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Commercial
Paper Dealer Agreement
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1.
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Offers,
Sales and Resales of Notes.
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1.1
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While
(i) the Issuer has and shall have no obligation to sell the Notes to the
Dealer or to permit the Dealer to arrange any sale of the Notes for the
account of the Issuer, and (ii) the Dealer has and shall have no
obligation to purchase the Notes from the Issuer or to arrange any sale of
the Notes for the account of the Issuer, the parties hereto agree that in
any case where the Dealer purchases Notes from the Issuer, or arranges for
the sale of Notes by the Issuer, such Notes will be purchased or sold by
the Dealer in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements of the Issuer contained herein or made pursuant hereto and on
the terms and conditions and in the manner provided
herein.
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1.2
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So
long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, and in addition to the
limitations contained in Section 1.7 hereof, the Issuer shall not, without
the consent of the Dealer, offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or
sell, any Notes except (a) in transactions with one or more dealers which
may from time to time after the date hereof become dealers with respect to
the Notes by executing with the Issuer one or more agreements which
contain provisions substantially identical to those contained in Section 1
of this Agreement, of which the Issuer hereby undertakes to provide the
Dealer prompt notice or
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(b)
in transactions with the other dealers listed on the Addendum hereto,
which are executing agreements with the Issuer which contain provisions
substantially identical to Section 1 of this Agreement contemporaneously
herewith. In no event shall the Issuer offer, solicit or accept offers to
purchase, or sell, any Notes directly on its own behalf in transactions
with persons other than broker-dealers as specifically permitted in this
Section 1.2.
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1.3
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The
Notes shall be in a minimum denomination of $250,000 or integral multiples
of $1,000 in excess thereof, will bear such interest rates, if interest
bearing, or will be sold at such discount from their face amounts, as
shall be agreed upon by the Dealer and the Issuer, shall have a maturity
not exceeding 397 days from the date of issuance and may have such terms
as are specified in Exhibit C hereto or the Private Placement
Memorandum. The Notes shall not contain any provision for
extension, renewal or automatic
“rollover.”
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1.4
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The
authentication and issuance of, and payment for, the Notes shall be
effected in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, and
the Notes shall be either individual physical certificates or book-entry
notes evidenced by one or more master notes (each, a “Master Note”)
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its
nominee, in the form or forms annexed hereto as Exhibit
D.
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1.5
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If
the Issuer and the Dealer shall agree on the terms of the purchase of any
Note by the Dealer or the sale of any Note arranged by the Dealer
(including, but not limited to, agreement with respect to the date of
issue, purchase price, principal amount, maturity and interest rate or
interest rate index and margin (in the case of interest-bearing Notes) or
discount thereof (in the case of Notes issued on a discount basis), and
appropriate compensation for the Dealer’s services hereunder) pursuant to
this Agreement, the Issuer shall cause such Note to be issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement and payment for such Note shall be made by the purchaser
thereof, either directly or through the Dealer, to the Issuing and Paying
Agent, for the account of the Issuer. Except as otherwise agreed, in the
event that the Dealer is acting as an agent and a purchaser shall either
fail to accept delivery of or make payment for a Note on the date fixed
for settlement, the Dealer shall promptly notify the Issuer, and if the
Dealer has theretofore paid the Issuer for the Note, the Issuer will
promptly return such funds to the Dealer against its return of the Note to
the Issuer, in the case of a certificated Note, and upon notice of such
failure in the case of a book-entry Note. If such failure occurred for any
reason other than default by the Dealer, the Issuer shall reimburse the
Dealer on an equitable basis for the Dealer’s loss of the use of such
funds for the period such funds were credited to the Issuer’s
account.
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1.6
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The
Dealer and the Issuer hereby establish and agree to observe the following
procedures in connection with offers, sales and subsequent resales or
other transfers of the Notes:
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(a)
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Offers
and sales of the Notes by or through the Dealer shall be made only to: (i)
investors reasonably believed by the Dealer to be Qualified Institutional
Buyers, Institutional Accredited Investors or Sophisticated Individual
Accredited Investors and (ii) non-bank fiduciaries or agents that will be
purchasing Notes for one or more accounts, each of which is reasonably
believed by the Dealer to be an Institutional Accredited Investor or
Sophisticated Individual Accredited
Investor.
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(b)
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Resales
and other transfers of the Notes by the holders thereof shall be made only
in accordance with the restrictions in the legend described in clause (e)
below.
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(c)
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No
general solicitation or general advertising shall be used in connection
with the offering of the Notes. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, without the prior written approval of the Dealer (which shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Issuer shall not issue any
press release or place or publish any “tombstone” or other advertisement
relating to the Notes.
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(d)
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No
sale of Notes to any one purchaser shall be for less than $250,000
principal or face amount, and no Note shall be issued in a smaller
principal or face amount. If the purchaser is a non-bank fiduciary acting
on behalf of others, each person for whom such purchaser is acting must
purchase at least $250,000 principal or face amount of
Notes.
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(e)
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Offers
and sales of the Notes by the Issuer through the Dealer acting as agent
for the Issuer shall be made in accordance with Rule 506 under the
Securities Act, and shall be subject to the restrictions described in the
legend appearing on Exhibit A hereto. A legend substantially to the effect
of such Exhibit A shall appear as part of the Private Placement Memorandum
used in connection with offers and sales of Notes hereunder, as well as on
each individual certificate representing a Note and each Master Note
representing book-entry Notes offered and sold pursuant to this
Agreement.
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(f)
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The
Dealer shall furnish or shall have furnished to each purchaser of Notes
for which it has acted as the Dealer a copy of the then-current Private
Placement Memorandum unless such purchaser has previously received a copy
of the Private Placement Memorandum as then in effect. The Private
Placement Memorandum shall expressly state that any person to whom Notes
are offered shall have an opportunity to ask questions of, and receive
information from, the Issuer and the Dealer and shall provide the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of the persons from whom information
regarding the Issuer may be
obtained.
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(g)
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The
Issuer agrees, for the benefit of the Dealer and each of the holders and
prospective purchasers from time to time of the Notes that, if at any time
the Issuer shall not be subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act, the Issuer will furnish, upon request and at its expense, to the
Dealer and to holders and prospective purchasers of Notes information
required by Rule 144A(d)(4)(i) in compliance with Rule
144A(d).
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(h)
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In
the event that any Note offered or to be offered by the Dealer would be
ineligible for resale under Rule 144A, the Issuer shall immediately notify
the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing) of such fact and shall
promptly prepare and deliver to the Dealer an amendment or supplement to
the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Notes that are ineligible,
the reason for such ineligibility and any other relevant information
relating thereto.
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(i)
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The
Issuer represents that it is not currently issuing commercial paper in the
United States market in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section
3(a)(3) of the Securities Act. The Issuer agrees that, if it shall issue
commercial paper after the date hereof in reliance upon such exemption (a)
the proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be segregated from the
proceeds of the sale of any such commercial paper by being placed in a
separate account; (b) the Issuer will institute appropriate corporate
procedures to ensure that the offers and sales of notes issued by the
Issuer pursuant to the Section 3(a)(3) exemption are not integrated with
offerings and sales of Notes hereunder; and (c) the Issuer will comply
with each of the requirements of Section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act in
selling commercial paper or other short-term debt securities other than
the Notes in the United States.
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1.7
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The
Issuer hereby represents and warrants to the Dealer, in connection with
offers, sales and resales of Notes by the Issuer, as
follows:
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(a)
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The
Issuer hereby confirms to the Dealer that (except as permitted by Section
1.6(i)) within the preceding six months neither the Issuer nor any person
other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2
hereof acting on behalf of the Issuer has offered or sold any Notes, or
any substantially similar security of the Issuer (including, without
limitation, medium-term notes issued by the Issuer), to, or solicited
offers to buy any such security from, any person other than the Dealer or
the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof. The Issuer also
agrees that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i)), as long as the Notes
are being offered for sale by the Dealer and the other dealers referred to
in Section 1.2 hereof as contemplated hereby and until at least six months
after the offer of Notes hereunder has been terminated, neither the Issuer
nor any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in
Section 1.2 hereof (except as contemplated by Section 1.2 hereof) will
offer the Notes or any substantially similar security of the Issuer for
sale to, or solicit offers to buy any such security from, any person other
than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof, it
being understood that such agreement is made with a view to bringing the
offer and sale of the Notes within the exemption provided by Section 4(2)
of the Securities Act and Rule 506 thereunder and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement. The Issuer hereby represents and warrants
that it has not taken or omitted to take, and will not take or omit to
take, any action that would cause the offering and sale of Notes hereunder
to be integrated with any other offering of securities, whether such
offering is made by the Issuer or some other party or
parties.
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(b)
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The
Issuer represents and agrees that the proceeds of the sale of the Notes
are not currently contemplated to be used for the purpose of buying,
carrying or trading securities within the meaning of Regulation T and the
interpretations thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System. In the event that the Issuer determines to use such
proceeds for the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities,
whether in connection with an acquisition of another company or otherwise,
the Issuer shall give the Dealer at least five business days’ prior
written notice to that effect. The Issuer shall also give the Dealer
prompt notice of the actual date that it commences to purchase securities
with the proceeds of the Notes. Thereafter, in the event that the Dealer
purchases Notes as principal and does not resell such Notes on the day of
such purchase, to the extent necessary to comply with Regulation T and the
interpretations thereunder, the Dealer will sell such Notes either (i)
only to offerees it reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional
Buyers or to Qualified Institutional Buyers it reasonably believes are
acting for other Qualified Institutional Buyers, in each case in
accordance with Rule 144A or (ii) in a manner which would not cause a
violation of Regulation T and the interpretations
thereunder.
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2.
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Representations
and Warranties of Issuer.
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2.1
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The
Issuer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, has the
power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as
now being and hereafter proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified and
authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of
its properties or the nature of its business requires
such
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qualification
and authorization, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing could not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect. The Issuer has all the requisite power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes,
this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
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2.2
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This
Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and constitute legal,
valid and binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer
in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar
state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect which
affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the
availability of equitable remedies (regardless of whether enforcement is
sought in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
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2.3
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The
Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided in the
Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and
will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer
enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except as
such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal debtor relief laws
from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’
rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies (regardless
of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
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2.4
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The
offer and sale of the Notes by the Issuer in the manner contemplated
hereby do not require registration of the Notes under the Securities Act,
pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2)
thereof, and no indenture in respect of the Notes is required to be
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended.
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2.5
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The
Notes will rank at least pari
passu
with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the
Issuer.
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2.6
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No
consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any governmental or
public regulatory body or authority, including the SEC, is required to
authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance of, this Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement, except as may be required by the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale
of the Notes.
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2.7
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The
execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer of this Agreement and
the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, and the issuance of the Notes in
accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, each in
accordance with its respective terms, and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving
of notice or otherwise, (i) require any Governmental Approval relating to
the Issuer where the failure to obtain such Governmental Approval could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) violate any
Applicable Law relating to the Issuer except where such violation could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii)
conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Issuer, (iv) conflict with,
result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture,
agreement or other instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which
any of its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating
to the Issuer, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, (v) result in or require the creation or imposition of any
Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired
by the Issuer
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or
(vi) require any consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act in
respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any
other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery,
performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or
the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement other than consents,
authorizations, filings or other acts or consents which have been obtained
or made and are in full force and effect or for which the failure to
obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
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2.8
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Except
for matters disclosed in any filings made by the Issuer with the SEC,
there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending nor, to the knowledge
of the Issuer, threatened against or in any other way relating adversely
to or affecting the Issuer or any of its properties in any court or before
any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that
has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
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2.9
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The
Issuer is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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2.10
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Neither
the Private Placement Memorandum nor the Company Information contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
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2.11
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Each
(a) issuance of Notes by the Issuer hereunder and (b) amendment or
supplement of the Private Placement Memorandum shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Issuer to the Dealer, as of the date
thereof, that, both before and after giving effect to such issuance and
after giving effect to such amendment or supplement, (i) the
representations and warranties given by the Issuer set forth in this
Section 2 remain true and correct on and as of such date as if made on and
as of such date, (ii) in the case of an issuance of Notes, the Notes being
issued on such date have been duly and validly issued and constitute
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against
the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect
which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the
availability of equitable remedies (regardless of whether enforcement is
sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) in the case of an
issuance of Notes, since the date of the most recent Private Placement
Memorandum, there has been no material adverse change in the financial
condition or operations of the Issuer which, if not publicly available,
has not been disclosed to the Dealer in writing and (iv) the Issuer is not
in default under any of its obligations hereunder, under the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement or the Notes that is reasonably likely to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
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3.
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Covenants
and Agreements of Issuer.
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3.1
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The
Issuer will give the Dealer prompt notice (but in any event prior to any
subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder) of any amendment to, modification
of or waiver with respect to, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement, including a complete copy of any such amendment, modification
or waiver.
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3.2
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The
Issuer shall, whenever there shall occur any change, development or
occurrence in relation to the Issuer that would have a Material Adverse
Effect (including any receipt by the Issuer, from any nationally
recognized statistical ratings organization that
has
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provided
a rating to the Notes, of any notice of a downgrading in such rating that
is publicly available), promptly, and in any event prior to any subsequent
issuance of Notes hereunder, notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in
writing) of such change, development or
occurrence.
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3.3
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The
Issuer shall from time to time furnish to the Dealer such non-public
information as the Dealer may reasonably request, regarding (i) the
Issuer’s operations and financial condition, (ii) the due authorization
and execution of the Notes and (iii) the Issuer’s ability to pay the Notes
as they mature; provided that
the disclosure of such information shall not be reasonably likely to cause
the Issuer to be in violation of any Applicable Law or otherwise violate
the terms of any confidentiality agreement to which the Issuer is
subject.
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3.4
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The
Issuer will take all such action as the Dealer may reasonably request to
ensure that each offer and each sale of the Notes will comply with any
applicable state Blue Sky laws; provided, however, that the Issuer shall
not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to
qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so
qualified or subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in
any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so
subject.
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3.5
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The
Issuer will not be in default of any of its obligations hereunder, under
the Notes or under the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, at any time
that any of the Notes are
outstanding.
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3.6
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The
Issuer shall not issue Notes hereunder until the Dealer shall have
received (a) one or more opinions of counsel to the Issuer, addressed to
the Dealer, satisfactory in form and substance to the Dealer, (b) a copy
of the executed Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement as then in effect, (c)
a copy of resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Issuer,
satisfactory in form and substance to the Dealer and certified by the
Secretary or similar officer of the Issuer, authorizing execution and
delivery by the Issuer of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement and the Notes and consummation by the Issuer of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, (d) prior to the issuance of any
book-entry Notes represented by a master note registered in the name of
DTC or its nominee, a copy of the executed Letter of Representations among
the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent and DTC and of the executed
master note, (e) prior to the issuance of any Notes in physical form, a
copy of such form (unless attached to this Agreement or the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement), (f) confirmation of the then current ratings
assigned to the Notes by each nationally recognized statistical ratings
organization then rating the Notes and (g) such other certificates,
opinions, letters and documents as the Dealer shall have reasonably
requested.
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3.7
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The
Issuer shall reimburse the Dealer for all of the Dealer’s reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses related to this Agreement, including reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with its preparation and negotiation, and
the transactions contemplated hereby (including, but not limited to, the
printing and distribution of the Private Placement Memorandum), and, if
applicable, for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the
Dealer’s counsel.
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4.
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Disclosure.
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4.1
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The
Private Placement Memorandum and its contents (other than the Dealer
Information) shall be the sole responsibility of the Issuer. The Private
Placement Memorandum shall contain a statement expressly offering an
opportunity for each prospective purchaser to ask questions of, and
receive answers from, the Issuer concerning the offering of
Notes
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and
to obtain relevant additional information which the Issuer possesses or
can acquire without unreasonable effort or
expense.
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4.2
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The
Issuer agrees to promptly furnish the Dealer the Company Information as it
becomes available.
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4.3
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(1) The Issuer
further agrees to notify the Dealer promptly upon the occurrence of any
event relating to or affecting the Issuer that would cause the Company
Information then in existence to include an untrue statement of a material
fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not misleading.
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(b)
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In
the event that the Issuer gives the Dealer notice pursuant to Section
4.3(a) and the Dealer notifies the Issuer that it then has Notes it is
holding in inventory, (i) the Issuer agrees promptly to supplement or
amend the Private Placement Memorandum so that the Private Placement
Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, shall not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and the Issuer shall make such
supplement or amendment available to the Dealer prior to any further sale
or resale of Notes or (ii) the Issuer shall repurchase any such Note held
in inventory at a price equal to the face amount thereof discounted on a
ratable basis based on the Issuer's market rate reflecting the remaining
period to maturity in relation to the original
term.
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(c)
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In
the event that (i) the Issuer gives the Dealer notice pursuant to Section
4.3(a), (ii) the Dealer does not notify the Issuer that it is then holding
Notes in inventory and (iii) the Issuer chooses not to promptly amend or
supplement the Private Placement Memorandum in the manner described in
clause (b) above, then all solicitations and sales of Notes shall be
suspended until such time as the Issuer has so amended or supplemented the
Private Placement Memorandum, and made such amendment or supplement
available to the Dealer.
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(d)
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Without
limiting the generality of Section 4.3(a), the Issuer shall review, amend
and supplement the Private Placement Memorandum on a periodic basis, but
no less than at least once annually, to incorporate current financial
information of the Issuer to the extent necessary to ensure that the
information provided in the Private Placement Memorandum is accurate and
complete.
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5.
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Indemnification
and Contribution.
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5.1
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The
Issuer will indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer, each individual,
corporation, partnership, trust, association or other entity controlling
the Dealer, any affiliate of the Dealer or any such controlling entity and
their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, incorporators,
shareholders, servants, trustees and agents (hereinafter the
“Indemnitees”) against any and all liabilities, penalties, suits, causes
of action, losses, damages, claims, costs and expenses (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel) or judgments of whatever
kind or nature (each a “Claim”), imposed upon, incurred by or asserted
against the Indemnitees arising out of or based upon (i) any allegation
that the Private Placement Memorandum, the Company Information or any
information provided by the Issuer to the Dealer included (as of any
relevant time) or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted (as of any relevant time) or omits to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) arising out of or based
upon the breach by the Issuer of any agreement, covenant
or
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representation
made in or pursuant to this Agreement. This indemnification
shall not apply to the extent that the Claim arises out of or is based
upon Dealer Information or is determined to have resulted from an
Indemnitee's gross negligence or willful
misconduct.
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5.2
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Provisions
relating to claims made for indemnification under this Section 5 are set
forth on Exhibit B to this
Agreement.
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5.3
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In
order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in
which the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is held to be
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the Indemnitees, although
applicable in accordance with the terms of this Section 5, the Issuer
shall contribute to the aggregate costs incurred by the Dealer in
connection with any Claim in the proportion of the respective economic
interests of the Issuer and the Dealer; provided, however, that such
contribution by the Issuer shall be in an amount such that the aggregate
costs incurred by the Dealer do not exceed the aggregate of the
commissions and fees earned by the Dealer hereunder with respect to the
issue or issues of Notes to which such Claim relates. The respective
economic interests shall be calculated by reference to the aggregate
proceeds to the Issuer of the Notes issued hereunder and the aggregate
commissions and fees earned by the Dealer
hereunder.
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6.
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Definitions.
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6.1
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“Claim”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1.
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6.2
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“Company
Information” at any given time shall mean the Private Placement Memorandum
and information incorporated by reference therein together with, to the
extent applicable, (i) the Issuer’s most recent report on Form 10-K filed
with the SEC and each report on Form 10-Q or 8-K filed by the Issuer with
the SEC since the most recent Form 10-K, (ii) the Issuer’s most recent
annual audited financial statements and each interim financial statement
or report prepared subsequent thereto, if not included in item (i) above,
(iii) the Issuer’s and its affiliates’ other publicly available recent
reports, including, but not limited to, any publicly available filings or
reports provided to their respective shareholders, (iv) any other
information or disclosure prepared pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof and (v)
any information prepared or approved by the Issuer for dissemination to
investors or potential investors in the
Notes.
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6.3
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“Dealer
Information” shall mean material concerning the Dealer provided by the
Dealer in writing expressly for inclusion in the Private Placement
Memorandum.
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6.4
|
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
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6.5
|
“Governmental
Approval” shall mean all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports
to, all Governmental Authorities.
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6.6
|
“Governmental
Authority” shall mean the government of the United States or any other
nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local,
and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court,
central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial,
taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining
to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European
Union or the European Central
Bank).
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6.7
|
“Indemnitee”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.1.
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6.8
|
“Institutional
Accredited Investor” shall mean an institutional investor that is an
accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities
Act and that has such knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters that it is capable of
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evaluating
and bearing the economic risk of an investment in the Notes, including,
but not limited to, a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act, or a savings and loan association or other institution, as
defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act, whether acting in its
individual or fiduciary capacity.
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6.9
|
“Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement” shall mean the issuing and paying agency
agreement described on the cover page of this Agreement, as such agreement
may be amended or supplemented from time to
time.
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6.10
|
“Issuing
and Paying Agent” shall mean the party designated as such on the cover
page of this Agreement, as issuing and paying agent under the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement, or any successor thereto in accordance with the
Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
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6.11
|
“Material
Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business,
operations or financial condition of the Issuer and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole or (b) the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations
under this Agreement, the Notes and the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
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6.12
|
“Non-bank
fiduciary or agent” shall mean a fiduciary or agent other than (a) a bank,
as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or (b) a savings and
loan association, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities
Act.
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6.13
|
“Person”
shall mean any natural person, corporation, limited liability company,
trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, governmental
authority or other entity.
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6.14
|
“Private
Placement Memorandum” shall mean offering materials prepared in accordance
with Section 4 (including materials referred to therein or incorporated by
reference therein, if any) provided to purchasers and prospective
purchasers of the Notes, and shall include amendments and supplements
thereto which may be prepared from time to time in accordance with this
Agreement (other than any amendment or supplement that has been completely
superseded by a later amendment or
supplement).
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6.15
|
“Qualified
Institutional Buyer” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Rule
144A under the Securities Act.
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6.16
|
“Rule
144A” shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities
Act.
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6.17
|
“SEC”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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6.18
|
“Securities
Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
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6.19
|
“Sophisticated
Individual Accredited Investor” shall mean an individual who (a) is an
accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the
Securities Act and (b) based on his or her pre-existing relationship with
the Dealer, is reasonably believed by the Dealer to be a sophisticated
investor (i) possessing such knowledge and experience (or represented by a
fiduciary or agent possessing such knowledge and experience) in financial
and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating and bearing
the economic risk of an investment in the Notes and (ii) having not less
than $5 million in investments (as defined, for purposes of this section,
in Rule 2a51-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended).
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7.
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General
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7.1
|
Unless
otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices under this Agreement to
parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be effective when received at
the address of the respective party set forth in the Addendum to this
Agreement.
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7.2
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.
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7.3
|
The
Issuer agrees that any suit, action or proceeding brought by the Issuer
against the Dealer in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or
the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes shall be brought solely in
the United States federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan or
the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan.
EACH OF THE DEALER AND THE ISSUER WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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7.4
|
This
Agreement may be terminated, at any time, by the Issuer, upon one business
day’s prior notice to such effect to the Dealer, or by the Dealer upon one
business day’s prior notice to such effect to the Issuer. Any such
termination, however, shall not affect the obligations of the Issuer under
Sections 3.7, 5 and 7.3 hereof or the respective representations,
warranties, agreements, covenants, rights or responsibilities of the
parties made or arising prior to the termination of this
Agreement.
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7.5
|
This
Agreement is not assignable by either party hereto without the written
consent of the other party; provided, however, with reasonably prompt
notice to the Issuer, the Dealer may assign its rights and obligations
under this Agreement to any affiliate of the
Dealer.
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7.6
|
This
Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and
hereto were upon the same
instrument.
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7.7
|
This
Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their
respective permitted successors and assigns hereunder, and shall not be
deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other
person whatsoever.
|
|
BLACKROCK,
INC., as Issuer
|
BARCLAYS
CAPITAL INC., as Dealer
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||||
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By:
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/s/ Ann Marie Petach |
By:
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|||
|
Name: Ann
Marie Petach
|
Name:
|
|
Title: Managing
Director & Chief Financial Officer
|
Title:
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|
1.
|
The
other dealers referred to in clause (b) of Section 1.2 of the Agreement
are Citigroup
Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Banc of
America Securities LLC.
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2.
|
The
addresses of the respective parties for purposes of notices under Section
7.1 are as follows:
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1.
|
The
Issuer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the state of
and has all the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under the Notes, the Agreement and the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement.
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2.
|
Each
of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer
in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency
and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to
enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), and except as
rights under the Agreement to indemnity and contribution may be limited by
federal or state laws.
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3.
|
The
Notes have been duly authorized, and when issued as provided in the
Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and
will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer
enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights
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|
1
|
Set
forth below are the operative provisions on which the Dealer will
generally expect a legal opinion. Parties should recognize that there may
be additions to the Dealer’s opinion request, and variations as to the
opinion language, depending on the details of the transaction and the
differing opinion practices of law firms; it may also be necessary to
split the opinion between two or more counsel where no one counsel is in a
position to opine as to all subjects or in all relevant
jurisdictions.
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generally,
and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or
at law).
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4.
|
The
issuance and sale of Notes under the circumstances contemplated by the
Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement do not require
registration of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2)
thereof [and Regulation D thereunder], and do not require compliance with
any provision of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and the
Notes will rank at least pari passu with all other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the
Issuer.
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5.
|
[Except
as provided in Section 1.6(j) of the Agreement,].2 No consent or action of, or filing or
registration with, any governmental or public regulatory body or
authority, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, is required
to authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance of, the Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement, except as may be required by the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale
of the Notes.
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6.
|
Neither
the execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying
Agency Agreement, nor the issuance of the Notes in accordance with the
Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, nor the fulfillment of or compliance
with the terms and provisions of either thereof by the Issuer, will (i)
result in the creation or imposition of any mortgage, lien, charge or
encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets
of the Issuer, or (ii) violate or result in a breach or default under any
of the terms of the Issuer’s charter documents or by-laws, any contract or
instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it or its property
is bound, or any law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or
decree of any court or government instrumentality, to which the Issuer is
subject or by which it or its property is
bound.
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7.
|
There
is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the knowledge
of the Issuer threatened, against or affecting the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries which might result in a material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), operations or business prospects of
the Issuer or the ability of the Issuer to perform its obligations under
the Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agency
Agreement.
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8.
|
The
Issuer is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.3
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|
9.
|
As
a condition to the admissibility in evidence of the Agreement, the Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement or the Notes in [foreign jurisdiction], it is
not necessary that the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement
or the Notes be filed or recorded with any court or other authority. [All
documentary evidence in a foreign language to be submitted
|
|
2
|
To
be added where the parties wish to fully rely on the safe harbor in Rule
506. See Guidance Note relating to Section 1.6 generally and paragraph 2
in the Addendum.
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3
|
The
phrase “or an entity controlled by an investment company” is not included
in this paragraph or in the representation in Section 2.9 of the
Agreement. See Guidance Note to Section 2.9 for a description of the
limited circumstances where this phrase should be
included.
|
| to a court in [foreign jurisdiction] must be in, or translated into, the [foreign jurisdiction] language and certified by a duly qualified official translator in [foreign jurisdiction]].4 |
|
|
10.
|
Under
the laws of [foreign jurisdiction], neither the Issuer nor any of its
revenues, assets or properties has any right of immunity from service of
process or from the jurisdiction of competent courts of [foreign
jurisdiction] or the United States or the State of New York in connection
with any suit, action or proceeding, attachment prior to judgment,
attachment in aid of execution of a judgment, or execution of a judgment
or from any other legal process with respect to its obligations under the
Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement or the
Notes.
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11.
|
The
Issuer is permitted to make all payments under the Agreement, the Issuing
and Paying Agency Agreement and the Notes (to holders of the Notes that
are non-residents of [foreign jurisdiction]), free and clear of and
without deduction or withholding for or on account of any taxes or other
governmental charges imposed by [foreign jurisdiction]. There is no stamp
or documentary tax or other charge imposed by any governmental agency
having jurisdiction over the Issuer in connection with the execution,
delivery, issuance, payment, performance, enforcement or introduction into
evidence in a court of [foreign jurisdiction] of the Agreement, the
Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement or any
Note.
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|
|
12.
|
The
choice of New York law to govern the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying
Agency Agreement and the Notes is, under the laws of [foreign
jurisdiction], a valid, effective and irrevocable choice of
law.
|
|
|
13.
|
The
submission by the Issuer, in the Agreement, to the jurisdiction of the
courts of the United States District Court and the State of New York
located in the Borough of Manhattan is valid and binding upon the Issuer
under the laws of [foreign
jurisdiction].
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|
|
14.
|
Any
final judgment rendered by any Federal or State court of competent
jurisdiction located in the State of New York in an action to enforce the
obligations of the Issuer under the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying
Agency Agreement or the Notes is capable of being enforced in the courts
of [foreign jurisdiction].
|
|
(a)
|
The
Issuer agrees to reimburse each Indemnitee for all expenses (including
reasonable fees and disbursements of internal and external counsel) as
they are incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any
loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect of which
indemnification may be sought under Section 5 of the Agreement (whether or
not it is a party to any such
proceedings).
|
|
(b)
|
Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnitee of notice of the existence of a Claim, such
Indemnitee will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
Issuer, notify the Issuer in writing of the existence thereof; provided
that (i) the omission so to notify the Issuer will not relieve the Issuer
from any liability which it may have hereunder unless and except to the
extent it did not otherwise learn of such Claim and such failure results
in the forfeiture by the Issuer of substantial rights and defenses, and
(ii) the omission so to notify the Issuer will not relieve it from
liability which it may have to an Indemnitee otherwise than on account of
this indemnity agreement. In case any such Claim is made against any
Indemnitee and it notifies the Issuer of the existence thereof, the Issuer
will be entitled to participate therein, and to the extent that it may
elect by written notice delivered to the Indemnitee, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee; provided
that if the defendants in any such Claim include both the Indemnitee and
the Issuer, and the Indemnitee shall have concluded that there may be
legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to
those available to the Issuer, the Issuer shall not have the right to
direct the defense of such Claim on behalf of such Indemnitee, and the
Indemnitee shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such
legal defenses on behalf of such Indemnitee. Upon receipt of notice from
the Issuer to such Indemnitee of the Issuer’s election so to assume the
defense of such Claim and approval by the Indemnitee of counsel, the
Issuer will not be liable to such Indemnitee for expenses incurred
thereafter by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof (other
than reasonable costs of investigation) unless (i) the Indemnitee shall
have employed separate counsel in connection with the assertion of legal
defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it
being understood, however, that the Issuer shall not be liable for the
expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local
counsel in the jurisdiction in which any Claim is brought), approved by
the Dealer, representing the Indemnitee who is party to such Claim), (ii)
the Issuer shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnitee to represent the Indemnitee within a reasonable time after
notice of existence of the Claim or (iii) the Issuer has authorized in
writing the employment of counsel for the Indemnitee. The indemnity,
reimbursement and contribution obligations of the Issuer hereunder shall
be in addition to any other liability the Issuer may otherwise have to an
Indemnitee and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any
successors, assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the Issuer and
any Indemnitee. The Issuer agrees that without the Dealer’s prior written
consent, it will not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment in any Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought
under the indemnification provision of the Agreement (whether or not the
Dealer or any other Indemnitee is an actual or potential party to such
Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each Indemnitee from all liability arising out of
such Claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of
fault, culpability or failure to act, by or on behalf of any
Indemnitee.
|
|
|
1.
|
General. (a)
The obligations of the Issuer to which these terms apply (each a “Note”)
are represented by one or more Master Notes (each, a “Master Note”) issued
in the name of (or of a nominee for) The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”),
which Master Note includes the terms and provisions for the Issuer’s
Interest-Bearing Commercial Paper Notes that are set forth in this
Statement of Terms, since this Statement of Terms constitutes an integral
part of the Underlying Records as defined and referred to in the Master
Note.
|
|
|
2.
|
Interest. (a)
Each Note will bear interest at a fixed rate (a “Fixed Rate Note”) or at a
floating rate (a “Floating Rate
Note”).
|

|
5
|
Such
nonbank dealers referred to in this Statement of Terms may include
affiliates of the Dealer.
|

|
|
3.
|
Final Maturity.
The Stated Maturity Date for any Note will be the date so specified in the
Supplement, which shall be no later than 397 days from the date of
issuance. On its Stated Maturity Date, or any date prior to the Stated
Maturity Date on which the particular Note becomes due and payable by the
declaration of acceleration, each such date being referred to as a
Maturity Date, the principal amount of each Note, together with accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, will be immediately due and
payable.
|
|
|
4.
|
Events of
Default. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an
“Event of Default” with respect to a Note: (i) default in any payment of
principal of or interest on such Note (including on a redemption thereof);
(ii) the Issuer makes any compromise arrangement with its creditors
generally including the entering into any form of moratorium with its
creditors generally; (iii) a court having jurisdiction shall enter a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Issuer in an involuntary case
under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or there shall be appointed a receiver,
administrator, liquidator, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar
officer) with respect to the whole or substantially the whole of the
assets of the Issuer and any such decree, order or appointment is not
removed, discharged or withdrawn within 60 days thereafter; or (iv) the
Issuer shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to
the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such
law, or consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver,
administrator, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator
(or similar official), with respect to the whole or substantially the
whole of the assets of the Issuer or make any general assignment for the
benefit of creditors. Upon the occurrence of an Event
of
|
|
|
Default,
the principal of each obligation evidenced by such Note (together with
interest accrued and unpaid thereon) shall become, without any notice or
demand, immediately due and payable.6
|
|
|
5.
|
Obligation
Absolute. No provision of the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement
under which the Notes are issued shall alter or impair the obligation of
the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of
and interest on each Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
|
|
|
6.
|
Supplement. Any
term contained in the Supplement shall supercede any conflicting term
contained herein.
|
|
6
|
Unlike
single payment notes, where a default arises only at the stated maturity,
interest-bearing notes with multiple payment dates should contain a
default provision permitting acceleration of the maturity if the Issuer
defaults on an interest payment.
|
|
|
1.
|
The
following resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Issuer [by unanimous written consent dated ____________, ___] [at a meeting
thereof duly called and held on ______________, _____, at which meeting a
quorum was present and acting throughout], and such resolution has not
been amended, modified or revoked and is in full force and effect on the
date hereof:
|
|
7
|
This
model certificate will serve as a guide for resolutions adopted by the
Issuer. Any resolutions actually adopted, regardless of form, should cover
all the substantive matters covered in this model, and a certificate
substantially to the effect of this model is required to be delivered to
the Dealer under Section 3.6(c) of the
Agreement.
|
|
8
|
The
reference to a specific dollar amount was removed in order to provide
issuers flexibility with respect to the total amount of commercial paper
issued without having to update the
Resolutions.
|
|
9
|
Clause
(iv) may be deleted if Section 1.6(j) is not part of the Agreement. See
paragraph 2 of the Addendum and the Guidance Note relating to Section 1.6
generally.
|
|
|
2.
|
Each
of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, as executed
and delivered by the Issuer, is substantially in the form thereof approved
by the Board of Directors and referred to in the resolution set forth in
paragraph 1 hereof.
|
| [Assistant] Secretary |