[Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
60 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Attention: Debt Capital Markets]
[Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Attention: David Kelly]
[Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
600 Steamboat Road
Greenwich, CT 06830
Attention: Robert Fahrbach]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
American Express Credit Corporation (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Agency Agreement, dated January [__], 2006 (the “Agency Agreement”), between the Company on the one hand and [ABN AMRO Incorporated], [Banc of America Securities LLC], [Barclays Capital Inc.], [BNP Paribas Securities Corp.], [BNY Capital Markets, Inc.], [Citigroup Global Markets Inc.], [Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC], [Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.], [Goldman, Sachs & Co.], [Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.], [J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.], [Lehman Brothers Inc.], [Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated], [Utendahl Capital Partners, L.P.], [Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC] and [The Williams Capital Group, L.P.] on the other, to issue and sell to [ABN AMRO Incorporated], [Banc of America Securities LLC], [Barclays Capital Inc.], [BNP Paribas Securities Corp.], [BNY Capital Markets, Inc.], [Citigroup Global Markets Inc.], [Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC], [Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.], [Goldman, Sachs & Co.], [Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.], [J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.], [Lehman Brothers Inc.], [Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated], [Utendahl Capital Partners, L.P.], [Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC] and [The Williams Capital Group, L.P.] the Company’s Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series C specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Purchased Notes”). Each of the provisions of the Agency Agreement not specifically or inherently solely related to the solicitation by [ABN AMRO Incorporated], [Banc of America Securities LLC], [Barclays Capital Inc.], [BNP Paribas Securities Corp.], [BNY Capital Markets, Inc.], [Citigroup Global Markets Inc.], [Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC], [Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.], [Goldman, Sachs & Co.], [Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.], [J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.], [Lehman Brothers Inc.], [Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated], [Utendahl Capital Partners, L.P.], [Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC] and [The Williams Capital Group, L.P.] as agents of the Company, of offers to purchase Notes is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and shall be deemed to be part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Nothing contained herein or in the Agency Agreement shall make any party hereto an agent of the Company or make such party subject to the provisions of the Agency Agreement relating exclusively to the solicitation of offers to purchase Notes from the Company, solely by virtue of its execution of this Terms Agreement. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement, except that each representation and warranty in Section 1 of the Agency Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Agency Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Notes.
The Company has prepared, or has caused to be prepared, an amendment to the Prospectus, or a pricing supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Notes, in the form heretofore delivered to you.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Agency Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to [ABN AMRO Incorporated], [Banc of America Securities LLC], [Barclays Capital Inc.], [BNP Paribas Securities Corp.], [BNY Capital Markets, Inc.], [Citigroup Global Markets Inc.], [Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC], [Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.], [Goldman, Sachs & Co.], [Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.], [J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.], [Lehman Brothers Inc.], [Merrill Lynch,
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Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated], [Utendahl Capital Partners, L.P.], [Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC] and [The Williams Capital Group, L.P.] agree to purchase from the Company, the Purchased Notes, at the time and place, in the principal amount and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule hereto.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you this letter, including those provisions of the Agency Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between you and the Company.
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| AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CORPORATION |
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Accepted:
[ABN AMRO INCORPORATED]
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[UTENDAHL CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.] | |
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By: | | |
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Title: | | |
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[WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS LLC.] | |
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By: | | |
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[THE WILLIAMS CAPITAL GROUP, L.P.] | |
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7
Schedule to Annex I
Title of Purchased Notes:
Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series C
Aggregate Principal Amount:
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by [ABN AMRO Incorporated], [Banc of America Securities LLC], [Barclays Capital Inc.], [BNP Paribas Securities Corp.], [BNY Capital Markets, Inc.], [Citigroup Global Markets Inc.], [Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC], [Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.], [Goldman, Sachs & Co.], [Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.], [J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.], [Lehman Brothers Inc.], [Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated], [Utendahl Capital Partners, L.P.], [Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC] and [The Williams Capital Group, L.P.]:
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| % of the principal amount of the Purchased Notes, plus accrued interest from to [and accrued amortization, if any, from to] |
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
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| [By certified or official bank check or checks, payable to the order of the Company, in immediately available funds |
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| [By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in immediately available funds] |
Specified Currency (If other than U.S. Dollars):
Indenture:
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| Indenture dated as of September 1, 1987, as supplemented by an Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 21, 2001 between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, N.A., (as successor to Bank One Trust Company, N.A.). |
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Indexed Principal Note:
Fixed or Floating or Indexed Rate:
Amortizing Note:
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Maturity:
Optional Redemption On or After:
Terms of Optional Redemption:
Optional Repayment On or After:
Terms of Optional Repayment:
[Initial] Interest Rate:
[ %]
Interest Payment Dates:
[months and dates]
For Floating Rate Notes Only:
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| a) | | Interest Rate Basis: |
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| | [LIBOR] [EURIBOR] [Treasury Rate] [Commercial Paper Rate] [Federal Funds Effective Rate] [CD Rate] [Prime Rate] [Other (specify)] |
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| b) | | Index Maturity: |
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| | [daily] [7 days/weekly] [30 days/1 month] [90 days/3 months] [180 days/6 months] [1 year][Other (specify)] |
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| c) | | Spread (if any): |
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| d) | | Spread Multiplier (if any): % |
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| e) | | Calculation Agent: |
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| f) | | Maximum Interest Rate (if any): % |
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| g) | | Minimum Interest Rate (if any): % |
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| h) | | Interest Reset Dates: |
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| | [months and dates] |
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| i) | | Interest Rate Reset Period: |
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| | [daily][weekly][monthly] [quarterly][semi-annually][annually] |
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| j) | | Interest Payment Period: |
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| | [monthly][quarterly][semi-annually][annually] |
Documents to be Delivered:
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| The following documents referred to in the Agency Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the Closing: |
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| [(1) | The opinion or opinions referred to in Section 6(e).] |
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| [(2) | The officers’ certificate referred to in Section 6(g).] |
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| [(3) | The letter of the Company’s independent public accountants referred to in Section 6(h).] |
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| [(4) | The opinion or opinions referred to in Section 6(i).] |
Syndicate Provisions:
[Set forth any provisions relating to underwriters’ default and step-up of amounts to be purchased by underwriters acting with [].]
10
Annex II
AMERICAN EXPRESS
CREDIT CORPORATION
Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series C
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
Medium-Term Senior Notes, Series C, with maturities of nine months or more from their dates of issue (the “Notes”), are to be offered from time to time by American Express Credit Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) through [ABN AMRO Incorporated], [Banc of America Securities LLC], [Barclays Capital Inc.], [BNP Paribas Securities Corp.], [BNY Capital Markets, Inc.], [Citigroup Global Markets Inc.], [Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC], [Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.], [Goldman, Sachs & Co.], [Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.], [J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.], [Lehman Brothers Inc.], [Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated], [Utendahl Capital Partners, L.P.], [Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC] and [The Williams Capital Group, L.P.] as agents of the Company (in such capacity, together the “Agents” and individually, an “Agent”). Each Agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase Notes directly from the Company (an Agent in relation to a purchase of a particular Note by a purchaser solicited by such Agent, being herein referred to as the “Selling Agent”) and may also purchase Notes from the Company as principal. The Notes are being offered pursuant to an Agency Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2006 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Agency Agreement”), between the Company and the Agents, to which this Administration Procedures is attached asAnnex II. Each sale of Notes to any Agent as principal shall be in accordance with the terms of the Agency Agreement and a Terms Agreement and to the extent any of the provisions of these Administrative Procedures may vary from the provisions of any Terms Agreement, the provisions of such Terms Agreement shall control.
The Notes will be issued from time to time pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 9, 2006, between the Company and The Bank of New York (together with such other trustee as may be named for the Notes, being hereafter referred to as the “Trustee”) (as the same may be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental thereto, the “Indenture”). The Trustee will make payments of principal and interest and take certain actions for and on behalf of the Company in connection with the Notes.
In the case of purchases of Notes of the Company by any Agent, as principal, the relevant terms and settlement details related thereto, including the Time of Delivery referred to in the Agency Agreement, will be set forth in a Terms Agreement entered into between such Agent and the Company pursuant to the Agency Agreement.
Each Note will be represented by either a Global Note (as defined hereinafter) or certificates delivered to the holder thereof or a person designated by such holder (“Certificated
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Notes”). An owner of a Global Note will not be entitled to receive a certificate representing such Note.
Administrative procedures and specific terms of each offering are explained below. Administrative and record-keeping responsibilities will be handled for the Company by the Trustee. The Trustee will advise each Agent in writing of those persons handling administrative responsibilities with whom each Agent is to communicate regarding offers to purchase Notes and the details of their delivery. Global Notes will be issued in accordance with the administrative procedures set forth in Part I hereof, as may be adjusted in accordance with changes in the Depositary’s operating requirements, and Certificated Notes will be issued in accordance with the administrative procedures set forth in Part II hereof. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Indenture, the Notes or the prospectus relating to the Notes shall be used herein as therein defined. To the extent the procedures set forth below conflict with the provisions of the Notes, the Indenture, the Depositary’s operating requirements or the Agency Agreement, the relevant provisions of the Notes, the Indenture, the Depositary’s operating requirements and the Agency Agreement shall control.
All times referred to herein shall be New York City times.
PART I
Administrative Procedures for Global Notes
Each Note will be represented by a Global Note (as defined hereinafter) registered in the name of a nominee of the Depositary Trust Company or any successor depositary selected by the Company (the “Depositary”) and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary. In connection with the qualification of Global Notes for eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary, the Trustee will perform the custodian, document control and administrative functions described below, in accordance with its respective obligations under a Letter of Representation dated June 9, 2006 from the Company to the Depositary and a Note Certificate Agreement between the Trustee and the Depositary (the “Certificate Agreement”), and its obligations as a participant in the Depositary, including the Depositary’s Same-Day Funds Settlement system (“SDFS”).
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Issuance: | On any Settlement Date (as defined under “Settlement” below) for one or more Fixed Rate Notes, the Company will issue a single note certificate in fully registered form without coupons (a “Global Note”) representing up to $500,000,000 principal amount of all of such Notes that have the same Original Issue Date, Interest Rate, Interest Payment Date, Initial Redemption Date and Redemption Terms (if any) and Stated Maturity. Similarly, on any Settlement Date for one or more Floating Rate Notes, the Company will issue a single Global Note representing all of such Notes that have the same Original Issue Date, Initial Interest Rate, Interest Rate Basis, Interest Payment Period, Interest Determination Date, Index Maturity, Spread (if any), Minimum Interest Rate (if any), Maximum Interest Rate (if |
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| any), Stated Maturity, Spread Multiplier (if any), Interest Rate Reset Period, Interest Reset Dates, Initial Redemption Date and Redemption Terms (if any) and Interest Payment Dates. Each Global Note will be dated as of the date of issue. Each Global Note will bear an Original Issue Date, which will be (i) with respect to an original Global Note (or any portion thereof), its original issuance date and (ii) with respect to any Global Note (or portion thereof) issued in lieu of a destroyed, lost or stolen Global Note, the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the predecessor Global Note or Notes (or if no such payment or provision has been made, the Original Issue Date of the predecessor Global Note), regardless of the date of issue of such subsequently issued Global Note. No Global Note will represent both Fixed Rate Notes and Floating Rate Notes. |
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Identification Numbers: | The Company will arrange, on or prior to the commencement of a program for the offering of Global Notes, with the CUSIP Service Bureau of Standard & Poor’s Corporation (the “CUSIP Service Bureau”) for the reservation of a series of CUSIP numbers (including tranche numbers), consisting of approximately 900 CUSIP numbers and relating to Global Notes representing the Notes. The Company has obtained from the CUSIP Service Bureau a written list of such series of reserved CUSIP numbers and will deliver such list to the Trustee and the Depositary. The Trustee will assign CUSIP numbers to Global Notes as described below under “Settlement Procedure—B.” The Depositary will notify the CUSIP Service Bureau periodically of the CUSIP numbers that the Trustee has assigned to Global Notes. The Trustee will notify the Company at any time when fewer than 100 of the reserved CUSIP numbers remain unassigned to Global Notes. At any time when fewer than 100 previously delivered CUSIP numbers in respect to the Company remain unassigned to Global Notes, the Company will deliver to the Depositary and the Trustee a new list of 900 CUSIP numbers reserved for future assignment to the Global Notes. |
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Registration: | Global Notes will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons. Each Global Note will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for the Depositary, on the securities register for the Global Notes (the “Securities Register”). The beneficial owner of a Global Note (or one or more indirect participants in the Depositary designated by such owner) will designate one or more participants in the Depositary (with respect to such Global Note, the “Participants”) to act as agent or agents for such owner in connection with the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary, and the Depositary will record in book-entry form, in accordance with instructions provided by such Participants, a credit balance with respect to such beneficial owner in such Global Note in the account of such Participants. The ownership |
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| interest of such beneficial owner (or such participants) in such Global Note will be recorded through the records of such Participants or through the separate records of such Participants and one or more indirect participants in the Depositary. |
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Transfers: | Transfers of a Global Note will be accomplished by book entries made by the Depositary and, in turn, by Participants (and in certain cases, one or more indirect participants in the Depositary) acting on behalf of beneficial transferors and transferees of such Global Note. |
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Exchange: | The Company, or the Trustee, at the Company’s request, may deliver to the Depositary and the CUSIP Service Bureau at any time a written notice of consolidation specifying (i) the CUSIP numbers of two or more outstanding Global Notes that represent (A) Fixed Rate Notes having the same Interest Rate, Initial Redemption Date and Redemption Terms (if any) and Stated Maturity and for which interest has been paid to the same date or (B) Floating Rate Notes having the same Interest Rate Basis, Interest Payment Period, Interest Determination Date, Index Maturity, Spread (if any), Minimum Interest Rate (if any), Maximum Interest Rate (if any), Stated Maturity, Spread Multiplier (if any), Interest Rate Reset Period, Interest Reset Date, Redemption Date and Redemption Terms (if any) and Interest Payment Dates and for which interest has been paid to the same date, (ii) a date, occurring at least thirty days after such written notice is delivered and at least thirty days before the next Interest Payment Date for such Global Notes, on which such Global Notes shall be exchanged for a single replacement Global Note and (iii) a new CUSIP number to be assigned to such replacement Global Note. Upon receipt of such a notice, the Depositary will send to its participants (including the Trustee) a written reorganization notice to the effect that such exchange will occur on such date. Prior to the specified exchange date, the Company will deliver to the CUSIP Service Bureau a written notice setting forth such exchange date and such new CUSIP number and stating that, as of such exchange date, the CUSIP numbers of the Global Notes to be exchanged will no longer be valid. On the specified exchange date, the Trustee will exchange such Global Notes for a single Global Note bearing the new CUSIP number and a new Original Issue Date, and the CUSIP numbers of the exchanged Global Notes will, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be canceled and not immediately reassigned. |
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| Upon such exchange, the Trustee will mark the predecessor Global Note “canceled,” make appropriate entries in the Trustee’s records and destroy such canceled Global Notes in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and deliver a certificate of destruction to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Global Notes to be |
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| exchanged exceed $500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, one Global Note will be authenticated and issued to represent each $500,000,000 of principal amount of the exchanged Global Notes and an additional Global Note will be authenticated and issued to represent any remaining principal amount of such Global Notes (see “Denominations” below). |
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Maturities: | Each Global Note will mature on a Business Day not less than nine months after the Settlement date for such Global Note (the “Maturity Date”). A Floating Rate Global Note will mature only on an Interest Payment Date for such Note. |
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Price to Public: | Each Global Note will be issued at 100% of its principal amount unless otherwise agreed to by the Company. |
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Denominations: | Global Notes will be issued in principal amounts of $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an integral multiple of $1,000. If Global Notes are denominated in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars, the denominations of such Notes will be determined pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Pricing Supplement. Global Notes will be denominated in principal amounts not in excess of $500,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof). If one or more Global Notes having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $500,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof) would, but for the preceding sentence, be represented by a single Global Note, then one Global Note will be authenticated and issued to represent each $500,000,000 principal amount (or the equivalent thereof) of such Global Note or Notes and an additional Global Note will be authenticated and issued to represent any remaining principal amount of such Global Note or Notes. In such a case, each of the Global Notes representing such Global Note or Notes shall be assigned the same CUSIP number. The Notes may not be resold or exchanged for denominations smaller than $100,000. |
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Notice of Redemption Dates: | The Trustee will give notice to the Depositary prior to each Redemption Date (as specified in the Global Note) if any at the time and in the manner set forth in the applicable Letter of Representations. |
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Interest: | General. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest, if any, on each Global Note will accrue from the Original Issue Date (or such other date on which interest otherwise begins to accrue (if different than the Original Issue Date)) of the Global Note for the first interest period or the last date to which interest has been paid, if any, for each subsequent interest period, on the Global Note, and will be calculated and paid in the manner and on the Interest Payment Dates described in such Global Note and in the Prospectus (as defined in the Agency Agreement), as supplemented by the applicable Pricing |
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| Supplement. Unless otherwise specified, each payment of interest on a Global Note will include interest accrued to but excluding the Interest Payment Date;provided, that in the case of Floating Rate Global Notes that reset daily or weekly, interest payments will include interest accrued to but excluding the next preceding Regular Record Date, except that at stated Maturity, the interest payable will include interest accrued to, but excluding, the Maturity. Interest payable at the Maturity of a Global Note will be payable to the Person to whom the principal of such Global Note is payable. Standard & Poor’s Corporation will use the information received in the pending deposit message described under Settlement Procedure “C” below in order to include the amount of any interest payable and certain other information regarding the related Global Note in the appropriate (daily or weekly) bond report published by Standard & Poor’s Corporation. The Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date for a Floating Rate Global Note, Fixed Rate Global Note or Indexed Rate Global Note shall be the date (whether or not a Business Day) fifteen calendar days immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. |
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Payments of Principal and Interest: | Payment of Interest Only. Promptly after each Regular Record Date, the Trustee for each Global Note will deliver to the Company and the Depositary a written notice setting forth, by CUSIP number, the amount of interest to be paid on each Global Note on the following Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date coinciding with Maturity) and the total of such amounts. The Depositary will confirm the amount payable on each Global Note on such Interest Payment Date by reference to the appropriate (daily or weekly) bond reports published by Standard & Poor’s Corporation. The Company will pay to the Trustee for the Notes represented by such Global Note the total amount of interest due on such Interest Payment Date (other than at Maturity), and such Trustee will pay such amount to the Depositary, at the times and in the manner set forth below under “Manner of Payment.” If any Interest Payment Date for a Global Note is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment. In the case of a Floating Rate Global Note that is a LIBOR Note or a EURIBOR Note, if postponement to the next business day would cause the interest payment date to be in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will instead be the immediately preceding Business Day. |
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| Payments at Maturity or Upon Redemption. On or about the first Business Day of each month, the Trustee will deliver to the Company and the Depositary a written list of principal and interest to be paid on each Global Note maturing either at Maturity or on a Redemption Date in the following month. The Trustee for each Global Note, the Company |
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| and the Depositary will confirm the amounts of such principal and interest payments with respect to each such Global Note on or about the fifth Business Day preceding the Maturity Date or Redemption Date of such Global Note. On or before such Maturity or Redemption, the Company will pay to the Trustee for the Notes represented by such Global Note the principal amount or redemption price of such Global Note, together with interest due at such Maturity or redemption in the manner set forth below under “Manner of Payment.” The Trustee will pay such amount to the Depositary at the times and in the manner set forth below under “Manner of Payment.” If any Maturity of a Global Note is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Maturity Date or Redemption Date. Promptly after payment to the Depositary of the principal and interest or redemption price due on the Maturity Date or Redemption Date of such Global Note, the Trustee for such Global Note will cancel and destroy such Global Note in accordance with the applicable Indenture and, if requested, deliver a certificate of destruction to the Company. |
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| Manner of Payment. The total amount of any principal and interest or redemption price due on Global Notes on any Interest Payment Date or at Maturity or upon redemption or repayment shall be paid by the Company to the Trustee for the Notes represented by such Global Note in immediately available funds no later than 9:30 A.M. on such date. The Company will make such payment on such Global Notes by instructing the Trustee to withdraw funds from an account maintained by the Company with the Trustee for the Notes represented by such Global Notes. The Company will confirm any such instructions in writing to such Trustee. Prior to 10 A.M. on the date of Maturity or as soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will pay by separate wire transfer (using Fedwire message entry instructions in a form previously specified by the Depositary) to an account at the Federal Reserve previously specified by the Depositary, in funds available for immediate use by the Depositary, each payment of principal (together with interest thereon) due on a Global Note on such Maturity Date or Redemption Date. On each Interest Payment Date (other than at Maturity), interest payments shall be made to the Depositary, in same day funds, in accordance with existing arrangements between the Trustee and the Depositary. On each such date, the Depositary will pay, in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then in effect, such amounts in funds available for immediate use to the respective Participants in whose names the Global Notes are recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary. None of the Company (as issuer or as paying agent) or the Trustee shall have any direct responsibility or liability for the payment by the Depositary to |
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| such Participants of the principal of and interest on the Global Notes. |
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| If an issue of Global Notes is denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, the Company will make payments of principal and any interest in the currency in which the Global Notes are denominated (the “foreign currency”) or in U.S. dollars. The Depositary has elected to have all such payments of principal and interest in U.S. dollars unless notified by any of its Participants through which an interest in the Global Notes is held that it elects, in accordance with and to the extent permitted by the applicable Terms Agreement and the Global Note, to receive such payment of principal or interest in the foreign currency. On or prior to the third Business Day after the record date for payment of interest and twelve days prior to the date for payment of principal, such Participant shall notify the Depositary of (i) its election to receive all, or the specified portion, of such payment in the foreign currency and (ii) its instructions for wire transfer of such payment to a foreign currency account. |
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| The Depositary will notify the Trustee on or prior to the fifth Business Day after the record date for payment of interest and ten days prior to the date for payment of principal of the portion of such payment to be received in the foreign currency and the applicable wire transfer instructions, and the Trustee shall use such instructions to pay the Participants directly. If the Depositary does not so notify the Trustee, it is understood that only U.S. dollar payments are to be made. The Trustee shall notify the Depositary on or prior to the second Business Day prior to payment date of the conversion rate to be used and the resulting U.S. dollar amount to be paid per $1,000 face amount. In the event that the Trustee’s quotation to convert the foreign currency into U.S. dollars is not available, the Trustee shall notify the Depositary’s Dividend Department that the entire payment is to be made in the foreign currency. In such event, the Depositary will ask its Participants for payment instructions and forward such instructions to the Trustee and the Trustee shall use such instructions to pay the Participants directly. |
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Withholding Taxes: | The amount of any taxes required under applicable law to be withheld for any interest, principal or redemption payment on a Global Note will be determined and withheld by the Participant, indirect participant in the Depositary or other Person responsible for forwarding payments and materials directly to the beneficial owner of such Global Note. |
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Procedure for Rate Setting and Posting: | The Company and the Agents will from time to time establish the aggregate principal amount of, the issuance price of, and the interest rates to be borne by, Global Notes that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by the Agents. If the Company decides to establish |
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| prices of, and rates borne by, any Global Notes to be sold (the establishment of such prices and rates to be referred to herein as “posting”) or if the Company decides to change prices or rates previously posted by it, it will promptly advise the Agents of the prices and rates to be posted. |
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Acceptance and Rejection of Offers: | Unless otherwise instructed by the Company, each Agent will advise the Company promptly by telephone of all offers to purchase Global Notes received by such Agent, other than those rejected by it in whole or in part in its discretion. Unless otherwise agreed by the Company and each of the Agents, the Company has the sole right to accept offers to purchase Global Notes and may reject any such offer in whole or in part. The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent who presented such offer of its acceptance or rejection of an offer to purchase Global Notes. Each Agent shall have the right, in its discretion without advising the Company, to reject any offer received by it to purchase Global Notes in whole or in part. |
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Preparation of Pricing Supplement: | If any order to purchase a Global Note is accepted by or on behalf of the Company, the Company will prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such Global Note, will file one copy thereof by electronic submission with the Commission in accordance with the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Act, will deliver such number of copies thereof to the Agents as the Agents shall request and will, on the Agents’ behalf, file three copies of such Pricing Supplement with the NASD. The Agents will cause the Prospectus and such Pricing Supplement to be delivered to the purchaser of such Global Note (either physically or pursuant to Rule 172 under the Act). |
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| In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is prepared, the Agents will affix the Pricing Supplements 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. |
| |
| Copies of the appropriate number of Pricing Supplement shall be delivered to the Agents at the addresses set forth for each of the Agents in the Agency Agreement by 11:00 A.M., on the Business Day following the acceptance of an offer by or on behalf of the Company. |
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Suspension of Solicitation; Amendment or Supplement: | Subject to the Company’s representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Agency Agreement, the Company may instruct the Agents to suspend at any time, for any period of time or permanently, the solicitation of offers to purchase Global Notes. As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than one Business Day after receipt of such notice, the Agents will suspend solicitation until such time as the |
19
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| Company has advised the Agents that solicitation of offers to purchase Global Notes may be resumed. Except as otherwise provided for in the Agency Agreement, the Company will have discretion regarding whether to amend or supplement the Prospectus. If the Company proposes so to amend or supplement, it will promptly advise the Agents and will furnish each Agent such proposed amendment or supplement. |
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| In the event that at the time the Company suspends solicitation of offers to purchase Global Notes there shall be any orders for delayed Settlement outstanding, the Company, consistent with its obligations under the Agency Agreement, promptly will advise the Agents through the Trustee whether such orders may be settled and whether copies of the Prospectus in effect at the time of the suspension may he delivered in connection with the Settlement of such orders. The Company will have the sole responsibility for such decision and for any arrangements that may be made in the event that the Company determines that such orders may not be settled or that copies of such Prospectus may not be so delivered. |
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Delivery of Prospectus: | With respect to each Company offering sold pursuant to the Agency Agreement, each Agent (or, in the case of a sale made directly by the Company, the Company) shall send a copy of the Prospectus as the same maybe supplemented or amended (either physically or pursuant to Rule 172 under the Act) to the customer or its agent prior to or together with the earlier of (a) delivery of the written confirmation of sale sent to such customer or agent or (b) the Settlement date. |
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Confirmation: | For each offer to purchase a Global Note solicited by any Agent and accepted by the Company, such Agent will issue a confirmation to the purchaser, and deliver a separate confirmation to the Company, setting forth the appropriate details for Settlement set forth below and delivery and payment instructions. |
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Settlement: | The receipt by the Trustee of immediately available funds in payment for a Note and issuance of the Global Note representing such Note shall constitute “Settlement” with respect to such Note. All orders accepted by the Company will be settled on the third Business Day thereafter pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set forth below unless the Company and the purchaser agree otherwise. |
| |
Settlement Procedures: | Settlement Procedures for each offer to purchase a Global Note sold by the Company through an Agent, except pursuant to the terms of the Agency Agreement shall be as follows: |
| | | | | |
| A. | The Agent will advise the Company (unless provided by the purchaser directly to the Company) by telephone, facsimile transmission or other mutually agreeable methods of the following |
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| | | | | |
| | Settlement information: |
| | | | | |
| | (1) | Name of the purchaser; |
| | | |
| | (2) | Address of the purchaser and, if different, the address of the purchaser for principal and interest payments; |
| | | |
| | (3) | Taxpayer identification number of the purchaser (if available); |
| | | |
| | (4) | Principal amount of the purchase; |
| | | |
| | (5) | Date of the purchase; |
| | | |
| | (6) | Date of Note; |
| | | |
| | (7) | Interest Rate: |
| | | (a) | Fixed Rate Notes: |
| | | | (i) | interest rate |
| | | | | |
| | | (b) | Floating Rate Notes: |
| | | | (ii) | interest rate basis |
| | | | (iii) | initial interest rate spread or spread multiplier, if any |
| | | | (iv) | interest rate reset periods and interest reset dates |
| | | | (v) | interest payment periods and interest payment dates |
| | | | (vi) | index maturity |
| | | | (vii) | maximum and minimum interest rates, if any; |
| | | | | |
| | (8) | Issue price of Note |
| | | |
| | (9) | Settlement date; |
| | | |
| | (10) | Specified currency; |
| | | |
| | (11) | Stated Maturity Date; |
| | | |
| | (12) | Agent’s commission, determined as provided in Section 2(a) of the Agency Agreement between the Company and such Agent; |
| | | |
| | (13) | Wire transfer information for payment of interest; |
|
| | (14) | If applicable, the date on or after which the Global Note is redeemable at the option of the Company; and |
| | | |
| | (15) | Any other terms necessary to describe the Global Note. |
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| | | | | |
| The Company will advise the Trustee by telephone (confirmed in writing at any time on the same date), written telecommunication or electronic transmission of the information set forth above in Settlement Procedure “A”. Each such communication by the Company shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company to the Trustee for such Note and the Agent that (i) such Note is then, and at the time of issuance and sale thereof will be, duly authorized for issuance and sale by the Company and (ii) such Note, and the Global Note representing such Note, will conform with the terms of the Indenture for such Note. The Trustee will then assign a CUSIP number to the Global Note representing such Global Note and notify the Agent and the Company by telephone (confirmed in writing at any time on the same date), written telecommunication or electronic transmission of such CUSIP number as soon as practicable. |
| |
| Before accepting any offer to purchase a Note to be settled in less than three Business Days, the Company shall verify that the Trustee will have adequate time to prepare and authenticate the Global Note representing such Note. |
| |
| After receiving from such Agent the details for each offer to purchase a Note, the Company will, after recording the details and any necessary calculations, provide appropriate documentation to the Trustee by written telecommunication, electronic transmission or other means acceptable to the Trustee, including the information provided by such Agent necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with the Settlement Procedures as set forth herein. |
| | | | | |
| B. | The Trustee will enter a pending deposit message through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System-4 providing the following Settlement information to the Depositary, such Agent, Standard & Poor’s Corporation and Interactive Data Corporation pursuant to which such Note is to be issued: |
| | | | | |
| | 1. | The information set forth under Settlement Procedure “A” above. |
| | | |
| | 2. | Identification as a Fixed Rate Note or a Floating Rate Note. |
| | | |
| | 3. | Initial Interest Payment Date for such Note, number of days by which such date succeeds the related Regular Record Date and amount of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date. |
| | | | | |
| | 4. | Frequency of interest payments (monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually). |
22
| | | | | |
| | 5. | CUSIP number of the Global Note representing such Note. |
| | | |
| | 6. | The participant account numbers maintained by the Depositary on behalf of the Trustee and the Agent. |
| | | |
| | 7. | Whether such Global Note will represent any other Note (to the extent known at such time). |
| | | | | |
| C. | To the extent the Company has not already done so, the Company will deliver to the Trustee for such Notes a Global Note in a form that has been approved by the Company, the Agent and the Trustee. |
| | |
| D. | The Trustee will complete the Global Note, stamp the appropriate legend, as instructed by the Depositary, if not already set forth thereon, and authenticate the Global Note. |
| | |
| E. | The Depositary will credit such Note to the Trustee’s participant account at the Depositary. |
| | |
| F. | The Trustee will enter an SDFS deliver order through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System instructing the Depositary to (i) debit such Note to the Trustee’s participant account and credit such Note to such Agent’s participant account and (ii) debit such Agent’s settlement account and credit the Trustee’s settlement account for an amount equal to the price of such Note. The entry of such a deliver order shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Trustee to the Depositary that (i) the Global Note representing such Note has been issued and authenticated and (ii) the Trustee is holding such Global Note pursuant to the Certificate Agreement. |
| | |
| G. | Unless the Agent is purchasing such Note as Principal, the Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System, with respect to each Note represented by the Global Note to be issued, instructing the Depositary (i) to debit such Note to such Agent’s participant account and credit such Note to the participant accounts of the Participants with respect to such Note and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts of such Participants and credit the settlement account of such Agent for an amount equal to the price of such Note. |
| | |
| H. | Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver order described in Settlement Procedures “G” and “H” will be settled in accordance with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement date. |
23
| | | | | |
| I. | The Trustee will, upon receipt of funds from the Agent in accordance with Settlement Procedure “G”, not earlier than 2:00 p.m., credit to an account of the Company maintained at the Trustee funds available for immediate use in the amount transferred to the Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure “G.” |
| | |
| J. | The Trustee will hold the Global Note pursuant to the Certificate Agreement. |
| | |
| K. | Monthly, the Trustee will send to the Company a statement setting forth the principal amount of Registered Notes Outstanding as of the date of such statement and setting forth a brief description of any sales of which the Company has advised such the Trustee but which have not yet been settled. |
| | |
| Such Agent will deliver to the purchaser a copy of the most recent Prospectus applicable to the Note with or prior to any offer of Notes and the confirmation and payment by the purchaser of the Note. |
| |
| Unless the Agent is purchasing such Note as Principal, the Agent will confirm the purchase of such Note to the purchaser either by transmitting to the Participants with respect to such Note a confirmation order or orders through the Depositary’s institutional delivery system or by mailing a written confirmation to such purchaser. |
| |
Settlement Procedures Timetable: | For orders of Notes solicited by an Agent, as agent, and accepted by the Company for Settlement on the first Business Day after the sale date, Settlement Procedures “A” through “K” set forth above shall be completed as soon as possible but not later than the respective times set forth below: |
| | | |
| Settlement Procedure | | Time |
|
| |
|
| A | | 11:00 A.M. on the sale date |
| | | |
| B | | 12:00 Noon on the sale date |
| | | |
| C | | 2:00 P.M. on the sale date |
| | | |
| D | | 3:00 P.M. on the day before Settlement date |
|
| E | | 9:00 A.M. on Settlement date |
| | | |
| F | | 10:00 A.M. on Settlement date |
| | | |
| G-H | | 2:00 P.M. on Settlement date |
24
| | | |
| I | | 4:45 P.M. on Settlement date |
| | | |
| J-K | | 5:00 P.M. on Settlement date |
| |
| If a sale is to be settled more than one Business Day after the sale date, Settlement Procedures “A”, “B” and “C” shall be completed as soon as practicable but no later than 11:00 A.M., 12:00 Noon and 2:00 P.M., as the case may be, on the first Business Day after the sale date. If the initial interest rate for a Floating Rate Global Note has not been determined at the time that Settlement Procedure “A” is completed, Settlement Procedures “B” and “C” shall be completed as soon as such rate has been determined but no later than 11:00 A.M., 12:00 Noon and 2:00 P.M., respectively, on the Business Day before the Settlement date. Settlement Procedure “I” is subject to extension in accordance with any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement date. |
| |
| If Settlement of a Note is rescheduled or canceled, the Trustee after receiving notice from the Company or the Agent, will deliver to the Depositary, through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System, a cancellation message to such effect by no later than 2:00 P.M. on the Business Day immediately preceding the scheduled Settlement date. |
| |
Failure to Settle: | If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with respect to a Global Note pursuant to Settlement Procedure “G”, the Trustee after receiving notice from the Company or the Agent, may deliver to the Depositary, through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System, as soon as practicable, a withdrawal message instructing the Depositary to debit such Global Note to the Trustee’s participant account. The Depositary will process the withdrawal message, provided that the Trustee’s participant account contains a principal amount of the Global Note representing such Note that is at least equal to the principal amount to be debited. If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to all the Notes represented by a Global Note, the Trustee for the Notes represented by such Global Note will mark such Global Note “canceled”, and make appropriate entries in the Trustee’s records. The CUSIP number assigned to such Global Note shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be canceled and not immediately reassigned. If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Notes represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will exchange such Global Note for two Global Notes, one of which shall represent such Note or Notes and shall be canceled immediately after issuance and the other of which shall represent the other Notes previously represented by the surrendered Global Note and shall bear the CUSIP number of the |
25
| |
| surrendered Global Note. |
| |
| Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with respect to a Note, the Depositary may take any actions in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then in effect. In the event of a failure to settle with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Notes to have been represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedures “G” and “F”, for the authentication and issuance of a Global Note representing the other Notes which have not failed to settle, to have been represented by such Global Note and will make appropriate entries in its records. |
| |
Redemption: | Except as otherwise indicated in an applicable Pricing Supplement or on a Global Note, the Global Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity. If so indicated in an applicable Pricing Supplement or on a Global Note, such Global Note may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, on any Interest Payment Date commencing on or after the date set forth on such Global Note, which shall be at least 6 months after the date of original issue of such Global Note, upon not less than 5 business days prior written notice to the registered holder thereof, at 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date of redemption (the “Redemption Date”). |
| |
Procedures upon Company’s Exercise of Optional | Company Notice to Trustee regarding Exercise of Optional Redemption. At least 45 days prior to the date on which it intends to redeem a Global Note, the Company will notify the Trustee for such Global Note that it is exercising such option with respect to such Global Note on such date and the redemption price of such Global Notes. |
| |
| Trustee Notice to the Depositary regarding Company’s Exercise of Optional Redemption. Notice to redeem the Global Notes will be mailed, first class postage prepaid, by the Trustee to the Depositary, or its nominee as of the close of business on the date that is five business days preceding the date on which such notice is given. Such notice shall specify (i) the principal amount of the Global Notes to be redeemed, (ii) the date upon which the Global Notes shall be redeemed, and (iii) that interest on the principal amount redeemed shall cease to accrue on the Redemption Date. |
|
| Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price, plus interest accrued to such Redemption Date, for all the Global Notes or portions thereof which are to be repaid on such Redemption Date. The Trustee will use such money to repay such Global Notes pursuant to the terms set forth in such Global Notes. |
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Payments of Principal and Interest Upon Exercise of Optional` Repayment: | Trustee Notice to Company of Option to be Repaid. Upon receipt of notice of exercise of the option for repayment and the Global Notes so to be repaid as set forth in such Notes, the Trustee shall give notice to the Company not less than 20 days prior to each Optional Repayment Date of such Optional Repayment Date and of the principal amount of Global Notes to be repaid on such Optional Repayment Date. |
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| Deposit of Repayment Price. On or prior to any Optional Repayment Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money sufficient to pay the optional repayment price, and accrued interest thereon to such date, of all the Global Notes or portions thereof which are to be repaid on such date. The Trustee will use such money to repay such Global Notes pursuant to the terms set forth in such Global Notes. |
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Trustee Not to Risk Funds: | Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to risk or expend its own funds in connection with any payment to the Company, the Depositary, the Agents or the purchaser, it being understood by all parties that payments made by either the Trustee to the Company, the Depositary, the Agents or the purchaser shall be made only to the extent that funds are provided to the Trustee for such purpose. |
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Authenticity of Signatures: | The Company will cause the Trustee to furnish the Agents from time to time with the specimen signatures of each of the Trustee’s officers, employees or agents who have been authorized by the Trustee to authenticate Global Notes, but the Agents will have no obligation or liability to the Company or the Trustee in respect of the authenticity of the signature of any officer, employee or agent of the Company or the Trustee on any Global Note. |
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Payment of Expenses: | The Agents shall forward to the Company, on a monthly basis, a statement of the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents during that month that are reimbursable to them pursuant to the terms of the Agency Agreement. The Company will remit payment to the Agents currently on a monthly basis. |
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Advertising Costs: | The Company will determine with the Agents the amount of advertising that may be appropriate in offering the Global Notes. Reasonable advertising expenses will be paid by the Company. |
PART II
Administrative Procedures for Certificated Notes
27
The Trustee will serve as registrar and transfer agent in connection with the Certificated Notes.
| |
Price to Public: | Each Certificated Note will be issued at 100% of principal amount, unless otherwise agreed to by the Company. |
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Date of Issuance: | Each Certificated Note will be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee. |
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Maturities: | Each Certificated Note will mature on a Business Day selected by the purchaser and agreed upon by the Company, such date being at least nine months from the date of issuance. Each Certificated Floating Rate Note will mature on an Interest Payment Date. |
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Registration: | Certificated Notes will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons. |
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Currency: | The specified currency for a Certificated Note shall be U.S. dollars unless another currency is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. |
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Denominations: | The Certificated Notes will be issued and payable in U.S. dollars (or in the other specified currency) in the denomination of $100,000 and any larger denomination that is an integral multiple of $1,000. The Certificated Notes may not be resold or exchanged for denominations smaller than $100,000. |
| |
Interest : | General. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest, if any, on each Certificated Note will accrue from the Original Issue Date (or such other date on which interest otherwise begins to accrue (if different from the Original Issue Date)) of such Certificated Note for the first interest period or the last date to which interest has been paid, if any, for each subsequent interest period, on such Certificated Note, and will be calculated and paid in the manner and on the dates described in such Certificated Note and in the Prospectus, as supplemented by the applicable Pricing Supplement. Unless otherwise specified therein, each payment of interest on a Certificated Note will include interest accrued to but excluding the Interest Payment Date (provided that, in the case of Certificated Notes which reset daily or weekly, interest payments will include accrued interest to and including the next preceding Regular Record Date (as defined below), except that at Stated Maturity, the interest payable will include interest |
28
| |
| accrued to, but excluding, the stated Maturity date. |
| |
| Regular Record Dates. The Regular Record Dates with respect to any Interest Payment Date for a Fixed Rate Certificated Note, Floating Rate Certificated Note or Indexed Rate Certificated Note shall be the date (whether or not a Business Day) fifteen calendar days immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. |
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Payments of Interest: | The Trustee will pay the principal amount of each Certificated Note at Maturity or upon redemption upon presentation and surrender of such Certificated Note to the Trustee. Such payment, together with payment of interest due at Maturity or upon redemption of such Certificated Note, will be made in funds available for immediate use by the Trustee and in turn by the holder of such Certificated Note. Certificated Notes presented to the Trustee at Maturity or upon redemption for payment will be canceled and destroyed by the Trustee, and a certificate of destruction will be delivered to the Company. All interest payments on a Certificated Note (other than interest due at Maturity or upon redemption) will be made by check drawn on the Trustee (or another person appointed by the Trustee) and mailed by the Trustee to the person entitled thereto as provided in such Certificated Note and the applicable Indenture;provided,however, that any holder of $10,000,000 or more of Certificated Notes having the same Interest Payment Dates will, upon written request prior to the Regular Record Date in respect of an Interest Payment Date, be entitled to receive payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Following each Regular Record Date, the Trustee will furnish the Company with a list of interest payments to be made on the following Interest Payment Date for each Certificated Note and in total for all Certificated Notes. Interest at Maturity or upon redemption will be payable to the person to whom the payment of principal is payable. The Trustee will provide monthly to the Company lists of principal and interest, to the extent ascertainable, to be paid on Certificated Notes maturing or to be redeemed in the next month. |
| |
| Withholding Taxes. The amount of any taxes required under applicable law to be withheld from any interest payment on a Certificated Note will be determined and withheld by the Trustee. The Company will be responsible for withholding taxes on interest paid on Certificated Notes as required by applicable law |
29
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| If any Interest Payment Date for or the Maturity of a Certificated Note is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue on account of such delayed payment. In the case of a Floating Rate Certificated Note that is a LIBOR Note or a EURIBOR Note, if postponement to the next Business Day would cause the Interest Payment Date to be in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will instead be the immediately preceding Business Day. |
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Preparation of Pricing Supplement: | If any order to purchase a Certificated Note is accepted by or on behalf of the Company, the Company will prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such Certificated Note, will file one copy thereof by electronic submission with the Commission in accordance with the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Act, will deliver such number of copies thereof to the Agents as the Agents shall request and will, on the Agents’ behalf, file three copies of the Pricing Supplement with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”). The Agents will cause the Prospectus and Pricing Supplement to be delivered to the purchaser of such Certificated Note (either physically or pursuant to Rule 172 under the Act). |
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| Copies of the appropriate number of Pricing Supplements shall be delivered to the Agents at the addresses set forth for each of the Agents in the Agency Agreement by 11:00 A.M., on the Business Day following the acceptance of an offer by or on behalf of the Company. |
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| In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is prepared, the Agents will affix the Pricing Supplement to a Prospectus prior to its use. Outdated Pricing Supplements and the Prospectuses to which they are attached (other than those retained for files), will be destroyed. |
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Acceptance and Rejection of Offers: | The Company shall have the right to accept offers to purchase its Certificated Notes in its sole discretion and may reject any such offer in whole or in part. The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent of its acceptance or rejection of an offer to purchase its Certificated Notes. Each Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised without advising the Company, to reject any offer in whole or in part. Each Agent shall promptly communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to purchase Certificated Notes from the Company received by such Agent, other than those rejected by such Agent in the reasonable exercise of its |
30
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| discretion. |
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Settlement: | The receipt of immediately available funds in U.S. Dollars (or in the other specified currency) by the Company in payment for a Certificated Note and the authentication and issuance of such Certificated Note shall, with respect to such Certificated Note, constitute “Settlement”. All offers accepted by the Company will be settled from one to three Business Days from the date of acceptance by the Company pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set forth below unless the Company and the purchaser agree to Settlement on a later date,provided, however, that the Company will so notify the Trustee of any such later date on or before the Business Day immediately prior to the Settlement date. |
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Settlement Procedures: | In the event of a purchase of Certificated Notes by an Agent, as principal, appropriate Settlement details will be set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement to be entered into between such Agent and the Company pursuant to the Agency Agreement. Settlement Procedures with regard to each Certificated Note sold by the Company or through each Agent shall be as follows: |
| | | |
| A. | The Selling Agent will advise the Company (unless provided by the purchaser directly to the Company) by telephone, telex or facsimile, of the following Settlement information: |
| | |
| | (1) | Exact name in which the Certificated Note is to be registered (“Registered Owner”). |
| | | |
| | (2) | Exact address of the Registered Owner and address for payment of principal and interest, if any. |
| | | |
| | (3) | Taxpayer identification number of the Registered Owner. |
|
| | (4) | Principal amount of the Certificated Note (and, if multiple Certificated Notes are to be issued, denominations thereof). |
| | | |
| | (5) | Settlement Date. |
| | | |
| | (6) | Stated Maturity. |
| | | |
| | (7) | Price. |
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| | | | | |
| | (8) | Trade Date. |
| | | |
| | (9) | Interest rate: |
| | | (a) | | Fixed Rate Notes: |
| | | | i) | Interest Rate |
| | | | | |
| | | (b) | | Floating Rate Notes: |
| | | | i) | Interest Rate Basis |
| | | | ii) | Initial Interest Rate |
| | | | iii) | Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any |
| | | | iv) | Interest Reset Periods and Interest Reset Dates |
| | | | v) | Interest Payment Periods and Interest Payment Dates |
| | | | vi) | Index Maturity |
| | | | vii) | Maximum and Minimum Interest Rates, if any |
| | | | viii) | Interest Determination Dates |
| | | | ix) | Regular Record Dates |
| | | | | |
| | (10) | The date on or after which the Certificated Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company, and additional redemption provisions, if any. |
| | | |
| | (11) | Wire transfer information for payment of interest. |
| | | |
| | (12) | Interest Payment Date and the Interest Payment Period. |
| | | |
| | (13) | Agents’ commission. |
|
| B. | The Company will confirm the information set forth in Settlement Procedure “A” above and the name of the Selling Agent to the Trustee by telephone, telex or facsimile, and the Trustee will assign a CUSIP number to the transaction. If the Company rejects an offer, the Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent and the Trustee by telephone. |
| | |
| C. | The Trustee will complete the Certificated Note and will authenticate such Certificated Note. |
| | |
| D. | The Trustee will deliver the Certificated Note to the Selling Agent. |
| | |
| E. | The Selling Agent will cause to be wire transferred to a bank account designated by the Company immediately |
32
| | |
| | available funds in U.S. dollars (or in the other specified currency) in the amount of the principal amount of the Certificated Note. |
| | |
| F. | The Selling Agent will deliver the Certificated Note to the purchaser against payment in immediately available funds in the amount of the principal amount of the Certificated Note. The Selling Agent will deliver to the purchaser a copy of the most recent Prospectus applicable to the Certificated Note with or prior to any written offer of Certificated Notes, delivery of the Certificated Note and the confirmation and payment by the purchaser for the Certificated Note. |
| | |
Settlement Procedures Timetables: | For offers accepted by the Company, Settlement Procedures “A” through “F” set forth above shall be completed on or before the respective times set forth below: |
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| | |
| Settlement Procedure | Time(New York) |
|
|
|
| | |
| A | 5 PM on date of order |
| | |
| B | 3 PM on the Business Day prior to Settlement date |
| | |
| C-D | 12 noon on the Settlement date |
| | |
| E | 2:15 PM on the Settlement date |
| | |
| F | 3 PM on the Settlement date |
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Failure to Settle: | In the event that a purchaser of a Certificated Note shall either fail to accept delivery of or make payment for the Certificated Note on the date fixed by the Company for Settlement, the Selling Agent will immediately notify the Trustee and the Company by telephone, confirmed in writing, of such failure and return the Certificated Note to the Trustee. Upon the Trustee’s receipt of the Certificated Note from such Selling Agent, the Company will promptly return to such Selling Agent an amount of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars (or in the other specified currency) equal to any amount previously transferred to the Company in respect of the Certificated Note pursuant to advances made by such Selling Agent. Such returns will be made on the Settlement date, if possible, and in any event not later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day following |
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| the Settlement date. The Company will reimburse such Selling Agent on an equitable basis for its loss of the use of the funds during the period when the funds were credited to the account of the Company. Upon receipt of the Note in respect of which the default occurred, the Trustee will mark the Note “canceled”, make appropriate entries in its records and deliver the Certificated Note to the Company with an appropriate debit advice. Subject to the Agency Agreement, the Selling Agent will not be entitled to any commission with respect to any Certificated Note that the purchaser does not accept or make payment for. |
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Redemption: | Except as otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement or in the applicable Certificated Note, the Notes will not be redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity. If so specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement or in the applicable Certificated Note, such Certificated Note will be subject to redemption by the Company, on any Interest Payment Date commencing on or after the date set forth on the Certificated Note, which shall be at least six months after the date of original issue of such Certificated Note, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company, at the redemption price set forth on the Certificated Note, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of redemption. |
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Procedures upon Company’s Exercise of Optional Redemption: | Company Notice to Trustee regarding Exercise of Optional Redemption. At least 45 days prior to the date on which it intends to redeem a Certificated Note, the Company will notify the Trustee for such Certificated Note that it is exercising such option with respect to such Certificated Note on such date. |
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| Trustee Notice to Holders regarding Company’s Exercise of Optional Redemption. After receipt of notice that the Company is exercising its option to redeem a Certificated Note, the Trustee will, at least 30 days before the Redemption Date for such Certificated Note, mail a notice, first class, postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Certificated Note, informing such Holder of the Company’s exercise of such option with respect to such Certificated Note. |
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Payments of Principal and Interest Upon Exercise of Optional Repayment | Trustee Notice to Company of Option to be Repaid. Upon receipt of notice of exercise of the option for repayment and the Certificated Notes to be repaid as set forth in such Certificated Notes, the Trustee for such Certificated Notes shall give notice to the Company not less than 20 days prior to each Optional Repayment Date of such Optional Repayment Date and of the |
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| principal amount of Certificated Notes to be repaid. |
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Payment at Maturity: | Upon presentation of each Certificated Note at Stated Maturity or upon redemption, the Trustee (or any duly appointed paying agent) will pay the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest. Such payment shall be made in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars (or such other specified currency), provided that the Certificated Note is presented to the Trustee (or any such paying agent) in time for the Trustee (or such paying agent) to make payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. The Company will provide the Trustee (and any such paying agent) with funds available for immediate use for such purpose. Certificated Notes presented at Stated Maturity or upon redemption will be canceled by the Trustee. |
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Procedures for Rate Setting and Posting: | The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the rates to be borne by the Certificated Notes that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by the Agents. Once any Agent has recorded any indication of interest in Certificated Notes upon certain terms, and communicated with the Company, if the Company accepts an offer to purchase Certificated Notes upon such terms, it will supply an appropriate number of copies of the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, to the Agent who presented such offer. See “Delivery of Prospectus.” No Settlements with respect to Certificated Notes upon such terms may occur prior to such delivery and the Agents will not, prior to such delivery, mail confirmations to customers who have offered to purchase Certificated Notes upon such terms. After such delivery, sales, mailing of confirmations and Settlements may occur with respect to Certificated Notes upon such terms, subject to the provisions of “Delivery of Prospectus” below. |
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| If the Company decides to post rates and a decision has been reached to change interest rates, the Company will promptly notify each Agent. Each Agent will forthwith suspend solicitation of purchases. At that time, the Agents will recommend and the Company will establish rates to be so “posted.” Following establishment of posted rates and prior to the delivery described in the following sentence, the Agents may only record indications of interest in purchasing Certificated Notes at the posted rates. Once any Agent has recorded any indication of interest in Certificated Notes at the posted rates and communicated with the appropriate Officer of |
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| the Company, if the Company plans to accept an offer at the posted rate, it will supply an appropriate number of copies of the applicable Pricing Supplement to the Agent who presented such offer. See “Delivery of Pricing Supplement.” No Settlements at the posted rates may occur prior to such delivery and the Agents will not, prior to such delivery, mail confirmations to customers who have offered to purchase Certificated Notes at the posted rates. After such delivery, sales, mailing of confirmations and Settlements may resume, subject to the provisions of “Delivery of Pricing Supplement” below. |
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Suspension of Solicitation: | In the event that at the time the Agents, at the direction of the Company, suspend solicitation of offers to purchase from the Company there shall be any orders outstanding which have not been settled, the Company will promptly advise the Agents through the Trustee whether such orders may be settled and whether copies of the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, as theretofore amended and/or supplemented as in effect at the time of the suspension may be delivered in connection with the Settlement of such orders. The Company will have the sole responsibility for such decision and for any arrangements that may be made in the event that the Company determines that such orders may not be settled or that copies of such Prospectus may not be so delivered. |
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Delivery of Pricing Supplement: | A copy of the Prospectus, as most recently amended or supplemented on the date of delivery thereof, must be delivered by an Agent (or, in the case of a sale made directly by the Company, by the Company) to a purchaser (either physically or pursuant to Rule 172 under the Act) prior to or together with the earlier of the delivery of (i) the written confirmation of a sale sent to a purchaser or his agent and (ii) any Certificated Note purchased by such purchaser. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the Agents receive copies of the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto in such quantities and within such time limits as will enable an Agent to deliver such confirmation or Certificated Note to a purchaser as contemplated by these procedures and in compliance with the preceding sentence. If, since the date of acceptance of a purchaser’s offer, the Prospectus shall have been supplemented solely to reflect any sale of Certificated Notes on terms different from those agreed to between the Company and such purchaser or a change in posted rates not applicable to such purchaser, such purchaser shall not receive the Prospectus as supplemented by |
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| such new supplement, but shall receive the prospectus as supplemented to reflect the terms of the Certificated Notes being purchased by such purchaser and otherwise as most recently amended or supplemented on the date of delivery of the Prospectus. The Trustee will make all such deliveries with respect to all Certificated Notes sold directly by the Company. |
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Confirmation: | For each order to purchase a Certificated Note solicited by the Agent and accepted by or on behalf of the Company, the Agent will issue a confirmation to the purchaser, with a copy to the Company, setting forth the details set forth above and delivery and payment instructions. |
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Trustees Not to Risk Funds: | Nothing herein shall be deemed to require either the Trustee to risk or expend its own funds in connection with any payment to the Company, the Agents or the purchaser, it being understood by all parties that payments made by either the Trustee to the Company, the Agents or the purchaser shall be made only to the extent that funds are provided to the Trustee for such purpose. |
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Authenticity of Signatures: | The Company will cause the Trustee to furnish the Agents from time to time with the specimen signatures of each of the Trustee’s officers, employees and agents who have been authorized by the Trustee to authenticate Certificated Notes, but the Agents will have no obligation or liability to the Company or the Trustee in respect of the authenticity of the signature of any officer, employee or agent of the Company or the Trustee on any Certificated Note. |
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Payment of Expenses: | The Agents shall forward to the Company, on a monthly basis, a statement of the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents during that month that are reimbursable to them pursuant to the terms of the Agency Agreement. The Company will remit payment to the Agents currently on a monthly basis. |
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Advertising Costs: | The Company will determine with the Agents the amount of advertising that may be appropriate in offering the Certificated Notes. Reasonable advertising expenses will be paid by the Company. |
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Annex III
AUDITORS’ COMFORT LETTERS
The independent accountants referred to in Section 6(h) of the Basic Provisions shall deliver letters, in accordance with such section confirming that they are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and [that they have performed a review of the unaudited interim financial information of the Company for the -month period ended , 20 , and as at , 20 ,[insert in each case the date of the most recent unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus]in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 100, and stating in effect that:
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| (i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules [and pro forma financial statements] included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Accounting Oversight Board (United States); |
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| (ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Company; [their limited review, in accordance with standards established under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 100, of the unaudited interim financial information for the -month period ended , 20 and as at , 20[insert in each case the date of the most recent unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus][, as indicated in their report dated , 20 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement [and the Prospectus]];] carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) that would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders and directors of the Company; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company as to transactions and events subsequent to , 20 ,[insert date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus], nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that: |
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| | (1) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement [and the Prospectus] do not comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements of the Act and with the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission with respect to financial statements included or |
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| | incorporated by reference in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement [and the Prospectus]; |
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| | (2) with respect to the period subsequent to , 20[insert date of the most recent financial statements (other than any capsule information), audited or unaudited, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus], there were, at a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of the letter, any change in the capital stock, increase in long-term debt, or decrease in consolidated stockholders’ equity of the consolidated Company as compared with the amounts shown on the , 20[insert same date as above]consolidated balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement [and the Prospectus], or for the period from , 20[insert date one day after the date inserted above]to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with [insert the appropriate comparative period;e.g.: the corresponding period in the preceding year; or, the corresponding period in the preceding quarter; or if no appropriate period exists, insert dollar amounts for each item]in consolidated revenues or consolidated net income, except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Agents; |
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| | (3)[If the interim financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are supplemented by later income statement information (so called “capsule” information), add:the unaudited amounts of [describe the capsule information and its location]do not agree with the amounts set forth in the unaudited financial statements for the same periods or were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with that of the corresponding amounts in the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement [and the Prospectus]; and[If the capsule information meets the minimum disclosure requirements of APB Opinion No. 28, paragraph 30, the section above should be expanded also to cover “conformity with generally accepted accounting principles”; see paragraph 38 of Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72] |
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| (iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries) set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement [and the Prospectus], agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation[; and][.] |
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| (iv)[If unaudited pro forma financial statements are included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, it is preferable for the accountants to prepare and include in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus an examination or review “report” on the pro forma financial statements (see bracketed language in paragraph (i) above). To the extent a report is not included on annual or interim pro forma financial statements, include the following in the comfort letter, which is based on Example ”D” of Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72:on the basis of a reading of the unaudited pro forma financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement [and the Prospectus] (the “pro forma financial statements”); carrying out certain specified procedures; inquiries of certain officials of the Company [and ][insert name of acquired company, if appropriate]who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters; and proving the arithmetic accuracy of the application of the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts in the pro forma financial statements, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that the pro forma financial statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X or that the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of such statements.] |
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