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Prospectus - Debt Securities - Clorox Co.

DEBT SECURITIES

This prospectus relates to the offering of debt securities of The Clorox Company. We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you make your investment decision.

Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and "Risk Factors" in the applicable prospectus supplement, for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before purchasing these securities.

The Company153s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CLX."

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

The date of this prospectus is November 14, 2011

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

1

THE COMPANY

1

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

1

USE OF PROCEEDS

2

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

2

General Terms of the Debt Securities

2

Denominations, Registration and Transfer

3

Payment and Paying Agents

4

Global Securities

4

Certain Covenants

5

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

8

Events of Default

8

Modification or Waiver

9

Satisfaction and Discharge

10

Defeasance

10

Governing Law

11

Concerning the Trustee

11

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

11

LEGAL MATTERS

12

EXPERTS

12

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

13

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

13

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, from time to time we may offer and sell securities evidencing our senior unsecured indebtedness in one or more series up to an indeterminate aggregate principal amount. We may offer these debt securities in separate series, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering.

We will provide additional information about the debt securities in an accompanying prospectus supplement. An accompanying prospectus supplement will state the principal amount, maturity, interest rate or rates, whether the interest rate or rates will be fixed or variable and/or any method of determining the interest rate or rates, the initial public offering price, and other terms of each series of debt securities.

We may offer and sell debt securities to or through underwriters, who may act as principals or agents, directly to other purchasers or through agents to other purchasers or through any combination of these methods. See "Plan of Distribution." The names of any underwriters, purchasers or agents and their compensation will be stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus or explicitly made part of this document by reference and the accompanying prospectus supplement. No person has been authorized by us to provide you with any other information. Clorox is not making an offer of any debt securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is unlawful. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms "Clorox," "the Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to The Clorox Company and its subsidiaries.

THE COMPANY

The Company was founded in Oakland, California in 1913 as the Electro-Alkaline Company. It was reincorporated as Clorox Chemical Corporation in 1922, as Clorox Chemical Co. in 1928 and as The Clorox Company (an Ohio corporation) in 1957, when the business was acquired by Procter & Gamble (P&G). The Company was fully divested by P&G in 1969 and, as an independent Company, reincorporated in 1973 in California as The Clorox Company. In 1986, the Company reincorporated in Delaware.

Our executive offices are located at 1221 Broadway, Oakland, California 94612-1888. Our telephone number is (510) 271-7000.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth Clorox153s ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

Three months ended
September 30,

Year ended June 30,

2011

2010

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

8

7

5

7

5

4

6

For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and earnings from equity investees, amortization of capitalized interest, distributed income from equity investees, and fixed charges. Fixed charges represent interest expense and the portion of rents representative of an interest factor.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Our intended use of the net proceeds from the sales of securities will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General Terms of the Debt Securities

We may issue senior debt securities from time to time in one or more distinct series. The securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of October 9, 2007, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 9, 2009 between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 9, 2009 between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (as supplemented, the "Indenture"). We will include in a supplement to this prospectus the specific terms of each series of debt securities being offered. The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in an accompanying prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the indenture and debt securities are summaries of these provisions, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the debt securities and the indenture (including any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time that are permitted under the indenture).

Unless otherwise specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be our direct unsecured senior obligations and will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any of our other senior and unsubordinated debt and will be effectively subordinated to any indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the term "Company" under this caption "General Terms of the Debt Securities" refers only to The Clorox Company and not to any of our subsidiaries.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of each series of debt securities, including, if applicable:

  • the title of the debt securities;
  • any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
  • the date or dates on which the principal amount of the debt securities is payable;
  • the rate or rates of interest, if any, at which the debt securities bear interest and the date or dates from which interest will accrue;
  • if the debt securities bear interest, the dates on which interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payments;
  • the place or places where the payment of principal, any premium and any interest will be made, if other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the debt securities may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon us may be served;
  • any optional redemption provisions, which would allow us to redeem the debt securities in whole or in part;
  • any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities;
  • if the currency in which the debt securities will be issuable is United States dollars, the denominations in which any registered securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereof;
  • if other than United States dollars, the currency in which the debt securities will be paid or denominated;
  • if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities which will be payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities;

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  • the inapplicability of any event of default or covenant set forth in the indenture relating to the debt securities, or the applicability of any other events of default or covenants in addition to the events of default or covenants set forth in the indenture relating to the debt securities;
  • if a person other than Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is to act as trustee for the debt securities, the name and location of the corporate trust office of that trustee;
  • if other than as set forth in the indenture, provisions for the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to the debt securities issued under the indenture;
  • the date as of which any global security will be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first debt security of a particular series to be issued;
  • whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities and, in that case, any depositary and global exchange agent for the global security or securities, whether the global form shall be permanent or temporary and, if applicable, the exchange date;
  • if debt securities are to be issuable initially in the form of a temporary global security, the circumstances under which the temporary global security can be exchanged for definitive debt securities and whether the definitive debt securities will be registered securities or will be in global form and provisions relating to the payment of interest in respect of any portion of a global security payable in respect of an interest payment date prior to the exchange date; and
  • any other terms of the debt securities, which terms shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provides that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance, provided, however, that for United States federal income tax purposes, such additional debt securities are issued in a "qualified reopening" within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture.

Denominations, Registration and Transfer

We will issue debt securities as registered securities (without coupons) either in certificated form or in the form of one or more global securities. We will issue book-entry debt securities as registered global securities. Each global security will be issued in the denomination of the aggregate principal amount of the securities that it represents. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus, we will issue the debt securities in denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

A holder may exchange certificated debt securities for other debt securities of any authorized denominations of a like stated maturity and of a like series and aggregate principal amount and with like terms and conditions. Whenever any such debt securities are surrendered for exchange, we will execute, and the trustee will authenticate and deliver, the debt securities that the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

A holder may present debt securities in certificated form for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer printed on the security duly executed) at the office of the security registrar that we designate for such purpose. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the security registrar will be the trustee we appointed under the indenture for the applicable debt securities. There will be no service charge to register the transfer, but the holder is responsible for paying any taxes and other governmental charges. Any transfer or exchange is subject to the security registrar being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request.

For a discussion of restrictions on the exchange, registration and transfer of global securities, see the section below entitled ": Global Securities."

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Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, we will pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities to a paying agent, whom we will designate from time to time. However, at our option we may pay any interest (1) by check mailed to you at your address appearing in the security register or (2) by wire transfer to an account maintained by you. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will pay interest to you on the applicable payment date if the debt security is registered in your name at the close of business on the regular record date for that interest payment.

Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the trustee will act as our sole paying agent through its designated office. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for each series. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. If, after two years, moneys that we paid to a paying agent remain unclaimed, the paying agent will remit the moneys to us, together with any interest, and you may look only to us for payment (or to the applicable state if we are required to escheat the moneys).

Global Securities

We will deposit any global securities with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. While the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement, we expect the following general provisions to apply to our depositary arrangements:

Global securities will be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary or nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depositary or nominee. If we are offering and selling the debt securities directly, we will designate the accounts to be credited; otherwise, our underwriter or agent will do so. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participating institutions or their clients. The depositary or its nominee will keep records of the ownership and transfer of beneficial interests in a global security by participating institutions. Participating institutions will keep records of the ownership and transfer of beneficial interests by their clients. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities receive them in certificated form. This would limit the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

So long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, it will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in the global securities will not be entitled to have debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive debt securities in certificated form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture. Accordingly, if a holder owns a beneficial interest in a global security, the holder must rely on the depositary and, if applicable, the participating institution of which that holder is a client to exercise the rights of that holder under the indenture.

The depositary may grant proxies and otherwise authorize participating institutions to take any action that a holder is entitled to take under the indenture. We understand that, according to existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders, or any owner of a beneficial interest in a global security wishes to give any notice or take any action, the depositary would authorize the participating institutions to give the notice or take the action, and the participating institutions would in turn authorize their clients to give the notice or take the action.

Generally, we will make payments on debt securities represented by a global security directly to the depositary or its nominee. It is our understanding that the depositary will then credit the accounts of participating institutions, which will then distribute funds to their clients. We also expect that payments by participating institutions to their clients will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of clients registered in "street names," and will be the responsibility of the participating institutions. Neither we nor the trustees, nor our respective agents, will have

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any responsibility, or bear any liability, for any aspects of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in a global security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing records relating to beneficial interests.

Generally, a global security may be exchanged for certificated debt securities only in the following instances:

  • the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, or it ceases to be a registered clearing agency, and thereafter a successor is not appointed within 90 days;
  • we determine in our sole discretion that the securities of any series issued in the form of one or more global securities are no longer to be represented by such global securities or we permit global securities to be exchangeable; or
  • an event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to the series of securities.

Certain Covenants

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will have the benefit of the following covenants contained in the indenture:

Limitations on Secured Debt

The Company will not itself, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary (defined below) to, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any debt securities, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of indebtedness for money borrowed (herein called "debt"), secured by a pledge of, or mortgage or other lien on, any Principal Property (defined below), now owned or hereafter owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or any shares of Capital Stock (defined below) or debt of any Restricted Subsidiary (herein called "liens"), without effectively providing that the outstanding debt securities (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other debt of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created which is not subordinate to the debt securities) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured debt so long as such secured debt shall be so secured. The foregoing restrictions do not apply, however, to (a) liens on any Principal Property acquired (whether by merger, consolidation, purchase, lease or otherwise), constructed or improved by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the date of the indenture which are created or assumed prior to, contemporaneously with, or within 360 days after, such acquisition, construction or improvement, to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the cost of such acquisition, construction or improvement (including related expenditures capitalized for Federal income tax purposes in connection therewith) incurred after the date of the indenture; (b) liens on any property, shares of Capital Stock or debt existing at the time of acquisition thereof, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase, lease or otherwise (including liens on property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness of a Person (defined below) existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary); (c) liens in favor of, or which secure debt owing to, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; (d) liens in favor of the United States of America or any state thereof, or any department, agency, or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, or political entity affiliated therewith, or in favor of any other country, or any political subdivision thereof, to secure progress, advance or other payments, or other obligations, pursuant to any contract or statute, or to secure any debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving the property subject to such liens (including liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings); (e) liens imposed by law, such as mechanics153, workmen153s, repairmen153s, materialmen153s, carriers153, warehousemen153s, vendors153 or other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business, or governmental (Federal, state or municipal) liens arising out of contracts for the sale of products or services by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or deposits or pledges to obtain the release of any of the foregoing; (f) pledges or deposits under workmen153s compensation, unemployment insurance, or similar legislation and liens of judgments thereunder which are not currently dischargeable, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of money) or leases to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or deposits in connection with obtaining or maintaining self-insurance or to obtain the benefits of any law, regulation or arrangement pertaining to workmen153s compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, social security or similar matters, or deposits of cash or obligations of the United States of America to

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secure surety, appeal or customs bonds to which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is a party, or deposits in litigation or other proceedings such as, but not limited to, interpleader proceedings; (g) liens created by or resulting from any litigation or other proceeding which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, including liens arising out of judgments or awards against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in good faith prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review or liens incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of obtaining a stay or discharge in the course of any litigation or other proceeding to which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is a party; (h) liens for taxes or assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or delinquent, or which can thereafter be paid without penalty, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (i) liens consisting of easements, rights-of-way, zoning restrictions, restrictions on the use of real property, and defects and irregularities in the title thereto, landlords153 liens and other similar liens and encumbrances none of which interfere materially with the use of the property covered thereby in the ordinary course of the business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary and which do not, in the opinion of the Company, materially detract from the value of such properties; (j) liens existing on the first date on which such series of senior debt securities are issued; (k) liens on cash and cash equivalents securing derivatives obligations; provided that the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents subject to such liens may at no time exceed $100,000,000; (l) liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker153s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided that (i) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, and (ii) such deposit account is not intended to provide collateral to the depository institution; or (m) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole or in part, of any lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) to (l), inclusive; provided that (1) such extension, renewal or replacement lien shall be limited to all or a part of the same property, shares of stock or debt that secured the lien extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property) and (2) the debt secured by such lien at such time is not increased.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described above, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur, issue, assume or guarantee debt secured by liens without equally and ratably securing the outstanding debt securities issued under the indenture, provided that at the time of such incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee, after giving effect thereto and to the retirement of any debt which is concurrently being retired, the aggregate amount of all outstanding debt secured by liens which could not have been incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary without equally and ratably securing the outstanding debt securities except for the provisions of this paragraph, together with the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt (defined below) incurred pursuant to the second paragraph under the caption ":Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions" below, does not at such time exceed the greater of (i) $300 million or (ii) 15% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any lien securing outstanding senior debt securities granted pursuant to this covenant shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release by all holders of the debt secured by the lien giving rise to the requirement to provide a lien securing the outstanding senior debt securities (including any deemed release upon payment in full of all obligations under such debt) or, with respect to any particular Principal Property or Capital Stock of any particular Restricted Subsidiary securing outstanding senior debt securities, upon any sale, exchange or transfer to any person not an affiliate of the Company of such Principal Property or Capital Stock.

Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

Sale and leaseback transactions by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary involving a Principal Property are prohibited unless either (a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled, without equally and ratably securing the outstanding senior debt securities, to incur debt secured by a lien on such property, pursuant to the provisions described in clauses (a) through (m) above under ": Limitations on Secured Debt"; or (b) the Company, within 360 days after such transaction, applies an amount not less than the net proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property leased pursuant to such arrangement to (x) the retirement of its Funded Debt (defined below); provided that the amount to be applied to the retirement of Funded Debt of the Company shall be reduced by (1) the principal amount of any outstanding senior debt securities delivered within 360 days after such sale to the Trustee

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for retirement and cancellation, and (2) the principal amount of Funded Debt, other than outstanding senior debt securities, voluntarily retired by the Company within 360 days after such sale or (y) the purchase, construction or development of other property, facilities or equipment used or useful in the Company153s or its Restricted Subsidiaries153 business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no retirement referred to in clause (b) of this paragraph may be effected by payment at maturity or pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund payment or mandatory prepayment provision. This restriction will not apply to a sale and leaseback transaction between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries or involving the taking back of a lease for a period of less than three years.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described above, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction, provided that at the time of such transaction, after giving effect thereto and to the retirement of any Funded Debt which is concurrently being retired, the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt (defined below) in respect of sale and leaseback transactions existing at such time (other than sale and leaseback transactions permitted as described in the preceding paragraph), together with the aggregate amount of all outstanding debt incurred pursuant to the second paragraph under the caption ": Limitations on Secured Debt" above, does not at such time exceed the greater of (i) $300 million or (ii) 15% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company.

Certain Definitions

The capitalized terms used in the summary of the covenants above have the following definitions:

"Attributable Debt" in respect of any sale and leaseback transaction means, at the date of determination, the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the terms of the lease) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended). "Net rental payments" under any lease for any period means the sum of the rental and other payments required to be paid in such period by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be paid by such lessee (whether or not designated as rental or additional rental payments) on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges required to be paid by such lessee thereunder or any amounts required to be paid by such lessee thereunder contingent upon the amount of sales, maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges.

"Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred stock and limited liability or partnership interests (whether general or limited), but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, at the date of determination, the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities (excluding any indebtedness for money borrowed having a maturity of less than 12 months from the date of the then most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company publicly available but which by its terms is renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and any other like intangibles, all as set forth on the then most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company publicly available and computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

"Funded Debt" means debt which by its terms matures at or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more than 12 months after the date of the creation of such debt.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity, and includes a "person" as used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

"Principal Property" means any plant, office facility, warehouse, distribution center or equipment located within the United States of America (other than its territories or possessions) and owned by the Company or any subsidiary, the gross book value (without deduction of any depreciation reserves) of which on the date as of which the determination is being made exceeds 1% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company, except any such property which the Company153s Board of Directors, in its good faith opinion, determines is not of material importance to the business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as evidenced by a board resolution.

"Restricted Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Company which owns or leases a Principal Property.

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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person unless (1) such Person is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and such successor Person assumes by supplemental indenture the Company153s obligations on each series of the debt securities and under the indenture, (2) after giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture, (3) as a result of such transaction the properties or assets of the Company are not subject to any encumbrance which would not be permitted under the indenture and (4) the Company shall have delivered an Officers153 Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction or supplemental indenture, complies with the indenture.

Events of Default

Each of the following will be an event of default:

(1) default in any payment of interest on any debt security when it becomes due and payable, continued for 30 days;

(2) default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any debt security when due at its stated maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration or otherwise;

(3) our failure, after notice, to comply within 60 days with any of our other agreements contained in the indenture applicable to the debt securities (other than a covenant or warranty expressly excluded from events giving rise to a default, including the obligation to file SEC filings with the trustee); or

(4) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization for us.

A default under clause (3) of this paragraph will not constitute an event of default until the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of such series notify us of the default and such default is not cured within the time specified in clause (3) of this paragraph after receipt of such notice.

If an event of default (other than an event of default referred to in clause (4) above with respect to us) occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of such series by written notice to us and the trustee may, and the trustee at the request of such holders shall, declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all securities of such series to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable immediately. If an event of default referred to in clause (4) above occurs with respect to us, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all outstanding securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.

The trustee will not be deemed to have notice of any default or any event of default unless a responsible officer of the trustee (as defined in the Indenture) has actual notice of the default or the event of default or the trustee has received written notice of any event which is a default and the notice references the notes and the Indenture.

In order for holders of any series of securities to initiate proceedings for a remedy under the indenture (other than with respect to an event of default referred to in clause (4) above with respect to us), holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such series of securities must first give written notice to us as provided above, must request that the trustee initiate a proceeding in its own name and must offer the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against costs, expenses, and liabilities incurred in compliance with such request. If the trustee still refuses for 60 days to initiate the proceeding, and no inconsistent direction has been given to the trustee by holders of a majority of such series of securities, the holders may initiate a proceeding as long as they do not adversely affect the rights of any other holders of such series of securities. However, any holder is entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for payment of money due on its securities on or after the due date.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may rescind a declaration of acceleration with respect to such series of securities if all events of default, besides the failure to pay principal due solely because of the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

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If we default on the payment of any installment of interest and fail to cure the default within 30 days, or if we default on the payment of principal (or premium, if any) when it becomes due, then the trustee may require us to pay all amounts due to the trustee, with interest on the overdue principal or interest payments, in addition to the expenses of collection.

The indenture provides that if a default occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder notice of the default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on any debt security, or in the deposit of any sinking fund payment with respect to the securities of a series, the trustee may withhold notice if the trustee determines that withholding notice is in the best interests of the holders.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may waive any past default or event of default with respect to such series of securities except for a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such series of securities or a default relating to a provision that cannot be amended without the consent of each affected holder.

Modification or Waiver

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture.

Changes Requiring Approval of Holders. Certain changes cannot be made to the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series without approval of each affected holder, including the following:

  • reducing the principal or any premium or changing the stated maturity of the debt securities of a particular series;
  • reducing the rate of, or changing the stated maturity of, any payment of interest on the debt securities of a particular series;
  • making the principal, premium or interest payable in a currency other than United States dollars or changing the place of payment;
  • modifying the right of any holder to receive or sue for payment of principal, premium or interest that would be due and payable at the maturity of the debt securities of a particular series;
  • expressly subordinating the senior debt securities of a particular series to other indebtedness of ours; or
  • reducing the principal amount of the debt securities of a particular series whose holders must consent to supplement the indenture or to waive any of its provisions.

Changes Requiring a Majority Vote of Holders. Other than as set forth above, the indenture and the debt securities of a particular series can generally be amended by a vote in favor by holders owning a majority of the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a particular series. In the event that more than one series of debt securities issued under the indenture is affected by the amendment, the vote of a particular series of debt securities will only amend the indenture with respect to such particular series of debt securities.

Changes Not Requiring Approval of Holders. From time to time, we and the trustee may, without the consent of the holders, amend the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series for specified purposes, including to:

  • reflect that a successor has succeeded us and has assumed our covenants and obligations under the debt securities and the indenture;
  • add further covenants for the benefit of the holders of a particular series of debt securities or surrender any right or power conferred on us with respect to a particular series of debt securities;
  • add any additional event of default with respect to the debt securities of a particular series;

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  • pledge property to the trustee as security for the debt securities of a particular series;
  • add guarantees with respect to the debt securities of a particular series;
  • evidence the appointment of a trustee other than Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, with respect to the debt securities of a particular series in accordance with the provisions of the indenture;
  • modify the indenture in order to continue its qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or as may be necessary or desirable in accordance with amendments of that act;
  • issue and establish the form and terms and conditions of other series of debt securities as provided in the indenture;
  • cure any ambiguity, mistake or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of a particular series or make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture, as long as the interests of the holders are not adversely affected in any material respect;
  • provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; or
  • comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The indenture with respect to the debt securities of a particular series will cease to be of further effect, and we will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged our obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series, when certain specified conditions have been satisfied, including the following:

  • all debt securities of such series not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity or on a redemption date within one year;
  • we deposit with the trustee, in trust, funds sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of such series that had not been previously delivered for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in the case of debt securities that have become due and payable, or to the stated maturity or the redemption date, if earlier, in the case of other debt securities;
  • we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under the indenture in respect of the debt securities of such series; and
  • we have delivered to the trustee an officers153 certificate and opinion of counsel, each stating that all these conditions have been complied with.

We will remain obligated to provide for registration of transfer and exchange and to provide notices of redemption.

Defeasance

At our option, we can terminate all of our obligations with respect to certain covenants under the indenture with respect to debt securities of a particular series, other than the obligation to pay principal, any premium and any interest on the debt securities of such series and other specified obligations, at any time by:

  • depositing money or United States government obligations with the trustee in an amount sufficient to pay the principal, any premium and any interest on the debt securities of such series to their maturity; and
  • complying with other specified conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of our defeasance.

In addition, we can terminate all of our obligations under the indenture with respect to debt securities of a particular series, including the obligation to pay principal, any premium and any interest on the debt securities of such series, at any time by:

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

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

Governing Law

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

Concerning the Trustee

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the trustee under the indenture will be Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. Additionally, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, will serve as registrar and paying agent with regard to the debt securities.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

General

We may offer and sell debt securities in one or more transactions from time to time to or through underwriters, who may act as principals or agents, directly to other purchasers or through agents to other purchasers or through any combination of these methods.

A prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of debt securities may include the following information:

  • the terms of the offering;
  • the names of any underwriters or agents;
  • the purchase price of the debt securities;
  • the net proceeds to us from the sale of the debt securities;
  • any delayed delivery arrangements;
  • any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters153 compensation;
  • any initial public offering price; and
  • any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

The distribution of the debt securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions 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 or at negotiated prices.

Underwriting Compensation

We may offer these securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or through underwriters without an underwriting syndicate. If underwriters are used for the sale of securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including in negotiated transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. In connection with any such underwritten sale of securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us or from purchasers for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.

If we use an underwriter or underwriters in the sale of particular securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with those underwriters at the time of the sale of those securities. The names of the underwriters will be set forth in the prospectus supplement used by the underwriters to sell those securities. Unless otherwise indicated

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in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to customary conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered if any of the securities are purchased.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions that they receive from us and any profit that they receive on the resale of securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If any entity is deemed an underwriter or any amounts deemed underwriting discounts and commissions, the prospectus supplement will identify the underwriter or agent and describe the compensation received from us.

Indemnification

We may enter agreements under which underwriters and agents who participate in the distribution of securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against various liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

Related Transactions

Various of the underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities, and their affiliates, may perform various commercial banking and investment banking services for us from time to time in the ordinary course of business.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

We may authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases we must approve these institutions. The obligations of any purchaser under any of these contracts will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

Price Stabilization and Short Positions

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, until the distribution of the securities is completed, rules of the SEC may limit the ability of any underwriters to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, representatives of any underwriters are permitted to engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the securities in connection with the offering (that is, if they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the prospectus supplement) the representatives of the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing securities in the open market.

We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the securities. In addition, we make no representation that the representatives of any underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities being offered will be passed upon for us by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2011, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2011, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents, which we have filed with the SEC (File No. 1-07151) are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

(a)

The Company153s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, filed on August 26, 2011;

(b)

The Company153s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2011, filed on November 3, 2011; and

(c)

The Company153s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on July 18, 2011, July 19, 2011, July 19, 2011 (as amended on July 20, 2011), July 20, 2011, July 26, 2011, August 4, 2011, August 19, 2011, September 16, 2011, and October 6, 2011.

All documents that we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than any information we furnish, rather than file, with the SEC pursuant to certain items of Form 8-K, prior to the termination of the applicable offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. Requests should be made to The Clorox Company, Attention: Secretary, 1221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612-1888.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy these reports and other information, including the documents incorporated by reference, at the SEC153s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 (please call 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the operation of the public reference room). Such documents, reports and other information are also available on the SEC153s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our website address is www.clorox.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

We also provide information to the New York Stock Exchange because our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. You may obtain our reports and other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, NY 10005.

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