Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement
Exhibit 10.2
Commercial
Paper
Dealer
Agreement
|
4(2)
Program - Domestic Issuer
Between:
NORFOLK SOUTHERN
CORPORATION, as Issuer, and
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.,
as Dealer
Concerning
Notes to be issued pursuant to an Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement
dated as
of May 1, 1990, between the Issuer and JPMorgan Chase Bank. N.A.
(successor to Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust
Company of New York), as Issuing and Paying Agent
Dated
as of
January 23, 2008
Commercial
Paper Dealer Agreement
4(2)
Program
This
agreement (the “Agreement”) sets forth the understandings
between the Issuer and the Dealer, each named on the cover page
hereof, in connection with the issuance and sale by the Issuer of its
short-term promissory notes (the “Notes”) through the
Dealer.
Certain
terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 6 hereof.
The
Addendum to this Agreement, and any Annexes or Exhibits described in
this Agreement or such Addendum, are hereby incorporated into this
Agreement and made fully a part hereof.
1.
|
Offers,
Sales and Resales of Notes.
|
1.1.
|
While
(i) the Issuer has and shall have no obligation to sell the
Notes to the Dealer or to permit the Dealer to arrange any
sale of the Notes for the account of the Issuer, and (ii)
the Dealer has and shall have no obligation to purchase the
Notes from the Issuer or to arrange any sale of the Notes
for the account of the Issuer, the parties hereto agree that
in any case where the Dealer purchases Notes from the
Issuer, or arranges for the sale of Notes by the Issuer,
such Notes will be purchased or sold by the Dealer in
reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements of the Issuer contained herein or made pursuant
hereto and on the terms and conditions and in the manner
provided herein.
|
1
1.2.
|
So
long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, and in
addition to the limitations contained in Section 1.7 hereof,
the Issuer shall not, without the consent of the Dealer,
offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any
Notes except (a) in transactions with one or more dealers
which may from time to time after the date hereof become
dealers with respect to the Notes by executing with the
Issuer one or more agreements which contain provisions
substantially identical to those contained in Section 1 of
this Agreement, of which the Issuer hereby undertakes to
provide the Dealer prompt notice or (b) in transactions with
the other dealers listed on the Addendum hereto, which are
executing agreements with the Issuer which contain
provisions substantially identical to Section 1 of this
Agreement contemporaneously herewith. In no event
shall the Issuer offer, solicit or accept offers to
purchase, or sell, any Notes directly on its own behalf in
transactions with persons other than broker-dealers as
specifically permitted in this Section 1.2.
|
1.3.
|
The
Notes shall be in a minimum denomination of $250,000 or
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, will bear
such interest rates, if interest bearing, or will be sold at
such discount from their face amounts, as shall be agreed
upon by the Dealer and the Issuer, shall have a maturity not
exceeding 397 days from the date of issuance and may have
such terms as are specified in Exhibit C hereto or the
Private Placement Memorandum. The Notes shall not contain
any provision for extension, renewal or automatic “rollover.”
|
1.4.
|
The
authentication and issuance of, and payment for, the Notes
shall be effected in accordance with the Issuing and Paying
Agency Agreement, and the Notes shall be either individual
physical certificates or book-entry notes evidenced by one
or more master notes (each, a “Master Note”)
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)
or its nominee.
|
1.5.
|
If
the Issuer and the Dealer shall agree on the terms of the
purchase of any Note by the Dealer or the sale of any Note
arranged by the Dealer (including, but not limited to,
agreement with respect to the date of issue, purchase price,
principal amount, maturity and interest rate or interest
rate index and margin (in the case of interest-bearing
Notes) or discount thereof (in the case of Notes issued on a
discount basis), and appropriate compensation for the Dealer’s
services hereunder) pursuant to this Agreement, the Issuer
shall cause such Note to be issued and delivered in
accordance with the terms of the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement and payment for such Note shall be made by the
purchaser thereof, either directly or through the Dealer, to
the Issuing and Paying Agent, for the account of the Issuer. Except
as otherwise agreed, in the event that the Dealer is acting
as an agent and a purchaser shall either fail to accept
delivery of or make payment for a Note on the date fixed for
settlement, the Dealer shall promptly notify the Issuer, and
if the Dealer has theretofore paid the Issuer for the Note,
the Issuer will promptly return such funds to the Dealer
against its return of the Note to the Issuer, in the case of
a certificated Note, and upon notice of such failure in the
case of a book-entry Note. If such failure
occurred for any reason other than default by the Dealer,
the Issuer agrees to reimburse the Dealer on an equitable
basis for the Dealer’s loss of the use of such funds
for the period such funds were credited to the Issuer’s
account.
|
2
1.6.
|
The
Dealer and the Issuer hereby establish and agree to observe
the following procedures, and only the following procedures,
in connection with offers, sales and subsequent resales or
other transfers of the Notes:
|
(a)
|
Offers
and sales of the Notes by or through the Dealer shall be
made only to: (i) investors reasonably believed by the
Dealer to be Qualified Institutional Buyers, Institutional
Accredited Investors or Sophisticated Individual Accredited
Investors and (ii) non-bank fiduciaries or agents that will
be purchasing Notes for one or more accounts, each of which
is reasonably believed by the Dealer to be an Institutional
Accredited Investor or Sophisticated Individual Accredited
Investor.
|
(b)
|
Resales
and other transfers of the Notes by the holders thereof
shall be made only in accordance with the restrictions in
the legend described in clause (e) below.
|
(c)
|
No
general solicitation or general advertising shall be used in
connection with the offering of the Notes. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the prior
written approval of the Dealer (not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed), the Issuer shall not issue any press
release or place or publish any “tombstone” or
other advertisement relating to the Notes.
|
(d)
|
No
sale of Notes to any one purchaser shall be for less than
$250,000 principal or face amount, and no Note shall be
issued in a smaller principal or face amount. If
the purchaser is a non-bank fiduciary acting on behalf of
others, each person for whom such purchaser is acting must
purchase at least $250,000 principal or face amount of
Notes.
|
(e)
|
Offers
and sales of the Notes by the Issuer through the Dealer
acting as agent for the Issuer shall be made in accordance
with Rule 506 under the Securities Act, and shall be subject
to the restrictions described in the legend appearing on
Exhibit A hereto. A legend substantially to the
effect of such Exhibit A shall appear as part of the Private
Placement Memorandum used in connection with offers and
sales of Notes hereunder, as well as on each individual
certificate representing a Note and each Master Note
representing book-entry Notes offered and sold pursuant to
this Agreement.
|
(f)
|
The
Dealer shall furnish or shall have furnished to each
purchaser of Notes for which it has acted as the dealer a
copy of the then-current Private Placement Memorandum unless
such purchaser has previously received a copy of the Private
Placement Memorandum as then in effect. The
Private Placement Memorandum shall expressly state that any
person to whom Notes are offered shall have an opportunity
to ask questions of, and receive information from the Issuer
and the Dealer and shall provide the names, addresses and
telephone numbers of the persons from whom information
regarding the Issuer may be obtained.
|
(g)
|
The
Issuer agrees for the benefit of the Dealer and each of the
holders and prospective purchasers from time to time of the
Notes that, if at any time the Issuer shall not be subject
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer will
furnish, upon request and at its expense, to the Dealer and
to holders and prospective purchasers of Notes information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4)(i) in compliance with Rule
144A(d).
|
3
(h)
|
In
the event that any Note offered or to be offered by the
Dealer would be ineligible for resale under Rule 144A, the
Issuer shall immediately notify the Dealer (by telephone,
confirmed in writing) of such fact and shall promptly
prepare and deliver to the Dealer an amendment or supplement
to the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Notes
that are ineligible, the reason for such ineligibility and
any other relevant information relating thereto.
|
(i)
|
The
Issuer represents that it is not currently issuing
commercial paper in the United States market in reliance
upon the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(3) of the
Securities Act. The Issuer agrees that, if it
shall issue commercial paper after the date hereof in
reliance upon such exemption (a) the proceeds from the sale
of the Notes will be segregated from the proceeds of the
sale of any such commercial paper by being placed in a
separate account; (b) the Issuer will institute
appropriate corporate procedures to ensure that the offers
and sales of notes issued by the Issuer, as the case may be,
pursuant to the Section 3(a)(3) exemption are not integrated
with offerings and sales of Notes hereunder; and (c) the
Issuer will comply with each of the requirements of Section
3(a)(3) of the Securities Act in selling commercial paper or
other short-term debt securities other than the Notes in the
United States.
|
1.7.
|
The
Issuer hereby represents and warrants to the Dealer, in
connection with offers, sales and resales of Notes, as
follows:
|
(a)
|
The
Issuer hereby confirms to the Dealer that (except as
permitted by Section 1.6(i)) within the preceding six months
neither the Issuer nor any person other than the Dealer or
the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof acting
on behalf of the Issuer has offered or sold any Notes, or
any substantially similar security of the Issuer (including,
without limitation, medium-term notes issued by the Issuer),
to, or solicited offers to buy any such security from, any
person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred
to in Section 1.2 hereof. The Issuer also agrees
that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i)), as long as the
Notes are being offered for sale by the Dealer and the other
dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof as contemplated
hereby and until at least six months after the offer of
Notes hereunder has been terminated, neither the Issuer nor
any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers
referred to in Section 1.2 hereof (except as contemplated by
Section 1.2 hereof) will offer the Notes or any
substantially similar security of the Issuer for sale to, or
solicit offers to buy any such security from, any person
other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in
Section 1.2 hereof, it being understood that such agreement
is made with a view to bringing the offer and sale of the
Notes within the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act and Rule 506 thereunder and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement. The Issuer hereby
represents and warrants that it has not taken or omitted to
take, and will not take or omit to take, any action that
would cause the offering and sale of Notes hereunder to be
integrated with any other offering of securities, whether
such offering is made by the Issuer or some other party or
parties.
|
4
(b)
|
The
Issuer represents and agrees that the proceeds of the sale
of the Notes are not currently contemplated to be used for
the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities within
the meaning of Regulation T and the interpretations
thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System. In the event that the Issuer determines
to use such proceeds for the purpose of buying, carrying or
trading securities, whether in connection with an
acquisition of another company or otherwise, the Issuer
shall give the Dealer at least five business days’
prior written notice to that effect. The Issuer
shall also give the Dealer prompt notice of the actual date
that it commences to purchase securities with the proceeds
of the Notes. Thereafter, in the event that the
Dealer purchases Notes as principal and does not resell such
Notes on the day of such purchase, to the extent necessary
to comply with Regulation T and the interpretations
thereunder, the Dealer will sell such Notes either (i) only
to offerees it reasonably believes to be Qualified
Institutional Buyers or to Qualified Institutional Buyers it
reasonably believes are acting for other Qualified
Institutional Buyers, in each case in accordance with Rule
144A or (ii) in a manner which would not cause a violation
of Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder.
|
2.
|
Representations
and Warranties of the Issuer.
|
|
The
Issuer represents and warrants that:
|
|
2.1
|
The
Issuer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation and has all the requisite power and authority
to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the
Notes, this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
|
|
2.2
|
This
Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer
and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with
their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).
|
|
2.3
|
The
Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided
in the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly and
validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in
accordance with their terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).
|
|
2.4
|
The
offer and sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated
hereby do not require registration of the Notes under the
Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption from registration
contained in Section 4(2) thereof, and no indenture in
respect of the Notes is required to be qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
|
|
2.5
|
The
Notes will rank at least pari passu with all other unsecured
and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer.
|
|
2.6
|
No
consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any
governmental or public regulatory body or authority,
including the SEC, is required to authorize, or is otherwise
required in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance of, this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement, except 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.
|
5
|
2.7
|
Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement, nor the issuance of the Notes
in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement,
nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and
provisions hereof or thereof by the Issuer, will (i) result
in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, lien, charge
or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the
properties or assets of the Issuer, or (ii) violate or
result in a breach or a default under any of the terms of
the Issuer’s charter documents or by-laws, any
contract or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by
which it or its property is bound, or any law or regulation,
or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or
government instrumentality, to which the Issuer is subject
or by which it or its property is bound, which breach or
default might have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition of the Issuer or the ability of the
Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the
Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement.
|
|
2.8
|
There
is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to
the knowledge of the Issuer threatened, against or affecting
the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries which might result in
a material adverse change in the financial condition of the
Issuer or the ability of the Issuer to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement.
|
|
2.9
|
The
Issuer is not an “investment company” within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.1
|
|
2.10
|
Neither
the Private Placement Memorandum nor the Company
Information contains any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
|
|
2.11
|
Each
(a) issuance of Notes by the Issuer hereunder and
(b) amendment or supplement of the Private
Placement Memorandum shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Issuer to the
Dealer, as of the date thereof, that, both before
and after giving effect to such issuance and after
giving effect to such amendment or supplement, (i)
the representations and warranties given by the
Issuer set forth in this Section 2 remain true and
correct on and as of such date as if made on and
as of such date, (ii) in the case of an issuance
of Notes, the Notes being issued on such date have
been duly and validly issued and constitute legal,
valid and binding obligations of the Issuer,
enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with
their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) in the case
of an issuance of Notes, since the date of the
most recent Private Placement Memorandum, there
has been no material adverse change in the
financial condition of the Issuer which has not
been disclosed to the Dealer in writing and (iv) the
Issuer is not in default of any of its obligations
hereunder or under the Notes or the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement.
|
|
1 The phrase “or
an entity controlled by an investment company” is
not included in this representation. See the
Bond Market Association Model Commercial Paper Dealer
Agreement (the “BMA Model”) Guidance
Note to Section 2.11 for a description of the limited
circumstances where this phrase should be included.
|
6
3.
|
Covenants
and Agreements of the Issuer.
|
|
The
Issuer covenants and agrees that:
|
|
3.1
|
The
Issuer will give the Dealer prompt notice (but in any event
prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder) of any
amendment to, modification of or waiver with respect to, the
Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, including
a complete copy of any such amendment, modification or
waiver.
|
|
3.2
|
The
Issuer shall, whenever there shall occur any change in the
Issuer’s financial condition or any other development
or occurrence in relation to the Issuer that would have a
material adverse effect on the holders of the Notes or
potential holders of the Notes (including any downgrading or
receipt of any notice of intended or potential downgrading
in the rating accorded any of the Issuer’s securities
by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization
which has published a rating of the Notes), promptly, and in
any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes
hereunder, notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in
writing) of such change, development or occurrence.
|
|
3.3
|
The
Issuer shall from time to time furnish to the Dealer such
information as the Dealer may reasonably request, including,
without limitation, any press releases or material provided
by the Issuer to any national securities exchange, regarding
(i) the Issuer’s operations and financial condition
and (ii) the due authorization and execution of the Notes,
(iii) the Issuer’s ability to pay the Notes as they
mature.
|
|
3.4
|
The
Issuer will take all such action as the Dealer may
reasonably request to ensure that each offer and each sale
of the Notes will comply with any applicable state Blue Sky
laws; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be
obligated to file any general consent to service of process
or to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction
in which it is not so qualified or subject itself to
taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in
which it is not otherwise so subject.
|
|
3.5
|
The
Issuer will not be in default of any of its obligations
hereunder, under the Notes or under the Issuing and Paying
Agency Agreement, at any time that any of the Notes are
outstanding.
|
|
3.6
|
The
Issuer shall not issue Notes hereunder until the Dealer
shall have received (a) one or more opinions of counsel to
the Issuer, addressed to the Dealer, substantively covering
the matters set forth in Exhibit D hereto, (b) a copy of the
executed Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement as then in
effect, (c) a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Boards
of Directors of the Issuer, satisfactory in form and
substance to the Dealer and certified by the Secretary or
similar officer of the Issuer, authorizing consummation by
the Issuer of the transactions contemplated hereby, (d)
prior to the issuance of any book-entry Notes represented by
a master note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee,
a copy of the executed Letter of Representations among the
Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent and DTC and of the
executed master note, (e) prior to the issuance of any Notes
in physical form, a copy of such form (unless attached to
this Agreement or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement)
and (f) such other certificates, opinions, letters and
documents as the Dealer shall have reasonably requested.
|
|
3.7
|
The
Issuer shall reimburse the Dealer for all of the Dealer’s
out-of-pocket expenses related to this Agreement, including
expenses incurred in connection with its preparation and
negotiation, and the transactions contemplated hereby
(including, but not limited to, the printing and
distribution of the Private Placement Memorandum), and, if
applicable, for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket
expenses of the Dealer’s counsel.
|
7
4.
|
Disclosure.
|
|
4.1
|
The
Private Placement Memorandum and its contents (other than
the Dealer Information) shall be the sole responsibility of
the Issuer. The Private Placement Memorandum
shall contain a statement expressly offering an opportunity
for each prospective purchaser to ask questions of, and
receive answers from, the Issuer concerning the offering of
Notes and to obtain relevant additional information which
the Issuer possesses or can acquire without unreasonable
effort or expense.
|
|
4.2
|
The
Issuer agrees to promptly furnish the Dealer the Company
Information as it becomes available.
|
|
|
(a) The
Issuer further agrees to notify the Dealer promptly upon
the occurrence of any event relating to or affecting the
Issuer that would cause the Company Information then in
existence to include an untrue statement of a material
fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements contained therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading.
|
|
|
(b) In
the event that the Issuer gives the Dealer notice
pursuant to Section 4.3(a) and the Dealer notifies
the Issuer that it then has Notes it is holding in
inventory, the Issuer agrees promptly to
supplement or amend the Private Placement
Memorandum so that the Private Placement
Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, shall not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and the Issuer shall make such
supplement or amendment available to the Dealer.
|
|
|
(c) In
the event that (i) the Issuer gives the
Dealer notice pursuant to Section 4.3(a),
(ii) the Dealer does not notify the
Issuer that it is then holding Notes in
inventory and (iii) the Issuer
chooses not to promptly amend or
supplement the Private Placement
Memorandum in the manner described in
clause (b) above, then all solicitations
and sales of Notes shall be suspended
until such time as the Issuer has so
amended or supplemented the Private
Placement Memorandum, and made such
amendment or supplement available to the
Dealer.
|
|
|
(d) Without
limiting the generality of
Section 4.3(a), the Issuer shall
review, amend and supplement the
Private Placement Memorandum on
a periodic basis, but no less
than at least once annually, to
incorporate current
financial information of the
Issuer to the extent
necessary to ensure that the
information provided in the
Private Placement Memorandum is
accurate and complete.
|
5.
|
Indemnification
and Contribution.
|
|
5.1
|
The
Issuer will indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer, each
individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association or
other entity controlling the Dealer, any affiliate of the
Dealer or any such controlling entity and their respective
directors, officers, employees, partners,
|
8
|
|
incorporators,
shareholders, servants, trustees and agents (hereinafter
the “Indemnitees”) against any and all
liabilities, penalties, suits, causes of action, losses,
damages, claims, costs and expenses (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel)
or judgments of whatever kind or nature (each a “Claim”),
imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the
Indemnitees arising out of or based upon (i) any
allegation that the Private Placement Memorandum, the
Company Information or any information provided by the
Issuer to the Dealer included (as of any relevant time) or
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
(as of any relevant time) or omits to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading or (ii) the breach by the Issuer of any
agreement, covenant or representation made in or pursuant
to this Agreement. This indemnification shall
not apply to the extent that the Claim arises out of or is
based upon Dealer Information or is determined to have
resulted from an Indemnitee’s gross negligence or
willful misconduct.
|
|
5.2
|
Provisions
relating to claims made for indemnification under this
Section 5 are set forth in Exhibit B to this Agreement.
|
|
5.3
|
In
order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in
this Section 5 is held to be unavailable or insufficient to
hold harmless the Indemnitees, although applicable in
accordance with the terms of this Section 5, the Issuer
shall contribute to the aggregate costs incurred by the
Dealer in connection with any Claim in the proportion of the
respective economic interests of the Issuer and the Dealer;
provided, however, that such contribution by the Issuer
shall be in an amount such that the aggregate costs incurred
by the Dealer do not exceed the aggregate of the commissions
and fees earned by the Dealer hereunder with respect to the
issue or issues of Notes to which such Claim relates. The
respective economic interests shall be calculated by
reference to the aggregate proceeds to the Issuer of the
Notes issued hereunder and the aggregate commissions and
fees earned by the Dealer hereunder.
|
6.
|
Definitions.
|
|
6.1
|
“Claim”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
|
|
6.2
|
“Company
Information” at any given time shall mean the Private
Placement Memorandum together with, to the extent
applicable, (i) the Issuer’s most recent report on
Form 10-K filed with the SEC and each report on Form 10-Q or
8-K filed by the Issuer with the SEC since the most recent
Form 10-K, (ii) the Issuer’s most recent annual
audited financial statements and each interim financial
statement or report prepared subsequent thereto, if not
included in item (i) above, (iii) the Issuer’s and its
affiliates’ other publicly available recent reports,
including, but not limited to, any publicly available
filings or reports provided to their respective
shareholders, (iv) any other information or disclosure
prepared pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof and (v) any
information prepared or approved by the Issuer for
dissemination to investors or potential investors in the
Notes.
|
|
6.3
|
“Dealer
Information” shall mean material concerning the Dealer
provided by the Dealer in writing expressly for inclusion in
the Private Placement Memorandum.
|
|
6.4
|
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
|
9
|
6.5
|
“Indemnitee”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
|
|
6.6
|
“Institutional
Accredited Investor” shall mean an institutional
investor that is an accredited investor within the meaning
of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and that has such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters
that it is capable of evaluating and bearing the economic
risk of an investment in the Notes, including, but not
limited to, a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act, or a savings and loan association or other
institution, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the
Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or
fiduciary capacity.
|
|
6.7
|
“Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement” shall mean the issuing
and paying agency agreement described on the cover page of
this Agreement, as such agreement may be amended or
supplemented from time to time.
|
|
6.8
|
“Issuing
and Paying Agent” shall mean the party designated as
such on the cover page of this Agreement, as issuing and
paying agent under the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement,
or any successor thereto in accordance with the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement.
|
|
6.9
|
“Non-bank
fiduciary or agent” shall mean a fiduciary or agent
other than (a) a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act, or (b) a savings and loan association, as
defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act.
|
|
6.10
|
“Private
Placement Memorandum” shall mean offering
materials prepared in accordance with Section 4
(including materials referred to therein or incorporated
by reference therein, if any) provided to purchasers and
prospective purchasers of the Notes, and shall include
amendments and supplements thereto which may be prepared
from time to time in accordance with this Agreement
(other than any amendment or supplement that has been
completely superseded by a later amendment or
supplement).
|
|
6.11
|
“Qualified
Institutional Buyer” shall have the meaning
assigned to that term in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act.
|
|
6.12
|
“Rule
144A” shall mean Rule 144A under the
Securities Act.
|
|
6.13
|
“SEC”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
|
|
6.14
|
“Securities
Act” shall mean the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
|
|
6.15
|
“Sophisticated
Individual
Accredited
Investor”
shall mean an
individual who (a) is
an accredited
investor within
the meaning of
Regulation D under
the Securities Act
and (b) based on
his or her
pre-existing
relationship with
the Dealer, is
reasonably
believed by the
Dealer to be a
sophisticated
investor (i)
possessing such
knowledge and
experience (or
represented by a
fiduciary or agent
possessing such
knowledge and
experience) in
financial and
business matters
that he or she is
capable of
evaluating and
bearing the
economic risk of
an investment in
the Notes and (ii)
having not less
than $5 million in
investments (as
defined, for
purposes of this
section, in Rule
2a51-1 under the
Investment Company
Act of 1940, as
amended).
|
10
7.
|
General
|
|
7.1
|
Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices under this
Agreement to parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be
effective when received at the address of the respective
party set forth in the Addendum to this Agreement.
|
|
7.2
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to
its conflict of laws provisions.
|
|
7.3
|
The
Issuer agrees that any suit, action or proceeding brought by
the Issuer against the Dealer in connection with or arising
out of this Agreement or the Notes or the offer and sale of
the Notes shall be brought solely in the United States
federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan or the
courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of
Manhattan. EACH OF THE DEALER AND THE ISSUER
WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
|
|
7.4
|
This
Agreement may be terminated, at any time, by the Issuer,
upon one business day’s prior notice to such effect to
the Dealer, or by the Dealer upon one business day’s
prior notice to such effect to the Issuer. Any
such termination, however, shall not affect the obligations
of the Issuer under Sections 3.7, 5 and 7.3 hereof or the
respective representations, warranties, agreements,
covenants, rights or responsibilities of the parties made or
arising prior to the termination of this Agreement.
|
|
7.5
|
This
Agreement is not assignable by either party hereto without
the written consent of the other party; provided, however,
that the Dealer may assign its rights and obligations under
this Agreement to any affiliate of the Dealer with the
consent of the Issuer, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.
|
|
7.6
|
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.
|
|
7.7
|
This
Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties
hereto, and their respective permitted successors and
assigns hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person
whatsoever.
|
|
7.8
|
The
Issuer acknowledges and agrees that the Dealer is acting
solely in the capacity of an arm's length contractual
counterparty to the Issuer with respect to the offering of
the Notes contemplated hereby (including in connection with
determining the price and terms of the offering) and not as
a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of
(except to the extent explicitly set forth herein), the
Issuer or any other person. The Dealer has not
assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of
the Issuer with respect to the offering contemplated hereby
or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the
Dealer has advised or is currently advising the Issuer on
other matters) or any other obligation to the Issuer except
the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement. Additionally,
the Dealer is not advising the Issuer or any other person as
to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory
matters in any jurisdiction. The Issuer shall
consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and
shall be responsible for making its own independent
investigation and
|
11
|
|
appraisal
of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Dealer
shall have no responsibility or liability to the Issuer
with respect thereto. Any review by the Dealer of the
Issuer, the transactions contemplated hereby or other
matters relating to such transactions will be performed
solely for the benefit of the Dealer and shall not be on
behalf of the Issuer.
|
|
7.9
|
This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
(whether written or oral) between the Issuer and the Dealer
with respect to the subject matter hereof.
|
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date and year first above written.
Norfolk Southern
Corporation, as Issuer
|
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
& Co., as Dealer
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
By:
|
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxx | |
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
Name:
|
Xxx Xxxxxx | |
Title:
|
Vice
President and Treasurer
|
Title:
|
Vice President |
12
Addendum
The
following additional clauses shall apply to the Agreement and be
deemed a part thereof.
1. The
other dealers referred to in clause (b) of Section 1.2 of the
Agreement are
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. AND NO OTHERS
.
2. The
following changes are hereby made to the Agreement: None
3. The
addresses of the respective parties for purposes of notices under
Section 7.1 are as follows:
For
the Issuer:
Address:
Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Attention: Vice
President and Treasurer
Telephone
number: (000)
000-0000
Fax
number: (000)
000-0000
For
the Dealer:
Address:
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities
Telephone
number: (000)
000-0000
Fax
number:
(000) 000-0000
Exhibit
A
Form
of Legend for Private Placement Memorandum and Notes
THE
NOTES THEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAW, AND OFFERS AND SALES THEREOF MAY BE MADE ONLY IN
COMPLIANCE WITH AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. BY
ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER WILL BE DEEMED TO REPRESENT
THAT (I) IT HAS BEEN AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE MATTERS
RELATING TO THE ISSUER AND THE NOTES, (II) IT IS NOT ACQUIRING SUCH
NOTE WITH A VIEW TO ANY DISTRIBUTION THEREOF AND (III) IT IS EITHER
(A)(1) AN INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR OR SOPHISTICATED INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR
THAT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a) UNDER
THE ACT AND WHICH, IN THE CASE OF AN INDIVIDUAL, (i) POSSESSES SUCH
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS MATTERS THAT HE OR
SHE IS CAPABLE OF EVALUATING AND BEARING THE ECONOMIC RISK OF AN
INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES AND (ii) HAS NOT LESS THAN $5 MILLION IN
INVESTMENTS (AN “INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR” OR
“SOPHISTICATED INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR”,
RESPECTIVELY) AND (2)(i) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, (ii) A
BANK (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(2) OF THE ACT) OR A SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATION OR OTHER INSTITUTION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(5)(A) OF
THE ACT) ACTING IN ITS INDIVIDUAL OR FIDUCIARY CAPACITY OR (iii) A
FIDUCIARY OR AGENT (OTHER THAN A U.S. BANK OR SAVINGS AND LOAN
ASSOCIATION) PURCHASING NOTES FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS EACH OF WHICH
ACCOUNTS IS SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR SOPHISTICATED
INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR; OR (B) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER
(“QIB”) WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE ACT THAT
IS ACQUIRING NOTES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR ONE OR MORE ACCOUNTS,
EACH OF WHICH ACCOUNTS IS A QIB; AND THE PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
IT IS AWARE THAT THE SELLER MAY RELY UPON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A. BY
ITS ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE, THE PURCHASER THEREOF SHALL ALSO BE DEEMED
TO AGREE THAT ANY RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER THEREOF WILL BE MADE ONLY
(A) IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT, EITHER
(1) TO THE ISSUER OR TO A PLACEMENT AGENT DESIGNATED BY THE ISSUER AS
A PLACEMENT AGENT FOR THE NOTES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PLACEMENT
AGENTS”), NONE OF WHICH SHALL HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO ACQUIRE
SUCH NOTE, (2) THROUGH A PLACEMENT AGENT TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
ACCREDITED INVESTOR, SOPHISTICATED INDIVIDUAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR OR A
QIB, OR (3) TO A QIB IN A TRANSACTION THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE 144A AND (B) IN MINIMUM AMOUNTS OF $250,000.
Exhibit
B
Further
Provisions Relating to Indemnification
(a)
|
The
Issuer agrees to reimburse each Indemnitee for all expenses
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of internal and
external counsel) as they are incurred by it in connection
with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action in respect of which indemnification may
be sought under Section 5 of the Agreement (whether or not
it is a party to any such proceedings).
|
(b)
|
Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnitee of notice of the existence of
a Claim, such Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against the Issuer, notify the Issuer in
writing of the existence thereof; provided that (i) the
omission to so notify the Issuer will not relieve it from
any liability which it may have hereunder unless and except
to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such Claim and
such failure results in the forfeiture by it of substantial
rights and defenses, and (ii) the omission to so notify the
Issuer will not relieve it from liability which it may have
to an Indemnitee otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. In case any such Claim is made against
any Indemnitee and it notifies the Issuer of the existence
thereof, the Issuer will be entitled to participate therein,
and to the extent that it may elect by written notice
delivered to the Indemnitee, to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee;
provided that if the defendants in any such Claim include
both the Indemnitee and the Issuer, and the Indemnitee shall
have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to
it which are different from or additional to those available
to the Issuer, the Issuer shall not have the right to direct
the defense of such Claim on behalf of such Indemnitee, and
the Indemnitee shall have the right to select separate
counsel to assert such legal defenses on behalf of such
Indemnitee. Upon receipt of notice from the
Issuer to such Indemnitee of the election of the Issuer to
assume the defense of such Claim and approval by the
Indemnitee of counsel, the Issuer will not be liable to such
Indemnitee for expenses incurred thereafter by the
Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof (other
than reasonable costs of investigation) unless (i) the
Indemnitee shall have employed separate counsel in
connection with the assertion of legal defenses in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence
(it being understood, however, that the Issuer shall not be
liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel
(in addition to any local counsel in the jurisdiction in
which any Claim is brought), approved by the Dealer,
representing the Indemnitee who is party to such Claim),
(ii) the Issuer shall not have employed counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee to represent the Indemnitee
within a reasonable time after notice of existence of the
Claim or (iii) the Issuer has authorized in writing the
employment of counsel for the Indemnitee. The
indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations of the
Issuer hereunder shall be in addition to any other liability
the Issuer may otherwise have to an Indemnitee and shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors,
assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Issuer
and any Indemnitee. The Issuer agrees that
without the Dealer’s prior written consent, it will
not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in any Claim in respect of which indemnification
may be sought under the indemnification provision of the
Agreement (whether or not the Dealer or any other Indemnitee
is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each Indemnitee from all liability
arising out of such Claim and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or
failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnitee.
|
Exhibit
C
Statement
of Terms for Interest – Bearing Commercial Paper Notes of
Norfolk Southern Corporation
THE
PROVISIONS SET FORTH BELOW ARE QUALIFIED TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE BY
THE TRANSACTION SPECIFIC [PRICING] [PRIVATE PLACEMENT MEMORANDUM]
SUPPLEMENT (THE “SUPPLEMENT”) (IF ANY) SENT TO EACH
PURCHASER AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSACTION.
1. General. (a) The
obligations of the Issuer to which these terms apply (each a “Note”)
are represented by one or more Master Notes (each, a “Master
Note”) issued in the name of (or of a nominee for) The
Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), which Master Note
includes the terms and provisions for the Issuer's Interest-Bearing
Commercial Paper Notes that are set forth in this Statement of Terms,
since this Statement of Terms constitutes an integral part of the
Underlying Records as defined and referred to in the Master Note.
(b) “Business Day”
means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a legal
holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or
required by law, executive order or regulation to be closed in New
York City and, with respect to LIBOR Notes (as defined below) is
also a London Business Day. “London Business Day”
means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which dealings in
deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank
market.
2. Interest. (a) Each
Note will bear interest at a fixed rate (a “Fixed Rate Note”)
or at a floating rate (a “Floating Rate Note”).
(b) The
Supplement sent to each holder of such Note will describe the
following terms: (i) whether such Note is a Fixed Rate Note or a
Floating Rate Note and whether such Note is an Original Issue Discount
Note (as defined below); (ii) the date on which such Note will be
issued (the “Issue Date”); (iii) the Stated Maturity Date
(as defined below); (iv) if such Note is a Fixed Rate Note, the rate
per annum at which such Note will bear interest, if any, and the
Interest Payment Dates; (v) if such Note is a Floating Rate Note, the
Base Rate, the Index Maturity, the Interest Reset Dates, the Interest
Payment Dates and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any (all as
defined below), and any other terms relating to the particular method
of calculating the interest rate for such Note; and (vi) any other
terms applicable specifically to such Note. “Original
Issue Discount Note” means a Note which has a stated redemption
price at the Stated Maturity Date that exceeds its Issue Price by more
than a specified de
minimis amount and which the Supplement indicates will be an
“Original Issue Discount Note”.
(c) Each
Fixed Rate Note will bear interest from its Issue Date at the rate per
annum specified in the Supplement until the principal amount thereof
is paid or made available for payment. Interest on each
Fixed Rate Note will be payable on the dates specified in the
Supplement (each an “Interest Payment Date” for a Fixed
Rate Note) and on the Maturity Date (as defined below). Interest
on Fixed Rate Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months.
If
any Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date of a Fixed Rate Note
falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of
principal, premium, if any, and/or interest will be payable on the
next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue
in respect of the payment made on that next succeeding Business Day.
(d) The
interest rate on each Floating Rate Note for each Interest Reset
Period (as defined below) will be determined by reference to an
interest rate basis (a “Base Rate”) plus or minus a number
of basis points (one basis point equals one-hundredth of a percentage
point) (the “Spread”), if any, and/or multiplied by a
certain percentage (the “Spread Multiplier”), if any,
until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. The
Supplement will designate which of the following Base Rates is
applicable to the related Floating Rate Note: (a) the CD Rate (a
“CD Rate Note”), (b) the Commercial Paper Rate (a “Commercial
Paper Rate Note”), (c) the Federal Funds Rate (a “Federal
Funds Rate Note”), (d) LIBOR (a “LIBOR Note”), (e)
the Prime Rate (a “Prime Rate Note”), (f) the Treasury
Rate (a “Treasury Rate Note”) or (g) such other Base Rate
as may be specified in such Supplement.
The
rate of interest on each Floating Rate Note will be reset daily,
weekly, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually (the “Interest Reset
Period”). The date or dates on which interest will be
reset (each an “Interest Reset Date”) will be, unless
otherwise specified in the Supplement, in the case of Floating Rate
Notes which reset daily, each Business Day, in the case of Floating
Rate Notes (other than Treasury Rate Notes) that reset weekly, the
Wednesday of each week; in the case of Treasury Rate Notes that reset
weekly, the Tuesday of each week; in the case of Floating Rate Notes
that reset monthly, the third Wednesday of each month; in the case of
Floating Rate Notes that reset quarterly, the third Wednesday of
March, June, September and December; and in the case of Floating Rate
Notes that reset semiannually, the third Wednesday of the two months
specified in the Supplement. If any Interest Reset Date for
any Floating Rate Note is not a Business Day, such Interest Reset Date
will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that
in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar month, such Interest Reset Date shall be the
immediately preceding Business Day. Interest on each Floating Rate
Note will be payable monthly, quarterly or semiannually (the “Interest
Payment Period”) and on the Maturity Date. Unless
otherwise specified in the Supplement, and except as provided below,
the date or dates on which interest will be payable (each an “Interest
Payment Date” for a Floating Rate Note) will be, in the case of
Floating Rate Notes with a monthly Interest Payment Period, on the
third Wednesday of each month; in the case of Floating Rate Notes with
a quarterly Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of March,
June, September and December; and in the case of Floating Rate Notes
with a semiannual Interest Payment Period, on the third Wednesday of
the two months specified in the Supplement. In addition,
the Maturity Date will also be an Interest Payment Date.
If
any Interest Payment Date for any Floating Rate Note (other than an
Interest Payment Date occurring on the Maturity Date) would otherwise
be a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall
be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that in
the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar month, such Interest Payment Date shall be the
immediately preceding Business Day. If the Maturity Date of
a Floating Rate Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the
payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding
Business Day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the
period from and after such maturity.
Interest
payments on each Interest Payment Date for Floating Rate Notes will
include accrued interest from and including the Issue Date or from and
including the last date in respect of which interest has been paid, as
the case may be, to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date. On
the Maturity Date, the interest payable on a Floating Rate Note will
include interest accrued to, but excluding, the Maturity Date. Accrued
interest will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount
of
a Floating Rate Note by an accrued interest factor. This
accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest
factors calculated for each day in the period for which accrued
interest is being calculated. The
interest factor (expressed as a decimal) for each such day will be
computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to such day by 360,
in the cases where the Base Rate is the CD Rate, Commercial Paper
Rate, Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR or Prime Rate, or by the actual number
of days in the year, in the case where the Base Rate is the Treasury
Rate. The interest rate in effect on each day will be (i)
if such day is an Interest Reset Date, the interest rate with respect
to the Interest Determination Date (as defined below) pertaining to
such Interest Reset Date, or (ii) if such day is not an Interest Reset
Date, the interest rate with respect to the Interest Determination
Date pertaining to the next preceding Interest Reset Date, subject in
either case to any adjustment by a Spread and/or a Spread Multiplier.
The
“Interest Determination Date” where the Base Rate is the
CD Rate or the Commercial Paper Rate will be the second Business Day
next preceding an Interest Reset Date. The Interest
Determination Date where the Base Rate is the Federal Funds Rate or
the Prime Rate will be the Business Day next preceding an Interest
Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where the Base
Rate is LIBOR will be the second London Business Day next preceding an
Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date where
the Base Rate is the Treasury Rate will be the day of the week in
which such Interest Reset Date falls when Treasury
Bills are normally auctioned. Treasury Bills are normally
sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal
holiday, in which case the auction is held on the following Tuesday or
the preceding Friday. If an auction is so held on the
preceding Friday, such Friday will be the Interest Determination Date
pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next succeeding
week.
The
“Index Maturity” is the period to maturity of the
instrument or obligation from which the applicable Base Rate is
calculated.
The
“Calculation Date,” where applicable, shall be the earlier
of (i) the tenth calendar day following the applicable Interest
Determination Date or (ii) the Business Day preceding the applicable
Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date.
All times referred to herein
reflect New York City time, unless otherwise specified.
The
Issuer shall specify in writing to the Issuing and Paying Agent which
party will be the calculation agent (the “Calculation Agent”)
with respect to the Floating Rate Notes. The Calculation
Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if
determined, the interest rate which will become effective on the next
Interest Reset Date with respect to such Floating Rate Note to the
Issuing and Paying Agent as soon as the interest rate with respect to
such Floating Rate Note has been determined and as soon as practicable
after any change in such interest rate.
All
percentages resulting from any calculation on Floating Rate Notes will
be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five-one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards. For
example, 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or
.0987655). All dollar amounts used in or resulting from any
calculation on Floating Rate Notes will be rounded, in the case of
U.S. dollars, to the nearest cent or, in the case of a foreign
currency, to the nearest unit (with one-half cent or unit being
rounded upwards).
CD
Rate Notes
“CD
Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date for
negotiable certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity as
published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
“FRB”) in “Statistical Release H.15(519), Selected
Interest Rates” or any successor publication of the FRB (“H.15(519)”)
under the heading “CDs (Secondary Market)”.
If
the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 p.m. on the
Calculation Date, the CD Rate will be the rate on such Interest
Determination Date set forth in the daily update of H.15(519),
available through the world wide website of the FRB at
xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx/xxxxxxxx/x00/Xxxxxx, or any successor
site or publication or other recognized electronic source used for the
purpose of displaying the applicable rate (“H.15 Daily Update”)
under the caption “CDs (Secondary Market)”.
If
such rate is not published in either H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update by
3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will
determine the CD Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the secondary
market offered rates as of 10:00 a.m. on such Interest Determination
Date of three leading nonbank dealers2
in negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in New York City
selected by the Calculation Agent for negotiable U.S. dollar
certificates of deposit of major United States money center banks of
the highest credit standing in the market for negotiable certificates
of deposit with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity in
the denomination of $5,000,000.
If
the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as set
forth above, the CD Rate will remain the CD Rate then in effect on
such Interest Determination Date.
Commercial
Paper Rate Notes
“Commercial
Paper Rate” means the Money Market Yield (calculated as
described below) of the rate on any Interest Determination Date for
commercial paper having the Index Maturity, as published in H.15(519)
under the heading “Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial”.
If
the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 p.m. on the
Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate will be the Money
Market Yield of the rate on such Interest Determination Date for
commercial paper of the Index Maturity as published in H.15 Daily
Update under the heading “Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial”.
If
by 3:00 p.m. on such Calculation Date such rate is not published in
either H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent will
determine the Commercial Paper Rate to be the Money Market Yield of
the arithmetic mean of the offered rates as of 11:00 a.m. on such
Interest Determination Date of three leading dealers of U.S. dollar
commercial paper in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent
for commercial paper of the Index Maturity placed for an industrial
issuer whose bond rating is “AA,” or the equivalent, from
a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
If
the dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as
mentioned above, the Commercial Paper Rate with respect to such
Interest Determination Date will remain the Commercial Paper Rate then
in effect on such Interest Determination Date.
“Money Market Yield”
will be a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula:
|
2 Such nonbank
dealers referred to in this Statement of Terms may
include affiliates of the Dealer.
|
D x 360
Money
Market Yield = ___________________ x
100
360 - (D x M)
where
“D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for commercial
paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal and
“M” refers to the actual number of days in the interest
period for which interest is being calculated.
Federal
Funds Rate Notes
“Federal
Funds Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date
for federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading “Federal
Funds (Effective)” and displayed on Moneyline Telerate (or any
successor service) on page 120 (or any other page as may replace the
specified page on that service) (“Telerate Page 120”).
If
the above rate does not appear on Telerate Page 120 or is not so
published by 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Federal Funds Rate
will be the rate on such Interest Determination Date as published in
H.15 Daily Update under the heading “Federal Funds/(Effective)”.
If
such rate is not published as described above by 3:00 p.m. on the
Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the Federal
Funds Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last
transaction in overnight U.S. dollar federal funds arranged by each of
three leading brokers of Federal Funds transactions in New York City
selected by the Calculation Agent prior to 9:00 a.m. on such Interest
Determination Date.
If
the brokers selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as
mentioned above, the Federal Funds Rate will remain the Federal Funds
Rate then in effect on such Interest Determination Date.
LIBOR
Notes
The
London Interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) means, with
respect to any Interest Determination Date, the rate for deposits in
U.S. dollars having the Index Maturity that appears on the Designated
LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m. London time, on such Interest
Determination Date.
If
no rate appears, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such Interest Determination
Date at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered to prime banks in
the London interbank market by four major banks in such market
selected by the Calculation Agent for a term equal to the Index
Maturity and in principal amount equal to an amount that in the
Calculation Agent’s judgment is representative for a single
transaction in U.S. dollars in such market at such time (a “Representative
Amount”). The Calculation Agent will request the
principal London office of each of such banks to provide a quotation
of its rate. If at least two such quotations are provided,
LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If
fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR for such interest period
will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00
a.m., in New York City, on such Interest Determination Date by three
major banks in New York City, selected by the Calculation Agent, for
loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, for a term equal to
the Index Maturity and in a Representative Amount; provided, however,
that if fewer than three banks so selected by the Calculation Agent
are providing such quotations, the then existing LIBOR rate will
remain in effect for such Interest Payment Period.
“Designated
LIBOR Page” means the display designated as page “3750”
on Moneyline Telerate (or such other page as may replace the 3750 page
on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated
by the British Bankers’ Association for the purposes of
displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits).
Prime
Rate Notes
“Prime
Rate” means the rate on any Interest Determination Date as
published in H.15(519) under the heading “Bank Prime Loan”.
If
the above rate is not published in H.15(519) prior to 3:00 p.m. on the
Calculation Date, then the Prime Rate will be the rate on such
Interest Determination Date as published in H.15 Daily Update opposite
the caption “Bank Prime Loan”.
If
the rate is not published prior to 3:00 p.m. on the Calculation Date
in either H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update, then the Calculation Agent
will determine the Prime Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates
of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the
Reuters Screen US PRIME1 Page (as defined below) as such bank’s
prime rate or base lending rate as of 11:00 a.m. on that Interest
Determination Date.
If
fewer than four such rates referred to above are so published by 3:00
p.m. on the Calculation Date, the Calculation Agent will determine the
Prime Rate to be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base
lending rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the
year divided by 360 as of the close of business on such Interest
Determination Date by three major banks in New York City selected by
the Calculation Agent.
If
the banks selected are not quoting as mentioned above, the Prime Rate
will remain the Prime Rate in effect on such Interest Determination
Date.
“Reuters
Screen US PRIME1 Page” means the display designated as page
“US PRIME1” on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or
such other page as may replace the US PRIME1 page on that service for
the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major
United States banks).
Treasury
Rate Notes
“Treasury
Rate” means:
(1)
the rate from the auction held on the Interest Determination Date (the
“Auction”) of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury
Bills”) having the Index Maturity specified in the Supplement
under the caption “INVESTMENT RATE” on the display on
Moneyline Telerate (or any successor service) on page 56 (or any other
page as may replace that page on that service) (“Telerate Page
56”) or page 57 (or any other page as may replace that page on
that service) (“Telerate Page 57”), or
(2)
if the rate referred to in clause (1) is not so published by 3:00 p.m.
on the related Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield (as defined
below) of the rate for the applicable Treasury Bills as published in
H.15 Daily Update, under the caption “U.S. Government
Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High”, or
(3)
if the rate referred to in clause (2) is not so published by 3:00 p.m.
on the related Calculation Date, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the
auction rate of the applicable Treasury Bills as announced by the
United States Department of the Treasury, or
(4)
if the rate referred to in clause (3) is not so announced by the
United States Department of the Treasury, or if the Auction is not
held, the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate on the particular Interest
Determination Date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in
H.15(519) under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury
Bills/Secondary Market”, or
(5)
if the rate referred to in clause (4) not so published by 3:00 p.m. on
the related Calculation Date, the rate on the particular Interest
Determination Date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in
H.15 Daily Update, under the caption “U.S. Government
Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”, or
(6)
if the rate referred to in clause (5) is not so published by 3:00 p.m.
on the related Calculation Date, the rate on the particular Interest
Determination Date calculated by the Calculation Agent as the Bond
Equivalent Yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid
rates, as of approximately 3:30 p.m. on that Interest Determination
Date, of three primary United States government securities dealers
selected by the Calculation Agent for the issue of Treasury Bills with
a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified in the
Supplement, or
(7)
if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as
mentioned in clause (6), the Treasury Rate in effect on the particular
Interest Determination Date.
“Bond
Equivalent Yield” means a yield (expressed as a percentage)
calculated in accordance with the following formula:
D
x N
Bond Equivalent Yield = _______________________
x 100
360
- (D x M)
where
“D” refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury
Bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal,
“N” refers to 365 or 366, as the case may be, and “M”
refers to the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset
Period.
|
3.
|
Final
Maturity. The Stated Maturity Date for any
Note will be the date so specified in the Supplement, which
shall be no later than 397 days from the date of issuance. On
its Stated Maturity Date, or any date prior to the Stated
Maturity Date on which the particular Note becomes due and
payable by the declaration of acceleration, each such date
being referred to as a Maturity Date, the principal amount
of each Note, together with accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, will be immediately due and payable.
|
|
4.
|
Events
of Default. The occurrence of any of the
following shall constitute an “Event of Default”
with respect to a Note: (i) default in any
payment of principal of or interest on such Note (including
on a redemption thereof); (ii) the Issuer or the Guarantor
makes any compromise arrangement with its creditors
generally including the entering into any form of moratorium
with its creditors generally; (iii) a court having
jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in
respect of the Issuer or the Guarantor in an involuntary
case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other
similar law now or hereafter in effect, or there shall be
appointed a receiver, administrator, liquidator, custodian,
trustee or sequestrator (or similar officer) with respect to
the whole or substantially the
|
|
|
whole
of the assets of the Issuer or the Guarantor and any such
decree, order or appointment is not removed, discharged or
withdrawn within 60 days thereafter; or (iv) the Issuer or
the Guarantor shall commence a voluntary case under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now
or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an
order for relief in an involuntary case under any such
law, or consent to the appointment of or taking possession
by a receiver, administrator, liquidator, assignee,
custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official),
with respect to the whole or substantially the whole of
the assets of the Issuer or the Guarantor or make any
general assignment for the benefit of creditors. Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, the principal of
each obligation evidenced by such Note (together with
interest accrued and unpaid thereon) shall become, without
any notice or demand, immediately due and payable.3
|
|
5.
|
Obligation
Absolute. No provision of the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement under which the Notes are issued
shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and
interest on each Note at the times, place and rate, and in
the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
|
|
6.
|
Supplement. Any
term contained in the Supplement shall supersede any
conflicting term contained herein.
|
|
3
Unlike
single payment notes, where a default arises only at the
stated maturity, interest-bearing notes with multiple
payment dates should contain a default provision
permitting acceleration of the maturity if the Issuer
defaults on an interest payment.
|
Exhibit
D
Model
Opinion of Counsel to Issuer4
[Date]
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx & Co.
00
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX, 00000
Att:
Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
have acted as counsel to ________________, a _____________ corporation
(the “Issuer”), in connection with the proposed offering
and sale by the Issuer in the United States of commercial paper in the
form of short-term promissory notes (the “Notes”).
In
our capacity as such counsel, we have examined a specimen form of
Note, an executed copy of the Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated
____________, _____ (the “Agreement”) among the Issuer and
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. (the “Dealer”) and the Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement dated _____, _____ (the “Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement”) between the Issuer and _____, as
issuing and paying agent (the “Issuing and Paying Agent”)
as well as originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction, of such other records and documents as we have
deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below. In
such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all documents
submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to the originals of
all documents submitted to us as copies.
Capitalized terms used herein
without definition are used as defined in the Agreement.
Based upon the foregoing, it is
our opinion that:
|
1.
|
The
Issuer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the state of _________
and has all the requisite power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes, the
Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement.
|
|
2.
|
Each
of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Issuer and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance
with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), and except as
rights under the Agreement to indemnity and contribution may
be limited by federal or state laws.
|
|
4
Set
forth below are the operative provisions on which the
Dealer will generally expect a legal opinion. Parties
should recognize that there may be additions to the
Dealer’s opinion request, and variations as to the
opinion language, depending on the details of the
transaction and the differing opinion practices of law
firms; it may also be necessary to split the opinion
between two or more counsels where no one counsel is in
a position to opine as to all subjects or in all
relevant jurisdictions.
|
|
3.
|
The
Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided
in the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly and
validly issued and will constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in
accordance with their terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).
|
|
4.
|
The
issuance and sale of Notes under the circumstances
contemplated by the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying
Agency Agreement do not require registration of the
Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in
Section 4(2) thereof [and Regulation D thereunder], and
do not require compliance with any provision of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and the Notes
will rank at least pari passu with all other unsecured
and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer.
|
|
5.
|
[Except
as provided in Section 1.6(j) of the Agreement,]5 No
consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any
governmental or public regulatory body or authority,
including the Securities and Exchange Commission, is
required to authorize, or is otherwise required in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance of,
the Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement, except 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.
|
|
6.
|
Neither
the execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement, nor the issuance of the Notes
in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement,
nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and
provisions of either thereof by the Issuer, will (i) result
in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, lien, charge
or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the
properties or assets of the Issuer, or (ii) violate or
result in a breach or default under any of the terms of the
Issuer’s charter documents or by-laws, any contract or
instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it or
its property is bound, or any law or regulation, or any
order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or government
instrumentality, to which the Issuer is subject or by which
it or its property is bound.
|
|
7.
|
There
is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to
the knowledge of the Issuer threatened, against or affecting
the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries which might result in
a material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), operations or business prospects of the Issuer
or the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations
under the Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying
Agency Agreement.
|
|
8.
|
The
Issuer is not an “investment company” within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.6
|
This
opinion may be delivered to the Issuing and Paying Agent, each holder
from time to time of Notes and any nationally recognized rating agency
(in connection with the rating of the Notes), each of which may rely
on this opinion to the same extent as if such opinion were addressed
to it.
Very truly yours,
[Name
of Issuer]
I,
____________, the [Assistant] Secretary of _______________, a
_____________ corporation (the “Issuer”), do hereby
certify, in connection with the issuance and sale of short-term
promissory notes under the Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement dated
____________, ____ (the “Agreement”, the terms defined
therein being used herein as therein defined) between the Issuer and
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. (the “Dealer”), that:
|
1.
|
The
following resolution was duly adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Issuer [by unanimous written consent dated
_____, ____] [at a meeting thereof duly called and held on
_______, _____, at which meeting a quorum was present and
acting throughout], and such resolution has not been
amended, modified or revoked and is in full force and effect
on the date hereof:
|
RESOLVED,
that the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Executive Vice
President, any Vice President and the Treasurer of the Issuer be, and
each of them hereby is, individually authorized to: (i) borrow for the
use and benefit of the Issuer from time to time through the issuance
of commercial paper notes8;
(ii) execute such commercial paper notes in the name and on behalf of
the Issuer and issue such notes in accordance with the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement referred to below; (iii) execute and deliver
(A) a Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement between the Issuer and
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co., as Dealer, providing, among other things,
for the sale of commercial paper notes on behalf of the Issuer and the
indemnification of the Dealer in connection therewith, (B) an Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement between the Issuer and _____________, as
issuing and paying agent, and (C) a Letter of Representations
addressed to The Depository Trust Company; (iv) execute and file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission Form D and any and all
amendments thereto, as required by Section 1.6(j) of the Agreement;9
(v) delegate to any other officers or employees of the Issuer
authority to give instructions to the Dealer pursuant to the
Agreement; and (vi) do such acts and execute such other instruments
and documents as may be necessary and proper to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby including (a) amending documents
referred to herein and (b) appointing additional dealers and
successors to any of the parties named.
7 This
model certificate will serve as a guide for resolutions adopted by
the Issuer. Any resolutions actually adopted, regardless
of form, should cover all the substantive matters covered in this
model, and a certificate substantially to the effect of this model
is required to be delivered to the Dealer under Section 3.6(c) of
the Agreement.
8 The
reference to a specific dollar amount was removed in order to
provide issuers flexibility with respect to the total amount of
commercial paper issued without having to update the Resolutions.
9 Clause
(iv) may be deleted if Section 1.6(j) is not part of the Agreement.
See paragraph 2 of the Addendum and the BMA Model Guidance Note
relating to Section 1.6 generally.
2.
|
Each
of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement, as executed and delivered by the Issuer, is
substantially in the form thereof approved by the Board of
Directors and referred to in the resolution set forth in
paragraph 1 hereof.
|
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this certificate the _____ day of
_______, ________.
_____________________________
[Assistant]
Secretary