EXHIBIT 1-C
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
Global Medium-Term Notes, Series B
EURO DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
___________, 2000
ABN AMRO Incorporated
[Other Agents]
c/o ABN AMRO Incorporated
1325 Avenue of the Americas
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., a public limited liability company incorporated under
the laws of The Netherlands (the "Bank"), confirms its agreement with ABN AMRO
Incorporated and the other Agents listed above (the "Agents") with respect to
the issue and sale from time to time by the Bank primarily outside of the
United States of up to $500,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more
foreign currencies) aggregate initial public offering price of its Global
Medium-Term Notes, Series B, due more than 9 months from the date of issue (the
"Notes"), subject to reduction as a result of the sale by the Bank of (i)
Global Medium-Term Notes, Series A, to be sold primarily inside the United
States, and (ii) any other debt securities sold pursuant to the Bank's
Registration Statement No. 333-__________.
The Notes will be issued as senior indebtedness of the Bank pursuant to
the provisions of an indenture dated as of [___________, 2000], between the
Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee") (as may be
supplemented or amended from time to time, the "Indenture").
The Notes will have the maturities, interest rates, redemption provisions,
if any, and other terms as set forth in supplements to the Basic Prospectus
referred to below. The Company has initially appointed [The Chase Manhattan
Bank],
London Branch, at its principal office in London, as principal paying agent
(the "Principal Paying Agent") for the Notes.
The Notes will be issued in bearer form or in definitive registered form
without coupons (the "Registered Notes"). The Notes issued in bearer form will
be represented initially by a temporary global Note, which will be delivered to
a common depositary outside the United States for the operator of the Euroclear
System (the "Euroclear Operator"), Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme
("Clearstream") or any other relevant clearing system. Beneficial interests in
a temporary global Note will be exchangeable for beneficial interests in a
permanent global Note. Beneficial interests in a permanent global Note will be
exchangeable in whole, but not in part, for definitive Notes in bearer form,
with interest coupons attached upon receipt of the Principal Paying Agent of an
initial request to so exchange by any holder of a beneficial interest in such
permanent global Note (such temporary global Note, permanent global Note and
definitive Notes in bearer form are collectively referred to as the "Bearer
Notes"), or, if the applicable Pricing Supplement so specifies, for Registered
Notes. As used in this Agreement, the term "Note" includes any temporary global
Note or permanent global Note issued pursuant to the Indenture.
The Bank hereby appoints you as its exclusive agent for the purpose of
soliciting and receiving offers to purchase Notes from the Bank by others and,
on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, you agree to use
reasonable efforts to solicit and receive offers to purchase Notes upon terms
acceptable to the Bank at such times and in such amounts as the Bank shall from
time to time specify. In addition, you may also purchase Notes as principal
pursuant to the terms of a terms agreement relating to such sale (a "Terms
Agreement") in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof. [Notes
denominated, payable in or indexed to Swiss Francs may only be offered and sold
by the Company through [ ] on an agency or principal basis, and [ ] agrees to
notify the Swiss National Bank prior to the issuance of any such Program
Securities.]
The Bank has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to the
Notes. Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended
at the Commencement Date (as hereinafter defined), is hereinafter referred to
as the "Registration Statement." The Bank proposes to file with the Commission
from time to time, pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), supplements to the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement that will describe certain terms of the Notes. The
prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is
hereinafter referred to as the "Basic Prospectus." The term "Prospectus" means
the Basic Prospectus
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together with the prospectus supplement or supplements (each a "Prospectus
Supplement") specifically relating to the Notes, as filed with, or transmitted
for filing to, the Commission pursuant to Rule 424. As used herein, the terms
"Basic Prospectus" and "Prospectus" shall include in each case the documents,
if any, incorporated by reference therein. The terms "supplement," "amendment"
and "amend" as used herein shall include all documents deemed to be
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus that are filed subsequent to the
date of the Basic Prospectus by the Bank with the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). If the Bank
has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional Notes
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the "Rule 462 Registration
Statement"), then any reference herein to the term "Registration Statement"
shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Bank represents and warrants to and
agrees with you as of the Commencement Date, as of each date on which you
solicit offers to purchase Notes, as of each date on which the Bank accepts an
offer to purchase Notes (including any purchase by you as principal pursuant to
a Terms Agreement), as of each date the Bank issues and delivers Notes and as
of each date the Registration Statement or the Basic Prospectus is amended or
supplemented, as follows (it being understood that such representations,
warranties and agreements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, each as amended or
supplemented to each such date):
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no
proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
Commission.
(b) (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the
Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied or will
comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) each part
of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, did not contain
and each such part, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects
with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended
or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a
material
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fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
except that (1) the representations and warranties set forth in this Section
1(b) do not apply (A) to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus based upon information relating to you furnished to the Bank
in writing by you expressly for use therein or (B) to that part of the
Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1)
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"),
of the Trustee and (2) the representations and warranties set forth in clauses
(ii), (iii) and (iv) above, when made as of the Commencement Date or as of any
date on which you solicit offers to purchase Notes or on which the Bank accepts
an offer to purchase Notes, shall be deemed not to cover information concerning
an offering of particular Notes to the extent such information will be set
forth in a supplement to the Basic Prospectus.
(c) The Bank has been duly created and is validly existing as a limited
liability company incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands and has the
power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its
businesses as described in the Prospectus.
(d) Each subsidiary of the Bank has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its incorporation (where such legal concept has relevance), has the
corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business
as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business
or its ownership or leasing of property requires qualification, except to the
extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
have a material adverse effect on the Bank and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(e) Each of this Agreement and any applicable Written Terms Agreement (as
hereinafter defined) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Bank.
(f) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Bank and is a valid
and binding agreement of the Bank, enforceable in accordance with its terms
except as the enforceability thereof (i) may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles
of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered at a
proceeding in equity or at law.
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(g) The forms of Notes have been duly authorized and established in
conformity with the provisions of the Indenture and, when the Notes have been
executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
and delivered to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, the Notes will be
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding
obligations of the Bank, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms
except as the enforceability thereof (i) may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles
of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered at a
proceeding in equity or at law.
(h) The execution and delivery by the Bank of this Agreement, the Notes,
the Indenture and any applicable Written Terms Agreement and the performance by
the Bank of its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Indenture, and
any applicable Terms Agreement will not contravene any provision of applicable
law or the articles of association of the Bank or any agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Bank or any of its subsidiaries that is material to
the Bank and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or
decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the
Bank or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the
performance by the Bank of its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the
Indenture, and any applicable Terms Agreement, except such as may be required
by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the
offer and sale of the Notes; provided, however, that no representation is made
or warranty given as to whether the purchase of the Notes constitutes a
"prohibited transaction" under Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.
(i) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development
involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Bank and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus.
(j) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
to which the Bank or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the
properties of the Bank or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required
to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to
be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement
that are not described, filed or incorporated as required.
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(k) Each of the Bank and its subsidiaries has all necessary consents,
authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of and from, and
has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other
governmental authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and
other tribunals, to own, lease, license and use its properties and assets and
to conduct its business in the manner described in the Prospectus, except to
the extent that the failure to obtain or file would not have a material adverse
effect on the Bank and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(l) Each of ABN AMRO Incorporated, ABN AMRO Rothschild LLC, and ABN AMRO
Financial Services, Inc. is registered as a broker-dealer and investment
adviser with the Commission, is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission as a futures commission merchant and is a member of the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(m) The Bank is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, will not be required to register as, an "investment company" as
such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 1(b)(ii), (iii) and (iv),
1(g) (except as to due authorization of the Notes) and 1(h), when made as of
the Commencement Date, or as of any date on which you solicit offers to
purchase Notes, with respect to any Notes the payments of principal or interest
on which, or any other payments with respect to which, will be determined by
reference to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, securities
of entities unaffiliated with the Bank, baskets of such securities, equity
indices or other factors, shall be deemed not to address the application of the
Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, or the rules, regulations or
interpretations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
2. Solicitations as Agent; Purchases as Principal.
(a) Solicitations as Agent. In connection with your actions as agent
hereunder, you agree to use reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase
Notes upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as then amended
or supplemented.
The Bank reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to instruct you to
suspend at any time, for any period of time or permanently, the solicitation of
offers to purchase Notes. Upon receipt of at least one business day's prior
notice
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from the Bank, you will forthwith suspend solicitations of offers to purchase
Notes from the Bank until such time as the Bank has advised you that such
solicitation may be resumed. While such solicitation is suspended, the Bank
shall not be required to deliver any certificates, opinions or letters in
accordance with Sections 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c); provided, however, that if the
Registration Statement or Prospectus is amended or supplemented during the
period of suspension (other than by an amendment or supplement providing solely
for (i) a change in the interest rates, redemption provisions or maturities
offered on the Notes, or (ii) for a change you deem to be immaterial), you
shall not be required to resume soliciting offers to purchase Notes until the
Bank has delivered such certificates, opinions and letters as you may request.
The Bank agrees to pay to you, as consideration for the sale of each
Program Security resulting from a solicitation made or an offer to purchase
received by you, a commission in the form of a discount from the purchase price
of such Program Security equal to between [___]% and [___]% (depending upon
such Note's maturity) of the principal amount of such Note (provided that the
commission for Notes having a maturity of 30 years or greater will be
negotiated) or such other discount as may be specified in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Note.
You shall communicate to the Bank, orally or in writing, each offer to
purchase Notes received by you as agent that in your judgment should be
considered by the Bank. The Bank shall have the sole right to accept offers to
purchase Notes and may reject any offer in whole or in part. You shall have the
right to reject any offer to purchase Notes that you consider to be
unacceptable, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of your
agreements contained herein. The procedural details relating to the issue and
delivery of Notes sold by you as agent and the payment therefor shall be as set
forth in the Administrative Procedures (as hereinafter defined).
(b) Purchases as Principal. Each sale of Notes to you as principal shall
be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In connection with each
such sale, the Bank will enter into a Terms Agreement that will provide for the
sale of such Notes to and the purchase thereof by you. Each Terms Agreement
will take the form of either (i) a written agreement between you and the Bank,
which may be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (a "Written Terms
Agreement"), or (ii) an oral agreement between you and the Bank confirmed in
writing by you to the Bank.
Your commitment to purchase Notes as principal pursuant to a Terms
Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations
and warranties of the Bank herein contained and shall be subject to the terms
and
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conditions herein set forth. Each Note Terms Agreement shall specify the
principal amount of Notes to be purchased by you pursuant thereto, the maturity
date of such Notes, the price to be paid to the Bank for such Notes, the
interest rate and interest rate formula, if any, applicable to such Notes and
any other terms of such Notes. Each such Terms Agreement may also specify any
requirements for officers' certificates, opinions of counsel and letters from
the independent auditors of the Bank pursuant to Section 4 hereof. A Terms
Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of
such Notes, as the case may be, by you.
Each Terms Agreement shall specify the time and place of delivery of and
payment for such Notes, as the case may be. Unless otherwise specified in a
Terms Agreement, the procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of
Notes purchased by you as principal and the payment therefor shall be as set
forth in the Administrative Procedures. Each date of delivery of and payment
for Notes to be purchased by you as principal pursuant to a Terms Agreement, as
the case may be, is referred to herein as a "Settlement Date."
Unless otherwise specified in a Terms Agreement, if you are purchasing
Notes, as principal you may resell such Notes to other dealers. Any such sales
may be at a discount, which shall not exceed the amount set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Notes.
(c) Administrative Procedures. You and the Bank agree to perform the
respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed in the
Global Medium-Term Notes, Series B, Administrative Procedures (attached hereto
as Exhibit B) (the "Administrative Procedures"), as amended from time to time.
The Administrative Procedures may be amended only by written agreement of the
Bank and you.
(d) Delivery. The documents required to be delivered by Section 4 of this
Agreement as a condition precedent to your obligation to begin soliciting
offers to purchase Notes as agent of the Bank shall be delivered at the office
of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, not later than 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the date
hereof, or at such other time and/or place as you and the Bank may agree upon
in writing, but in no event later than the day prior to the earlier of (i) the
date on which you begin soliciting offers to purchase Notes and (ii) the first
date on which the Bank accepts any offer by you to purchase Notes as principal.
The date of delivery of such documents is referred to herein as the
"Commencement Date."
3. Agreements. The Bank agrees with you that:
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(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Notes pursuant to this
Agreement or any Terms Agreement, the Bank will not file any Prospectus
Supplement relating to the Notes or any amendment to the Registration Statement
unless the Bank has previously furnished to you a copy thereof for your review
and will not file any such proposed supplement or amendment to which you
reasonably object; provided, however, that the foregoing requirement shall not
apply to any of the Bank's periodic filings with the Commission required to be
filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 13(f), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
copies of which filings the Bank will cause to be delivered to you promptly
after being transmitted for filing with the Commission. Subject to the
foregoing sentence, the Bank will promptly cause each Prospectus Supplement to
be filed with or transmitted for filing to the Commission in accordance with
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. The Bank will promptly advise you (i) of
the filing of any amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus, (ii) of the
filing and effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement, (iii)
of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Basic 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, (v) of the
receipt by the Bank of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification of the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (vi) of the issuance by any
non-United States regulatory authority of any request for information relating
to the Notes or suspension of the listing of the Notes on any stock exchange on
which the Notes are then listed.. The Bank will use its reasonable best efforts
to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or notice of suspension of
qualification or listing and, if issued, to obtain as soon as practicable the
withdrawal thereof. If the Basic Prospectus is amended or supplemented as a
result of the filing under the Exchange Act of any document incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus, you shall not be obligated to solicit offers to
purchase Notes so long as you are not reasonably satisfied with such document.
(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Notes is required to
be delivered under the Securities Act or made available to purchasers of the
Notes, any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include an 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 when the Prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or
if, in your opinion or in the opinion of the Bank, it is necessary at any time
to amend or supplement the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, to
comply with applicable law, the Bank will immediately notify you by telephone
(with confirmation in writing) to
9
suspend solicitation of offers to purchase Notes and, if so notified by the
Bank, you shall forthwith suspend such solicitation and cease using the
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented. If the Bank shall decide to amend
or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented, it shall so advise you promptly by telephone (with confirmation
in writing) and, at its expense, shall prepare and cause to be filed promptly
with the Commission an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, satisfactory in all respects to
you, that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance and
will supply such amended or supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities
as you may reasonably request. If any documents, certificates, opinions and
letters furnished to you pursuant to paragraph (f) below and Sections 5(a),
5(b) and 5(c) in connection with the preparation and filing of such amendment
or supplement are satisfactory in all respects to you, upon the filing with the
Commission of such amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or upon the
effectiveness of an amendment to the Registration Statement, you will resume
the solicitation of offers to purchase Notes hereunder. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Section 3(b), until the distribution of any Notes you
may own as principal has been completed, if any event described above in this
paragraph (b) occurs, the Bank will, at its own expense, forthwith prepare and
cause to be filed as soon as practicable with the Commission an amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented, satisfactory in all respects to you, will supply such amended or
supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request
and shall furnish to you pursuant to paragraph (f) below and Sections 5(a),
5(b) and 5(c) such documents, certificates, opinions and letters as you may
request in connection with the preparation and filing of such amendment or
supplement.
(c) The Bank will make generally available to its security holders and to
you as soon as practicable earning statements that satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder covering twelve month periods beginning, in each case, on
the earlier of January 1, or July 1 with respect to each sale of Notes.
(d) The Bank will furnish to you, without charge, (i) a signed copy of the
Registration Statement, including exhibits and all amendments thereto, and as
many copies of the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein
and any supplements and amendments thereto as you may reasonably request and
(ii) in connection with any purchase of Notes pursuant to a Terms Agreement or
solicitation of an offer to purchase Notes that is accepted by the Bank, prior
to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date
of such Terms Agreement or the acceptance of such offer, as many copies of the
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented (including the Prospectus
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Supplement relating to the Notes to be purchased pursuant to such Terms
Agreement or accepted offer), as you may reasonably request.
(e) During the term of this Agreement, the Bank shall furnish to you such
relevant documents and certificates of officers of the Bank relating to the
business, operations and affairs of the Bank, the Registration Statement, the
Basic Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, the Indenture, the
Notes, this Agreement, the Administrative Procedures, any Terms Agreement and
the performance by the Bank of its obligations hereunder or thereunder as you
may from time to time reasonably request.
(f) The Bank shall notify you promptly in writing of any downgrading, or
of its receipt of any notice of any intended or potential downgrading or of any
review for possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible
change, in the rating accorded the Bank or any of the Bank's securities by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is
defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.
(g) The Bank will, whether or not any sale of Notes is consummated, pay
all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement and any Terms Agreement, including: (i) the preparation and filing of
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and all amendments and
supplements thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes,
(iii) the fees and disbursements of the Bank's counsel and accountants, of the
Trustees and their counsel, and of the Principal Paying Agent and its counsel
and any paying agent for the Notes appointed by the Bank, (iv) the fees and
expenses incurred with respect to listing the Series B Notes, if listed, on
[the London Stock Exchange] or on another stock exchange or exchanges if so
required by Section 3(j), (v) the printing and delivery to you in quantities as
hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments
thereto and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vi)
the printing and delivery to you of copies of the Indenture, and any Blue Sky
or Legal Investment Memoranda, (vii) any fees charged by rating agencies for
the rating of the Notes, (viii) the fees and expenses, if any, incurred with
respect to any filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., (ix) the fees and disbursements of your counsel incurred in connection
with the offering and sale of the Notes, including any opinions to be rendered
by such counsel hereunder, and (x) any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by you; provided that any advertising expenses incurred by you shall
have been approved by the Bank.
(h) During the period beginning on the date of any Terms Agreement and
continuing to and including the Settlement Date with respect to such Terms
Agreement, the Bank will not, without your prior consent, offer, sell, contract
to
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sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Bank substantially
similar to the Notes set forth in such Terms Agreement (other than (A) the
Notes that are to be sold pursuant to such Terms Agreement, (B) Notes
previously agreed to be sold by the Bank and (C) commercial paper issued in the
ordinary course of business).
(i) The Bank will indemnify and hold you harmless against any documentary,
stamp or similar transfer or issue tax, including any interest and penalties,
on the issue of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, on
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Written Notes Terms Agreement
and on the exchange of any temporary global Notes for definitive Notes or
permanent global Notes or on the exchange of any permanent global bearer Notes
for definitive bearer Notes, that are or may be required to be paid under the
laws of the United Kingdom, the United States or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof or therein.
[(j) In connection with any application to list the Series B Notes on the
London Stock Exchange, the Bank will furnish from time to time any and all
documents, instruments, information and undertakings and publish all
advertisements or other material that may be necessary in order to effect such
listing and will maintain such listing until none of the Series B Notes is
outstanding or until such time as payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest in respect of all the Series B Notes has been duly provided for,
whichever is earlier. In addition, for so long as the Series B Notes are listed
on a stock exchange and such exchange so requires, the Bank will maintain in
London, or in such other place as the Series B Notes are listed (if the Series
B Notes are no longer listed on the London Stock Exchange), a paying agent in
respect of the Series B Notes, as required.]
4. Conditions of the Obligations of the Agent. Your obligation to solicit
offers to purchase Notes as agent of the Bank, your obligation to purchase
Notes as principal pursuant to any Terms Agreement and the obligation of any
other purchaser to purchase Notes will be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Bank herein, to the accuracy
of the statements of the Bank's officers made in each certificate furnished
pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance and observance by the
Bank of all covenants and agreements herein contained on its part to be
performed and observed (in the case of your obligation to solicit offers to
purchase Notes, at the time of such solicitation, and, in the case of your or
any other purchaser's obligation to purchase Notes, at the time the Bank
accepts the offer to purchase such Notes and at the time of issuance and
delivery) and (in each case) to the following additional conditions precedent
when and as specified below:
(a) Prior to such solicitation or purchase, as the case may be:
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(i) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or in the earnings, business or operations of the Bank and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented at the time of such solicitation or at the time
such offer to purchase was made, that, in your judgment, is material and
adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the
Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus, as so
amended or supplemented;
(ii) there shall not have occurred any of the following: (a) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on
the New York Stock Exchange or the Euronext Amsterdam N.V.; (b) a general
moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either
Federal or New York State authorities or on commercial banking activities
in The Netherlands declared by Dutch authorities; and (c) any outbreak or
material escalation of hostilities or other national or international
calamity or crisis the effect of which shall be such as to make it, in
your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase
of the Notes by you on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus; and
(iii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any
review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the
possible change, in the rating accorded the Bank or any of the Bank's
securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization,"
as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
Securities Act;
(A) except, in each case described in paragraph (i), (ii) or (iii) above,
as disclosed to you in writing by the Bank prior to such solicitation or,
in the case of a purchase of Notes, before the offer to purchase such
Notes was made or (B) the relevant event shall have occurred and been
known to you prior to such solicitation or, in the case of a purchase of
Notes, before the offer to purchase such Notes was made.
(b) On the Commencement Date and, if called for by any Terms Agreement, on
the corresponding Settlement Date, you shall have received:
(i) The opinion, dated as of such date, of Xxxxxxxx Chance Limited
Liability Partnership, special Dutch counsel to the Bank, or of
13
other counsel satisfactory to you and who may be an officer of the Bank,
to the effect that:
(A) the Bank is: (i) registered as a public limited liability
company with limited liability (naamloze vennootschap), (ii) duly
incorporated on [ ] and (iii) validly existing under the laws of The
Netherlands. The Bank has:
(1) corporate power and corporate capacity to execute and
deliver the Indenture, the Notes, this Agreement and any
applicable Written Terms Agreement, authorize the distribution
of the Prospectus on its behalf, undertake and perform the
obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Indenture, the
Notes, this Agreement and any applicable Written Terms Agreement
(including the issue of the Notes) and own its properties and
conduct its businesses as described in the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented; and
(2) taken all internal corporate action required by the
Articles of Association and by Dutch corporate law to authorize
the form of the Notes and to authorize, execute and deliver the
Indenture, this Agreement and any applicable Written Terms
Agreement and such documents have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered.
(B) each of [list foreign subsidiaries] (each a "Foreign
Material Subsidiary") has been duly incorporated, is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its incorporation, has the power and authority (corporate and
other) to own its property and conduct its business as described in
the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and is duly qualified to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of
property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the
failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a
material adverse effect on the Bank and its consolidated
subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(C) each of the Bank and its Foreign Material Subsidiaries has
all necessary consents, authorizations, approvals, orders,
certificates and permits of and from, and has made all declarations
and filings with, all Dutch governmental authorities, all
14
self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, to
own, lease, license and use its properties and assets and to conduct
its business in the manner described in the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, except to the extent that the failure to obtain or file
would not have a material adverse effect on the Bank and its
consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(D) no authorisations, licences, approvals, orders or consents,
registrations, recordations or filings with any court, governmental
authority, bureau, official agency or body in The Netherlands are
required under the laws and regulations of The Netherlands for (or in
connection with):
(1) the creation, issue and offering of the Notes in or
from The Netherlands; or
(2) the distribution by or on behalf of the Bank of the
Prospectus; or
(3) the execution and delivery by the Bank of the
Indenture, the Notes, this Agreement and any applicable Written
Terms Agreement and the performance of its obligations
thereunder; or
(4) the payment by the Bank, when due, of all sums which it
may be liable to pay in respect of the Notes or under the
Indenture, this Agreement or any applicable Written Terms
Agreement in the currency in which they are stated to be
payable.
In themselves, none of the matters referred to in (D)(1) through
(D)(4) above, conflicts or will conflict with or result in a breach
of any provision of (or constitute a breach of or default under):
(1) the Articles of Association;
(2) any law or generally applicable regulation of The
Netherlands to which the Bank is subject; or
(3) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, any judgment,
order or decree of any Dutch governmental body, agency or court
having jurisdiction over the Bank or any of its consolidated
subsidiaries.
15
which would make the Indenture, this Agreement or any applicable
Written Terms Agreement, or parts thereof, or the Notes null and void
or subject to avoidance or nullification in The Netherlands.
(E) the statements in the Registration Statement, as then
amended or supplemented, under Item 15, insofar as such statements
constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents or proceedings
referred to therein, fairly present the information called for with
respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings and fairly
summarize the matters referred to therein.
(F) the agreement of the Bank that the Indenture, the Notes,
this Agreement and any applicable Written Terms Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York is legal, valid and binding, and the courts of The
Netherlands will observe and give effect to the choice of the laws of
the State of New York as the law governing such documents in any
proceedings in relation to such documents, but when applying the laws
of the State of New York as the law governing such documents, the
courts of competent jurisdiction of The Netherlands, if any, by
virtue of the 1980 Rome Convention on the Law Applicable to
Contractual Obligations ( the "Rome Convention"):
(1) may give effect to the mandatory rules of law of
another country with which the situation has a close connection,
if and insofar as, under the law of the latter country, those
rules must be applied whatever the law applicable to such
documents (a limitation on the chosen law arising under article
7 (1) of the Rome Convention);
(2) will apply the law of The Netherlands in a situation
where it is mandatory irrespective of the law otherwise
applicable to such documents (a limitation on the chosen laws
arising under article 7 (2) of the Rome Convention);
(3) may refuse to apply the laws of the State of New York
if such application is manifestly incompatible with the public
policy of The Netherlands (a limitation on the chosen laws
arising under article 16 of the Rome Convention); and
16
(4) shall have regard to the law of the country in which
performance takes place in relation to the manner of performance
and the steps to be taken in the event of defective performance
(article 10(2) of the Rome Convention).
(G) the submission by the Bank to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the courts in New York in respect of any proceedings arising out of
or in relation to the Indenture, the Notes, this Agreement and any
applicable Written Terms Agreement is valid and legally binding upon
the Bank. Nevertheless, the president of a competent District Court
(Arrondissementsrechtbank) in The Netherlands, in any matter where
the plaintiff seeks provisional measures in summary proceedings (kort
geding) or levy a prejudgment attachment, may assume jurisdiction
notwithstanding a contractual submission to jurisdiction; the waiver
by the Bank of any objection to the venue of a proceeding of a New
York Court is legal, valid and binding.
(H) when the Notes have been validly executed on behalf of the
Bank and, authenticated, delivered and paid for in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and any applicable Written Terms
Agreement, they will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
of the Bank enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
Each of the Indenture, this Agreement and any applicable Written
Terms Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation
of the Bank, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
(ii) The opinion, dated as of such date, of Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP,
United States counsel to the Bank, or of other counsel satisfactory to you
and who may be an officer of the Bank, to the effect that:
(A) each of ABN AMRO Incorporated and [list U.S. subsidiaries]
(each a "U.S. Material Subsidiary") has been duly incorporated, is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the power and authority
(corporate and other) to own its property and to conduct its business
as described in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified
17
or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on
the Bank and its consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(B) each of the Bank, ABN AMRO Incorporated and its U.S.
Material Subsidiaries has all necessary consents, authorizations,
approvals, orders, certificates and permits of and from, and has made
all declarations and filings with, all U.S., federal, state, local
and other governmental authorities, all U.S. self-regulatory
organizations and all U.S. courts and other tribunals, to own, lease,
license and use its properties and assets and to conduct its business
in the manner described in the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, except to the extent that the failure to obtain or file
would not have a material adverse effect on the Bank and its
consolidated subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(C) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and assuming that it has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Bank, it is a valid and binding agreement of the
Bank, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as the
enforceability thereof (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, liquidation, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) is subject to general
principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered at a proceeding in equity or at law;
(D) assuming the forms of Notes have been duly authorized by the
Bank as a matter of Dutch law, the forms of Notes have been duly
authorized and established in conformity with the provisions of the
Indenture and, if the Notes had been executed by the Bank and
authenticated by the relevant Trustee or its duly appointed agent in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and
duly paid for by the purchasers thereof on the date of such opinion,
the Notes would be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and
would be valid and binding obligations of the Bank, enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms except as the enforceability
thereof (i) may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
liquidation, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally and (ii) is subject to general principles of equity,
regardless of whether such enforceability is considered at a
proceeding in equity or at law;
18
(E) the execution and delivery by the Bank of the Notes, the
Indenture, this Agreement and any applicable Written Terms Agreement
and the performance by the Bank of its obligations under such
agreements will not contravene any provision of applicable U.S.
federal or New York State law or, to the best of such counsel's
knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Bank or
any of its consolidated subsidiaries that is material to the Bank and
its consolidated subsidiaries , taken as a whole, or to the best of
such counsel's knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any U.S.
governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Bank
or any of its consolidated subsidiaries, and no consent, approval,
authorization or order of or qualification with any U.S. governmental
body or agency is required for the performance by the Bank of its
obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Indenture and any
applicable Terms Agreement, except such as may be required by the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with
the offer and sale of the Notes; provided, however, that no opinion
is expressed on whether the purchase of the Notes constitutes a
"prohibited transaction" under Section 406 of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or Section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;
(F) the statements (1) in the Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented, under the captions "Description of Notes" (in the
Prospectus Supplement), "Description of Debt Securities" (in the
Basic Prospectus), "Plan of Distribution" (in the Prospectus
Supplement and in the Basic Prospectus) and (2) in "Item 3 - Legal
Proceedings" of the most recent annual reports on Form 20-F
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, if any, filed since such
annual reports and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, in
each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the
legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly
present the information called for with respect to such legal
matters, documents and proceedings and fairly summarize the matters
referred to therein;
(G) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal
or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Bank
or any of its consolidated subsidiaries is a party or to which any of
the properties of the Bank or any of its consolidated subsidiaries is
subject that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, as then amended or
19
supplemented, and are not so described or of any foreign, U.S.
federal or state statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents
governed by foreign, U.S. federal or state law that are required to
be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, or to be filed or incorporated by reference
as exhibits to such Registration Statement that are not described,
filed or incorporated by reference as required;
(H) the Bank is not, and after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus, will not be required to register as, an
"investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
(I) such counsel (1) believes that each document, if any, filed
pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented (except as to financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data
included therein as to which such counsel need not express any
opinion), complied when so filed as to form in all material respects
with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, (2) has no reason to believe that any part of
the Registration Statement (except as to financial statements and
schedules and other financial and statistical data as to which such
counsel need not express any belief and except for that part of the
Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1 heretofore
referred to), as then amended, if applicable, when such part became
effective contained, and the Registration Statement (except as to
financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel need not
express any belief and except for the part of the Registration
Statement that constitutes the Form T- 1) as of the date such opinion
is delivered, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(3) believes that the Registration Statement and Prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, if applicable (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data
included therein as to which such counsel need not express any
opinion), complied as to form in all material respects with the
Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and (4) has no reason to believe that the
Prospectus, as then amended or
20
supplemented, if applicable (except for financial statements and
schedules and other financial and statistical data as to which such
counsel need not express any belief), as of the date such opinion is
delivered contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
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 that in the case of an opinion
delivered on the Commencement Date or pursuant to Section 5(b), the
opinion and belief set forth in clauses (3) and (4) above shall be
deemed not to cover information concerning an offering of particular
Notes to the extent such information will be set forth in a
supplement to the Basic Prospectus.
(iii) The opinion, dated as of such date, of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx,
counsel for the Agent, covering the matters in subparagraphs (ii)(C),
(ii)(D) and (ii)(F) (with respect to statements in the Prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, under the captions "Description of Notes" (in the
Prospectus Supplement), "Description of Debt Securities" (in the Basic
Prospectus), "Plan of Distribution" (in the Prospectus Supplement and in
the Basic Prospectus).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the opinions described in
subparagraphs (D), (E), (F) and (H)(2), (3) and (4) of paragraph (b)(ii)
above, when contained in an opinion delivered on the Commencement Date or
pursuant to Section 5(b), shall be deemed not to address the application
of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, or the rules, regulations or
interpretations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Notes the
payments of principal or interest on which, or any other payments with
respect to which, will be determined by reference to one or more currency
exchange rates, commodity prices, securities of entities unaffiliated with
the Bank, baskets of such securities, equity indices or other factors.
With respect to subparagraph (H) of paragraph (b)(ii) above, Xxxxxxx
Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP may state that their opinion and belief are based upon
their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (but not including
documents incorporated therein by reference) and review and discussion of
the contents thereof (including documents incorporated therein by
reference), but are without independent check or verification, except as
specified.
21
(iv) The opinion, dated as of such date, of Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP,
special counsel to the Bank, to the effect that the statements set forth
under the caption "United States Federal Taxation" in the Prospectus
Supplement and under the caption "Forms of Securities -- Limitations on
Issuance of Bearer Securities" in the Basic Prospectus, insofar as such
statements relate to statements of law or legal conclusions under the laws
of the United States or matters of United States federal tax law, fairly
present the information called for and fairly summarize the matters
referred to therein.
The opinions of Xxxxxxxx Chance Limited Liability Partnership and Xxxxxxx
Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP described in paragraph (b)(i) and (ii) above shall be rendered
to you at the request of the Bank and shall so state therein.
(c) On the Commencement Date and, if called for by any Terms Agreement, on
the corresponding Settlement Date, you shall have received a certificate, dated
the Commencement Date or such Settlement Date, as the case may be, and signed
by an executive officer of the Bank to the effect set forth in subparagraph
(a)(iii) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the
Bank contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of such date and that
the Bank has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied on or before such date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best
of his knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(d) On the Commencement Date and, if called for by any Terms Agreement, on
the corresponding Settlement Date, the Bank's independent auditors shall have
furnished to you a letter or letters, dated as of the Commencement Date or such
Settlement Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to you
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented; provided that
each letter so furnished shall use a "cut-off date" no more than three business
days prior to the date of such letter.
(e) On the Commencement Date and on each Settlement Date, the Bank shall
have furnished to you such appropriate further information, certificates and
documents as you may reasonably request.
(f) On the Commencement Date, application to list the Series B Notes on
[the London Stock Exchange] shall have been made and, prior to the issuance
22
of the first Series B Note offered pursuant to this Agreement, such listing
shall have been granted, subject to official notice of issuance.
5. Additional Agreements of the Bank. (a) Each time the Registration
Statement or Prospectus is amended or supplemented (other than by an amendment
or supplement providing solely for (i) a change in the interest rates,
redemption provisions or maturities offered on the Notes or (ii) a change you
deem to be immaterial), the Bank will deliver or cause to be delivered
forthwith to you a certificate signed by an executive officer of the Bank,
dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the case may be, in form
reasonably satisfactory to you, of the same tenor as the certificate referred
to in Section 4(c) relating to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate.
(b) Each time the Bank furnishes a certificate pursuant to Section 5(a)
(other than any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus caused by the filing of a Report on Form 6-K unless you shall
reasonably request based on disclosure included or omitted from such Report),
the Bank will furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to you a written
opinion of counsel for the Bank. Any such opinion shall be dated the date of
such amendment or supplement, as the case may be, shall be in a form
satisfactory to you and shall be of the same tenor as the opinions referred to
in Section 4(b), but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion.
In lieu of such opinion, counsel last furnishing such an opinion to you may
furnish to you a letter to the effect that you may rely on such last opinion to
the same extent as though it were dated the date of such letter (except that
statements in such last opinion will be deemed to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the time of delivery
of such letter.)
(c) Each time the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or
supplemented to set forth amended or supplemental financial information or such
amended or supplemental information is incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, the Bank shall cause its independent auditors forthwith to furnish
you with a letter, dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the case
may be, in form satisfactory to you, of the same tenor as the letter referred
to in Section 4(d), with regard to the amended or supplemental financial
information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the date of such letter;
provided that each letter so furnished shall use a "cut-off date" no more than
three business days prior to the date of such letter.
23
6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Bank agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless you and each person, if any, who controls you within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused
by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof or the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Bank shall have furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement
or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information
relating to you furnished to the Bank in writing by you expressly for use
therein.
(b) You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Bank, its directors, its
officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who
controls the Bank within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity
from the Bank to you, but only with reference to information relating to you
furnished to the Bank in writing by you expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding
and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal
expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees
24
and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel)
for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by
you, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (a) above, and by
the Bank, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (b) above.
The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there were to be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party
agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph,
the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed
the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Section 6 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein in
connection with any offering of Notes, then each indemnifying party under such
paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Bank on the one
hand and you on the other hand from the offering of such Notes or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Bank on the one hand
and you on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Bank
on the one hand and you on the other hand in connection with the offering of
such Notes shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the
total net proceeds from the offering of such Notes (before deducting expenses)
received by the Bank bear to the total discounts and
25
commissions received by you in respect thereof. The relative fault of the Bank
on the one hand and of you on the other hand shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Bank or by you and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission.
(e) The Bank and you agree that it would not be just or equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by pro rata allocation
or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 6, you shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Notes referred to in paragraph (d)
above that were offered and sold to the public through you exceeds the amount
of any damages that you have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in
this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies
which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6
and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Bank, its
officers and you set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms
Agreement will remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement or any such Terms Agreement, (ii) any
investigation made by or on behalf of you or any person controlling you or by
or on behalf of the Bank, its officers or directors or any person controlling
the Bank and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Notes.
7. Offering Restrictions. You hereby represent to the Bank and agree with
respect to the Notes that:
(a) (i) you have not (A) offered or sold and will not offer or sell
during the Restricted Period (as defined below) Bearer Notes (including
any Note that is exchangeable for Bearer Notes) directly or indirectly in
26
the United States (as defined below) or to or for the account of any
United States person (as defined below), other than to a Qualifying
Foreign Branch (as defined below) or to certain other persons as provided
under United States Treasury Regulations Section
1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(1)(iii)(B) and (C); and (B) delivered and will not
deliver within the United States definitive Bearer Notes that are sold
during the Restricted Period;
(ii) you have, and throughout the Restricted Period will have, in
effect procedures reasonably designed to ensure that your employees or
agents who are directly engaged in selling Bearer Notes (whether offered
alone or as part of a Unit) are aware that such Bearer Notes may not be
offered or sold during the Restricted Period to a person who is within the
United States or to a United States person, except as permitted by Section
7(a)(i)(A) above;
(iii) if you are a United States person, you are acquiring the Bearer
Notes (whether offered alone or as part of a Unit) for purposes of resale
in connection with their original issuance and if you retain Bearer Notes
for your own account, you will only do so in accordance with the
requirements of United States Treasury Regulations Section
1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(6);
(iv) if you transfer to any affiliate Bearer Notes (whether offered
alone or as part of a Unit) for the purpose of offering or selling such
Bearer Notes during the Restricted Period, you will either (A) obtain from
such affiliate for the benefit of the Company the representations and
agreements contained in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above or (B) repeat
and confirm the representations and agreements contained in clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above on such affiliate's behalf and obtain from such
affiliate the authority to so obligate it; and
(v) you will obtain for the benefit of the Company the
representations and agreements contained in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and
(iv) above from any person other than your affiliate with whom you enter
into a written contract, within the meaning of United States Treasury
Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(4), for the offer or sale during
the Restricted Period of Bearer Notes (whether offered alone or as part of
a Unit).
For purposes of this Section 7(a), an offer or sale will be considered to be
made in the United States if the offeror or seller of such Notes (whether
offered alone or as part of a Unit) has an address within the United States for
the offeree or purchaser of such Notes with respect to the offer or sale. As
used in this Section 7(a),
27
"United States person" means a citizen or resident of the United States, a
corporation or partnership (including an entity treated as a corporation or
partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized
in or under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of
Columbia, or an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source or a trust if both (x) a court within
the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the
administration of the trust and (y) one or more United States persons have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, "United States"
means the United States (including the States and the District of Columbia),
its territories, its possessions and any other areas subject to its
jurisdiction; "Qualifying Foreign Branch" means a branch of a United States
financial institution, as defined in the applicable United States Treasury
Regulations, located outside the United States that is purchasing for its own
account or for resale and that has agreed, as a condition to purchase, to
comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United
States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the
regulations thereunder; and "Restricted Period" with respect to each issuance
means the period which begins on the earlier of the date on which the Company
receives the proceeds of the sale of Notes with respect to such issuance or the
first date on which the Notes are offered to persons other than you, and which
ends 40 days after the date on which the Company receives the proceeds of the
sale of such Notes; provided that with respect to a Note held as part of an
unsold allotment or subscription, any offer or sale of such Note by the Company
or you shall be deemed to be during the Restricted Period.
(b) (i) In relation to Program Securities which have a maturity of one
year or more and which are to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, you have
not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Program Securities to
persons in the United Kingdom prior to admission of such Program Securities to
listing in accordance with Part IV of the Financial Services Xxx 0000 (the
"Act"), except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring,
holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the
purposes of their businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not
resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom
within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 or the
Act; (ii) in relation to Program Securities which have a maturity of one year
or more and which are not to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, you have
not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of the period of six months from
the date of issue of such Program Securities, will not offer or sell any such
Program Securities to persons in the United Kingdom except to persons whose
ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing
of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses or
otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an
offer to the public in the United Kingdom within
28
the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995; (iii) you have
complied with and will comply with all applicable provisions of the Act with
respect to anything done by you in relation to the Program Securities in, from
or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and (iv) you have only issued or
passed on and will only issue or pass on in the United Kingdom any document
received by you in connection with the issue of the Program Securities, other
than any document which consists of or any part of listing particulars,
supplementary listing particulars or any other document required or permitted
to be published by the listing rules under Part IV of the Act, to a person who
is of a kind described in Article 11(3) of the Financial Services Xxx 0000
(Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1996 (as amended) or is a person
to whom such document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on.
(c) You will not offer or sell any Program Securities in any jurisdiction
if such offer or sale would not be in compliance with any applicable law or
regulation or if any consent, approval or permission is needed for such offer
or sale by you or for or on behalf of the Company unless such consent, approval
or permission has been previously obtained. Without prejudice to the provisions
of this Section 7 above and subject to the obligations of the Company set forth
in Section 3 of this Agreement, the Company shall have no responsibility for,
and you will obtain, any consent, approval or permission required by you for
the subscription, offer, sale or delivery by you of Program Securities, or the
distribution of any offering materials, under the laws and regulations in force
in any jurisdiction to which you are subject or in or from which you make any
subscription, offer, sale or delivery.
(d) You will not offer or sell any Program Securities, directly or
indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which
term as used herein means any person resident in Japan including any
corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for
the re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident
of Japan except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of,
and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and
other relevant laws and regulations of Japan.
(e) You will not offer and sell any Program Securities in the Federal
Republic of Germany other than in compliance with the provisions of the German
Sales Prospectus Act (Wertpapier-Verkaufsprospektgesetz) of December 13, 1990,
as amended, and of any other laws applicable in the Federal Republic of Germany
governing the issue, offering and sale of securities.
29
(f) You will not offer and sell any Program Securities denominated or
payable in or indexed to Swiss Francs other than in compliance with Swiss law
and the regulations of the Swiss National Bank in effect from time to time.
(g) Each of the Agents and the Company represents and agrees that Program
Securities will be issued outside the Republic of France, that it will not
offer or sell any Program Securities in the Republic of France, in connection
with their initial distribution, and will not distribute or cause to be
distributed in the Republic of France the Prospectus or any other offering
material relating to Program Securities, except to (i) qualified investors
(investisseurs qualifies) and/or (ii) within a restricted circle of investors
(cercle restreint d'investisseurs), all as defined in and in accordance with
Article 6 of Ordinance no 67-833 dated 28th September, 1967 (as amended) and
Decree no 98-880 dated 1st October, 1998.
(h) Until the date on which the Securities Board of The Netherlands
(Stichting Toezicht Effectenerkeer) shall have granted a dispensation on the
offering of the securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (the
"Dispensation Date"):
(i) it has not offered, transferred or sold and will not offer,
transfer or sell any Securities (including rights representing an interest
in a Security in global form), directly or indirectly, as part of their
initial distribution or at any time thereafter, to any persons (including
legal entities) established, domiciled, incorporated or having their usual
residence in The Netherlands ("Dutch Residents");
(ii) it has not addressed and will not address any announcement of a
forthcoming offer of Securities, to or for the benefit of Dutch Residents;
(iii) it will mention in all offers, offer notices, publications and
other documents in which it makes an offer of Securities, or announces a
forthcoming offer thereof, that such Securities may not be offered,
transferred to sold as part of their initial distribution or at any time
thereafter to or for the benefit of Dutch Residents;
(iv) any offer of Securities made by it and any offer notices,
publications, advertisements and other documents in which it makes an
offer of Securities, or announces a forthcoming offer thereof complies
with and will comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the
jurisdictions in which such offer, announcement or publication is made or
such notices or documents are distributed from time to time; and
30
(v) it will mention the same in such offers, offer notices,
publications and other documents.
8. Position of the Agent. In acting under this Agreement and in connection
with the sale of any Notes by the Bank (other than Notes sold to you pursuant
to a Terms Agreement), you are acting solely as agent of the Bank and do not
assume any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with any
purchaser of Notes. You shall make reasonable efforts to assist the Bank in
obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Notes has been
solicited by you and accepted by the Bank, but you shall not have any liability
to the Bank in the event any such purchase is not consummated for any reason.
If the Bank shall default in its obligations to deliver Notes to a purchaser
whose offer it has accepted, the Bank shall hold you harmless against any loss,
claim, damage or liability arising from or as a result of such default and
shall, in particular, pay to you the commission you would have received had
such sale been consummated.
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time either by the
Bank or by you upon the giving of written notice of such termination to the
other parties hereto, but without prejudice to any rights, obligations or
liabilities of the other parties hereto accrued or incurred prior to such
termination. The termination of this Agreement shall not require termination of
any Terms Agreement, and the termination of any such Terms Agreement shall not
require termination of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated, the
provisions of the third paragraph of Section 2(a), the last sentence of Section
3(b) and Sections 3(c), 3(g), 3(i), 3(j), 6, 8, 8, 11 and 13 shall survive;
provided that if at the time of termination an offer to purchase Notes has been
accepted by the Bank but the time of delivery to the purchaser or its agent of
such Notes has not occurred, the provisions of Sections 1, 2(b), 2(c), 3(a),
3(d), 3(e), 3(f), 3(g), 3(i), 4 and 5 shall also survive until such delivery
has been made.
10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective
only on receipt, and, if sent to you, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed
and confirmed to you at [address], Attention: [________] (telefax number:
[_______]), with a copy to [address], Attention: [__________], (telefax number:
[_______]) or, if sent to the Bank, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and
confirmed to the Bank at [__________], Attention: [________], with a copy to
Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq. (telefax number 212-593-5956).
11. Successors. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to in
Section
31
6 and the purchasers of Notes (to the extent expressly provided in Section 4),
and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if
the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
14. Submission to Jurisdiction. The Bank agrees that any legal suit,
action or proceeding brought by any Agent or by any person controlling any
Agent, arising out of or based upon this Agreement may be instituted in any
State or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York,
and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives any objection which it may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such court in any suit, action or
proceeding. The Bank has appointed Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx., Esq., Chief Legal
Officer and Executive Vice President, ABN AMRO North America, Inc., as its
authorized agent (the "Authorized Agent") upon which process may be instituted
in any State or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of
New York by any Agent and the Bank expressly accepts the jurisdiction of any
such court in respect of such action. Such appointment shall be irrevocable
unless and until a successor authorized agent, located or with an office in the
Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, shall have been appointed by
the Bank and such appointment shall have been accepted by such successor
authorized agent. The Bank represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent
has agreed to act as said agent for service of process, and the Bank agrees to
take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and
instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force
and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and
written notice of such service to the Bank shall be deemed, in every respect,
effective service of process upon the Bank.
15. Judgment Currency. The Bank, on the one hand, and the Agents
severally, on the other hand, agree, to indemnify the other against loss
incurred as a result of any judgment or order being given or made for any
amount due hereunder or under the Notes and such judgment or order being
expressed and paid in a currency (the "Judgment Currency") other than United
States dollars and as a result of any variation as between (i) the rate of
exchange at which the United States dollar amount is converted into Judgment
Currency for the purpose of such judgment or order, and (ii) the rate of
exchange at which such indemnified party would have been able to purchase
United States dollars with the amount of the Judgment Currency actually
received by it if such indemnified party had
32
utilized such amount of Judgment Currency to purchase United States dollars as
promptly as practicable upon receipt thereof. The foregoing indemnity shall
constitute a separate and independent obligation of the Bank and the Agents and
shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any such judgment or
order as aforesaid. The term "rate of exchange" shall include an allowance for
any customary or reasonable premiums and costs of exchange payable in
connection with the purchase of, or conversion into, the relevant currency.
16. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.
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
between the Bank and you.
Very truly yours,
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date
first above written.
33
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
34
EXHIBIT A
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
GLOBAL MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES B
NOTES TERMS AGREEMENT
_______________, 200_
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
[address]
Attention:
Re: Euro Distribution Agreement dated _________, 2000
(the "Euro Distribution Agreement")
-------------------------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to purchase your Global Medium-Term Notes, Series
B, having the following terms:
All Notes Fixed Rate Notes Floating Rate Notes
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------
Principal Amount: Interest Rate: Base Rate:
Purchase Price: Applicability of Modified Index Maturity:
Payment upon Acceleration:
Price to Public: If yes, state issue price: Index Currency:
Settlement Date and Time: Amortization Schedule: Spread (Plus or Minus):
Place of Delivery: Applicability of Annual Spread Multiplier:
Interest Payments:
Specified Currency: Denominated Currency (if Alternate Rate Event Spread:
any):
Original Issue Date: Indexed Currency or Initial Interest Rate:
Currencies (if any):
Interest Accrual Date: Payment Currency (if any): Initial Interest Reset Date:
A-1
All Notes Fixed Rate Notes Floating Rate Notes
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------
Maturity Date: Exchange Rate Agent (if Interest Reset Dates:
any):
Optional Repayment Date(s): Reference Dealers: Interest Reset Period:
Optional Redemption Face Amount (if any): Maximum Interest Rate:
Date(s):
Initial Redemption Date: Fixed Amount of each Minimum Interest Rate:
Indexed Currency (if any):
Initial Redemption Aggregate Fixed Amount of Interest Payment Period:
Percentage: each Indexed Currency (if
any):
Annual Redemption Calculation Agent:
Percentage Reduction:
Ranking: Reporting Service:
Series: Index Currency:
Minimum Denominations: Designated CMT Telerate
Page:
Other Provisions:
Designated CMT Maturity
Index:
The provisions of Sections 1, 2(b) and 2(c) and 3 through 7 and 10 through
16 of the Euro Distribution Agreement and the related definitions are
incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed to have the same force and
effect as if set forth in full herein.
This Agreement is also subject to termination on the terms incorporated by
reference herein. If this Agreement is so terminated, the provisions of
Sections 3(g), 6, 10, 11, and 13 of the Euro Distribution Agreement shall
survive for the purposes of this Agreement.
The following information, opinions, certificates, letters and documents
referred to in Section 4 of the Euro Distribution Agreement will be required:
----------------.
A-2
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted:
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
A-3
EXHIBIT B
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
GLOBAL MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES B
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
---------------------------
Explained below are the administrative procedures and specific terms of
the offering of Global Medium-Term Notes, Series B (the "Notes"), on a
continuous basis by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (the "Bank") pursuant to the Euro
Distribution Agreement, dated _______, 2000 (as may be amended from time to
time, the "Distribution Agreement") among the Bank and ABN AMRO Incorporated
(the "Agent").
The Notes may be issued in registered form without coupons ("Registered
Notes"), in bearer form with or without coupons ("Bearer Notes") or in any
combination of Registered Notes and Bearer Notes. Bearer Notes initially will
be represented by a Temporary Global Note. Such Temporary Global Note will
subsequently be represented by a Permanent Global Note. Interests in a
Permanent Global Note may be exchanged, in whole, for individual definitive
Bearer Notes. Definitive Bearer Notes may be exchanged, if the applicable
Pricing Supplement so specifies, in whole or in part, for Registered Notes.
The Notes will be issued as senior indebtedness (the "Notes") of the Bank
pursuant to the provisions of an indenture dated as of ____________, 2000 (as
may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the "Indenture"), between the
Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Trustee"), as trustee.
In the Distribution Agreement, the Agent has agreed to use reasonable
efforts to solicit purchases of the Notes, and the administrative procedures
explained below will govern the issuance and settlement of any Notes sold
through the Agent, as agent of the Bank. The Agent, as principal, may also
purchase Notes for its own account, and if requested by the Agent, the Bank and
the Agent will enter into a terms agreement ( a "Notes Terms Agreement"), as
contemplated by the Distribution Agreement. The administrative procedures
explained below will govern the issuance and settlement of any Notes purchased
by the Agent, as principal, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Notes
Terms Agreement.
[Chase has initially been appointed the Calculation Agent, Authenticating
Agent and Principal Paying Agent for the Notes and will perform the duties
specified herein. As used herein, the term "Principal Paying Agent" shall mean
Chase acting through its London office in connection with the authentication
and delivery of the Notes, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. The Series B
Notes are intended to be listed on [The London Stock Exchange Limited (the
"London Stock Exchange").] Application may, in certain circumstances described
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes (the "Prospectus
Supplement"), be made to list Series B Notes on the [Euronext Paris S.A. (the
"Paris S.A.").] The Bank has appointed [__________] as the listing agent for
purposes of listing the Series B Notes on the London Stock Exchange and has
appointed [__________] as the listing agent for purposes of listing the Series
B Notes on the Paris S.A.
Each Bearer Note initially will be represented by a Temporary Global Note,
each of which will be delivered to a common depositary located outside the
United States (the "Depositary") for [__________], as operator of the Euroclear
System (the "Euroclear Operator"), Clearstream and/or any other relevant
clearing system (including Societe Interprofessionalle pour la Compensation des
Valeures Mobilieres ("SICOVAM")). Such Temporary Global Note will subsequently
be represented by a Permanent Global Note. Upon the first request by any
beneficial owner to exchange any interest in a Permanent Global Note to a
definitive Bearer Note, or if any Note represented by such Permanent Global
Note is accelerated following an event of default with respect to such Note or
if either Euroclear, Clearstream or any other relevant clearing system is
closed for business for a continuous period of fourteen days (other than by
reason of public holidays) or announces an intention to cease business
permanently or in fact does so, then all (and not less than all) interests in
such Permanent Global Note shall be exchanged for definitive Bearer Notes;
provided that, if the applicable Pricing Supplement so specifies, nothing
herein shall prevent the further exchange of definitive Bearer Notes for
Registered Notes.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Indenture, the
Notes, or any Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes shall be used herein
as therein defined.
The Bank will advise the Agent in writing of the employees of the Bank
with whom the Agent is to communicate regarding offers to purchase Notes, and
the related settlement details.
B-2
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR
BEARER NOTES AND REGISTERED NOTES
Issuance: Bearer Notes. Each Bearer Note will be dated as of its
Original Issue Date. Each Bearer Note will bear an
Original Issue Date, which will be (i) with respect to
a Temporary Global Note (or any portion thereof), the
date of its original issue as specified in such
Temporary Global Note or (ii) with respect to any
Permanent Global Note or any definitive Bearer Note
(or any portion thereof) issued subsequently upon
transfer or exchange of a Bearer Note or in lieu of a
destroyed, lost or stolen Bearer Note (a "Replacement
Bearer Note"), the Original Issue Date of the
predecessor Bearer Note, regardless of the date of
authentication of such subsequently issued Bearer
Note.
Registered Notes. Each Registered Note will be dated
as of the date of its authentication by Chase. Each
Registered Note will also bear an Original Issue Date,
which will be (i) with respect to an original
Registered Note (an "Original Registered Note") (or
any portion thereof), its original issuance date
(which will be the settlement date) and (ii) with
respect to any Registered Note (or portion thereof)
issued subsequently upon transfer or exchange of a
Registered Note or in lieu of a destroyed, lost or
stolen Registered Note (a "Replacement Registered
Note"), the original issuance date of the predecessor
Registered Note, regardless of the date of
authentication of such subsequently issued Registered
Note.
Denominations: Bearer Notes. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, Bearer Notes will be
issued only in denominations of $1,000 (or, in the
case of Bearer Notes
B-3
not denominated in U.S. dollars, the equivalent
thereof in the Specified Currency, rounded to the
nearest 1,000 units of the Specified Currency) or any
amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple
of $1,000 (or, in the case of Bearer Notes not
denominated in U.S. dollars, 1,000 units of the
Specified Currency).
Registered Notes. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Pricing Supplement, Registered Notes will
be issued only in denominations of $1,000 (or, in the
case of Registered Notes not denominated in U.S.
dollars, the equivalent thereof in the Specified
Currency, rounded to the nearest 1,000 units of the
Specified Currency) or any amount in excess thereof
which is an integral multiple of $1,000 (or, in the
case of Registered Notes not denominated in U.S.
dollars, 1,000 units of the Specified Currency).
Global Notes and
Definitive Bearer
and Registered Notes: Until Final Certification (as defined below) with
respect to an issuance of Bearer Notes has occurred,
such Notes, together with all other Bearer Notes that
have the same terms (other than their respective
principal amounts) (all such Notes herein referred to
collectively as a "Note Tranche"), will be represented
by a single Temporary Global Note in bearer form
without interest coupons. The Bank shall execute, and
upon Bank instructions the Principal Paying Agent
shall complete and authenticate, such Temporary Global
Note upon the same conditions and in substantially the
same manner, and with the same effect, as an
individual definitive Bearer Note. On or prior to the
settlement date (which will normally be the Original
Issue Date) with respect to such Notes, the Principal
Paying
B-4
Agent shall deposit the Temporary Global Note with the
Depositary in the manner specified below under
"Settlement Procedures; Bearer Notes". The interest of
each beneficial owner of Notes represented by such
Temporary Global Note will be credited to the
appropriate account with Clearstream, the Euroclear
Operator or any other relevant clearing system.
On or after the date (the "Exchange Date") that is the
40th day following the date on which the Bank receives
the proceeds of the sale of a Temporary Global Note
(the "Closing Date"), or if such Note is held by the
Agent as part of an unsold allotment or subscription
more than 40 days after the Closing Date for such
Note, on or after the day after the date such Note is
sold by the Agent, all as notified by the Agent in
writing to Chase, the interest of the beneficial
owners of the Notes represented by the Temporary
Global Note shall be canceled and such interests shall
thereafter be represented by a Permanent Global Note
in bearer form without interest coupons held in London
by the Depositary; provided that Final Certification
(as described below) has occurred. The interest of
each beneficial owner of Notes represented by such
Permanent Global Note will be credited to the
appropriate account with Clearstream, the Euroclear
Operator or any other relevant clearing system.
If the beneficial owner of an interest in a Permanent
Global Note requests, at any time, upon 30 days'
written notice to the Principal Paying Agent given by
such beneficial owner through either Clearstream, the
Euroclear Operator or any other relevant clearing
system, as the case may be, or if any Note represented
by such Permanent Global Note is accelerated following
an event of
B-5
default with respect to such Note or if either
Euroclear, Clearstream or any other relevant clearing
system is closed for business for a continuous period
of fourteen days (other than by reason of public
holidays) or announces an intention to cease business
permanently or in fact does so, such Permanent Global
Note shall be exchanged for one or more definitive
Bearer Notes with coupons attached, if appropriate,
or, if the applicable Pricing Supplement so specifies,
one or more Registered Notes in authorized
denominations equal in aggregate principal amount to
such beneficial interest; provided that any such
exchange of an interest in a Permanent Global Note for
a definitive Bearer Note shall result in the exchange
of all (and not less than all) interests in such
Permanent Global Note for definitive Bearer Notes;
provided further, that, if the applicable Pricing
Supplement so specifies, nothing herein shall prevent
the further exchange of definitive Bearer Notes for
Registered Notes. To effect such exchange, the
interest of such beneficial owner in such Permanent
Global Note shall be canceled and one or more
definitive Bearer Notes or Registered Notes, as the
case may be, shall be issued to such beneficial owner,
through the Euroclear Operator or Clearstream or any
other relevant clearing system, as the case may be.
In all events, Bearer Notes and coupons will be
delivered by the Principal Paying Agent only outside
the United States.
Notes Purchased
by U.S. Persons: All Notes purchased in connection with their original
issuance by or on behalf of a U.S. Person (as defined
in the Distribution Agreement) (other than a branch of
a United States financial institution (as defined in
the applicable United States Treasury
B-6
Regulation) located outside the United States
purchasing for its own account or for resale (a
"Qualifying Foreign Branch") or other permitted U.S.
purchasers as provided in the Prospectus Supplement
that satisfies the conditions for receiving Bearer
Notes (as described under "Final Certification" below)
will be issued only as Registered Notes.
Final Certification: Final Certification with respect to a Temporary Global
Note shall mean the delivery by the Euroclear
Operator, Clearstream or any other relevant clearing
system, as the case may be, to the Principal Paying
Agent of a signed certificate (each a "Clearance
System Certificate") in the form set forth in Appendix
1 hereto with respect to the Notes being exchanged,
dated no earlier than the Exchange Date for such
Notes, to the effect that the Euroclear Operator,
Clearstream or any other relevant clearing system, as
the case may be, has received certificates in writing,
by tested telex or by electronic transmission from the
account holders appearing on its records as entitled
to such Notes ("Ownership Certificates") in the form
set forth in Appendix 2 hereto with respect to each of
such Notes, which Ownership Certificates shall be
dated no earlier than ten days before the Exchange
Date.
Preparation of
Pricing Supplement: If any offer to purchase a Note is accepted by or on
behalf of the Bank, the Bank will prepare a pricing
supplement (a "Pricing Supplement") reflecting the
terms of such Note, will arrange to file an electronic
format document, in the manner prescribed by the XXXXX
Xxxxx Manual, of such Pricing Supplement with the
Commission in accordance with the applicable paragraph
of Rule 424(b) under the Act and will, promptly and in
any event not later than the
B-7
date on which such Pricing Supplement is filed with
the Commission, deliver the number of copies of such
Pricing Supplement to the Agent as the Agent shall
reasonably request. The Agent will cause such Pricing
Supplement to be delivered to the purchaser of the
Note.
In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is
prepared, the Agent will affix the Pricing Supplement
to Prospectuses prior to their use. Outdated Pricing
Supplements, and the Prospectuses to which they are
attached (other than those retained for files), will
be destroyed.
Settlement: The receipt by the Bank of immediately available funds
in exchange for (i) the delivery of an authenticated
Temporary Global Note to the Depositary in the manner
described in "Settlement Procedures; Bearer Notes"
below or (ii) the delivery of an authenticated
Registered Note to the Agent shall constitute
"settlement" with respect to such Note. All offers
accepted by the Bank will be settled on the fifth
Business Day next succeeding the date of acceptance
pursuant to the timetable for settlement set forth
below, unless the Bank and the purchaser agree to
settlement on another day, which shall be no earlier
than the next Business Day.
Settlement
Procedures;
Bearer Notes: Procedures with regard to each Bearer Note sold
by the Bank to or through the Agent (unless otherwise
specified pursuant to a Notes Terms Agreement) shall
be as follows:
A. In the case of a Bearer Note, the Agent will advise
the Bank by telephone that such Note, is initially
B-8
a Bearer Note and of the following settlement
information:
1. Principal amount.
2. Maturity Date.
3. Interest Payment Date(s).
4. In the case of a Floating Rate Bearer Note, the
Initial Interest Rate (if known at such time),
Interest Payment Period, Calculation Agent,
Base Rate, Index Maturity, Index Currency,
Interest Reset Period, Initial Interest Reset
Date, Interest Reset Dates, Spread or Spread
Multiplier (if any), Minimum Interest Rate (if
any), Maximum Interest Rate (if any) and the
Alternate Rate Event Spread (if any).
5. Redemption or repayment provisions, if any.
6. Ranking.
7. Settlement date and time (Original Issue Date).
8. Interest Accrual Date.
9. Price.
10. Agent's commission, if any, determined as
provided in the Distribution Agreement.
11. Specified Currency.
B-9
12. Whether the Note is an Original Issue Discount
Note (an "OID Note"), and if it is an OID Note,
the applicability of Modified Payment upon
Acceleration (and, if so, the Issue Price).
13. Agent's account number at Clearstream, the
Euroclear Operator or any other relevant
clearing system.
14. Any other applicable provisions.
B. The Bank will advise Chase as the Principal Paying
Agent for the Notes by telephone or electronic
transmission (confirmed in writing at any time on
the same date) of the information set forth in
"Settlement Procedures; Bearer Notes" "A" above,
and shall give the Principal Paying Agent written
instructions (substantially in the form set out in
Appendix 3) to prepare a Temporary Global Note for
each Note Tranche which the Bank has agreed to
sell. The Bank will send a copy of such
instructions to the Agent and the relevant Trustee.
The Principal Paying Agent shall telephone each of
the Euroclear Operator, Clearstream or any other
relevant clearing system with a request for a
security code for each Note Tranche agreed to be
issued and shall notify the Bank and the Agent of
such security code or codes as soon as practicable.
B-10
C. In accordance with instructions received from the
Bank, (i) the Principal Paying Agent shall
authenticate and deliver a Temporary Global Note
for each Note Tranche which the Bank has agreed to
sell. The settlement of the Note Tranche is to
occur on the relevant settlement date. All such
Temporary Global Notes will then be delivered to
the Depositary. The Principal Paying Agent will
also give instructions to the Euroclear Operator,
Clearstream or any other relevant clearing system
to credit the Notes represented by such Temporary
Global Note delivered to such Depositary to the
Principal Paying Agent's distribution account at
the Euroclear Operator, Clearstream or any other
relevant clearing system. At settlement of any Note
Tranche, the Principal Paying Agent will instruct
the Euroclear Operator, Clearstream or any other
relevant clearing system to debit, on the
settlement date, from the distribution account of
the Principal Paying Agent the principal amount of
Notes of each Note Tranche, with respect to which
the Agent has solicited an offer to purchase and to
credit, on the settlement date, such principal
amount to the account of the Agent with the
Euroclear Operator, Clearstream or any other
relevant clearing system against payment of the
purchase payment price of such Notes.
D. The Euroclear Operator, Clearstream and any other
relevant clearing system shall debit and credit
accounts in accordance with
B-11
instructions received from the Principal Paying
Agent and the Agent.
The Principal Paying Agent shall pay the Bank the
aggregate net proceeds received by it in
immediately available funds via a transfer of funds
to the U.S. dollar account of the Bank with a bank
in [New York City] (or, with respect to Notes
payable in a Specified Currency other than U.S.
dollars, to an account maintained at a bank
selected by the Bank, which bank shall be located
outside the United Kingdom in the case of Notes
payable in a Specified Currency other than pounds
sterling that mature not later than five years from
and including the date of issue thereof) designated
by the Bank in writing.
Settlement Procedures
Timetable; Bearer Notes: For sales by the Bank of Bearer Notes to or through
the Agent, "Settlement Procedures; Bearer Notes" "A"
through "D" above shall be completed on or before the
respective times set forth below:
Settlement
Procedure;
Bearer Notes Time
------------ ----
A 12:00 P.M. (NYC time) three days
before settlement date
B 9:00 A.M. (London time) two days
before settlement date
C 3:45 P.M. (London time) one day
before settlement date
D 5:00 P.M. (NYC time) on
settlement date
B-12
Settlement Procedures;
Registered Notes: Settlement Procedures with regard to each Registered
Note sold by the Bank to or through the Agent (unless
otherwise specified pursuant to a Notes Terms
Agreement) shall be as follows:
AA. In the case of a Registered Note, the
Agent will advise the Bank by telephone
that such Note is a Registered Note and
of the following settlement information:
1. Name in which such Note is to
be registered ("Registered Note
Owner").
2. Address of the Registered Note
Owner and address for payment
of principal and interest.
3. Taxpayer identification number
of the Registered Note Owner (if
available).
4. Principal amount.
5. Maturity Date.
6. Interest Payment Date(s)
7. In the case of a Fixed Rate
Registered Note, the Interest
Rate, or, in the case of a Floating
Rate Registered Note, the Initial
Interest Rate (if known at such
time), Interest Payment Period,
Calculation Agent, Base Rate,
Index Maturity, Index Currency,
Interest Reset Period, Initial
Interest Reset Date, Interest
Reset Dates, Spread or Spread
Multiplier (if any), Minimum
Interest Rate (if any), Maximum
Interest Rate (if any) and the
B-13
Alternate Rate Event Spread (if
any).
8. Redemption or repayment
provisions (if any).
9. Ranking.
10. Settlement date and time
(Original Issue Date).
11. Interest Accrual Date.
12. Price.
13. Agent's commission (if any)
determined as provided in the
Distribution Agreement.
14. Denominations.
15. Specified Currency.
16. Whether the Note is an OID
Note, and if it is an OID Note,
and the applicability of Modified
Payment upon Acceleration (and
if so, the Issue Price).
17. Any other applicable provisions.
BB. The Bank will advise Chase as
Principal Paying Agent for the
Notes, by telephone or
electronic transmission
(confirmed in writing at any
time on the same date) of the
information set forth in
"Settlement Procedures;
Registered Notes" "AA" above.
CC. The Bank will have delivered to Chase
as Principal Paying Agent for the Notes
a pre-printed four-ply packet for such
Note, which packet will contain the
following documents in forms that have
B-14
been approved by the Bank, the Agent
and Chase, as Principal Paying Agent for
the Notes:
1. Note with customer
confirmation.
2. Stub One - For Chase.
3. Stub Two - For the Agent.
4. Stub Three - For the Bank.
DD. Chase will (i) authenticate and deliver
any Note through the Principal Paying
Agent if necessary, with the
confirmation and Stubs One and Two to
the Agent. The Agent will acknowledge
receipt of the Note by stamping or
otherwise marking Stub One and
returning it to Chase, through the
Principal Paying Agent, if necessary.
Such delivery will be made only against
such acknowledgment of receipt and
evidence that instructions have been
given by the Agent, with respect to
Notes denominated in U.S. dollars, for
payment to the account of the Bank at
Chase, New York, New York (or, with
respect to Notes payable in a Specified
Currency other than U.S. dollars, to an
account maintained at a bank selected by
the Bank, which bank shall be located
outside the United Kingdom in the case
of Notes payable in a Specified Currency
other than pounds sterling that mature
not later than five years from and
including the date of issue thereof), in
immediately available funds, of an
amount equal to the purchase price of
such Notes less the Agent's commission
(if any). In the event that the
instructions given by the Agent for
payment to the account of the Bank are
B-15
revoked, the Bank will as
promptly as possible wire
transfer to the account of the
Agent an amount of immediately
available funds equal to the
amount of such payment made.
The Principal Paying Agent
shall pay the Bank the
aggregate net proceeds
received by it in immediately
available funds via a transfer
of funds to the U.S. dollar
account of the Bank with Chase
in [New York City] (or, with
respect to Notes payable in a
Specified Currency other than
U.S. dollars, to an account
maintained at a bank selected
by the Bank which bank shall
be located outside the United
Kingdom in the case of Notes
payable in a Specified
Currency other than pounds
sterling that mature not later
than five years including the
date of issue thereof).
EE. Unless the Agent purchased such Notes
as principal, the Agent will deliver (with
confirmation) such Notes to the
customer against payment in
immediately available funds. The Agent
will obtain the acknowledgment of
receipt of such Notes by retaining Stub
Two.
FF. In the case of all Notes, Chase will send
Stub Three to the Bank by first-class
mail.
Settlement Procedures
Timetable; Registered Notes: For sales by the Bank of Registered
Notes to or through the Agent, "Settlement Procedures;
Registered Notes" "AA" through "FF" set forth above
shall be completed on or before the respective times
(London time) set forth below:
B-16
Settlement Procedure;
Registered Notes
and Registered Units Time
-------------------- ----
AA 2:00 P.M. on second day
before settlement date
BB 3:00 P.M. on second day
before settlement date
CC-DD 2:15 P.M. on settlement date
EE 3:00 P.M. on settlement date
FF 5:00 P.M. on settlement date
Failure to Settle: Bearer Notes. If the Agent shall have advanced its own
funds for payment against subsequent receipt of funds
from the purchaser and if a purchaser shall fail to
make payment for a Note, the Agent will promptly
notify the Bank, the Principal Paying Agent, the
Depositary and the Euroclear Operator, Clearstream and
any other relevant clearing system, by telephone,
promptly confirmed in writing (but no later than the
next Business Day). In such event, the Bank shall
promptly instruct the Principal Paying Agent to cancel
the purchaser's interest in the appropriate Temporary
Global Note representing such Note. Upon (i)
confirmation from the Principal Paying Agent in
writing (which may be given by telex or telecopy) that
the Principal Paying Agent has canceled such
purchaser's interest in such Temporary Global Note and
(ii) confirmation from the Agent in writing (which may
be given by telex or telecopy) that the Agent has not
received payment from the purchaser for the Note, the
Bank will promptly pay to the Agent an amount in
immediately available funds equal to the amount
previously paid by the Agent in respect of such Bearer
Note. Such payment will be made on the settlement
date, if possible, and in any event not later than 12
noon (New York City time) on the Business Day
following the settlement date. The Principal Paying
Agent and the Depositary will make or cause to be made
such revisions to such Temporary Global
B-17
Note as are necessary to reflect the cancellation of
such portion of such Temporary Global Note.
If a purchaser shall fail to make payment for the Note
for any reason other than a default by the Agent in
the performance of its obligations hereunder and under
the Distribution Agreement, then the Bank will
reimburse the Agent on an equitable basis for the
Agent's loss of the use of funds during the period
when they were credited to the account of the Bank or
the Principal Paying Agent, as applicable.
Immediately upon such cancellation, the Principal
Paying Agent, will make appropriate entries in its
records to reflect the fact that a settlement did not
occur with respect to such Note or Unit.
Registered Notes. If a purchaser fails to accept
delivery of and make payment for any Registered Note,
the Agent will notify the Bank and Chase, as Registrar
of the Registered Notes, by telephone and return such
Note to Chase through the Principal Paying Agent, if
necessary. Upon receipt of such notice, the Bank will
immediately wire transfer to the account of the Agent
an amount equal to the amount previously credited to
the Bank's account in respect of such Note. Such wire
transfer will be made on the settlement date, if
possible, and in any event not later than the Business
Day following the settlement date. If the failure
shall have occurred for any reason other than a
default by the Agent in the performance of its
obligations hereunder and under the Distribution
Agreement, then the Bank will reimburse the Agent on
an equitable basis for its loss of the use of the
funds during the period when they were credited to the
account of the Bank or Chase. Immediately upon receipt
of the Registered Note in respect of which such
failure occurred, Chase will xxxx such Note
"canceled," make appropriate entries
B-18
in Chase's records and send such Note to the Bank.
Notice of Issuance
London Stock Exchange: The Sponsoring Member Firm will provide information
with respect to the issuance of each Series B Note to
[the London Stock Exchange] or [the Paris S.A.,] as
the case may be, and will advise the Bank in writing
as to the effectiveness of the listing of such Series
B Note by the close of business on the related
settlement date.
Listing: The Sponsoring Member Firm will, on a regular basis,
provide the London Stock Exchange or the Paris S.A.,
as the case may be with such information regarding
Series B Notes issued and outstanding as such exchange
may require.
B-19
