corporation

Bath Iron Works Corporation (“Bath Iron Works”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of Maine. Sections 852 and 857 of the Maine Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”) authorize the indemnification by the corporation of any director or officer who is a party to any proceeding by reason of that person’s status as a director or officer of the corporation; provided that: (i) the individual’s conduct was in good faith, (ii) the individual reasonably believed (a) in the case of conduct in the individual’s official capacity, that the individual’s conduct was in the best interests of the corporation and (b) in all other cases, that the individual’s conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the individual had no reasonable cause to believe the individual’s conduct was unlawful. Also, the corporation may indemnify any director or officer who engaged in conduct for which broader indemnification has been made permissible or obligatory under a provision of the corporation’s articles of incorporation, except for liability for receipt of a financial benefit to which the individual is not entitled, an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders, a violation of Section 833 of the MBCA or an intentional violation of criminal law. Unless ordered by a court under Section 855 of the MBCA, a corporation may not indemnify one of the corporation’s directors (i) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct under Section 852 of the MBCA or (ii) in connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct for which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that the director received a financial benefit to which the director was not entitled, whether or not involving action in the director’s official capacity. A corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because the director was a director of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.

 

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Under Section 854 of the MBCA, a corporation may, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse the expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding by an individual who is a party to the proceeding because that individual is a member of the board of directors, if the individual delivers to the corporation: (i) a written affirmation of the individual’s good faith belief that the individual has met the relevant standard of conduct described in Section 852 of the MBCA or that the proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under a provision of the corporation’s articles of incorporation as authorized by Section 202 of the MBCA and (ii) the individual’s written undertaking to repay any funds advanced if the individual is not entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 853 of the MBCA and it is ultimately determined under Section 855 or 856 of the MBCA that the individual has not met the relevant standard of conduct described in Section 852 of the MBCA.

Under Section 858 of the MBCA, a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is a director or officer of the corporation, or who, while a director or officer of the corporation, serves at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity against liability asserted against or incurred by that individual in that capacity or arising from the individual’s status as a director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify or advance expenses to the individual against the same liability.

The Bylaws of Bath Iron Works provide that it will indemnify any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. Prior to the final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding, Bath Iron Works will advance expenses incurred by a current or former director or officer if the director or officer provides Bath Iron Works with an undertaking to repay the amount advanced if he or she is not entitled to indemnification after the final disposition.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc. (“Ordnance and Tactical Systems”) is incorporated under the laws of Virginia. Sections 13.1-697 and 13.1-702 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (the “VSCA”) permit a corporation to indemnify an individual made party to a proceeding because he is or was a director or officer of the corporation against liability incurred in the proceeding if (a) he conducted himself in good faith, (b) he believed, in the case of conduct in his official capacity, that such conduct was in the corporation’s best interests, and, in all other cases, that such conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, and (c) he had no reasonable cause to believe, in the case of a criminal proceeding, that his conduct was unlawful; provided, however, no indemnification will be permitted (i) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the individual has met the relevant standard under Section 13.1-697 of the VSCA or (ii) in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to such individual, whether or not involving action in his official capacity, in which the individual was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by such individual. Under Sections 13.1-698 and 13.1-702 of the VSCA, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, the corporation will indemnify a director or officer who entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director or officer against reasonable expenses incurred.

Under Section 13.1-699 of the VSCA, the corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if the individual furnishes the corporation a written statement of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct described in Section 13.1-697 of the VSCA and the individual furnishes the corporation a written undertaking, executed personally or on his behalf, to repay any funds advanced if the individual is not entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 13.1-698 of the VSCA and it is ultimately determined under Sections 13.1-700.1 or 13.1-701 of the VSCA that the individual has not met the relevant standard of conduct.

Under Section 13.1-703 of the VSCA, the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or who, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity, against liability asserted against or incurred by him in that capacity or arising from his status as a director or officer, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify him against the same liability.

 

II-3


Ordnance and Tactical Systems’ Bylaws provide that it will indemnify any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law. Prior to the final disposition of an action, suit or proceeding, Ordnance and Tactical Systems will advance expenses incurred by a current or former director or officer if the director or officer provides Ordnance and Tactical Systems with an undertaking to repay the amount advanced if he or she is not entitled to indemnification after the final disposition. Ordnance and Tactical Systems also has the power to purchase and maintain insurance coverage against any liability asserted against its directors and officers, whether or not Ordnance and Tactical Systems would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under applicable law.

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (“NASSCO”) is incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada. Sections 78.7502 through 78.752 of the Nevada General Corporation Law (the “NGCL”) provide that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of the fact that he or she was an officer or director of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to (a) any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which he or she has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper, and (b) any other threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify him or her against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense.

Under Section 78.751(2) of the NGCL, the articles of incorporation, the bylaws or an agreement made by the corporation may provide that the expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.

Under Section 78.752(1) of the NGCL, the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

The Amended and Restated Bylaws of NASSCO provide that NASSCO may indemnify any director or officer against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding. In order to be entitled to indemnification the director or officer must have acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, or with respect to a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. NASSCO must indemnify directors and officers against expenses actually and

 

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reasonably incurred if the person has been successful on the merits in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding. Any indemnification not ordered by a court or resulting from the successful defense based on the merits of a claim must be authorized by either the stockholders, the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to the proceeding, or if such quorum either so orders or cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

Other

The registrants may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of their directors and officers against any liability asserted against such persons. The registrants have purchased and currently maintain insurance on behalf of their directors and officers.

Item 16. Exhibits

A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement on Form S-3 is set forth on the Exhibit Index and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;

(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

 

II-5


(4) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser:

(A) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and

(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant; and

(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each filing of registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the

 

II-6


payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-7


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, General Dynamics Corporation, a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

GENERAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION
By:  

/S/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  David A. Savner
  Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/S/ NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA*

Nicholas D. Chabraja

   Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ L. HUGH REDD

L. Hugh Redd

   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ JOHN W. SCHWARTZ

John W. Schwartz

   Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ JAY L. JOHNSON*

Jay L. Johnson

   Vice Chairman and Director

/s/ JAMES S. CROWN*

James S. Crown

   Director

/s/ WILLIAM P. FRICKS*

William P. Fricks

   Director

/s/ CHARLES H. GOODMAN*

Charles H. Goodman

   Director

/s/ GEORGE A. JOULWAN*

George A. Joulwan

   Director

/s/ PAUL G. KAMINSKI*

Paul G. Kaminski

   Director

 

II-8


Signature

  

Title

/s/ JOHN M. KEANE*

John M. Keane

   Director

/s/ DEBORAH J. LUCAS*

Deborah J. Lucas

   Director

/s/ LESTER L. LYLES*

Lester L. Lyles

   Director

/s/ CARL E. MUNDY, JR.*

Carl E. Mundy, Jr.

   Director

/s/ J. CHRISTOPHER REYES*

J. Christopher Reyes

   Director

/s/ ROBERT WALMSLEY*

Robert Walmsley

   Director

 

*By:  

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

David A. Savner

  Attorney-in-Fact

 

II-9


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, American Overseas Marine Corporation, a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

AMERICAN OVERSEAS MARINE CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  David A. Savner
  Vice President and General Counsel

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable American Overseas Marine Corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by American Overseas Marine Corporation, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of American Overseas Marine Corporation to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ THOMAS W. MERRELL

Thomas W. Merrell

   President (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ DAVID H. FOGG

David H. Fogg

   Vice President, Treasurer and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

David A. Savner

   Director

/s/ MICHAEL W. TONER

Michael W. Toner

   Director

/s/ JOHN P. CASEY

John P. Casey

   Director

 

II-10


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Bath Iron Works Corporation, a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

BATH IRON WORKS CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  David A. Savner
  Vice President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable Bath Iron Works Corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by Bath Iron Works Corporation, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of Bath Iron Works Corporation to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ JOHN F. SHIPWAY

John F. Shipway

   President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ THOMAS A. BROWN

Thomas A. Brown

   Vice President, Finance and Administration, Secretary and Assistant Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ L. HUGH REDD

L. Hugh Redd

   Director

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

David A. Savner

   Director

/s/ MICHAEL W. TONER

Michael W. Toner

   Director

 

II-11


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Electric Boat Corporation, a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

ELECTRIC BOAT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  David A. Savner
  Vice President and Secretary

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable Electric Boat Corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by Electric Boat Corporation, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of Electric Boat Corporation to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ JOHN P. CASEY

John P. Casey

   President (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ DAVID H. FOGG

David H. Fogg

   Assistant Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ L. HUGH REDD

L. Hugh Redd

   Director

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

David A. Savner

   Director

/s/ MICHAEL W. TONER

Michael W. Toner

   Director

 

II-12


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

GENERAL DYNAMICS ARMAMENT AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

BY:

 

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  DAVID A. SAVNER
  Vice President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ MICHAEL J. MULLIGAN

Michael J. Mulligan

   President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ ROBERT SELEE

Robert Selee

   Vice President, Finance (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ DOUGLAS P. DEMOSS

Douglas P. Demoss

   Director, Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary

/s/ CHARLES M. HALL

Charles M. Hall

   Director

 

II-13


Signature

  

Title

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

David A. Savner

   Director

/s/ L. HUGH REDD

L. Hugh Redd

   Director

 

II-14


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation, a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

GENERAL DYNAMICS GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS CORPORATION

BY:

 

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  DAVID A. SAVNER
  Vice President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ GERARD J. DEMURO

Gerard J. Demuro

   President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ MICHAEL GARRITY

Michael Garrity

   Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

David A. Savner

   Director

/s/ L. HUGH REDD

L. Hugh Redd

   Director

 

II-15


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS INC.

By:

 

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  David A. Savner
  Vice President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ MARK C. ROUALET

Mark C. Roualet

   President (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ GARY WHITED

Gary Whited

   Vice President - Finance (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ ERNEST J. BABCOCK

Ernest J. Babcock

   Director

/s/ CHARLES M. HALL

Charles M. Hall

   Director

 

II-16


Signature

  

Title

/s/ DAVID K. HEEBNER

David K. Heebner

   Director

 

II-17


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc., a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

GENERAL DYNAMICS ORDNANCE

AND TACTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

BY:

 

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  DAVID A. SAVNER
  Vice President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc. to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc., including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc. to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ MICHAEL S. WILSON

Michael S. Wilson

   President (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Evelyn Milam

Evelyn Milam

   Vice President - Finance (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ CHARLES M. HALL

Charles M. Hall

   Director

/s/ L. HUGH REDD

L. Hugh Redd

   Director

 

II-18


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  David A. Savner
  Vice President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ JOSEPH T. LOMBARDO

Joseph T. Lombardo

   President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ DANIEL G. CLARE

Daniel G. Clare

   Senior Vice President, Finance and Planning (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ L. HUGH REDD

L. Hugh Redd

   Director

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

David A. Savner

   Director

 

II-19


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, a registrant, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Falls Church, Virginia on December 8, 2008.

 

NATIONAL STEEL AND SHIPBUILDING COMPANY
By:  

/s/ DAVID A. SAVNER

  David A. Savner
  Senior Vice President

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, L. HUGH REDD and DAVID A. SAVNER, as his true and lawful attorney and agent, in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things and execute any and all instruments which the attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable to enable National Steel and Shipbuilding Company to comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in respect thereof, in connection with any registration statement on Form S-3 and any or all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any post-effective amendments thereto), and to file each of the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in connection with other reports as required by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as director and/or officer of National Steel and Shipbuilding Company to registration statements and reports filed with the Commission with respect thereto and to any and all amendments of the same, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys and agents, or any of them, has done, will do or will cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 8, 2008.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ FREDERICK J. HARRIS

Frederick J. Harris

   President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ ROBERT E. SMITH

Robert E. Smith

   Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ PETER N. BOLLENBECKER

Peter N. Bollenbecker

   Controller and Assistant Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ MICHAEL W. TONER

Michael W. Toner

   Director and Chairman

 

II-20


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Document

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement*
  4.1    Indenture dated as of August 27, 2001, by and among General Dynamics Corporation, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-77024) filed with the Commission January 18, 2002)
  4.2    First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 27, 2001, by and among General Dynamics Corporation, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s registration statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-77024) filed with the Commission January 18, 2002)
  4.3    Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 2003, by and among General Dynamics Corporation, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission May 16, 2003)
  4.4    Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 14, 2003, by and among General Dynamics Corporation, the Guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee (incorporated herein by reference from the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission August 14, 2003)
  4.5    Form of Additional Supplemental Indenture*
  5    Opinion of Jenner & Block LLP
12    Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
23.1    Consent of Jenner & Block LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
23.2    Consent of KPMG LLP
24.1    Power of Attorney with respect to General Dynamics Corporation
24.2    Power of Attorney with respect to American Overseas Marine Corporation (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
24.3    Power of Attorney with respect to Bath Iron Works Corporation (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
24.4    Power of Attorney with respect to Electric Boat Corporation (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
24.5    Power of Attorney with respect to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
24.6    Power of Attorney with respect to General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
24.7    Power of Attorney with respect to General Dynamics Land Systems Inc. (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)


Exhibit No.

  

Document

24.8    Power of Attorney with respect to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc. (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
24.9    Power of Attorney with respect to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
24.10    Power of Attorney with respect to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (contained in and incorporated by reference to the signature page of this registration statement)
25    Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York Mellon

 

* To be filed by amendment or under cover of Form 8-K.