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EXHIBIT 99.4
______________, 1998
EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT
The Bank of New York
Corporate Trust Trustee Administration
101 Barclay Street - 21st Floor
New York, New York 10286
Ladies and Gentlemen:
American Banknote Corporation (the "Company") proposes to make an
offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange its 11 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007 (the "Old Notes") for its 11 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007,
Series B (the "New Notes"). The terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer as
currently contemplated are set forth in a prospectus, dated ___________, 1998
(the "Prospectus"), proposed to be distributed to all record holders of the Old
Notes. The Old Notes and the New Notes are collectively referred to herein as
the "Notes".
The Company hereby appoints The Bank of New York to act as exchange
agent (the "Exchange Agent") in connection with the Exchange Offer. References
hereinafter to "you" shall refer to The Bank of New York.
The Exchange Offer is expected to be commenced by the Company on or
about _____________, 1998. The Letter of Transmittal accompanying the Prospectus
(or in the case of book entry securities, the ATOP system) is to be used by the
holders of the Old Notes to accept the Exchange Offer and contains instructions
with respect to the delivery of certificates for Old Notes tendered in
connection therewith.
The Exchange Offer shall expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on
____________, 1998 or on such later date or time to which the Company may extend
the Exchange Offer (the "Expiration Date"). Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Prospectus, the Company expressly reserves the right to extend
the Exchange Offer from time to time and may extend the Exchange Offer by giving
oral (confirmed in writing) or written notice to you before 9:00 A.M., New York
City time, on the business day following the previously scheduled Expiration
Date.
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The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the
Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Old Notes not theretofore
accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of the
Exchange Offer specified in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange
Offer-Conditions." The Company will give oral (confirmed in writing) or written
notice of any amendment, termination or nonacceptance to you as promptly as
practicable.
In carrying out your duties as Exchange Agent, you are to act in
accordance with the following instructions:
1. You will perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The Exchange
Offer" or as specifically set forth herein; provided, however, that in no way
will your general duty to act in good faith be discharged by the foregoing.
2. You will establish an account with respect to the Old Notes at
The Depository Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") for purposes
of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of the Prospectus,
and any financial institution that is a participant in the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility's systems may make book-entry delivery of the Old Notes by causing the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Old Notes into your account in
accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedure for such transfer.
3. You are to examine each of the Letters of Transmittal and
certificates for Old Notes (or confirmation of book-entry transfer into your
account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility) and any other documents delivered
or mailed to you by or for holders of the Old Notes to ascertain whether: (i)
the Letters of Transmittal and any such other documents are duly executed and
properly completed in accordance with instructions set forth therein and (ii)
the Old Notes have otherwise been properly tendered. In each case where the
Letter of Transmittal or any other document has been improperly completed or
executed or any of the certificates for Old Notes are not in proper form for
transfer or some other irregularity in connection with the acceptance of the
Exchange Offer exists, you will endeavor to inform the presenters of the need
for fulfillment of all requirements and to take any other action as may be
necessary or advisable to cause such irregularity to be corrected.
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4. With the approval of the Chairman, President or any Vice
President of the Company (such approval, if given orally, to be confirmed in
writing) or any other party designated by such an officer in writing, you are
authorized to waive any irregularities in connection with any tender of Old
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
5. Tenders of Old Notes may be made only as set forth in the Letter
of Transmittal and in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The Exchange
Offer-Procedures for Tendering", and Old Notes shall be considered properly
tendered to you only when tendered in accordance with the procedures set forth
therein.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph 5, Old Notes which
the Chairman, President or any Vice President of the Company shall approve as
having been properly tendered shall be considered to be properly tendered (such
approval, if given orally, shall be confirmed in writing).
6. You shall advise the Company with respect to any Old Notes
received subsequent to the Expiration Date and accept its instructions with
respect to disposition of such Old Notes.
7. You shall accept tenders:
(a) in cases where the Old Notes are registered in two or more names
only if signed by all named holders;
(b) in cases where the signing person (as indicated on the Letter of
Transmittal) is acting in a fiduciary or a representative capacity only when
proper evidence of his or her authority so to act is submitted; and
(c) from persons other than the registered holder of Old Notes
provided that customary transfer requirements, including any applicable transfer
taxes, are fulfilled.
You shall accept partial tenders of Old Notes where so indicated and
as permitted in the Letter of Transmittal and deliver certificates for Old Notes
to the transfer agent for split-up and return any untendered Old Notes to the
holder (or such other person as may be designated in the Letter of Transmittal)
as promptly as practicable after expiration or termination of the Exchange
Offer.
8. Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the
Exchange Offer, the Company will notify you
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(such notice if given orally, to be confirmed in writing) of its acceptance,
promptly after the Expiration Date, of all Old Notes properly tendered and you,
on behalf of the Company, will exchange such Old Notes for New Notes and cause
such Old Notes to be cancelled. Delivery of New Notes will be made on behalf of
the Company by you at the rate of $1,000 principal amount of New Notes for each
$1,000 principal amount of the corresponding series of Old Notes tendered
promptly after notice (such notice if given orally, to be confirmed in writing)
of acceptance of said Old Notes by the Company; provided, however, that in all
cases, Old Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be exchanged only
after timely receipt by you of certificates for such Old Notes (or confirmation
of book-entry transfer into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility), a
properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile
thereof) with any required signature guarantees and any other required
documents. You shall issue New Notes only in denominations of $1,000 or any
integral multiple thereof.
9. Tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable, except
that, subject to the terms and upon the conditions set forth in the Prospectus
and the Letter of Transmittal, Old Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer
may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
10. The Company shall not be required to exchange any Old Notes
tendered if any of the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer are not met.
Notice of any decision by the Company not to exchange any Old Notes tendered
shall be given (and confirmed in writing) by the Company to you.
11. If, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Company does not accept
for exchange all or part of the Old Notes tendered because of an invalid tender,
the occurrence of certain other events set forth in the Prospectus under the
caption "The Exchange Offer-Conditions" or otherwise, you shall as soon as
practicable after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer return
those certificates for unaccepted Old Notes (or effect appropriate book-entry
transfer), together with any related required documents and the Letters of
Transmittal relating thereto that are in your possession, to the persons who
deposited them.
12. All certificates for reissued Old Notes, unaccepted Old Notes or
for New Notes shall be forwarded by first-class mail.
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13. You are not authorized to pay or offer to pay any concessions,
commissions or solicitation fees to any broker, dealer, bank or other persons or
to engage or utilize any person to solicit tenders.
14. As Exchange Agent hereunder you:
(a) shall have no duties or obligations other than those
specifically set forth herein or as may be subsequently agreed to in writing by
you and the Company;
(b) will be regarded as making no representations and having
no responsibilities as to the validity, sufficiency, value or genuineness of any
of the certificates or the Old Notes represented thereby deposited with you
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and will not be required to and will make no
representation as to the validity, value or genuineness of the Exchange Offer;
(c) shall not be obligated to take any legal action hereunder
which might in your reasonable judgment involve any expense or liability, unless
you shall have been furnished with reasonable indemnity;
(d) may reasonably rely on and shall be protected in acting in
reliance upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, telegram or
other document or security delivered to you and reasonably believed by you to be
genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties;
(e) may reasonably act upon any tender, statement, request,
comment, agreement or other instrument whatsoever not only as to its due
execution and validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the
truth and accuracy of any information contained therein, which you shall in good
faith believe to be genuine or to have been signed or represented by a proper
person or persons;
(f) may rely on and shall be protected in acting upon written
or oral instructions from any officer of the Company;
(g) may consult with your counsel with respect to any
questions relating to your duties and responsibilities and the advice or opinion
of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by you
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hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such
counsel; and
(h) shall not advise any person tendering Old Notes pursuant
to the Exchange Offer as to the wisdom of making such tender or as to the market
value or decline or appreciation in market value of any Old Notes.
15. You shall take such action as may from time to time be requested
by the Company or its counsel (and such other action as you may reasonably deem
appropriate) to furnish copies of the Prospectus, Letter of Transmittal and the
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as defined in the Prospectus) or such other forms
as may be approved from time to time by the Company, to all persons requesting
such documents and to accept and comply with telephone requests for information
relating to the Exchange Offer, provided that such information shall relate only
to the procedures for accepting (or withdrawing from) the Exchange Offer. The
Company will furnish you with copies of such documents at your request. All
other requests for information relating to the Exchange Offer shall be directed
to the Company, Attention: Jean Marie Young, Director of Investor Relations.
16. You shall advise by facsimile transmission or telephone, and
promptly thereafter confirm in writing to Harvey J. Kesner, Esq., of the
Company, David G. Schwartz, Esq., of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to the
Company (facsimile no. (212) 310-8133)), and such other person or persons as it
may request, daily (and more frequently during the week immediately preceding
the Expiration Date and if otherwise requested) up to and including the
Expiration Date, as to the number of Old Notes which have been tendered pursuant
to the Exchange Offer and the items received by you pursuant to this Agreement,
separately reporting and giving cumulative totals as to items properly received
and items improperly received. In addition, you will also inform, and cooperate
in making available to, the Company or any such other person or persons upon
oral request made from time to time prior to the Expiration Date of such other
information as it or he or she reasonably requests. Such cooperation shall
include, without limitation, the granting by you to the Company and such person
as the Company may request of access to those persons on your staff who are
responsible for receiving tenders, in order to ensure that immediately prior to
the Expiration Date the Company shall have received information in sufficient
detail to enable it to decide whether to extend the Exchange Offer. You shall
prepare a final list of all persons whose tenders were accepted, the aggregate
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principal amount of Old Notes tendered, the aggregate principal amount of Old
Notes accepted and deliver said list to the Company.
17. Letters of Transmittal and Notices of Guaranteed Delivery shall
be stamped by you as to the date and the time of receipt thereof and shall be
preserved by you for a period of time at least equal to the period of time you
preserve other records pertaining to the transfer of securities. You shall
dispose of unused Letters of Transmittal and other surplus materials by
returning them to the Company.
18. You hereby expressly waive any lien, encumbrance or right of
set-off whatsoever that you may have with respect to funds deposited with you
for the payment of transfer taxes by reasons of amounts, if any, borrowed by the
Company, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates pursuant to any loan or credit
agreement with you or for compensation owed to you hereunder.
19. For services rendered as Exchange Agent hereunder, you shall be
entitled to such compensation as set forth on Schedule I attached hereto.
20. You hereby acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and the Letter
of Transmittal and further acknowledge that you have examined each of them. Any
inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and the Prospectus and
the Letter of Transmittal (as they may be amended from time to time), on the
other hand, shall be resolved in favor of the latter two documents, except with
respect to the duties, liabilities and indemnification of you as Exchange Agent,
which shall be controlled by this Agreement.
21. The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold you
harmless in your capacity as Exchange Agent hereunder against any loss,
liability, cost or expense, including attorneys' fees and expenses, arising out
of or in connection with any act, omission, delay or refusal made by you in
reliance upon any signature, endorsement, assignment, certificate, order,
request, notice, instruction or other instrument or document reasonably believed
by you to be valid, genuine and sufficient and in accepting any tender or
effecting any transfer of Old Notes reasonably believed by you in good faith to
be authorized, and in delaying or refusing in good faith to accept any tenders
or effect any transfer of Old Notes; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be liable for indemnification or otherwise for any loss, liability, cost or
expense to the extent arising out of
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your gross negligence or willful misconduct. In no case shall the Company be
liable under this indemnity with respect to any claim against you unless the
Company shall be notified by you, by letter or by facsimile confirmed by letter,
of the written assertion of a claim against you or of any other action commenced
against you, promptly after you shall have received any such written assertion
or notice of commencement of action. The Company shall be entitled to
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such claim or other action,
and, if the Company so elects, the Company shall assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such claim. In the event that the Company shall assume
the defense of any such suit, the Company shall not be liable for the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel thereafter retained by you so long as the
Company shall retain counsel satisfactory to you to defend such suit, and so
long as you have not determined, in your reasonable judgment, that a conflict of
interest exists between you and the Company.
22. You shall arrange to comply with all requirements under the tax
laws of the United States, including those relating to missing Tax
Identification Numbers, and shall file any appropriate reports with the Internal
Revenue Service. The Company understands that you are required to deduct 31% on
payments to holders who have not supplied their correct Taxpayer Identification
Number or required certification. Such funds will be turned over to the Internal
Revenue Service in accordance with applicable regulations.
23. You shall deliver or cause to be delivered, in a timely manner
to each governmental authority to which any transfer taxes are payable in
respect of the exchange of Old Notes, your check in the amount of all transfer
taxes so payable, and the Company shall reimburse you for the amount of any and
all transfer taxes payable in respect of the exchange of Old Notes; provided,
however, that you shall reimburse the Company for amounts refunded to you in
respect of your payment of any such transfer taxes, at such time as such refund
is received by you.
24. This Agreement and your appointment as Exchange Agent hereunder
shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such
state, and without regard to conflicts of law principles, and shall inure to the
benefit of, and the obligations created hereby shall be binding upon, the
successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
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25. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
26. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
27. This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified,
amended, rescinded, cancelled or waived, in whole or in part, except by a
written instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party to be
charged. This Agreement may not be modified orally.
28. Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests and
other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including
facsimile or similar writing) and shall be given to such party, addressed to it,
at its address or telecopy number set forth below:
If to the Company:
American Banknote Corporation
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Facsimile: (212) 338-0740
Attention: Harvey J. Kesner, Esq.
If to the Exchange Agent:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
Floor 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Facsimile: (212) 815-5915
Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee
Administration
29. Unless terminated earlier by the parties hereto, this Agreement
shall terminate 90 days following the Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Paragraphs 19, 21 and 23 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement. Upon any termination of this Agreement, you shall promptly deliver to
the Company any certificates for Notes, funds or property then held by you as
Exchange Agent under this Agreement.
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30. This Agreement shall be binding and effective as of the date
hereof.
Please acknowledge receipt of this Agreement and confirm the
arrangements herein provided by signing and returning the enclosed copy.
AMERICAN BANKNOTE CORPORATION
By:________________________
Name: Harvey J. Kesner
Title: Executive Vice
President, General
Counsel and
Secretary
Accepted as of the date
first above written:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Exchange Agent
By:_____________________
Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE I
FEES
Flat fee ................................. $3,500
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