EXHIBIT (1)(a)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Debt Securities
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
To the Representatives named in Schedule I hereto
of the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto
Dear Sirs:
International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation
(the "Company"), proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II
hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives"), the principal amount of its Securities identified in
Schedule I hereto (the "Securities"), to be issued under an indenture dated as
of October 1, 1993 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 15, 1995. If the firm or firms
listed in Schedule II hereto include only the firm or firms listed in Schedule I
hereto, then the terms "Underwriters" and "Representatives", as used herein
shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants
to, and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") and has filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement or statements
(the file number or numbers of which is or are set forth in Schedule I hereto),
including a related preliminary prospectus, on such Form for the registration
under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. The Company may have
filed one or more amendments thereto, including the related preliminary
prospectus, and has filed a preliminary prospectus in accordance with Rules 415
and 424(b)(5), each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company
will next file with the Commission one of the following: (i) prior to
effectiveness of such registration statement, a further amendment thereto,
including the form of final prospectus, (ii) a final prospectus in accordance
with Rules 430A and 424(b)(1) or (4), or (iii) a final prospectus in accordance
with Rules 415 and 424(b)(2) or (5). In the case of clause (ii), the Company has
included in such registration statement or statements, as amended at the
Effective Date, all information (other than Rule 430A Information) required by
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the Act and the rules thereunder to be included in the Prospectus with respect
to the Securities and the offering thereof. As filed, such amendment and form of
final prospectus, or such final prospectus, shall include all Rule 430A
Information and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing
to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to
you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution
Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes
(beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has
advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. If
the Registration Statement contains the undertaking specified by Regulation S-K
Item 512(a), the Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the
requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).
The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the
meanings indicated. The term the "Effective Date" shall mean each date that the
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto
became or become effective. "Execution Time" shall mean the date and time that
this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto. "Preliminary
Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary prospectus referred to in the preceding
paragraph and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement
at the Effective Date that omits Rule 430A Information. "Prospectus" shall mean
the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) after the Execution Time or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is
required, shall mean the form of final prospectus included in the Registration
Statement at the Effective Date. "Registration Statement" shall mean the
registration statement or statements referred to in the preceding paragraph,
including incorporated documents as of the filing of the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the three month period ended __________________,
exhibits and financial statements, in the form in which it or they has or have
or shall become effective and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto
becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), shall also
mean such registration statement or statements as so amended. Such term shall
include Rule 430A Information deemed to b included therein at the Effective Date
as provided by Rule 430A. "Rule 415", "Rule 424", "Rule 430A" and "Regulation
S-K" refer to such rules under the Act. "Rule 430A Information" means
information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to
be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to
Rule 430A. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, a Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")
on or before the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of
such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any
reference herein to the terms "amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect
to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of an document under the
Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date
of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference.
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(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did or will, and
when the Prospectus is first filed (if required) in accordance with Rule 424(b)
and on the Closing Date, the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will,
comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and
the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder; on the Effective Date and
on the Closing Date the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture
Act") and the rules thereunder; on the Effective Date, the Registration
Statement did not or will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading; and, on the Effective Date, the Prospectus, if not filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b), did not or will not, and on the date of any filing
pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Prospectus (together with
any supplement thereto) will not, include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or
warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall
constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the
Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or
omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement
thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).
2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in
reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price set forth in
Schedule I hereto, the respective principal amounts of the Securities set forth
opposite each respective Underwriter's name in Schedule II hereto, except that,
if Schedule I hereto provides for the sale of Securities pursuant to delayed
delivery arrangements, the respective principal amounts of Securities to be
purchased by the Underwriters shall be as set forth in Schedule II hereto, less
the respective amounts of Contract Securities determined as provided below.
Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters are herein sometimes called the
"Underwriters' Securities" and Securities to be purchased pursuant to Delayed
Delivery Contracts as hereinafter provided are herein called "Contract
Securities".
If so provided in Schedule I hereto, the Underwriters are authorized to
solicit offers to purchase Securities from the Company pursuant to delayed
delivery contracts ("Delayed Delivery Contracts"), substantially in the form of
Schedule III hereto but with such changes therein as the Company may authorize
or approve. The Underwriters will endeavor to make such arrangements and, as
compensation therefor, the Company will pay to the Representatives, for the
account of underwriters, on the Closing Date, the percentage set forth in
Schedule I hereto of
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the principal amount of the Securities for which Delayed Delivery Contracts are
made. Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional investors,
including commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds,
investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. The Company
will make Delayed Delivery Contracts in all cases where sales of Contract
Securities arranged by the Underwriters have been approved by the Company but,
except as the Company may otherwise agree, each such Delayed Delivery Contract
must be for not less than the minimum principal amount set forth in Schedule I
hereto and the aggregate principal amount of Contract Securities may not exceed
the maximum aggregate principal amount set forth in Schedule I hereto. The
Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or
performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts. The principal amount of Securities to
be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in Schedule II hereto shall be
reduced by an amount which shall bear the same proportion to the total principal
amount of Contract Securities as the principal amount of Securities set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the aggregate principal amount
set forth in Schedule II hereto, except to the extent that you determine that
such reduction shall be otherwise than in such proportion and so advise the
Company in writing; provided, however, that the total principal amount of
Securities to be purchased by all Underwriters shall be the aggregate principal
amount set forth in Schedule II hereto, less the aggregate principal amount of
Contract Securities.
3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Underwriters'
Securities shall be made at the office, on the date and at the time specified in
Schedule I hereto, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the
Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 8 hereof (such date
and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being called the "Closing
Date"). Delivery of the Underwriters' Securities shall be made to the
Representatives for the respective account of the several Underwriters against
payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase
price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by certified or official bank
check or checks payable, or wire transfers, in immediately available funds. The
Debentures shall be delivered in definitive global form through the facilities
of The Depository Trust Company.
4. Agreements.
(A) The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement, and any amendment thereof, if not effective at the Execution Time, to
become effective. If the Registration Statement has become or becomes effective
pursuant to Rule 430A, or filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under
Rule 424(b), the Company will file the Prospectus, properly completed, pursuant
to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and
will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing.
The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Registration
Statement shall
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have become effective, (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement
relating to the Securities shall have become effective, (iii) of any request by
the Commission for any amendment of the Registration Statement or amendment of
or supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for
that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal
thereof. The Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement
or supplement to the Prospectus unless the Company has furnished you a copy for
your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or
supplement to which you reasonably object.
(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is
required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which
the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules
thereunder, the Company will give the Representatives immediate notice of the
occurrence of such event and promptly will prepare and file with the Commission,
subject to the first sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment
or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment
which will effect such compliance.
(c) The Company will make generally available to its security holders
and to the Representatives as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days
after the end of the 12-month period beginning at the end of the current fiscal
quarter of the Company, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) of the
Company and its subsidiaries, covering a period of at least 12 months beginning
after the end of the current fiscal quarter of the Company, which will satisfy
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(d) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the
Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement (including
exhibits thereto) and each amendment thereto which shall become effective on or
prior to the Closing Date and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an
Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act, as many copies of any
Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and any amendments thereof
and supplements thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(e) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Securities
for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may
designate, will maintain such qualifications
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in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and will
arrange for the determination of the legality of the Securities for purchase by
institutional investors.
(f) Until the earlier of the day on which the distribution of the
Securities is completed or the business day following the Closing Date, the
Company will not, without the consent of the Representatives, offer or sell, or
announce the offering of, any debt securities covered by the Registration
Statement or any other registration statement filed under the Act.
(B) The several Underwriters agree with the Company that:
(a) The several Underwriters will pay the expenses of printing all
documents relating to the offering.
(b) The several Underwriters will pay the reasonable fees and
disbursements of outside counsel for the Company and the Trustee relating to the
offering.
(c) The several Underwriters will pay any fees of Xxxxx'x Investors
Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of the XxXxxx-Xxxx
Companies, Inc. relating to the rating of the Securities.
(d) The several Underwriters will pay the fees and disbursements of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP relating to the preparation of the letter required by
Section 5(e) of this Agreement.
5. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations
of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwriters' Securities shall be subject to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
contained herein as of the Execution Time, as of the date of the effectiveness
of any amendment to the Registration Statement filed prior to the Closing Date
(including the filing of any document incorporated by reference therein) and as
of the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in
any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) If the Registration Statement has not become effective prior to the
Execution Time, unless the Representatives agree in writing to a later time, the
Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than (i) 6:00 P.M.
New York City time, on the date of determination of the public offering price,
if such determination occurred at or prior to 3:00 P.M. New York City time on
such date or (ii) 12:00 Noon on the business day following the day on which the
public offering price was determined, if such determination occurred after 3:00
P.M. New York City time on such date; if filing of the Prospectus, or any
supplement thereto, is required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the Prospectus shall
have been filed in the manner and within
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the time period required by Rule 424(b); and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted
or threatened.
(b) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives:
(i) the opinion of the General Counsel, an Assistant General Counsel,
an Associate General Counsel or other counsel of the Company, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect that:
(A) the Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the State of New York, with full corporate power and
authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing
under the laws of each jurisdiction within the United States
which requires such qualifications wherein it owns or leases
material properties or conducts material business;
(B) the Securities conform in all material respects
to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
(C) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered, has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time
to time in effect, and subject, as to enforceability, to
general principle of equity, regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law); and the Securities have been duly authorized and, when
executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions
of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, in the case of the
Underwriters' Securities, or by the purchasers thereof
pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts, in the case of any
Contract Securities, will constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, and other
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time
to time in effect);
(D) to the best knowledge of such counsel, there is
no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding before any
court or governmental agency, authority or body or any
arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement which is not adequately
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disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no franchise,
contract or other document of a character required to be
described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to
be filed as an exhibit, which is not described or filed as
required;
(E) the Registration Statement and any amendments
thereto have become effective under the Act; any required
filing of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant
to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time
period required by Rule 424(b); to the best knowledge of such
counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, as amended, has been issued, no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are
pending or contemplated under the Act;
(F) this Agreement and any Delayed Delivery Contracts
have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company;
(G) no authorization, approval or other action by,
and no notice to, consent of, order of, or filing with, any
United States Federal or New York governmental authority or
regulatory body is required for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein or in any Delayed Delivery
Contracts, except such as have been obtained under the Act and
such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution
of the Securities and such other approvals (specified in such
opinion) as have been obtained;
(H) such counsel has no reason to believe that (1)
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except the
financial statements and the notes thereto and other
information of an accounting or financial nature included
therein, and the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) included
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as to which such
counsel need express no view) were not appropriately
responsive in all material respects to requirements of the Act
and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and (2) the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereof at the time it became effective contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading (in each case
except for the financial statements and the notes thereto and
other information of an accounting or financial nature
included therein, as to which such counsel need express no
view); and
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(I) none of the issue and sale of the Securities, the
consummation of any other of the transactions herein
contemplated or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or of any
Delayed Delivery Contracts will conflict with, result in a
breach of, or constitute a default under, the charter or
by-laws of the Company or the terms of any indenture or other
agreement or instrument known to such counsel and to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound, or any
decre or regulation known to such counsel to be applicable to
the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or
arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
The statements described in one or more of paragraphs (B), (C), (E),
(F), (G) and (H)(1) of this subsection 5(b)(i) may be omitted from the opinion
of such counsel; provided, however, that in such event the Company shall also
have furnished to the Representatives the corresponding opinion or letter of
Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx, counsel for the Company, described in subsection
5(b)(ii) or 5(b)(iii) immediately following.
(ii) in the event that the statements described in one or more of
paragraphs (B), (C), (E), (F) or (G) of foregoing subsection 5(b)(i) is omitted
from the opinion delivered pursuant to such subsection, the opinion of Cravath,
Swaine & Xxxxx, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect
of the statements so omitted.
In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
New York or the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in
such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom they
believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters;
and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates
of responsible officers of the Company an public officials.
(iii) in the event that the statements in paragraph (H)(1) of
subsection 5(b)(i) are omitted from the opinion provided pursuant to such
subsection, a letter of Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx dated the Closing Date to the
effect that, having participated in conferences with certain officers of, and
with the accountants for, the Company and having made certain inquiries and
investigations in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, such counsel has no reason to believe that (i) the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except the financial statements and
the notes thereto and other information of an accounting or financial nature
included therein, and the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) included as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, as to which such counsel need express no
view) were not appropriately responsive in all material respects with
requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and (ii) the Registration Statement at the Effective Date
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not
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misleading, or that the Prospectus on the Closing Date includes any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading (in each case except for the financial statements
and the notes thereto and other information of an accounting or financial nature
included therein, as to which such counsel need express no view).
(c) The Representatives shall have received from Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx,
counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date,
with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, any
Delayed Delivery Contracts, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other
related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company
shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a
certificate of the Company, signed by the principal financial or accounting
officer (or Vice President and Treasurer) of the Company, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any supplement to the Prospectus and
this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with
the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with
all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed
or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, as amended, has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included
in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the condition
(financial or other), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus.
(e) At the Closing Date, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have
furnished to the Representatives a letter or letters (which may refer to a
letter previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated as of
the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives,
confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act
and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable published rules and
regulations thereunder, that the response, if any, to Item 10 of the
Registration Statement is correct insofar as it relates to them and stating in
effect that:
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(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and schedules
thereto included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the
published rules and regulations thereunder with respect to financial statements
and financial statement schedules included or incorporated in annual reports on
Form 10-K under the Exchange Act;
(ii) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited financial statements
included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and of
the latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Company and its
subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination
in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) which would not
necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set
forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the
stockholders, directors and executive committees of the Company and the
Subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited balance sheet, through a
specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of the letter;
and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for
financial and accounting matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as to
transactions and events subsequent to the date of the most recent financial
statements incorporate in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, nothing
came to their attention which caused them to believe that:
(1) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published
rules and regulations of the Commission with respect to financial statements
included or incorporated in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange
Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not stated on a basis
substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included
or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; or
(2) with respect to the period subsequent to the date of the most
recent financial statements incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, there were, at a specified date not more than five business days
prior to the date of the letter, any increases in long-term debt of the Company
and its subsidiaries or decreases in the capital stock of the Company or
decreases in the stockholders' equity of the Company and its subsidiaries as
compared with the amounts shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet
included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
except in all instances for increases or decreases set forth in such letter, in
which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as
to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by
the Representatives; and
(iii) they have performed certain other procedures as a result of which
they determined
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that the information described in a schedule to be delivered on behalf of the
Underwriters of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited
to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general
ledger of the Company) set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended, the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and in Exhibit 12 to the Registration
Statement (including selected accounting, financial or statistical information
included or incorporated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
incorporated in the Prospectus or any of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form
l0-Q incorporated therein), agrees with the general ledger of the Company and
its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.
References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (e) include any
supplements thereto at the date of the letter.
(f) Subsequent to the respective dates of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have been (i) any
change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph
(e) of this Section 5 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in or affecting the business or properties of the Company
and its subsidiaries the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i)
or (ii) above, is, in the judgmen of the Representatives, so material and
adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering or the delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus.
(g) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the
Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the
Representatives may reasonably request.
(h) The Company shall have accepted Delayed Delivery Contracts in any
case where sales of Contract Securities arranged by the Underwriters have been
approved by the Company.
(i) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any
decrease in the ratings of any of the Securities by Moody's Investor's Service,
Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") and neither Moody's
nor S&P shall have publicly announced that it has placed any of the Securities
on a credit watch with negative implications.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have
been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement,
or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this
Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to the Representatives and their counsel, this Agreement and all
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled at, or at any time
prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation
shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or telegraph confirmed
in writing.
12
6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of the
Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 5 hereof is not satisfied
or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to
perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by
reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the
Underwriters severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by
them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any
and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they
or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other
Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the
registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof,
or in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof
or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse
each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred,
as incurred, by them in connection with investigating or defending any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that (i) the
Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made
therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use in connection with the preparation thereof, and (ii) such
indemnity with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Underwriter (or any person controlling such Underwriter) from
whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased
the Securities which are the subject thereof if such person did not receive a
copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as supplemented) excluding documents
incorporated therein by reference at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person in any case where such delivery is required by
the Act and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in
such Preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus
as supplemented prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such
person). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the
Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company,
13
each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration
Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from
the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information
relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation
of the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may
otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the
last paragraph of the cover page of the Prospectus and under the heading
"Underwriting" or "Plan of Distribution" and, if Schedule I hereto provides for
sales of Securities pursuant to delayed delivery arrangements, in the last
sentence under the heading "Delayed Delivery Arrangements" in any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus, constitute the only information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, and you, as the Representatives,
confirm that such statements are correct.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7
of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under
this Section 7. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to appoint counsel satisfactory to such
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party in such action; provided,
however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party
and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other
indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to
the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified
party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to appoint counsel to defend such action
and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will
not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed
separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence
(it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable
for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local
counsel), approved by the Representatives in the case of paragraph (a) of this
Section 7, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) who are
parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the
action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel
for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party; and except
that, if
14
clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such liability shall be only in respect of
the counsel referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).
(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) of this
Section 7 is due in accordance with its terms but is for any reason held by a
court to be unavailable from the Company on grounds of policy or otherwise, the
Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with investigating or defending same) to which the Company and one
or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion so that the
Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that
the underwriting discount bears to the sum of such discount and the purchase
price of the Securities set forth on Schedule I hereto and the Company is
responsible for the balance; provided, however, that (y) in no case shall any
Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters
relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in
excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Securities purchased by
such Underwriter hereunder and (z) no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who
controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act,
each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and
each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company, subject in each case to clauses (y) and (z) of this paragraph (d). Any
party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of
commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of
which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties
under this paragraph (d), notify such party or parties from whom contribution
may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not
relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other
obligation it or they may have hereunder or otherwise than under this paragraph
(d).
8. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall
fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by
such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up
and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite their names in Schedule II
15
hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names
of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however,
that in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of
the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the
remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be
under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such
nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement
will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the
Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this
Section 8, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding
seven days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required
changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement
shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the
Company and any nondefaultin Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default
hereunder.
9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the
absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior
to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if prior to such time (i) trading
in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended
or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (ii)
a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York
State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or material
escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on the
financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of
the Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities.
10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective
agreement representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof,
and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of
Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this
Agreement.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and
effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to them, at the address specified in
Schedule I hereto; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or
telegraphed and confirmed to it, at Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000; attention of the
Treasurer.
12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers
and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no
other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
16
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the
Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------------
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted on the
date specified in Schedule I hereto.
By:
By:
---------------------------------
For themselves and the other several
Underwriters, if any, named in Schedule
II to the foregoing Agreement.
17
SCHEDULE I
Debt Securities
Underwriting Agreement dated
Registration Statement No. 333-
Representatives:
Title of Securities:
Principal Amount:
Interest Rate:
Purchase Price:
Offering Price:
Interest Payment Dates:
Subordination Provisions:
Optional Redemption:
Sinking Fund Provisions:
Delayed Delivery:
Closing Date and Time:
Method of Payment of Underwriters' Securities:
Other provisions of or Amendments to
Underwriting Agreement:
18
Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 4:
[Until [ ], the Company will not, without the consent of the
Representatives, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of,
directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any securities issued or
guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities).]
Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 5:
[At or prior to the Closing Date, the Indenture dated as of the Closing Date,
between the Company and [ ], as Trustee, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters, shall have been executed and delivered by
the parties thereto and shall be in full force and effect.]
Units
Title and principal amount of Debt Securities or title and number of shares of
Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants or Depositary Shares in one Unit:
Purchase Price and currency:
Section 4(g) Listing upon notice of issuance on any national securities exchange
or automated quotation system:
Detachable Date:
Overallotment option:
Other provisions:
Section 5(h) provisions, if any:
Delayed Delivery: [None]
[Underwriters' commission shall be __% of the principal amount of Designated
Securities for which Delayed Delivery Contracts have been entered into and the
check given in payment of such commission shall be drawn to the order of
_____________]
19
[Maximum aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities to be offered and
sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts: [$]_______________]
[Minimum principal amount of each Delayed Delivery Contract: [$]______________]
20
SCHEDULE I
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Underwriting Agreement dated
Registration Statement No. 333-
Representative(s):
Designation, Purchase Price and Description:
Designation:
Liquidation preference per share:
Number of shares:
Purchase price per share (include accrued dividends, if any):
Other provisions:
Over-allotment option:
[Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations
and warranties set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, the Company hereby
grants an option to the several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to [ ] additional shares of [ ] (the
"[U.S.] Option Securities", [together with the International Option Securities
(as hereinafter defined]), the "Option Securities") at the same purchase price
per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Securities. Said option may be
exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Securities by the
Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but
not more than once) on or before the day after the date of the Final Prospectus,
upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company setting
forth the number of shares of [U.S.] Option Securities as to which the several
Underwriters are exercising the option and the Settlement Date, as defined in
the Underwriting Agreement. The number of shares of [U.S.] Option
21
Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of
the total number of shares of [U.S.] Option Securities to be purchased by the
several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the securities, as set
forth in Schedule II hereto, subject to such adjustments as the Representatives
in their absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.
If the option provided for herein is exercised after the business day
prior to the Closing Date, as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, the Company
will deliver (at the expense of the Company) to the Representatives, at [ ], New
York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be
within three business days after exercise of said option) (the "Settlement
Date"), certificates for [U.S.] Option Securities in such names and
denominations as the Representatives shall have requested not less than three
full business days in advance of the Settlement Date unless the parties
otherwise agree against payment of the purchase price thereof to or upon the
order of the Company by certified or official bank check or checks payable in,
or wire transfers of, (next day) funds. If settlement for [U.S.] Option
Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the
Representatives on the Settlement Date for [U.S.] Option Securities, and the
obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the [U.S.] Option Securities shall be
conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters
confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on
the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5 of the Underwriting Agreement.]
Other provisions of or Amendments to Underwriting Agreement:
[The Company is concurrently entering into an International Underwriting
Agreement dated the date hereof (the "International Underwriting Agreement")
providing for the issue and sale by the Company of [ ] outside the United States
and Canada through arrangements with certain underwriters outside the United
States and Canada (the "International Underwriters"), for whom [ ] are acting as
representatives (the "International Representatives"), and providing for the
grant to the International Underwriters of an option to purchase from the
Company up to [ ] additional shares of [ ] (the "International Option
Securities"). It is further understood and agreed that the Underwriters and the
International Underwriters have entered into an Agreement dated the date hereof
(the "Agreement between Underwriters and International Underwriters"), pursuant
to which, among other things, the International Underwriters may purchase from
the Underwriters a portion of the Securities to be sold pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement and the Underwriters may purchase from the International
Underwriters a portion of the Securities to be sold pursuant to the
International Underwriting Agreement.
It is understood that two forms of Preliminary Final Prospectuses and
two forms of Final Prospectuses are to be used in connection with the offering
and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and
International Underwriting Agreement: one form of Preliminary Final Prospectus
and one form of Final Prospectus relating to the Securities, which are to be
22
offered and sold to United States and Canadian Persons, and one form of
Preliminary Final Prospectus and one form of Final Prospectus relating to the
Securities, which are to be offered and sold to persons other than United States
and Canadian Persons. The two forms of Preliminary Final Prospectuses and the
two forms of Final Prospectuses are identical except for the outside front cover
page, the discussion under the heading "Underwriting" and the outside back cover
page. The form of Preliminary Final Prospectus, the form of Final Prospectus and
the form of any Rule 434 term sheet relating to the Securities which are to be
offered to U.S. and Canadian Persons, as first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or
Rule 434 or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is made, such form of
Preliminary Final Prospectus, Final Prospectus and any Rule 434 term sheet
included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date, is hereinafter
called the "U.S. Prospectus"; such form of Preliminary Final Prospectus, such
form of Final Prospectus and such form of any Rule 434 term sheet relating to
the Securities which are to be offered to Persons other than United States and
Canadian Persons, as first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 434 or, if no
filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is made, such form of Preliminary Final
Prospectus, such form of Final Prospectus and such form of any Rule 434 terms
sheet included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date, is
hereinafter called the "International Prospectus"; and the U.S. Prospectus and
the International Prospectus are hereinafter collectively called the
"Prospectuses."
Each Underwriter agrees that (i) it is not purchasing any of the
Securities or Option Securities for the account of anyone other than a United
States or Canadian Person, (ii) it has not offered or sold, and will not offer
or sell, directly or indirectly, any of the Securities or Option Securities or
distribute any U.S. Prospectus to any person outside the United States or
Canada, or to anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person, and (iii)
any dealer to whom it may sell any of the Securities will represent that it is
not purchasing for the account of anyone other than a United States or Canadian
Person and agree that it will not offer or resell, directly or indirectly, any
of the Securities or Option Securities outside the United States or Canada, or
to anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person or to any other dealer
who does not so represent and agree; provided, however, that the foregoing shall
not restrict (a) purchases and sales between the Underwriters on the one hand
and the International Underwriters on the other hand pursuant to the Agreement
between Underwriters and International Underwriters, (b) stabilization
transactions contemplated under the Agreement between Underwriters and
International Underwriters, conducted through [ ] as part of the distribution of
the Securities or Option Securities, and (c) sales to or through (or
distributions of U.S. Prospectuses or U.S. Preliminary Prospectuses to) United
States or Canadian Persons who are investment advisors, or who otherwise
exercise investment discretion, and who are purchasing for the account of anyone
other than a United States or Canadian Person.
The agreements of the Underwriters and International Underwriters set
forth above shall terminate upon the earlier of the following events:
(i) a mutual agreement of the Representatives and the International
Representatives to terminate the selling restrictions set forth above and in
Schedule I of the International
23
Underwriting Agreement; or
(ii) the expiration of a period of 30 days after the Closing Date,
unless (A) the Representatives shall have given notice to the Company and the
International Representatives that the distribution of the Securities by the
Underwriters has not yet been completed or (B) the International Representatives
shall have given notice to the Company and the Underwriters that the
distribution of the International Securities by the International Underwriters
has not yet been completed. If such notice by the Representatives or the
International Representatives is given, the agreements set forth above shall
survive until the earlier of (1) the event referred to in clause (i) above or
(2) the expiration of an additional period of 30 days from the date of any such
notice].
Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 4:
[Until the [ ], the Company will not, without the consent of the
Representatives, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of,
directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any securities issued or
guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities).]
[The Company will arrange for the listing of the Equity Securities upon notice
of issuance on [designate any national securities exchange or automated
quotation system].]
Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 5:
Supplemental matters to be covered by the opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx
and/or the General Counsel, an Assistant General Counsel or an Associate General
Counsel of the Company, to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(b):
Modification of items to be covered by the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP delivered pursuant to Section 5(e) at the Execution Time:
Section 5(h) provisions, if any:
Deposit Agreement: Terms and Conditions
Warrant Agreement: Terms and Conditions
Purchased Securities Closing Date and Time:
Method of Payment of Underwriters' Securities:
24
Delayed Delivery Arrangements:
Fee:
Minimum principal amount of each contract:
Maximum aggregate principal amount of all contracts:
Convertibility:
Exchangeability into Debt Securities:
Closing Date and Time:
25
SCHEDULE II
Amount
Underwriter To Be Purchased
----------- ---------------
26
SCHEDULE III
Delayed Delivery Contract
[Date]
[Insert name and address
of lead Representative]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from International Business
Machines Corporation (the "Company"), and the Company agrees to sell to the
undersigned, on , 19 , (the "Delivery Date"), principal amount of the Company's
(the "Securities") offered by the Company's Prospectus dated , 199 , and related
Prospectus Supplement dated , 199 , receipt of a copy of which is hereby
acknowledged, at a [purchase price of % of the] [principal amount] [thereof,
plus] [accrued interest] [amortization of original issue discount], if any,
thereon from , 199 , to the date of payment and delivery, and on the further
terms and conditions set forth in this contract.
Payment for the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned shall be
made on or before 11:00 AM, New York City time, on the Delivery Date to or upon
the order of the Company in New York Clearing House (next day) funds, at your
office or at such other place as shall be agreed between the Company and the
undersigned, upon delivery to the undersigned of the Securities in definitive
fully registered form and in such authorized denominations and registered in
such names as the undersigned may reques by written or telegraphic communication
addressed to the Company not less than five full business days prior to the
Delivery Date. If no request is received, the Securities will be registered in
the name of the undersigned and issued in a denomination equal to the aggregate
principal amount or number of Securities to be purchased by the undersigned on
the Delivery Date.
The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment
for Securities on the Delivery Date, and the obligation of the Company to sell
and deliver Securities on the Delivery Date, shall be subject to the conditions
(and neither party shall incur any liability by reason of the failure thereof)
that (1) the purchase of Securities to be made by the undersigned, which
purchase the undersigned represents is not prohibited on the date hereof, shall
not on the Delivery Date be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to
which the undersigned is subject, and (2) the Company, on or before the Delivery
Date, shall have sold to certain
27
underwriters (the "Underwriters") such principal amount or number of Securities
as is to be sold to them pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement referred to in
the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement mentioned above. Promptly after
completion of such sale to the Underwriters, the Company will mail or deliver to
the undersigned at its address set forth below notice to such effect,
accompanied by a copy of the opinion of counsel for the Company delivered to the
Underwriters in connection therewith. The obligation of the undersigned to take
delivery of and make payment for the Securities, and the obligation of the
Company to cause the Securities to be sold and delivered, shall not be affected
by the failure of any purchaser to take delivery of and make payment for the
Securities pursuant to other contracts similar to this contract.
This contract will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by
either party hereto without the written consent of the other.
It is understood that acceptance of this contract and other similar
contracts is in the Company's sole discretion and, without limiting the
foregoing, need not be on a first come, first served basis. If this contract is
acceptable to the Company, it is required that the Company sign the form of
acceptance below and mail or deliver one of the counterparts hereof to the
undersigned at its address set forth below. This will become a binding contract
between the Company and the undersigned, as of the date first above written,
when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.
This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York without reference to choice of law principles.
Very truly yours,
-------------------------
(Name of Purchaser)
By:
----------------------
(Signature and Title of Officer)
-------------------------------
(Address)
Accepted:
International Business Machines Corporation
28
By:
--------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
