Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-212013

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

(1)

€500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 0.625% Notes due September 7, 2024 will be issued. The registration fee is based upon the Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price translated into U.S. dollars using an exchange rate of €1.00=$1.1874, the noon buying rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the euro/U.S.$ exchange rate on August 25, 2017, with such fee being calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

---

Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated June 14, 2016)

€500,000,000 0.625% Notes due September 7, 2024

        Kimberly-Clark will pay interest on the 0.625% notes due September 7, 2024 (the "notes") on September 7 of each year. The first payment on the notes will be made on September 7, 2018. We may redeem the notes at our option and at any time, either as a whole or in part, at the redemption prices described in this prospectus supplement. If we experience a change of control repurchase event, we may be required to offer to repurchase the notes from holders.

        Investing in the notes involves risks. Please see "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and "Supplemental Risk Factors" beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement.

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

        The initial public offering price set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the notes will begin to accrue on September 7, 2017 and must be paid by the purchaser if the notes are delivered after September 7, 2017. The proceeds to Kimberly-Clark set forth above do not take into account offering expenses.

        The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange.

        The notes are offered severally by the underwriters, subject to the satisfaction of various conditions. The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form only through the book-entry delivery systems of Clearstream Banking, S.A. ("Clearstream") and Euroclear Bank SA/NV ("Euroclear") against payment on or about September 7, 2017, which is the fifth London business day following the date of this prospectus supplement. Purchasers of the notes should note that trading in the notes may be affected by this settlement date.

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Senior Co-Managers

Co-Managers

   

The date of this Prospectus Supplement is August 31, 2017.

---

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i

---

Table of Contents

        You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully before you invest. You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to give you different information. If anyone gives you different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement may add to, update or change information in the accompanying prospectus. The information contained in this prospectus supplement is current only as of the date appearing at the bottom of the cover. Since that date, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed.

        In this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, unless we otherwise specify or the context otherwise requires, references to "Kimberly-Clark," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. We are not, and the underwriters are not, offering to sell or seeking offers to buy securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

        This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement and its exhibits which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You should read the registration statement and its exhibits for information that may be of interest to you. For information on obtaining a copy of the registration statement, see "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus supplement.

        The notes are being offered for sale only in jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offers. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only be used in connection with the offering of the notes. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering or sale of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. We and the underwriters require persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus come to inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used for or in connection with, an offer or solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not authorized or is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation, and this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may not be delivered to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. See "Underwriting" in this prospectus supplement.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

        This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (2003/71/EC) (and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU) (the "Prospectus Directive") (each, a "Relevant Member State") will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of notes. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer in that Relevant Member State of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us or any of the underwriters to produce a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive in relation to such offer. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do we or they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive for such offer.

S-1

---

Table of Contents

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

        This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are only being distributed to, and are only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive and that are also (1) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), (2) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (3) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom, or "FSMA") in connection with the issue or sale of any notes may lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (each such person being referred to as a "Relevant Person"). Accordingly, by accepting delivery of this prospectus supplement, the recipient warrants and acknowledges that it is such a Relevant Person. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and their contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement and/or the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents.

        This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been approved for the purposes of section 21 of FSMA by a person authorized under FSMA. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are being distributed and communicated to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to us. The notes are not being offered or sold to any person in the United Kingdom except in circumstances which will not result in an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of Part VI of FSMA.

STABILIZATION

        IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC, OR ANY PERSON ACTING FOR IT, MAY OVER-ALLOT NOTES OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WITH A VIEW TO SUPPORTING THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES AT A LEVEL HIGHER THAN THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL. HOWEVER, STABILIZATION MAY NOT NECESSARILY OCCUR. ANY STABILIZATION ACTION MAY BEGIN AT ANY TIME AFTER THE ADEQUATE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE FINAL TERMS OF THE OFFER OF THE NOTES IS MADE, AND, IF BEGUN, MAY CEASE AT ANY TIME, BUT IT MUST END NO LATER THAN THE EARLIER OF 30 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTES AND 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE ALLOTMENT OF THE NOTES.

        ANY STABILIZATION ACTION OR OVER-ALLOTMENT MUST BE CONDUCTED BY GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC, OR ANY PERSON ACTING FOR IT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

BASIS OF PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

        Our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and our other financial information included in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the accompanying prospectus as described in the accompanying prospectus under "Incorporation of Information by Reference" have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

S-2

---

Table of Contents

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference rooms at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information concerning its public reference rooms and regional offices. Our SEC filings also are available to the public from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and on our website at http://www.kimberly-clark.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with it, which means we can disclose information to you by referring you to those documents. Information incorporated by reference is part of this prospectus supplement. Later information filed with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes information in this prospectus supplement.

        We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), until this offering is completed:

•

Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 Annual Report");



•

Our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017;



•

Our current reports on Form 8-K filed on April 21, 2017 and May 5, 2017; and



•

The information in our definitive proxy statement filed on February 27, 2017 that is incorporated by reference in the 2016 Annual Report.

        We will provide to you at no charge, upon your written or oral request, a copy of these filings or any other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, other than exhibits to the filings which are not specifically incorporated by reference. You may request this information by contacting us at Kimberly-Clark Corporation, P.O. Box 619100, Dallas, Texas 75261-9100 (telephone 972-281-1200); Attention: Secretary of the Corporation.

S-3

---

Table of Contents

SUPPLEMENTAL RISK FACTORS

        You should carefully consider the risk factors under the heading "Risk Factors" in our 2016 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as supplemental risk factors set forth below and the other information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision. In addition, there may be other risks that a prospective investor should consider that are relevant to its own particular circumstances.

An active trading market may not develop for the notes.

        The notes constitute a new issue of securities for which no established trading market exists. An active secondary market in the notes may not develop, and little or no demand for the notes may exist in any secondary market that may develop. In addition, liquidity may be limited if the notes are offered to a limited number of investors. Consequently, investors may not be able to sell their notes easily or at prices that will provide them with a yield comparable to similar investments that have a developed secondary market. Any illiquidity of the notes could have an adverse effect on the market value of the notes. It is not possible to predict with any certainty the price at which the notes will trade in any secondary market in the notes that may develop.

        The underwriters have advised us that they or their respective affiliates may make a market in the notes, but they do not have any obligation to do so. Any underwriter or any affiliate of an underwriter conducting any market making activity in the notes may discontinue that activity at any time and without notice.

If trading markets do develop, changes in our ratings or the financial markets could adversely affect the market prices of the notes.

        The market prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including, among others, the following:

•

ratings on our debt securities assigned by rating agencies;



•

the prevailing interest rates being paid by other companies similar to us;



•

our results of operations, financial condition and prospects; and



•

conditions in the financial markets.

        Conditions in the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the notes.

        Rating agencies continually review the ratings they have assigned to companies and debt securities. Negative changes in the ratings assigned to us or our debt securities could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the notes.

We may terminate any listing of the notes on the New York Stock Exchange.

        We intend to apply to have the notes listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. If the notes are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, we may at any time terminate the listing of the notes without the consent of the holders of the notes. We will have no obligations to maintain a listing of the notes on the New York Stock Exchange in effect or any other securities exchange.

Holders of the notes will receive payments solely in euro.

        Except as described under "Description of the Notes—Issuance and Payment in Euro" in this prospectus supplement, all payments of interest on and the principal of the notes, any redemption price

S-4

---

Table of Contents

or any change of control repurchase price for, and any additional amounts with respect to the notes will be made in euro. We, the underwriters, the trustee and the paying agent with respect to the notes will not be obligated to convert, or to assist any registered owner or beneficial owner of notes in converting payments of interest, principal, any redemption price, any repurchase price or any additional amount in euro made with respect to the notes into U.S. dollars or any other currency.

The notes permit us to make payments in U.S. dollars if we are unable to obtain euro.

        If the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to us or so used. In such event, the amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into the U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the then most recent U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate published in The Wall Street Journal on or most recently prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes.

Holders of the notes may be subject to the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, as well as possible exchange controls, relating to the euro.

        The initial investors in the notes will be required to pay for the notes in euro. Neither we nor the underwriters will be obligated to assist the initial investors in obtaining euro or in converting other currencies into euro to facilitate the payment of the purchase price for the notes.

        An investment in any security denominated in, and all payments with respect to which are to be made in, a currency other than the currency of the country in which an investor in notes resides or the currency in which an investor conducts its business or activities (the "investor's home currency"), entails significant risks not associated with a similar investment in a security denominated in the investor's home currency. In the case of the notes offered hereby, these risks may include the possibility of:

•

significant changes in rates of exchange between the euro and the investor's home currency; and



•

the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls with respect to the euro or the investor's home currency.

        We have no control over a number of factors affecting the notes offered hereby and foreign exchange rates, including economic, financial and political events that are important in determining the existence, magnitude and longevity of these risks and their effects. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates between two currencies result from the interaction over time of many factors directly or indirectly affecting economic and political conditions in the countries issuing such currencies, and economic and political developments globally and in other relevant countries. Foreign currency exchange rates may be affected by, among other factors, existing and expected rates of inflation, existing and expected interest rate levels, the balance of payments between countries, the aggregate amount of a national government's outstanding debt, and the extent of governmental surpluses or deficits in various countries. All of these factors are, in turn, sensitive to the monetary, fiscal and trade policies pursued by the governments of various countries important to international trade and finance. Moreover, current global economic conditions and the actions taken or to be taken by various national governments in response to such conditions could significantly affect the exchange rates between the euro and the investor's home currency. Finally, if one or more member states of the European

S-5

---

Table of Contents

Monetary Union were to withdraw from that union and cease to use the euro as their currency, the value of the euro could be materially adversely affected.

        The exchange rates of an investor's home currency for euro and the fluctuations in those exchange rates that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative of the exchange rates or the fluctuations therein that may occur in the future. Depreciation of the euro against the investor's home currency would result in a decrease in the investor's home currency equivalent yield on a note, in the investor's home currency equivalent of the principal payable at the maturity of that note and generally in the investor's home currency equivalent market value of that note. Appreciation of the euro in relation to the investor's home currency would have the opposite effects.

        The European Union or one or more of its member states may, in the future, impose exchange controls and modify any exchange controls imposed, which controls could affect exchange rates as well as the availability of euro at the time of payment of principal of, interest on, or any redemption payment or additional amounts with respect to, the notes.

        This description of foreign exchange risks does not describe all the risks of an investment in securities, including, in particular, the notes, that are denominated or payable in a currency other than an investor's home currency. You should consult your own financial and legal advisors as to the risks involved in an investment in the notes.

Trading in the clearing system is subject to minimum denomination requirements.

        The terms of the notes provide that the notes will be issued with a minimum denomination of €100,000 and multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. It is possible that the clearing systems may process trades that could result in amounts being held in denominations smaller than the minimum denominations. If definitive notes are required to be issued in relation to such notes in accordance with the provisions of the global notes, a holder who does not have the minimum denomination or a multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof in its account with the relevant clearing system at the relevant time may not receive all of its entitlement in the form of definitive notes unless and until such time as its holding satisfies the minimum denomination requirement.

In a lawsuit for payment on the notes, an investor may bear currency exchange risk.

        The indenture is, and the notes will be, governed by the laws of the State of New York. Under New York law, a New York state court rendering a judgment on the notes would be required to render the judgment in euros. However, the judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on the notes, investors would bear currency exchange risk until a New York state court judgment is entered, which could be a significant amount of time. A federal court sitting in New York with diversity jurisdiction over a dispute arising in connection with the notes would apply New York law.

        In courts outside of New York, investors may not be able to obtain a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars. For example, a judgment for money in an action based on the notes in many other U.S. federal or state courts ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in U.S. dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of euro into U.S. dollars would depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment and when the judgment is rendered.

S-6

---

Table of Contents

EXCHANGE RATES

        The table below sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, based on the noon buying rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the period-end, average, high and low rates of U.S. dollars per euro.

 

        As of August 25, 2017, the noon buying rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the euro/U.S.$ exchange rate was €1.00 = U.S.$1.1874.

S-7

---

Table of Contents

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS AND RATIOS

 

S-8

---

Table of Contents

S-9

---

Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

        We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from this offering will be approximately €496 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses of the offering payable by us. We anticipate using the net proceeds from this offering to repay a portion of our outstanding commercial paper indebtedness.

        After June 30, 2017, we incurred commercial paper indebtedness in order to finance a portion of the funds required to repay our $950 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% Notes due August 1, 2017. At August 25, 2017, our outstanding commercial paper indebtedness had a weighted average interest rate of 1.144% and a weighted average maturity of 10 days.

S-10

---

Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

        The following summary of the terms of the notes supplements the general description of debt securities contained in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent the following terms are inconsistent with the general description contained in the accompanying prospectus, the following terms replace such inconsistent terms. You should read both the accompanying prospectus and this prospectus supplement.

General

        The notes:

•

will be in an aggregate initial principal amount of €500,000,000, subject to our ability to issue additional notes which may be of the same series as described under "—Further Issues,"



•

will mature on September 7, 2024,



•

will bear interest at a rate of 0.625% per annum,



•

will be our senior debt, ranking equally with all our other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness,



•

will be issued in euros in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof,



•

will be repaid at par at maturity,



•

will be redeemable by us at any time prior to maturity as described below under "—Optional Redemption,"



•

will be redeemable prior to maturity, at our option, in the event of certain changes in the tax laws of the United States, as described under "—Redemption upon Tax Event" below,



•

will be subject to repurchase by us upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event as described below under "—Repurchase upon Change of Control Repurchase Event,"



•

will be subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance as described below under "—Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance," and



•

will not be subject to any sinking fund.

        We will pay to beneficial owners of notes who are Non-U.S. Persons (as defined below) additional amounts in the event of deduction or withholding of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed by the United States or any taxing authority thereof or therein as described under "—Payment of Additional Amounts" below.

        The indenture and the notes do not limit the amount of indebtedness that may be incurred or the amount of securities that may be issued by us.

Interest

        Interest on the notes will accrue from and include September 7, 2017 or from and include the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for. We will make interest payments annually on September 7 of each year, with the first interest payment being made on September 7, 2018. We will make interest payments to the person in whose name the notes are registered at the close of business on the August 23 (whether or not a business day), before the next interest payment date.

S-11

---

Table of Contents

        Interest payable on any interest payment date for the notes or on the maturity date for the notes will be the amount of interest accrued for the actual number of days in the period from, and including, the next preceding interest payment date for such notes in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the notes) to, but excluding, the next date on which interest is paid or duly provided for. This payment convention is referred to as Actual/Actual (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association.

        If any interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day, the interest payment will be made on the next succeeding business day, and we will not be liable for any additional interest as a result of the delay in payment. If a maturity date falls on a day that is not a business day, the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding business day, and no interest will accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after such date to the next succeeding business day. The term "business day" means any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, (1) which is not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in New York City or London and (2) on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer system (the TARGET2 system), or any successor thereto, is open.

Issuance and Payment in Euro

        Initial holders will be required to pay for the notes in euro, and all payments of principal of, the redemption price of (if any), any repurchase payments following a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined below), additional amounts (if any), and interest on, the notes, will be payable in euro, provided, that if the euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the euro is no longer being used by the then member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until the euro is again available to us or so used. In such event, the amount payable on any date in euro will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate mandated by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board as of the close of business on the second business day prior to the relevant payment date or, in the event the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the most recent U.S. dollar/euro exchange rate published in The Wall Street Journal on or most recently prior to the second business day prior to the relevant payment date. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the notes or the indenture governing the notes. Neither the trustee nor any paying agent shall have any responsibility for any calculation or conversion in connection with the foregoing. Any references in this prospectus supplement to payments being made in euro notwithstanding, payments shall be made in U.S. dollars to the extent set forth in this paragraph.

        Investors will be subject to foreign exchange risks as to payments of principal, the redemption price (if any), additional amounts (if any) and interest that may have important economic and tax consequences to them. See "Supplemental Risk Factors" above in this prospectus supplement.

Payment of Additional Amounts

        We will pay to each beneficial owner of any notes who is a Non-U.S. Person additional amounts as may be necessary so that every net payment of the principal of, and interest on such beneficial owner's notes, after deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon that beneficial owner by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (including any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on the additional amounts so paid), will not be less than the amount provided in such

S-12

---

Table of Contents

beneficial owner's notes to be then due and payable. We will not be required to make any payment of additional amounts for or on account of:

          (i)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the existence of any present or former connection (other than a connection arising solely from the ownership of those notes or the receipt of payments or enforcement of rights in respect of those notes) between that beneficial owner, or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, that beneficial owner, if that beneficial owner is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, and the United States, including that beneficial owner, or that fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor, (1) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident of the United States, (2) being or having been present in, or engaged in a trade or business in, the United States, (3) being treated as having been present in, or engaged in a trade or business in, the United States, or (4) having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States;

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

        (iii)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by reason of that beneficial owner's past or present status as a personal holding company, a controlled foreign corporation, a passive foreign investment company or a foreign private foundation or other foreign tax-exempt organization with respect to the United States or as a corporation that accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

        (iv)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payment of principal of, premium, if any, on, interest on or the redemption price for such beneficial owner's notes;

         (v)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of, premium, if any, on, interest on or the redemption price for any notes if that payment can be made without withholding by any other paying agent;

        (vi)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the failure of a beneficial owner or any holder of notes to comply (to the extent that it is legally able to do so) with a request to satisfy any applicable certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connections with the United States of the beneficial owner or any holder of the notes, if such compliance is required by statute or by regulation of the U.S. Treasury Department as a precondition to relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

       (vii)  any withholding required pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any agreement (including any intergovernmental agreement) entered into in connection therewith;

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

        (ix)  any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on interest received by (1) a 10% shareholder (as defined in Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and the regulations that may be promulgated thereunder) of our company, (2) a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code or (3) a bank receiving interest described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;

         (x)  any tax, assessment or governmental charge that would not have been so imposed or withheld but for the presentation by the holder of a note for payment on a date more than 30 days

S-13

---

Table of Contents

after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whoever occurs later; or

        (xi)  any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), and (x) above.

        In addition, to the extent described below, we will not pay additional amounts to a beneficial owner of a note that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity. This exception will apply to a beneficial owner of a note that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity only to the extent a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, or a beneficial owner or member of the partnership, limited liability company or other fiscally transparent entity, would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment subject to the tax, assessment or other governmental charge as to which withholding or another deduction occurs.

        As used in this discussion of the payment of additional amounts, the term "beneficial owner" includes any person holding a note on behalf of or for the account of a beneficial owner and the term "Non-U.S. Person" means a person that is not a United States Person. The term "United States Person" means an individual citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, a trust subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more United States persons as described in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, or a trust that existed on August 20, 1996, and elected to continue its treatment as a domestic trust.

        If we will be obligated to pay additional amounts under or with respect to any payment made on any of the notes, at least 30 days prior to the date of such payment, we will deliver to the trustee and the paying agent an officers' certificate stating the fact that additional amounts will be payable and the amount so payable and such other information necessary to enable the paying agent to pay additional amounts to the beneficial owner on the relevant payment date (unless such obligation to pay additional amounts arises, or we become aware of such obligation, less than 45 days prior to the relevant payment date, in which case we may deliver such officers' certificate as promptly as practicable after the date that is 30 days prior to the payment date). The trustee and the paying agent will be entitled to rely solely on such officers' certificate as conclusive proof that such payments are necessary.

        Except as specifically provided under this heading "—Payment of Additional Amounts," we will not be required to make any payment for any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or a political subdivision or taxing authority of or in any government or political subdivision.

        Any reference in the terms of the notes to any amounts payable in respect of the notes shall be deemed also to refer to any additional amounts which may be payable under this provision.

Redemption upon Tax Event

        If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated under the laws) of the United States (or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States), or any change in, or amendment to, an official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, we become, or based upon a written opinion of independent counsel selected by us, will become obligated to pay additional amounts as described above under the heading "—Payment of Additional Amounts" with respect to the notes, then we may at our option redeem, in whole, but not in part, the notes on not less than 15 nor more than 45 days' prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, together

S-14

---

Table of Contents

with interest accrued but unpaid on those notes to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price upon the surrender of the notes for redemption, on and after the date fixed for redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Optional Redemption

        The notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at our option and from time to time. If the notes are redeemed before July 7, 2024 (the date that is two months prior to the maturity of the notes) (the "Par Call Date"), the notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

        (1)   100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; and

        (2)   the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed if such notes matured on the Par Call Date (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on an annual basis (Actual/Actual (ICMA)) at the applicable Comparable Government Bond Rate (as defined below), plus 10 basis points,

plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

        Any notes redeemed on or after the Par Call Date will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes then outstanding to be redeemed, plus accrued interest thereon to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

        The calculation of the redemption price and accrued interest payable upon a redemption shall be made by the Company or on behalf of the Company by such persons as the Company may designate; provided that such calculation shall not be the duty or obligation of the trustee unless otherwise expressly agreed.

        Installments of interest on notes being redeemed that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date shall be payable on the interest payment date to the holders as of the close of business on the relevant regular record date according to the notes and the indenture.

        "Comparable Government Bond" means, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by us, a German government bond whose maturity is closest to the maturity of the notes (assuming, for this purpose, that the notes mature on the Par Call Date), or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German government bonds selected by us, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.

        For purposes of the formula described above, "Comparable Government Bond Rate" means the price, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), at which the gross redemption yield on the notes being redeemed, if they were to be purchased at such price on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, would be equal to the gross redemption yield on such business day of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by us. Such independent bank will calculate such gross redemption yield on the notes to be redeemed and the Comparable Government Bond in accordance with generally accepted market practices at the time of such calculations.

S-15

---

Table of Contents

        Notice of any redemption will be sent (or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear) at least 15 days but not more than 45 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes to be redeemed.

        Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

        If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the trustee pro rata, by lot or such other method as the trustee, in its discretion, deems fair and appropriate.

Repurchase upon Change of Control Repurchase Event

        If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs with respect to the notes, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes as described above, we will make an offer to each holder of notes to repurchase all or any part (in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder's notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below), but after the public announcement of an impending Change of Control, we will mail a notice to each holder (or deliver by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear), with a copy to the trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear). The notice shall, if mailed (or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear) prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to repurchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

        We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the notes, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflict.

        On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

•

accept for payment all notes or portions of notes (in denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof) properly tendered pursuant to our offer;



•

deposit with the trustee an amount equal to the aggregate repurchase price in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and



•

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

        The trustee or paying agent will promptly pay to each holder of notes properly tendered the repurchase price for the notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any notes surrendered; provided, that each new note will be in a principal amount of €100,000 or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof.

S-16

---

Table of Contents

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

        We have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a Change of Control, although it is possible that we would decide to do so in the future. We could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control, but that could increase the amount of debt outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings.

Definitions

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

        "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Kimberly-Clark and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than Kimberly-Clark or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of Kimberly-Clark's Voting Stock; or (3) the first day on which a majority of the members of Kimberly-Clark's Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors.

        "Change of Control Repurchase Event" means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event. The trustee shall be under no obligation to determine whether a "Change of Control Repurchase Event" has occurred or is continuing.

        "Continuing Directors" means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of Kimberly-Clark who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the issuance of the notes; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of Kimberly-Clark's proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

        "Fitch" means Fitch Ratings Ltd.

        "Investment Grade" means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody's (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody's); a rating of BBB– or better by S&P (or its equivalent under

S-17

---

Table of Contents

any successor rating categories of S&P); and a rating of BBB– or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch); or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by us.

        "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service Inc.

        "Rating Agency" means (1) each of Fitch, Moody's and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody's or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, selected by us as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody's or S&P, as the case may be.

        "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc.

        "Voting Stock" means Kimberly-Clark capital stock of any class or kind the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of Kimberly-Clark, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Further Issues

        We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue further notes ranking equally with the notes in all respects and with the same terms as the notes (other than the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further notes or except, in some cases, for the issue price and the first payment of interest following the issue date of such further notes). Such further notes may be consolidated and form a single series with the previously issued notes and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the notes.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        The provisions of Sections 402 and 1006 of the indenture relating to defeasance as described under "Description of Debt Securities—Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance" in the accompanying prospectus will apply to the notes provided that (a) references in Article Four of the Indenture to "money of the United States" or "money" shall be deemed to refer to euros and (b) the term "United States government securities" shall be replaced with the term "Government Obligations" which shall mean (i) direct obligations of a Participating Member State, (ii) obligations the timely payment of the principal of and interest on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by such Participating Member State, a central bank of a Participating Member State or a governmental agency of such Participating Member State, and (iii) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause (i) or (ii) above or in any specific principal or interest payments due in respect thereof, and the term "Participating Member State" shall mean a member state of the European Union which has adopted or adopts the single currency in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community (as that Treaty is amended from time to time).

Concerning the Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent

        The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as the successor trustee) is the trustee under the indenture governing the notes. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America and provides trust services and acts as indenture trustee for numerous corporate securities issuances, including for other series of debt securities of which we are the issuer. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will also be the registrar for the notes. The Bank of New York Mellon acting through its London Branch will act as the paying agent for the notes.

        We may have normal banking relationships with the trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

S-18

---

Table of Contents

BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

        We have obtained the following information concerning Clearstream, Euroclear, and their book-entry systems and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable. We take no responsibility for an accurate portrayal of this information. The description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. Those clearing systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.

        The notes will initially be represented by a fully registered global note, without interest coupons. Such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the common depositary for Clearstream and Euroclear, and registered in the name of the nominee of the common depositary for the accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear. Except as set forth below, the global notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective nominees. You may hold your interests in the global notes only through Clearstream or Euroclear, either as a participant in such systems or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests in the global note on behalf of their respective participating organizations through customers' securities accounts in Clearstream's or Euroclear's names on the books of their respective depositaries. Book-entry interests in the notes and all transfers relating to the notes will be reflected in the book-entry records of Clearstream and Euroclear.

        When you purchase notes through the Clearstream or Euroclear systems, the purchases must be made by or through a direct or indirect participant in the Clearstream or Euroclear system, as the case may be. The participant will receive credit for the notes that you purchase on Clearstream's or Euroclear's records, and, upon its receipt of such credit, you will become the beneficial owner of those notes. Your ownership interest will be recorded only on the records of the direct or indirect participant in Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, through which you purchase the notes and not on Clearstream's or Euroclear's records. Neither Clearstream nor Euroclear, as the case may be, will have any knowledge of your beneficial ownership of the notes. Clearstream's or Euroclear's records will show only the identity of the direct participants and the amount of the notes held by or through those direct participants. You will not receive a written confirmation of your purchase or sale or any periodic account statement directly from Clearstream or Euroclear. You should instead receive those documents from the direct or indirect participant in Clearstream or Euroclear through which you purchase the notes. As a result, the direct or indirect participants in Clearstream and Euroclear are responsible for keeping accurate account of the holdings of their customers.

        The trustee, any paying agent and we will treat the nominee of the common depositary or any successor nominee of the common depositary as the owner of the global note for all purposes. The paying agent will wire payments on the notes to the common depositary as the holder of the global note. Accordingly, the trustee, any paying agent and we will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due with respect to the global note to you or any other owner of beneficial interests in the global note. Any redemption or other notices with respect to the notes will be sent by us directly to the common depositary for delivery to Clearstream or Euroclear, which will, in turn, inform their direct participants (or the indirect participants), and those participants will then contact you as a beneficial holder, all in accordance with the rules of Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, and the internal procedures of the direct participant or the indirect participant through which you hold your beneficial interest in the notes.

        None of the notes may be held through, no trades of the notes will be settled through, and no payments with respect to the notes will be made through, The Depository Trust Company in the United States of America.

        Except as described below in "—Certificated Notes", owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive

S-19

---

Table of Contents

physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the indenture, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by us or the trustee pursuant to the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a note must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest in the notes, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of notes under the indenture.

        The beneficial interests in the notes reflected on the records of Clearstream and Euroclear will be in minimum denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof. Should any certificates representing notes be issued to individual holders of the notes, a holder of notes who, as a result of trading or otherwise, holds a principal amount of notes of a series that is less than €100,000 would be required to purchase an additional principal amount of notes of that series necessary to result in the holder holding at least €100,000 of the notes of that series in order to receive a certificated note.

        The distribution of the notes will be cleared through Clearstream and Euroclear. Any secondary market trading of book-entry interests in the notes of a series will take place through Clearstream and Euroclear participants and will settle in same-day funds. Owners of beneficial interests in the notes will receive payments relating to their notes in euro, except as described above under "—Issuance and Payment in Euro."

        We understand that investors that hold their notes through Clearstream or Euroclear accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form. Notes will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear participants on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.

        We understand that secondary market trading between Clearstream and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form.

        You should be aware that investors in the notes will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream and Euroclear on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the notes, or to make or receive a payment or delivery of the notes, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream or Euroclear is used.

        Clearstream or Euroclear will credit payments with respect to the Notes to the cash accounts of its participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by its depositary. Clearstream or the operator of Euroclear, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a holder under the indenture on behalf of a Clearstream or Euroclear participant only in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures. Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of Clearstream and Euroclear. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and they may discontinue those procedures at any time.

S-20

---

Table of Contents

Certificated Notes

        The Notes represented by one or more global notes will be exchangeable for certificated notes with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

•

Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law, and a qualified successor is not appointed by us within 90 days; or



•

we decide to discontinue having the notes held in a book-entry clearing system; or



•

an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the notes.

If the global note is exchanged for certificated notes, the trustee will keep the registration books for the notes at its corporate office and follow customary practices and procedures regarding those certificated notes.

Clearstream

        We understand the following information is applicable with respect to Clearstream: Clearstream was incorporated as a limited liability company under Luxembourg law. Clearstream is owned by Deutsche Börse AG. The shareholders of Deutsche Börse AG are primarily banks, securities dealers and financial institutions. Clearstream holds securities for its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream participants, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Transactions may be settled by Clearstream in many currencies, including euros. Clearstream provides to its participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in a number of countries through established depository and custodial relationships. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with the Euroclear Operator to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.

        As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. In the United States, Clearstream participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks, and may include the underwriters of the debt securities offered by means of this prospectus or one or more of their affiliates. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to other institutions, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.

        Distributions with respect to the debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures.

        You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the debt securities through Clearstream on the days when Clearstream is open for business. Clearstream may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time zone differences, problems may occur when completing transactions involving Clearstream on the same business day as in the United States.

Euroclear

        We understand the following information is applicable with respect to Euroclear: Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment,

S-21

---

Table of Contents

thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Transactions may now be settled through Euroclear in many currencies, including euros.

        Euroclear is operated by the Euroclear Operator under a contract with Euroclear, which is a Belgian cooperative corporation, which we also refer to as the "Euroclear Clearance System." The Euroclear Operator conducts all operations, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Euroclear Clearance System. The Euroclear Clearance System establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or one or more of their affiliates. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

        The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank licensed by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission to carry out banking activities on a global basis. As a Belgian bank, the Euroclear Operator is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.

        The Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear, the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and applicable Belgian law, which we refer to collectively as the "Euroclear Terms and Conditions," govern securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Specifically, the Euroclear Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawal of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Euroclear Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding securities through Euroclear participants.

        Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Euroclear Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the common depository for Euroclear and Clearstream from the trustee or our paying agent, if any, with respect to those debt securities.

        Investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the debt securities by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global securities.

        Under Belgian law, investors that are credited with securities on the records of the Euroclear Operator have a co-property right in the fungible pool of interests in securities on deposit with the Euroclear Operator in an amount equal to the amount of interests in securities credited to their accounts. In the event of insolvency of the Euroclear Operator, Euroclear participants would have a right under Belgian law to the return of the amount and type of interests in securities credited to their accounts with the Euroclear Operator. If the Euroclear Operator did not have a sufficient amount of interests in securities on deposit of a particular type to cover the claims of all Euroclear participants credited with such interests in the securities on the Euroclear Operator's records, all Euroclear participants having an amount of interests in securities of such type credited to their accounts with the Euroclear Operator would have the right under Belgian law to the return of their pro rata share of the amount of interest in securities actually on deposit.

S-22

---

Table of Contents

        In addition, under Belgian law, the Euroclear Operator is required to pass on the benefits of ownership in any interests in securities on deposit with it, such as dividends, voting rights and other entitlements, to any person credited with such interests in the securities on its records.

        You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes held through Euroclear on the days when Euroclear is open for business. Euroclear may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time zone differences, problems may occur when completing transactions involving Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States.

S-23

---

Table of Contents

CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES

        The following is a summary of certain United States federal income and, in the case of non-U.S. holders (as defined below), estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the notes as of the date hereof. Unless otherwise stated, this summary deals only with notes held as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) by persons who purchase the notes for cash upon original issuance at their "issue price," which will be the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes are sold to the investors (excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriter, placement agent or wholesaler).

        As used herein, a "U.S. holder" means a beneficial owner of the notes that is for United States federal income tax purposes any of the following:

•

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;



•

a corporation organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;



•

an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or



•

a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

        As used herein, and except as modified for estate tax purposes, the term "non-U.S. holder" means a beneficial owner of the notes (other than an entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. holder.

        If any entity classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes holds notes, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership or a partner in a partnership considering an investment in the notes, you should consult your own tax advisors.

        This summary does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are a person subject to special tax treatment under the United States federal income tax laws, including, without limitation:

•

a dealer in securities or currencies;



•

a financial institution;



•

a regulated investment company;



•

a real estate investment trust;



•

a tax-exempt entity;



•

an insurance company;



•

a person holding the notes as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or a straddle;



•

a trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities;



•

a corporation accumulating earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;



•

a person liable for alternative minimum tax;

S-24

---

Table of Contents

•

a partnership or other pass-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes (or an investor in such an entity);



•

a U.S. holder whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar;



•

a "controlled foreign corporation";



•

a "passive foreign investment company"; or



•

a United States expatriate or former United States citizen or long-term permanent resident.

        This summary is based on the Code, United States Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, so as to result in United States federal income and estate tax consequences different from those summarized below. We have not sought and do not expect to seek any rulings from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take positions concerning the tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of the notes that are different from those discussed below.

        This summary does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income and estate tax consequences to you in light of your particular circumstances and does not address the Medicare tax on certain investment income or the effects of any state, local or non-United States tax laws. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular purchaser of notes. If you are considering the purchase of notes, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the particular United States federal income and estate tax consequences to you of the ownership and disposition of the notes, as well as the consequences to you arising under other United States federal tax laws (including the gift tax) and under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

Payments under Certain Events

        We may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay additional amounts on the notes in addition to the stated principal amount of and interest on the notes (e.g., as described in "Description of Notes—Payment of Additional Amounts" and "Description of Notes—Repurchase upon Change of Control Repurchase Event"). Although the issue is not free from doubt, we intend to take the position that the possibility of payment of such additional amounts on the notes does not result in the notes being treated as contingent payment debt instruments under the applicable United States Treasury regulations. If additional amounts are required to be paid on the notes as described above, then the amount, timing and character of income recognized by holders could be affected.

        Our determination that the notes are not contingent payment debt instruments is binding on a holder, unless such holder explicitly discloses to the IRS on its tax return for the year during which it acquires the notes that it is taking a different position. However, our position is not binding on the IRS. If the IRS takes a contrary position to that described above, a holder may be required to accrue ordinary interest income on the notes in excess of stated interest, based upon a comparable yield, regardless of the holder's method of tax accounting. The "comparable yield" is the yield at which we would issue a fixed rate debt instrument with no contingent payments, but with terms and conditions similar to those of the notes. In addition, any gain on the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes before the resolution of the contingency would be characterized as ordinary income. You should consult with your own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the notes being treated as contingent payment debt instruments. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments for United States federal income tax purposes.

S-25

---

Table of Contents

Certain Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

        The following is a summary of certain United States federal income tax consequences that will apply to U.S. holders of the notes.

Payments of interest

        Stated interest on the notes generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued, depending on your method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes. It is expected, and this discussion assumes, that the notes will not be issued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes.

        If you use the cash basis method of accounting, you will be required to include in income the U.S. dollar value of the amount received, determined by translating euros received at the spot rate for euros on the date such payment is received regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars on such date. You will not recognize foreign currency exchange gain or loss with respect to the receipt of such payment but may have foreign currency exchange gain or loss attributable to the actual disposition of the euros so received.

        If you use the accrual method of accounting, you may determine the amount of income recognized with respect to such interest in accordance with either of two methods. Under the first method, you will be required to include in income for each taxable year the U.S. dollar value of the interest that has accrued during such year, determined by translating such interest at the average rate of exchange for the period or periods (or portions thereof) during which such interest accrued. Under the second method, you may elect to translate interest income at the spot rate on:

•

the last day of the accrual period,



•

the last day of the taxable year if the accrual period straddles your taxable year, or



•

the date the interest payment is received if such date is within five business days of the end of the accrual period.

        The above election will apply to all debt obligations you hold from year to year and may not be changed without the consent of the IRS.

        In addition, if you use the accrual method of accounting, upon receipt of an interest payment on a note (including, upon the sale of a note, the receipt of proceeds which include amounts attributable to accrued interest previously included in income), you will recognize foreign currency exchange gain or loss (which is generally taxable as ordinary income or loss) in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of such payment (determined by translating the euros received at the spot rate for euros on the date such payment is received) and the U.S. dollar value of the interest income you previously included in income with respect to such payment.

Sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of notes

        Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition (less an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid interest, which will be treated as a payment of interest for United States federal income tax purposes) and your adjusted tax basis in the note. Your adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be your U.S. dollar cost for the note.

        If you purchased a note with euros, your U.S. dollar cost generally will be the U.S. dollar value of the euros paid for such note determined based on the spot rate at the time of such purchase. If your note is sold, exchanged, retired or disposed of in a taxable transaction for an amount denominated in euros, then your amount realized generally will be the U.S. dollar value of the euros received for such

S-26

---

Table of Contents

note determined based on the spot rate on the date of such sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition.

        If you are a cash method taxpayer and the notes are traded on an established securities market for United States federal income tax purposes, euros paid or received will be translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the settlement date of the purchase or sale. An accrual method taxpayer may elect the same treatment with respect to the purchase and sale of notes traded on an established securities market, provided that the election is applied consistently. An accrual method taxpayer that does not make the election described above will recognize foreign currency exchange gain or loss (which is generally taxable as ordinary income or loss) upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of the note to the extent that the U.S. dollar value of the euros received (based on the spot rate on the settlement date) differs from the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized on the disposition date.

        Subject to the foreign currency rules discussed below, any gain or loss recognized will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition, you have held the note for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate holders (including individuals) are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

        A portion of your gain or loss with respect to the principal amount of a note may be treated as foreign currency exchange gain or loss. Foreign currency exchange gain or loss will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss. For these purposes, the principal amount of the note is your purchase price for the note calculated in euros on the date of purchase, and the amount of foreign currency exchange gain or loss recognized is equal to the difference between (i) the U.S. dollar value of the principal amount determined on the date payment is received or the note is disposed of (or deemed disposed of) and (ii) the U.S. dollar value of the principal amount determined on the date you acquired the note (or are deemed to acquire the note). The amount of foreign currency exchange gain or loss (with respect to both principal and accrued interest) will be limited to the amount of overall gain or loss realized on the disposition of the note.

Foreign currency exchange gain or loss with respect to euros

        Your tax basis in the euros received as interest on a note or on the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note will be the U.S. dollar value thereof at the spot rate in effect on the date the euros are received. Any gain or loss recognized by you on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the euros will generally be ordinary income or loss.

Reportable transactions

        Treasury regulations issued under the Code meant to require the reporting of certain tax shelter transactions could be interpreted to cover transactions generally not regarded as tax shelters, including certain foreign currency transactions. Under the Treasury regulations, certain transactions are required to be reported to the IRS, including, in certain circumstances, a sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note or euros received in respect of a note to the extent that such sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition results in a tax loss in excess of a threshold amount. You should consult with your own tax advisors to determine the tax return obligations, if any, with respect to an investment in the notes, including any requirement to file IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement).

Certain Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

        The following is a summary of certain United States federal income and estate tax consequences that will apply to non-U.S. holders of the notes.

S-27

---

Table of Contents

United States federal withholding tax

        Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and FATCA below, United States federal withholding tax will not apply to any payment of interest on the notes under the "portfolio interest rule," provided that:

•

interest paid on the notes is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States;



•

you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock within the meaning of the Code and applicable United States Treasury regulations;



•

you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is actually or constructively related to us within the meaning of the Code;



•

you are not a bank whose receipt of interest on the notes is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and



•

either (a) you provide your name and address on an applicable IRS Form W-8 (together with all appropriate attachments) and certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person as defined under the Code or (b) you hold your notes through certain foreign intermediaries and satisfy the certification requirements of applicable United States Treasury regulations. Special certification rules apply to non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

        If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to you will be subject to a 30% United States federal withholding tax, unless you provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed:

•

IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form) certifying an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty; or



•

IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) certifying that interest paid on the notes is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (as discussed below under "—United States federal income tax").

        The 30% United States federal withholding tax generally will not apply to any payment of principal or gain that you realize on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of a note.

United States federal income tax

        If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on the notes is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment), then you will be subject to United States federal income tax on that interest on a net income basis in generally the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the Code. In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or a lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of your effectively connected earnings and profits, subject to adjustments. If interest received with respect to the notes is effectively connected income (whether or not a treaty applies), the 30% withholding tax described above will not apply, provided the certification requirements discussed above in "—United States federal withholding tax" are satisfied.

S-28

---

Table of Contents

        Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and FATCA below, any gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax unless:

•

the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment), in which case you will be taxed in the same manner as discussed above with respect to effectively connected interest; or



•

you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met, in which case you will be subject to a flat 30% United States federal income tax on any gain recognized (except as otherwise provided by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by certain United States source losses.

United States federal estate tax

        If you are an individual who is neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States (as specifically defined for estate tax purposes), your estate will not be subject to United States federal estate tax on notes beneficially owned by you (or treated as so owned) at the time of your death, provided that any interest payment to you on the notes would be eligible for exemption from the 30% United States federal withholding tax under the "portfolio interest rule" described above under "—United States federal withholding tax" without regard to the statement requirement described in the fifth bullet point of that section.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

U.S. holders

        In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of interest on the notes and the proceeds of the sale or other disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of a note paid to you (unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation). Backup withholding may apply to such payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification that you are not subject to backup withholding or if you are subject to backup withholding because you previously failed to report in full dividend and interest income.

        Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Non-U.S. holders

        Information reporting generally will apply to the amount of interest paid to you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.

        In general, you will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments of interest on the notes that we make to you provided that the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code, and such withholding agent has received from you the required certification that you are a non-U.S. holder described above in the fifth bullet point under "—Certain Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—United States federal withholding tax."

S-29

---

Table of Contents

        Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the proceeds of a sale or other disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of notes within the United States or conducted through certain United States-related financial intermediaries, unless you certify to the payor under penalties of perjury that you are a non-U.S. holder (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person as defined under the Code), or you otherwise establish an exemption.

        Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Requirements

        Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as "FATCA"), a 30% United States federal withholding tax may apply to any interest income paid on the notes and, for a disposition of a note occurring after December 31, 2018, the gross proceeds from such disposition, in each case paid to (i) a "foreign financial institution" (as specifically defined in the Code) which does not provide sufficient documentation, typically on IRS Form W-8BEN-E, evidencing either (x) an exemption from FATCA, or (y) its compliance (or deemed compliance) with FATCA (which may alternatively be in the form of compliance with an intergovernmental agreement with the United States) in a manner which avoids withholding, or (ii) a "nonfinancial foreign entity" (as specifically defined in the Code) which does not provide sufficient documentation, typically on IRS Form W-8BEN-E, evidencing either (x) an exemption from FATCA, or (y) adequate information regarding certain substantial United States beneficial owners of such entity (if any). If an interest payment is both subject to withholding under FATCA and subject to the withholding tax discussed above under "—Certain Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders—United States federal withholding tax," the withholding under FATCA may be credited against, and therefore reduce, such other withholding tax. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding these rules and whether they may be relevant to your ownership and disposition of the notes.

THE PROPOSED FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS TAX

        On February 14, 2013, the European Commission published a proposal (the "Commission's Proposal") for a Directive for a common financial transactions tax ("FTT") in Austria, Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Spain, or the participating Member States. However, Estonia has since stated that it will not participate.

        The Commission's Proposal has a very broad scope and could, if introduced in its current form, apply to certain dealings in the notes in certain circumstances. This could, accordingly, affect the market value of your notes and/or limit your ability to resell your notes.

        Under the Commission's Proposal, the FTT could apply in certain circumstances to persons both within and outside of the participating Member States. Generally, it would apply to certain dealings in the notes where at least one party is a financial institution, and at least one party is established in a participating Member State. A financial institution may be, or be deemed to be, "established" in a participating Member State in a broad range of circumstances, including (1) by transacting with a person established in a participating Member State or (2) where the financial instrument which is subject to the dealings is issued in a participating Member State.

        However, the FTT remains subject to negotiation between the participating Member States and the legality of the proposal is uncertain. The FTT may therefore be altered prior to any implementation, the timing of which remains unclear. Additional European Union Member States may decide to participate and/or certain of the participating Member States may decide to withdraw. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the FTT.

S-30

---

Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

        Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement dated August 31, 2017, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to each underwriter, the principal amount of notes set forth opposite its name below:

        Under the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the several underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes, if any are taken. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to subscribe for notes may be subject to certain conditions precedent, including (among other things) receipt of legal opinions from counsel.

        The following table shows the underwriting discount and commission we will pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the notes):

        The underwriters propose to offer the notes directly to purchasers at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the notes to certain securities dealers at such price less a concession of 0.240% of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed 0.125% of the principal amount of the notes to certain brokers and dealers.

        After the notes are released for sale to the public, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the underwriters. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters' right to reject any order in whole or in part.

        The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

        We estimate that our total expenses of this offering, excluding the underwriting discount but including our application to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange, will be approximately $1.1 million.

        We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

S-31

---

Table of Contents

Stabilization, Short Positions and Market Making

        In connection with the offering, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, on behalf of the underwriters, may engage, directly or through its affiliates, in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the notes of either or both series, subject to applicable laws and regulations. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the notes of a series. If Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC creates a short position in the notes in connection with the offering by selling a larger principal amount of notes than as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC may reduce that short position by purchasing notes in the open market. In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might otherwise be in the absence of such purchases. Neither the underwriters nor we can make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that any transactions of the type described above may have on the price of the notes. In addition, neither the underwriters nor we make any representation that the underwriters will engage in such transactions as to notes, or that such transactions in the notes, once begun, will not be discontinued without notice.

        We have also been advised by the underwriters that they intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice.

Certain Relationships and Activities

        The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and their affiliates have, directly and indirectly, provided various investment and commercial banking services to us and our affiliates for which they have received customary fees and commissions, including participating as lenders in our existing syndicated $2.0 billion revolving credit facility. The underwriters and their affiliates may also provide such services to us and our affiliates in the future for customary fees and commissions.

        In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us may hedge their credit exposure to us. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments. In the event that an underwriter or one of its affiliates owns commercial paper of the Company, they may receive a portion of the proceeds from the offering of the notes.

Other Matters

        Purchasers of the notes may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges in accordance with the laws and practices of the country of purchase in addition to the issue price set forth on the cover page hereof. Neither we nor the underwriters will be obligated to reimburse a purchaser for any such stamp taxes or other charges so paid by the purchaser.

S-32

---

Table of Contents

        Any underwriter that is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC will only make sales of notes in the United States through one or more SEC-registered broker-dealers in compliance with applicable securities laws and the rules of the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

        The underwriters expect to deliver the notes against payment on or about the date specified in the last paragraph of the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which is the fifth London business day following the date of this prospectus supplement ("T+5"). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the SEC under the Exchange Act as in effective on the date of this prospectus supplement, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Effective September 5, 2017, Under Rule 15c6-1 as amended, trades in the secondary market generally will be required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if any purchaser wishes to trade the notes on the date of this prospectus supplement or on the subsequent day, it will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement.

Selling Restrictions

European Economic Area

        In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "Relevant Member State"), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State no offer of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

•

to any legal entity which is a "qualified investor" as defined in the Prospectus Directive;



•

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than "qualified investors" as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant dealer or dealers nominated by us for any such offer; or



•

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of notes shall result in a requirement for us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or a supplemental prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

        For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of notes to the public" in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State. The expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

        Each subscriber for or purchaser of the notes located within a Relevant Member State will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive. Kimberly-Clark, each underwriter and others will rely on the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representation, acknowledgement and agreement. Notwithstanding the above, a person who is not a qualified investor and who has notified the underwriters of such fact in writing may, with the consent of the underwriters, be permitted to subscribe for or purchase the notes.

S-33

---

Table of Contents

United Kingdom

        In the United Kingdom, this prospectus supplement is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at, persons who are "qualified investors" (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) and that are also (1) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (2) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may be lawfully communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (3) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom, or "FSMA") in connection with the issue or sale of any notes may lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Accordingly, by accepting delivery of this prospectus supplement, the recipient warrants and acknowledges that it is such a Relevant Person. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement and/or the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement related is only available to, and will be engaged in with, Relevant Persons.

        In addition, in the United Kingdom, the notes may not be offered other than by an underwriter that:

          (i)  has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA would not apply to the issuer; and

         (ii)  has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong

        The notes may not be offered or sold, by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes will be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Japan

        The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the "Financial Instruments and Exchange Law") and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the

S-34

---

Table of Contents

registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Singapore

        This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the "SFA"), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

        Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

Canada

        The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

        Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

        Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts ("NI 33-105"), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

S-35

---

Table of Contents

VALIDITY OF NOTES

        The validity of the notes offered hereby is being passed upon for Kimberly-Clark by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York, and for the underwriters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

        The financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kimberly-Clark Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

S-36

---

Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

---

Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants

---

        This prospectus relates to debt securities, common stock, preferred stock and warrants that we may sell from time to time in one or more offerings. The debt securities, preferred stock and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities.

        Each time securities are offered under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. We will provide specific terms of the offerings in supplements to this prospectus. A prospectus supplement also may modify or supersede information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the applicable offering.

        We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. We will offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offerings.

        The common stock of Kimberly-Clark Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under the symbol "KMB." Any common stock of Kimberly-Clark Corporation sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

        Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See the "Risk Factors" on page 1 of this prospectus.

---

        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 June 14, 2016.

---

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

---

        You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from what is contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The date of this prospectus can be found on the first page. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.

i

---

Table of Contents

About This Prospectus

        This prospectus is part of a "shelf" registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

        This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described below under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

        Unless we otherwise specify or the context otherwise requires, references to "Kimberly-Clark," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Risk Factors

        An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the SEC referred to under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information" below as well as the risks included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein, including the specific risks that may be included in a prospectus supplement under the caption "Risk Factors."

Where You Can Find More Information

        We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information concerning its Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov and on our website at http://www.kimberly-clark.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with it, which means we can disclose information to you by referring you to those documents. Information incorporated by reference is part of this prospectus. Information later filed with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes information in this prospectus.

        We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until this offering is completed (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

•

Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.



•

Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.



•

Our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 25, 2016, February 22, 2016, and May 5, 2016.



•

The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on June 28, 1988, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

        We are not incorporating by reference any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules.

1

---

Table of Contents

         We will provide to you at no charge, upon your written or oral request, a copy of these filings or any other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to the filings which are not specifically incorporated by reference. You may request this information by contacting us at the following address and telephone number:

Kimberly-Clark Corporation
P.O. Box 619100
Dallas, Texas 75261-9100
Attention: Secretary
(972) 281-1200

Forward-Looking Statements

         Any prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "goals," "plans," "believes," "continues," "may," "will" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make concerning business outlook, including the anticipated costs, scope, timing and financial and other effects of the company's cost saving programs, cash flow and uses of cash, growth initiatives, innovations, marketing and other spending, cost savings and reductions, net sales, anticipated currency rates and exchange risks, raw material, energy and other input costs, contingencies and anticipated transactions of Kimberly-Clark, including dividends, share repurchases and pension contributions. These statements are based upon our expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us. We cannot assure you that these events will occur or that our results will be as estimated.

         The assumptions used as a basis for the forward-looking statements include many estimates that, among other things, depend on the achievement of future cost savings and projected volume increases. In addition, many factors outside our control, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, the prices and availability of our raw materials, potential competitive pressures on selling prices for our products, energy costs and retail trade customer actions, as well as general economic and political conditions globally and in the markets in which we do business, could affect the realization of these estimates. These factors, together with those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A, "Risk Factors", in any applicable prospectus supplement and in our other SEC filings, could cause our future results to be materially different from those described in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Other factors not presently known to us or that we presently consider immaterial could also affect our business operations and financial results. We do not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or changes in our expectations.

Description of Kimberly-Clark

         Kimberly-Clark is a global company focused on leading the world in essentials for a better life through product innovation and building its personal care, consumer tissue and K-C Professional brands. Kimberly-Clark is principally engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of a wide range of products mostly made from natural or synthetic fibers using advanced technologies in fibers, nonwovens and absorbency.

         Kimberly-Clark is organized into operating segments based on product groupings. These operating segments have been aggregated into three reportable global business segments. Information on these three segments, as well as their principal sources of revenue, is included below.

•

Personal Care brands offer Kimberly-Clark's consumers a trusted partner in caring for their families by delivering confidence, protection and discretion through a wide variety of innovative solutions and products such as disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, and other related products. Products in this segment are sold under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Depend, Plenitud, Poise and other brand names.



•

Consumer Tissue offers a wide variety of innovative solutions and trusted brands that touch and improve people's lives every day. Products in this segment include facial and bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins and related products, and are sold under the Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, Viva, Andrex, Scottex, Neve and other brand names.



•

K-C Professional partners with businesses to create Exceptional Workplaces, helping to make them healthier, safer and more productive through a range of solutions and supporting products such as wipers, tissue, towels, apparel, soaps and sanitizers. Kimberly-Clark's brands, including Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech and Jackson Safety, are well-known for quality and trusted to help people around the world work better.

2

---

Table of Contents

        These reportable segments were determined in accordance with how our chief operating decision maker and our executive managers develop and execute our global strategies to drive growth and profitability of our worldwide personal care, consumer tissue and K-C Professional operations. These strategies include global plans for branding and product positioning, technology, research and development programs, cost reductions including supply chain management and capacity and capital investments for each of these businesses.

        Products for household use are sold directly to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drugstores, warehouse clubs, variety and department stores and other retail outlets, as well as through other distributors and e-commerce. Products for away-from-home use are sold through distributors and directly to manufacturing, lodging, office building, food service and high volume public facilities.

        Kimberly-Clark was incorporated in Delaware in 1928. Our principal executive offices are located at 351 Phelps Drive, Irving, Texas 75038 and our telephone number is (972) 281-1200.

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

        Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

        For the purpose of calculating these ratios, "earnings" are defined as income from continuing operations before income taxes, interest expense, an interest factor attributable to rent expense, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income of equity affiliates in which at least 20% but less than 50% is owned. "Fixed charges" consist of interest expense, capitalized interest and an interest factor attributable to rent expense.

        If we offer preferred stock under this prospectus, then we will, if required at that time, provide a ratio of combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings in the applicable prospectus supplement for such offering.

3

---

Table of Contents

Use of Proceeds

        Unless we state otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, acquisitions, repurchases of common stock, capital expenditures and the repayment of indebtedness.

4

---

Table of Contents

Description of Debt Securities

        The general provisions of the debt securities are described below. The specific terms of the debt securities and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may not apply will be described in a prospectus supplement.

        The debt securities will be issued under the first amended and restated indenture dated as of March 1, 1988, as amended by the first and second supplemental indentures dated as of November 6, 1992 and May 25, 1994, respectively.

        We have summarized the material provisions of the indenture below. The indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for a complete statement of the provisions summarized in this prospectus and for provisions that may be important to you. For information on obtaining a copy of the indenture, see "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus.

General

        The debt securities will be unsecured obligations and will rank equally and ratably with all of our other currently outstanding unsecured and unsubordinated debt. In addition to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we may issue additional debt in an unlimited amount in one or more series under the indenture or other agreements. This additional debt may contain provisions different from those included in the indenture or applicable to one or more series of debt securities.

Prospectus Supplement

        You should refer to the prospectus supplement for the following specific terms of the debt securities:

•

the title;



•

the aggregate principal amount;



•

the initial offering price(s) at which they will be sold;



•

the date(s) on which the principal will be payable;



•

the rate(s) (which may be fixed or variable) at which they will bear interest, if any, and the date(s) from which the interest, if any, will accrue;



•

the date(s) on which the interest, if any, will be payable and any record dates for the interest payments;



•

any sinking fund or similar provisions, whether mandatory or at your option, along with the periods, prices and terms of redemption, purchase or repayment;



•

any provisions for redemption or purchase, at our option or otherwise, including the periods, prices and terms of redemption or purchase;



•

the amount or percentage payable if their maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount;



•

the currency of our payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, and any index used to determine the amounts of such payments;



•

any defeasance provisions with respect to the amount we owe, restrictive covenants and/or events of default; and



•

any other terms in addition to those described in this prospectus.

        We may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount from their principal amount. Special federal income tax, accounting and other considerations relating to any original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the covenants contained in the indenture and the debt securities would not necessarily protect you in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction to which we are or may become a party.

5

---

Table of Contents

Restrictive Covenants

Meanings of Terms.

•

When we use the term "attributable debt" in the context of a sale and lease-back transaction, we mean the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the terms of the lease involved in such sale and lease-back transaction, as determined by us in good faith) of our obligation thereunder for rental expenses. We exclude from this calculation any amounts we pay for maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges, or amounts contingent upon sales amounts.



•

When we use the term "consolidated net tangible assets," we mean the total amount of our assets minus (a) applicable reserves, (b) all current liabilities (excluding any thereof which are by their terms extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed and excluding current maturities of long-term indebtedness) and (c) intangible assets. Our consolidated net tangible assets include any attributable debt with respect to a sale and lease-back transaction that is not capitalized on our balance sheet.



•

When we use the term "principal property," we mean any of our mills, manufacturing plants, manufacturing facilities or timberland, located within the United States having a gross book value in excess of 1% of our consolidated net tangible assets and which is owned by us or any restricted subsidiary. However, if our board of directors decides that any facility is not of material importance, it will not be considered a principal property.



•

When we use the term "restricted subsidiary," we mean any of our subsidiaries (a) which has substantially all of its property or conducts substantially all of its business in the United States, and (b) which owns a principal property. The term does not include subsidiaries whose business consists principally of financing operations outside the United States or leasing or financing installment receivables.



•

When we use the term "sale and lease-back transaction," we mean any arrangement where we or any restricted subsidiary lease a principal property from a third party and the principal property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or the restricted subsidiary to the third party with the intention of taking back the lease. The term does not include temporary leases of three years or less, including any renewal thereof, or certain intercompany leases.

        Liens.    Section 1004 of the indenture provides that we will not, and will not permit any restricted subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any debt secured by a mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien (hereafter called a "mortgage") of or on any principal property, or any shares of capital stock or debt of any restricted subsidiary, without also providing that the debt securities (together with, if we determine, any other indebtedness issued, assumed or guaranteed by us or any restricted subsidiary and then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured by the mortgage equally and ratably with or prior to such debt. This restriction does not apply to:

•

mortgages on any property acquired, constructed or improved by, or on any shares of capital stock or debt acquired by, us or any restricted subsidiary to secure debt which finances all or any part of (a) the purchase price of the property, shares or debt, or (b) the cost of constructing or improving the property, and which debt is incurred prior to or within 360 days after the acquisition, completion of construction or commencement of commercial operation of the property;



•

mortgages on any property, shares of capital stock or debt existing at the time we or any restricted subsidiary acquires the property, shares or debt;



•

mortgages on property of a corporation existing at the time that corporation merges or consolidates with us or any restricted subsidiary or at the time that corporation sells or transfers all or substantially all of its properties to us or any restricted subsidiary;



•

mortgages on any property, shares of capital stock or debt of any corporation existing at the time that corporation becomes a restricted subsidiary;



•

mortgages to secure intercompany debt among us and/or any of our restricted subsidiaries;

6

---

Table of Contents

•

mortgages in favor of governmental bodies to secure advance or progress payments or to secure the purchase price of the mortgaged property; and



•

extensions, renewals or replacements of any existing mortgage or any mortgage referred to above.

        In addition, we or any restricted subsidiary may, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities, issue, assume or guarantee debt secured by a mortgage not excepted above, if the aggregate amount of the debt, together with (a) all other debt secured by mortgages not so excepted, and (b) the attributable debt with respect to sale and lease-back transactions, does not at the time exceed 5% of our consolidated net tangible assets. For purposes of clause (b) of this calculation, certain sale and lease-back transactions in which the attributable debt has been applied to the optional prepayment or retirement of long-term debt are excluded.

        Arrangements under which we or any restricted subsidiary transfer an interest in timber but retain an obligation to cut the timber in order to provide the transferee with a specified amount of money will not create a mortgage or a sale and lease-back transaction under the indenture.

        Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.    Section 1005 of the indenture provides that neither we nor any restricted subsidiary may engage in sale and lease-back transactions with respect to any principal property unless:

•

we or the restricted subsidiary are able, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities, to incur debt secured by a mortgage on the property pursuant to the exceptions described in "Liens" above;



•

we or the restricted subsidiary are able, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities, to incur debt secured by a mortgage on the property in an amount at least equal to the attributable debt with respect to the transaction; or

within 360 days after the effective date of the transaction, we or the restricted subsidiary apply an amount equal to the attributable debt with respect to the transaction to the optional prepayment or retirement of our long-term debt or that of any restricted subsidiary.

Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets

        Section 801 of the indenture provides that we may consolidate with or merge into, and sell or transfer all or substantially all of our property and assets to, any other corporation. The corporation formed by the consolidation or into which we merge, or the corporation which acquires all or substantially all of our property and assets, must assume, by execution of a supplemental indenture, our obligations to:

•

pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities when due; and



•

perform and observe all the terms, covenants and conditions of the indenture.

If, upon the consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, any principal property or any shares of capital stock or debt of any restricted subsidiary would become subject to a mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien securing any debt of, or guaranteed by, the other corporation, we must secure, prior to the consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities equally and ratably with or prior to the debt secured by the mortgage, security interest, pledge or lien. This provision would not apply to any mortgage which would be permitted under "Liens" above.

Events of Default

        Section 501 of the indenture provides that the following are events of default with respect to debt securities of any series:

•

our failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security of that series at maturity;



•

our failure to pay interest on any debt security of that series when due, continued for 30 days;



•

our failure to make any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any debt security of that series;

7

---

Table of Contents

•

our failure to perform any other covenant or agreement in the indenture that is applicable to debt securities of that series, continued for 90 days after written notice;



•

certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and



•

any other event of default applicable to debt securities of that series.

         An event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to matters involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) does not necessarily mean that there is an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.

         If an event of default occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare those debt securities to be due and payable. However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before the stated maturity of the debt securities, the holders of a majority of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, subject to certain conditions, rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default with respect to the debt securities, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are original issue discount securities for particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of the original issue discount securities upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default.

         Subject to the trustee's duties in the case of an event of default, the trustee is not required to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any holder unless one or more of them shall have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee. Subject to this indemnification provision and certain other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority of the outstanding debt securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

         No holder of any debt security of any series will have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the indenture, unless:

•

the holder shall have previously notified the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series and the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding debt securities of that series shall have requested, and offered reasonable indemnity to, the trustee to institute the proceeding;



•

the trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with the request; and



•

the trustee shall have failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days.

         However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt security on or after the applicable due dates and to sue for the enforcement of any such payment.

         The indenture requires us to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to the absence of certain defaults under the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any non-monetary default with respect to debt securities of the series if it considers it in the interest of the holders to do so.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

         Section 402 of the indenture provides that we may be discharged from most of our obligations in respect of the outstanding debt securities of any series if we irrevocably deposit with the trustee money and/or United States government securities which, together with the income from those securities, are sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the outstanding debt securities of the series on the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be. This arrangement requires that we (a) deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that we have received an Internal Revenue Service ruling, or a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service has been published that in the opinion of counsel establishes, that holders of the outstanding debt securities of the series will have no federal income tax consequences as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge, (b) deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the outstanding debt securities of the series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge, and (c) deliver to the trustee an officer's certificate and opinion of counsel, each

8

---

Table of Contents

stating that all conditions precedent to the deposit, defeasance and discharge have been met.

         Section 1006 of the indenture provides that we need not comply with certain restrictive covenants, including those described under "Liens" and "Sale and Lease-back Transactions" above, and that our failure to comply would not be an event of default under the outstanding debt securities of any series, if we deposit with the trustee money and/or United States government securities which, together with the income from those securities, are sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the outstanding debt securities of the series on the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be. Our other obligations under the indenture and the outstanding debt securities of the series would remain in full force and effect. This arrangement requires that we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that (a) the holders of the outstanding debt securities of the series will have no federal income tax consequences as a result of the deposit and defeasance, (b) the outstanding debt securities of the series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of the deposit and defeasance, and (c) deliver to the trustee an officer's certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance have been complied with.

         In the event the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of an event of default, the amount of money and government securities on deposit with the trustee may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the outstanding debt securities of the series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, we will remain liable to pay these amounts.

Amendments to the Indenture and Waiver of Covenants

         Section 902 of the indenture provides that we may amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least 66²/3% of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the amendments. However, unless we have the consent of each holder of the affected debt securities, we may not:

•

change the maturity date of the principal amount of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security;



•

reduce the principal amount of, premium, if any, or any interest on, any debt security or reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon acceleration;



•

change the place or currency of payment of the principal of, premium, if any, of or interest on, any debt security;



•

impair the right to sue for payment with respect to any debt security after its maturity date; or



•

reduce the percentage of outstanding debt securities of any series which is required to consent to an amendment of the indenture or to waive our compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults.

         The holders of 66²/3% of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive our compliance with certain restrictive covenants of the indenture. The holders of a majority of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series, except (a) a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any debt security of that series, or (b) in respect of a provision which under the indenture cannot be amended without the consent of each holder of the affected debt securities.

Payments, Transfer and Exchange

         Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities, and you may exchange and transfer the debt securities, at the office of the trustee at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 601 Travis St., Floor 16, Houston, Texas 77002. We may elect to pay any interest by check mailed by first class mail to the address of the person entitled to receive the payment as it appears in the trustee's security register.

         We will not charge you for any transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require you to pay any related tax or other governmental charge.

9

---

Table of Contents

Form of Debt Securities

         The debt securities will be issued in registered form. We will issue debt securities only in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples of that amount, unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise.

         Unless the prospectus supplement otherwise provides, debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more global securities. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder. Rather, we will issue global securities in the total principal amount of the debt securities distributed in that series.

Global Securities

        In General.    Debt securities in global form will be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary. Global securities are represented by one or more certificates for the series registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Debt securities in global form may not be transferred except as a whole among the depositary, a nominee of or a successor to the depositary, or any nominee of that successor. Unless otherwise identified in the prospectus supplement, the depositary will be The Depository Trust Company.

         If a depositary for a series of debt securities is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, we will issue that series of debt securities in registered form in exchange for the global security or securities of that series. We also may determine at any time in our discretion not to use global securities for any series. In that event, we will issue debt securities in registered form.

        Ownership of the Global Securities; Beneficial Ownership.    So long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, that entity will be the sole holder of the debt securities represented by that instrument. We and the trustee are only required to treat the depositary or its nominee as the legal owner of the debt securities for all purposes under the indenture.

         A purchaser of debt securities represented by a global security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated securities, will not be considered the holder of those securities for any purpose under the indenture, and will not be able to transfer or exchange the global security, unless the prospectus supplement provides to the contrary. As a result, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the depositary to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. In addition, if the beneficial owner is not a direct or indirect participant in the depositary, the beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the participant through which it owns its beneficial interest in the global security. We understand that under existing industry practice, in the event we request any action of holders of debt securities or an owner of a beneficial interest in the global securities desires to take any action that the depositary, as the holder of the global securities, is entitled to take, the depositary would authorize the participants to take such action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

         The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. Those laws and the above conditions may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global securities.

Book-Entry System

         Upon the issuance of the global securities, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such global securities to the accounts of participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the underwriters. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of interests in the global securities will be shown on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary (with respect to participants' interests) and such participants (with respect to the owners of beneficial interests in the global securities through such participants).

         We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest in respect of the global securities, will credit immediately participants' accounts with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global securities as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of such participants. None of Kimberly-Clark, the trustee or any agent of Kimberly-Clark or 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 the global securities for any debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any

10

---

Table of Contents

records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between the depositary and its participants or the relationship between such participants and the owners of beneficial interests in the global securities owned through such participants.

         The debt securities represented by the global securities are exchangeable for certificated debt securities in definitive registered form of like tenor as such securities in denominations of $1,000 and in any greater amount that is an integral multiple thereof if (i) the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global securities or if at any time the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or (ii) we in our discretion at any time determine not to have all of the debt securities represented by the global securities and we notify the trustee thereof. Any global securities that are exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence are exchangeable for certificated debt securities registered in such names as the depositary shall direct. Subject to the foregoing, the global securities are not exchangeable, except for a global security or global securities of the same aggregate denominations to be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee.

         Unless and until they are exchanged in whole or in part for certificated debt securities in definitive form, the global securities may not be transferred except as a whole among the depositary, a nominee of or a successor to the depositary, or any nominee of that successor.

Same-Day Settlement and Payment

         Settlement by the purchasers of the debt securities will be made in immediately available funds. All payments by us to the depositary of principal and interest will be made in immediately available funds.

         The debt securities will trade in the depositary's settlement system until maturity, and therefore the depositary will require secondary trading activity in the debt securities to be settled in immediately available funds.

The Depository Trust Company

         The following is based on information furnished by The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and applies to the extent it is the depositary, unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement:

        Registered Owner.    The debt securities will be issued as fully registered securities in the name of Cede & Co., which is DTC's partnership nominee. No single global security will be issued in a principal amount of more than $500 million. The trustee will deposit the global securities with DTC. The deposit of the global securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities.

        DTC Organization.    DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of that law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation ("DTCC"). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with DTC's participants. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

        DTC Activities.    DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with it. DTC also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants' accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates.

        Participants' Records.    The debt securities must be purchased by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC's records. The beneficial owner's ownership interest in the debt securities is in turn recorded on the direct or indirect participants' records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmations from DTC of their purchases, but they are expected to receive them, along with periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through whom they purchased the debt securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the global securities will be made on the books of the participants on behalf of the beneficial owners. Certificates representing the interests of the beneficial owners in the debt

11

---

Table of Contents

securities will not be issued unless the use of global securities is suspended, as discussed above.

        DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the global securities. Its records only reflect the identity of the direct participants as owners of the debt securities. Those participants may or may not be the beneficial owners. Participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

        Notices Among DTC, Participants and Beneficial Owners.    Notices and other communications by DTC, its participants and the beneficial owners will be governed by standing arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect.

        Voting Procedures.    Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will give consents for or vote the global securities. DTC generally mails an omnibus proxy to us just after any applicable record date. That proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the record date.

        Payments.    Principal and interest payments made by us will be delivered to Cede & Co. DTC's practice is to credit direct participants' accounts upon receipt of funds and corresponding detail information on the applicable payment date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customers in bearer form or registered in "street name." Those payments will be the responsibility of that participant, and not DTC, the trustee or us, subject to any legal requirements in effect at that time. We are responsible for paying principal, interest and premium, if any, to the trustee, which is responsible for making those payments to Cede & Co. DTC is responsible for disbursing those payments to direct participants. The participants are responsible for disbursing payments to the beneficial owners.

Governing Law

        New York law will govern the indenture and the debt securities.

The Trustee

        The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A (as the successor trustee) is the trustee under the indenture. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. serves as trustee with respect to debt securities previously issued under the indenture. We may have normal banking relationships with the trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

12

---

Table of Contents

Description of Capital Stock

         Set forth below is a description of our capital stock. The following description is a summary and is subject to the provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our By-laws and the relevant provisions of the law of the State of Delaware.

Common Stock

         We are currently authorized to issue up to 1,200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.25 per share. As of May 31, 2016, we had outstanding 360,063,366 shares of our common stock. The shares of common stock outstanding are fully paid and nonassessable.

         Holders of our common stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in any dividends and in any assets available for distribution to stockholders on liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, subject, if preferred stock is then outstanding, to any preferential rights of such preferred stock. Each share of common stock entitles the holder of record to one vote at all meetings of stockholders, and the votes are noncumulative. The common stock is not redeemable, has no subscription or conversion rights and does not entitle the holder to any preemptive rights.

         Dividends may be paid on our common stock out of funds legally available for dividends, as and when declared from time to time by our board of directors.

         Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Preferred Stock

         We are also authorized to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share, in one or more series. If preferred stock is issued, our board of directors may fix the designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each series. As of May 31, 2016, no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

         The provisions of Delaware law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws we summarize below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in his or her best interest.

        Director Nominations.    Our stockholders may nominate candidates for our board of directors or propose business to be acted upon at an annual meeting only if the stockholders follow the advance notice procedures described in our By-laws. To be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, any stockholder nomination must be delivered to our secretary at our principal executive office not less than 75 days nor more than 100 days prior to the annual meeting. If, however, less than 75 days' notice or prior public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is given or made to stockholders, to be timely, the stockholder's nomination must be received not later than the tenth day following the day on which notice of the meeting date was mailed or public announcement was made, whichever occurs first. Generally, a proposal for business (other than the nomination or election of directors) must be delivered to our secretary at our principal executive office not less than 75 days nor more than 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting. In all cases, the notice must include the name and address of, and the number and type of shares owned by, the stockholder and certain of its affiliates, any derivative positions beneficially held by the stockholder and certain of its affiliates, any rights to dividends on our shares that are separated or separable from our underlying shares, any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that the stockholder or certain of its affiliates are entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of our shares or any derivative position and a representation as to whether the stockholder or certain of its affiliates intend to make such a proposal or nomination and to solicit proxies in support of it. If the stockholder submits a nomination to our board of directors, in addition to the foregoing, the nomination must include certain information as to such nominee including compensation arrangements and other relationships between the stockholder and the nominee, the background and experience of the nominee, and all other information required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The nominee must also provide a written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected.

         Our stockholders may nominate candidates for our board of directors or propose business to be acted upon at a special meeting if the stockholders follow the advance notice procedures described in our By-laws. If a special meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one or more directors, a stockholder may nominate a person or persons as specified in our By-laws by delivering to our secretary at our principal executive office not

13

---

Table of Contents

less than 75 days nor more than 100 days prior to such special meeting all information required as if such nomination was being made at an annual meeting of stockholders. If, however, less than 75 days' notice or prior public announcement of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, to be timely, the stockholder's nomination must be received not later than the tenth day following the day on which notice of the meeting date was mailed or public announcement was made, whichever occurs first.

         In addition to the director nomination provisions described above, our By-laws permit any stockholder or group of up to twenty stockholders who have maintained continuous qualifying ownership of 3% or more of our outstanding common stock for at least the previous three years to include up to a specified number of director nominees in our proxy materials for an annual meeting. The maximum number of stockholder nominees permitted under the proxy access provisions of our By-laws is the greater of two or 20% of the total number of Kimberly-Clark directors on the last day a notice of nomination may be submitted. Notice of a nomination under our proxy access By-law provisions must be submitted to our secretary at our principal executive office within the time periods for stockholder notices of director nominations described above for annual meetings. The notice must contain the information described above, along with certain additional information specified in our By-laws.

         Director nominations that are late or that do not include all required information may be rejected. This could prevent stockholders from making director nominations.

        No Action by Written Consent.    Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation states that action may be taken by stockholders only at annual or special meetings of the stockholders, and that stockholders may not act by written consent.

        Special Meetings of Stockholders.    The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws vest the power to call special meetings of stockholders in our chairman of the board, our chief executive officer, our board of directors or, subject to certain restrictions contained in our By-laws, the holders of not less than 25% of our issued and outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote to request that a special meeting of stockholders be called. Each request for a special meeting must contain certain information about the requesting stockholders described in our By-laws.

        Certain Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law.    We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in various "business combination" transactions with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date when the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

•

either the business combination or the transaction which caused the stockholder to become an interested stockholder is approved by the board of directors prior to the date the interested stockholder obtained that status;



•

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for the purposes of determining voting stock outstanding (but not voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) shares owned by certain insiders and certain employee stock plans; or



•

on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66²/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

         A "business combination" is defined to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder. In general, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 15% or more of a corporation's voting stock.

         The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts with respect to our company and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.

14

---

Table of Contents

Description of Warrants

        We may issue warrants, in one or more series, for the purchase of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, these securities. In addition to this summary, you should refer to the detailed provisions of the specific warrant agreement for complete terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement. Each warrant agreement will be between us and a banking institution or trust company, as warrant agent. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        A prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus relating to a particular series of warrants will describe the terms of those warrants, including:

•

the title and the aggregate number of warrants;



•

the securities for which such warrants are exercisable;



•

the date or dates on which the right to exercise such warrants commence and expire;



•

the price or prices at which such warrants are exercisable;



•

the currency or currencies in which such warrants are exercisable;



•

the periods during which and places at which such warrants are exercisable;



•

the terms of any mandatory or optional call provisions;



•

the price or prices, if any, at which the warrants may be redeemed at the option of the holder or will be redeemed upon expiration;



•

the identity of the warrant agent; and



•

the exchanges, if any, on which such warrants may be listed.

15

---

Table of Contents

Plan of Distribution

         We may offer and sell the securities from time to time as follows:

•

through agents;



•

to dealers;



•

to underwriters;



•

directly to other purchasers; or



•

through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

         The distribution of the securities may be made from time to time in one or more transactions, either:

•

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;



•

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;



•

at prices related to prevailing market prices;



•

at prices determined by an auction process; or



•

at negotiated prices

Through Agents

         We and the agents designated by us may solicit offers to purchase securities. Agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933. Any agent will be acting on a "best efforts" basis for the period of its appointment, unless we indicate differently in the prospectus supplement.

To Dealers

         The securities may be sold to a dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices determined by it at the time of resale. The dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933.

To Underwriters

         We may sell securities to one or more underwriters under an underwriting agreement that we enter into with them at the time of sale. The names of the underwriters will be set forth in the prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

         In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle such sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of a derivative transaction to close out any related open borrowings of stock. We otherwise may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities, in either case using this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

Direct Sales

         We may sell securities directly to you, without the involvement of underwriters or agents.

16

---

Table of Contents

General Information

        Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation described in a prospectus supplement.

        We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make.

        Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.

Legal Matters

        The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York. If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are passed on by other counsel for us or by counsel for the underwriters of an offering of the securities, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Experts

        The financial statements, and the related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

17

---

Table of Contents

 

€500,000,000
0.625% Notes due September 7, 2024

---

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

August 31, 2017

---

Joint Book-Running Managers

Deutsche Bank
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Morgan Stanley
Barclays
J.P. Morgan

Senior Co-Managers

HSBC
RBC Capital Markets

Co-Managers

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.
Santander

   

---