Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement among Weatherford International Ltd., Weatherford International, Inc., and Merrill Lynch
This agreement is between Weatherford International Ltd. (Issuer), Weatherford International, Inc. (Guarantor), and Merrill Lynch Money Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Dealers). It sets the terms for the issuance and sale of short-term promissory notes by the Issuer, with the Guarantor guaranteeing payment. The Dealers will arrange or purchase these notes, which have maturities up to 397 days. The agreement outlines the procedures for offers, sales, and resales, and specifies that only qualified institutional or accredited investors may purchase the notes.
as Dealer for Notes with maturities up to 270 days;
as Dealer for Notes with maturities over 270 days up to 397 days
and Paying Agency Agreement dated as of October 25, 2005
between the Issuer, the Guarantor and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
4(2) Program; Guaranteed
1. | Offers, Sales and Resales of Notes. |
1.1 | While (i) the Issuer has and shall have no obligation to sell the Notes to the Dealer or to permit the Dealer to arrange any sale of the Notes for the account of the Issuer, and (ii) the Dealer has and shall have no obligation to purchase the Notes from the Issuer or to arrange any sale of the Notes for the account of the Issuer, the parties hereto agree that in any case where the Dealer purchases Notes from the Issuer, or arranges for the sale of Notes by the Issuer, such Notes will be purchased or sold by the Dealer in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantor contained herein or made pursuant hereto and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein. | ||
1.2 | So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect, and in addition to the limitations contained in Section 1.7 hereof, neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall, 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 and the Guarantor one or more agreements which contain provisions substantially identical to those contained in Section 1 of this Agreement, of which the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby undertakes to provide the Dealer prompt notice or (b) in transactions with the other dealers listed on the Addendum hereto, which are executing agreements with the Issuer and the Guarantor which contain provisions substantially identical to Section 1 of this Agreement contemporaneously herewith. In no event shall the Issuer or the Guarantor offer, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any Notes directly on its own behalf in transactions with persons other than broker-dealers as specifically permitted in this Section 1.2. | ||
1.3 | The Notes shall be in a minimum denomination of $250,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, will bear such interest rates, if interest bearing, or will be sold at such discount from their face amounts, as shall be agreed upon by the Dealer and the Issuer, shall have a maturity not exceeding 397 days from the date of issuance and may have such terms as are specified in Exhibit C hereto or |
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the Private Placement Memorandum. The Notes shall not contain any provision for extension, renewal or automatic rollover. | |||
1.4 | The authentication and issuance of, and payment for, the Notes shall be effected in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, and the Notes shall be either individual physical certificates or book-entry notes evidenced by one or more master notes (each, a Master Note) registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (DTC) or its nominee, in the form or forms annexed to the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement. | ||
1.5 | If the Issuer and the Dealer shall agree on the terms of the purchase of any Note by the Dealer or the sale of any Note arranged by the Dealer (including, but not limited to, agreement with respect to the date of issue, purchase price, principal amount, maturity and interest rate or interest rate index and margin (in the case of interest-bearing Notes) or discount thereof (in the case of Notes issued on a discount basis), and appropriate compensation for the Dealers 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 (i) 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, and (ii) upon the Dealers request to return such funds. If such failure occurred for any reason other than default by the Dealer, the Issuer and the Guarantor agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Dealer on a reasonable basis for the Dealers loss of the use of such funds for the period such funds were credited to the Issuers account. | ||
1.6 | The Dealer, the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby establish and agree to observe the following procedures in connection with offers, sales and subsequent resales or other transfers of the Notes: |
(a) | Offers and sales of the Notes by or through the Dealer shall be made only to: (i) investors reasonably believed by the Dealer to be Qualified Institutional Buyers, Institutional Accredited Investors or Sophisticated Individual Accredited Investors and (ii) non-bank fiduciaries or agents that will be purchasing Notes for one or more accounts, each of which is reasonably believed by the Dealer to be an Institutional Accredited Investor or Sophisticated Individual Accredited Investor. | ||
(b) | Resales and other transfers of the Notes by the holders thereof shall be made only in accordance with the restrictions in the legend described in clause (e) below. | ||
(c) | No general solicitation or general advertising shall be used in connection with the offering of the Notes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the prior written approval of the Dealer (which will |
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not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall issue any press release, unless required by law, regulation or rule applicable to the Issuer or the Guarantor, or place or publish any tombstone or other advertisement relating to the Notes. | |||
(d) | No sale of Notes to any one purchaser shall be for less than $250,000 principal or face amount, and no Note shall be issued in a smaller principal or face amount. If the purchaser is a non-bank fiduciary acting on behalf of others, each person for whom such purchaser is acting must purchase at least $250,000 principal or face amount of Notes. | ||
(e) | Offers and sales of the Notes by the Issuer through the Dealer acting as agent for the Issuer shall be made in accordance with Rule 506 under the Securities Act, and shall be subject to the restrictions described in the legend appearing on Exhibit A hereto. A legend substantially to the effect of such Exhibit A shall appear as part of the Private Placement Memorandum used in connection with offers and sales of Notes hereunder, as well as on each individual certificate representing a Note and each Master Note representing book-entry Notes offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement. | ||
(f) | The Dealer shall furnish or shall have furnished to each purchaser of Notes for which it has acted as the dealer a copy of the then-current Private Placement Memorandum unless such purchaser has previously received a copy of the Private Placement Memorandum as then in effect. The Private Placement Memorandum shall expressly state that any person to whom Notes are offered shall have an opportunity to ask questions of, and receive information from the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Dealer and shall provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons from whom information regarding the Issuer and the Guarantor may be obtained. | ||
(g) | The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree 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 and the Guarantor shall not be subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Issuer and the Guarantor will furnish, upon request and at their 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). | ||
(h) | In the event that any Note offered or to be offered by the Dealer would be ineligible for resale under Rule 144A, the Issuer shall immediately notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing) of such fact and shall promptly prepare and deliver to the Dealer an amendment or supplement to the Private Placement Memorandum describing the Notes that are ineligible, the reason for such ineligibility and any other relevant information relating thereto. | ||
(i) | The Issuer and the Guarantor represent that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor is currently issuing commercial paper in the United States |
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market in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act. The Issuer and the Guarantor agree that, if the Issuer or the Guarantor 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 and the Guarantor will institute appropriate corporate procedures to ensure that the offers and sales of notes issued by the Issuer or the Guarantor, as the case may be, pursuant to the Section 3(a)(3) exemption are not integrated with offerings and sales of Notes hereunder; and (c) the Issuer and the Guarantor will comply with each of the requirements of Section 3(a)(3) of the Securities Act in selling commercial paper or other short-term debt securities other than the Notes in the United States. |
1.7 | Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to the Dealer, in connection with offers, sales and resales of Notes, as follows: |
(a) | The Issuer and the Guarantor hereby confirm to the Dealer that (except as permitted by Section 1.6(i)) within the preceding six months neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor nor any person other than the Dealer or the other dealers referred to in Section 1.2 hereof acting on behalf of the Issuer or the Guarantor has offered or sold any Notes, or any substantially similar security of the Issuer or the Guarantor (including, without limitation, medium-term notes issued by the Issuer or the Guarantor), 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 and the Guarantor also agree 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 the Guarantor 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. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor 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 the Guarantor. | ||
(b) | The Issuer represents and agrees that the proceeds of the sale of the Notes are not currently contemplated to be used for the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities within the meaning of Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In the event that the Issuer determines to use |
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such proceeds for the purpose of buying, carrying or trading securities, whether in connection with an acquisition of another company or otherwise, the Issuer shall give the Dealer at least five business days prior written notice to that effect. The Issuer shall also give the Dealer prompt notice of the actual date that it commences to purchase securities with the proceeds of the Notes. Thereafter, in the event that the Dealer purchases Notes as principal and does not resell such Notes on the day of such purchase, to the extent necessary to comply with Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder, the Dealer will sell such Notes either (i) only to offerees it reasonably believes to be Qualified Institutional Buyers or to Qualified Institutional Buyers it reasonably believes are acting for other Qualified Institutional Buyers, in each case in accordance with Rule 144A or (ii) in a manner which would not cause a violation of Regulation T and the interpretations thereunder. |
2. | Representations and Warranties of the Issuer and the Guarantor. | |
Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor represents and warrants as to itself that: |
2.1 | The Issuer is an exempted company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes, this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement. | ||
2.2 | The Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Guarantee, this Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement. | ||
2.3 | This Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and the Guarantor and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor enforceable against the Issuer and the Guarantor in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law). | ||
2.4 | The Notes have been duly authorized by the Issuer, and when issued and delivered as provided in the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and delivered by, and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of, the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law). | ||
2.5 | The Guarantee has been duly authorized by the Guarantor, and when the Notes have been issued and delivered as provided in the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly executed and delivered by, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of, the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in |
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accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law). | |||
2.6 | The offer and sale of the Notes and the Guarantee in the manner contemplated hereby do not require registration of the Notes or the Guarantee under the Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) thereof, and no indenture in respect of the Notes or the Guarantee is required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. | ||
2.7 | The Notes and the Guarantee will rank at least pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer and the Guarantor, respectively. | ||
2.8 | Assuming the offer and sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated hereby, no consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any governmental or public regulatory body or authority, including the SEC, is required to be obtained or made by the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, under any statute or regulation applicable to either of them to authorize their respective execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee 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. | ||
2.9 | Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Guarantee and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, nor the issuance of the Notes in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof by the Issuer or the Guarantor, will (i) result, pursuant to the express provisions of any agreement to which it is a party, in the creation or imposition of any consensual mortgage, lien or similar encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Issuer or the Guarantor, or (ii) violate or result in a breach of or a default under, as the case may be, any of the terms of the respective charter documents or by-laws or comparable governance documents of the Issuer or the Guarantor, any contract or instrument to which the Issuer or the Guarantor is a party or by which it or its property is bound, or any statutory law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or government instrumentality, to which the Issuer or the Guarantor is subject or by which it or its property is bound, which violation, breach or default would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of the Issuer or the Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole or the ability of the Issuer or the Guarantor to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, as the case may be. | ||
2.10 | Except as disclosed in the Company Information or to the Dealer, there is no litigation or governmental proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Issuer or the Guarantor overtly threatened in writing, against or affecting the Issuer or the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the financial condition or operations of the |
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Issuer or the Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole or the ability of the Issuer or the Guarantor to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, as the case may be. | |||
2.11 | Neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor is an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. | ||
2.12 | 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 provided that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor makes any representation or warranty as to the Dealer Information. | ||
2.13 | 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 each of the Issuer and the Guarantor 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 and the Guarantor set forth in this Section 2 remain true and correct on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, (ii) in the case of an issuance of Notes, the Notes being issued on such date have been duly and validly issued and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and are guaranteed pursuant to the Guarantee, (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 or the Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole which has not been disclosed in Company Information and (iv) neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor is in default of any of its obligations hereunder or under the Notes, the Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement. |
3. | Covenants and Agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantor. | |
Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor covenants and agrees as to itself that: |
3.1 | The Issuer and the Guarantor will give the Dealer prompt notice (but in any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder) of any amendment to or other modification of, or waiver with respect to, the Notes, the Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, including a complete copy of any such amendment, modification or waiver. | ||
3.2 | The Issuer and the Guarantor shall, whenever there shall occur any change in the financial condition or operations of the Issuer or the Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole or any development or occurrence involving the Issuer or the Guarantor that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Issuer or the Guarantor and its consolidated |
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subsidiaries taken as a whole (including any downgrading or receipt of any written notice of intended or potential downgrading or any review for potential downgrading in the rating accorded any of the securities of the Issuer or the Guarantor by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization which has published a rating of the Notes), promptly, and in any event prior to any subsequent issuance of Notes hereunder, notify the Dealer (by telephone, confirmed in writing) of such change, development or occurrence. | |||
3.3 | The Issuer and the Guarantor shall from time to time furnish to the Dealer such information as the Dealer may reasonably request, including, without limitation, any press releases or material provided by the Issuer or the Guarantor to any national securities exchange or rating agency, regarding (i) the operations and financial condition of the Issuer or the Guarantor, (ii) the due authorization and execution of the Notes and the Guarantee, (iii) the Issuers ability to pay the Notes as they mature and (iv) the Guarantors ability to fulfill its obligations under the Guarantee. | ||
3.4 | The Issuer and the Guarantor 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 neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. | ||
3.5 | Neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor will be in default of any of its obligations hereunder or under the Notes, the Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, at any time that any of the Notes are outstanding. | ||
3.6 | The Issuer shall not issue Notes hereunder until the Dealer shall have received (a) opinions of counsel to the Issuer and the Guarantor, addressed to the Dealer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Dealer, (b) a copy of the executed Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement as then in effect, (c) a copy of the executed Guarantee, (d) a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Boards of Directors of the Issuer and the Guarantor, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Dealer and certified by the Secretary or similar officer of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as the case may be, authorizing execution and delivery by the Issuer and the Guarantor of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Guarantee and the Notes, as the case may be, and consummation by the Issuer and the Guarantor of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (e) 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 Guarantor, the Issuing and Paying Agent and DTC and of the executed Master Note, (f) prior to the issuance of any Notes in physical form, a copy of such form (unless attached to this Agreement or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement) and (g) such other certificates, opinions, letters and documents as the Dealer shall have reasonably requested. | ||
3.7 | The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall reimburse the Dealer for all of the Dealers reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to this |
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Agreement, including expenses incurred in connection with its preparation and negotiation, and the transactions contemplated hereby (including, but not limited to, the printing and distribution of the Private Placement Memorandum), and, if applicable, for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Dealers counsel. |
4. | Disclosure. |
4.1 | The Private Placement Memorandum and its contents (other than the Dealer Information) shall be the sole responsibility of the Issuer and the Guarantor. 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 and the Guarantor concerning the offering of Notes and to obtain relevant additional information which the Issuer possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense. | ||
4.2 | Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees to promptly furnish the Dealer the Company Information as it becomes available; provided, however, to the extent any Company Information is included in materials otherwise filed by the Issuer or the Guarantor with the SEC, such information shall be deemed to have been promptly furnished to the Dealer on the date that such information is made available on EDGAR or on the Issuers or the Guarantors, as applicable, homepage on the worldwide web (located as listed in the notice provisions set forth in the Addendum); provided, further, however, the Issuer or the Guarantor agrees to notify or to caused to be notified the Dealer of each Form 8-K filed by any of them with respect to any of them, which notification may be in any form of writing, by phone or by electronic transmission to such email or similar address as shall be from time to time provided, at the request of the Issuer or the Guarantor, by the Dealer to the Issuer and the Guarantor for such purpose. | ||
4.3 | (a) Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor further agrees to notify the Dealer promptly upon the occurrence of any event relating to or affecting the Issuer or the Guarantor 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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5. | Indemnification and Contribution. |
5.1 | The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, 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, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) or judgments of whatever kind or nature (each a Claim), imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the Indemnitees arising out of or based upon (i) any allegation that the Private Placement Memorandum, the Company Information or, when taken together with all other information provided by the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, any information provided by the Issuer or the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor of any agreement, covenant or representation made in or pursuant to this Agreement. This indemnification shall not apply to the extent that the Claim arises out of or is based upon Dealer Information. | ||
5.2 | Provisions relating to claims made for indemnification under this Section 5 are set forth in Exhibit B to this Agreement. | ||
5.3 | In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is held to be unavailable or |
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6. | Definitions. |
6.1 | Claim shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1. | ||
6.2 | Company Information at any given time shall mean the Private Placement Memorandum together with, to the extent applicable, (i) the Issuers and the Guarantors 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 or the Guarantor with the SEC since the most recent Form 10-K,1 (ii) the Issuers and the Guarantors 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 Issuers and the Guarantors and their 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 or the Guarantor for dissemination to investors or potential investors in the Notes. | ||
6.3 | Dealer Information shall mean material concerning the Dealer provided by the Dealer in writing expressly for inclusion in the Private Placement Memorandum. | ||
6.4 | Exchange Act shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. | ||
6.5 | Indemnitee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1. | ||
6.6 | Institutional Accredited Investor shall mean an institutional investor that is an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and that has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating and bearing the economic risk of an investment in the Notes, including, but not limited to, a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or a savings and loan association or other institution, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity. |
1 | In the case of a publicly reporting Issuer or Guarantor that is a foreign entity, Section 6.2(i) should refer to Form 20-F. Depending on the circumstances, Section 6.2(ii) may refer to the Issuer, the Guarantor or both. |
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6.7 | Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement shall mean the issuing and paying agency agreement described on the cover page of this Agreement, as such agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time. | ||
6.8 | Issuing and Paying Agent shall mean the party designated as such on the cover page of this Agreement, as issuing and paying agent under the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, or any successor thereto in accordance with the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement. | ||
6.9 | Non-bank fiduciary or agent shall mean a fiduciary or agent other than (a) a bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or (b) a savings and loan association, as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act. | ||
6.10 | Private Placement Memorandum shall mean written offering materials prepared in accordance with Section 4 (including materials referred to therein or incorporated by reference therein, if any) provided to purchasers and prospective purchasers of the Notes, and shall include amendments and supplements thereto which may be prepared from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (other than any amendment or supplement that has been completely superseded by a later amendment or supplement). | ||
6.11 | Qualified Institutional Buyer shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. | ||
6.12 | Rule 144A shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities Act. 6.13 SEC shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 6.14 Securities Act shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. | ||
6.15 | Sophisticated Individual Accredited Investor shall mean an individual who (a) is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and (b) based on his or her pre-existing relationship with the Dealer, is reasonably believed by the Dealer to be a sophisticated investor (i) possessing such knowledge and experience (or represented by a fiduciary or agent possessing such knowledge and experience) in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating and bearing the economic risk of an investment in the Notes and (ii) having not less than $5 million in investments (as defined, for purposes of this section, in Rule 2a51-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended). |
7. | General |
7.1 | Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices under this Agreement to parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be effective when received at the address of the respective party set forth in the Addendum to this Agreement. | ||
7.2 | This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 13 |
7.3 | Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees that any suit, action or proceeding brought by the Issuer or the Guarantor against the Dealer in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes may be brought 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, THE ISSUER AND THE GUARANTOR WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. | ||
7.4 | This Agreement may be terminated, at any time, by the Issuer, upon one business days prior notice to such effect to the Dealer, or by the Dealer upon one business days prior notice to such effect to the Issuer. Any such termination, however, shall not affect the obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor under Sections 3.7, 5 and 7.3 hereof or the respective representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, rights or responsibilities of the parties made or arising prior to the termination of this Agreement. | ||
7.5 | This Agreement is not assignable by any party hereto without the written consent of the other parties; provided, however, to the extent deemed necessary by the Dealer to effectuate a transaction hereunder in accordance with the terms hereof, the Dealer may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any affiliate of the Dealer which is reasonably selected by the Dealer and determined by the Dealer as capable of performing and complying with all obligations of the Dealer hereunder, and which assignee, contemporaneous with such assignment, agrees to comply with all obligations and related provisions of this Agreement. | ||
7.6 | This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart hereof (or signature page thereto) by facsimile, telecopy or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of an original, manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. | ||
7.7 | This Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 14 |
Weatherford International Ltd., as Issuer | ||||
By: | /s/ Burt M. Martin | |||
Name: Title: | Burt M. Martin Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | |||
Weatherford International, Inc., | ||||
as Guarantor | ||||
By: | /s/ Burt M. Martin | |||
Name: | Burt M. Martin | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel | |||
and Secretary | ||||
Merrill Lynch Money Markets Inc., | ||||
as Dealer for Notes with maturities up to 270 days | ||||
By: | /s/ Robert J. Little | |||
Name: | Robert J. Little | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, | ||||
as Dealer for Notes with maturities over 270 days up | ||||
to 397 days | ||||
By: | /s/ Robert J. Little | |||
Name: | Robert J. Little | |||
Title: | Vice President |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 15 |
2.14 | Under the laws of Bermuda, 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 Bermuda 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 this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement or the Notes. | ||
2.15 | The Issuer is permitted to make all payments under this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement and the Notes to holders of the Notes that are non-residents of Bermuda, free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for or on account of any taxes or other governmental charges imposed by Bermuda. 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 Bermuda of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement or any Note. | ||
2.16 | The choice of New York law to govern this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement and the Notes is, under the laws of Bermuda, a valid, effective and irrevocable choice of law, and the submission by the Issuer in Section 7.3(b) of 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 Guarantor under the laws of Bermuda. | ||
2.17 | Any final judgment rendered by any court referred to in Section 2.16 in an action to enforce the obligations of the Issuer under the Notes, this Agreement or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement is capable of being enforced in the courts of Bermuda. | ||
2.18 | As a condition to the admissibility in evidence of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement or the Notes in the courts of Bermuda, it is not necessary that this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement or the Notes be filed or recorded with any court or other authority. [All documentary evidence to be submitted 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]]. |
2 | For use where the Issuer or the Guarantor is a foreign entity. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 16 |
For the Issuer: | ||||
Address: | c/o Weatherford International, Inc. | |||
515 Post Oak Blvd. | ||||
Houston, Texas 77027 | ||||
Attention: General Counsel | ||||
Telephone number: | 713 ###-###-#### | |||
Fax number: | 713 ###-###-#### | |||
Homepage: | www.weatherford.com | |||
For the Guarantor: | ||||
Address: | 515 Post Oak Blvd. | |||
Houston, Texas 77027 | ||||
Attention: General Counsel | ||||
Telephone number: | 713 ###-###-#### | |||
Fax number: | 713 ###-###-#### | |||
Homepage: | www.weatherford.com | |||
For the Dealer: | ||||
Address: | World Financial Center - North Tower | |||
250 Vesey Street - 11th Floor | ||||
New York, New York 10080 | ||||
Attention: Product Management - CP | ||||
Telephone number: | (212) 449-7476 | |||
Fax number: | (212) 449-2234 |
6.16 | "Board of Directors means (i) with respect to a company or corporation, the board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board of directors of the company or corporation, (ii) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership, and (3) with respect to any other person, the board or committee of such person serving a similar function. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 17 |
(b) | Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, the Notes, the Guarantee and the other related documents may be brought in the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from either thereof, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party hereto irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, unconditionally, the non exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts with respect to any such action or proceeding. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor, to the extent it is not qualified to do business in New York, hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers CT Corporation System, with offices on the date hereof at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents which may be served in any such action or proceeding. If for any reason such designee, appointee and agent shall cease to be available to act as such, each such obligor agrees to designate a new designee, appointee and agent in New York on the terms and for the purposes of this provision satisfactory to the Dealer. Each such obligor further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at its address provided in Section 7.1 of the Agreement, and at its registered office, if different. Such service to become effective thirty days after such mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any obligor in any other jurisdiction. | ||
(c) | Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts referred to in clause (b) above and hereby further irrevocably waives, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. | ||
(d) | To the extent that the Issuer or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to them, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding in connection with or arising out of this Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes, from the giving of any relief in any thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceeding may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes, it hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees for the benefit of the Dealer and any holder |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 18 |
from time to time of the Notes not to plead or claim, any such immunity, and consents to such relief and enforcement. |
7.8(a) Any payments to the Dealer hereunder or to any holder from time to time of Notes shall be in United States dollars and shall be free of all withholding and other taxes and of all other governmental charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by the jurisdiction in which the Issuer is located. In the event any withholding is required by law, the Issuer agrees to (i) pay the same and (ii) pay such additional amounts to the Dealer or any such holder which, after deduction of any such withholding, or other taxes or governmental charges of any nature whatsoever imposed with respect to the payment of such additional amount, shall equal the amount withheld pursuant to clause (i). The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, will promptly pay any stamp duty or other taxes or governmental charges payable in connection with the execution, delivery, payment or performance of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Guarantee or the Notes and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer and each holder of Notes from all liabilities arising from any failure to pay, or delay in paying, such taxes or charges. Dealer agrees to complete any form or document that may be reasonably requested by the Issuer or the Guarantor or required in order to allow the Issuer or the Guarantor to make a payment under this Agreement without any deduction or withholding for or on account of any taxes or other governmental changes (or to avoid the imposition of any stamp duty or other taxes or governmental changes), and neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall be obligated to pay any additional amounts to Dealer for any taxes or other governmental charges arising out of a failure by Dealer to complete any such form or document. | |||
(b) | The obligation of the Issuer to make payments on any amount due hereunder or under the Notes, and the obligation of the Guarantor to make payments due under the Guarantee, in each case, in any currency (the first currency) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender or recovery pursuant to any judgment expressed in or converted into any other currency (the second currency) except to the extent to which such tender or recovery shall result in the effective receipt by the Dealer or holders of the Notes, as the case may be, of the full amount of the first currency payable, and accordingly the primary obligation of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovery in the second currency of the amount (if any) by which such effective receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the full currency payable and shall not be affected by a judgment being obtained for any other sum due hereunder. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 19 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 20 |
(a) | The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree 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 or the Guarantor, notify the Issuer and the Guarantor in writing of the existence thereof; provided that (i) the omission to so notify the Issuer or the Guarantor will not relieve it from any liability which it may have hereunder unless and except to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such Claim and such failure results in the forfeiture by it of substantial rights and defenses, and (ii) the omission to so notify the Issuer or the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor of the existence thereof, the Issuer and the Guarantor 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 either the Issuer or the Guarantor or both, 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 or the Guarantor, the Issuer shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Claim on behalf of such Indemnitee, and the Indemnitee shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such legal defenses on behalf of such Indemnitee. Upon receipt of notice from the Issuer to such Indemnitee of the election of the Issuer and the Guarantor to assume the defense of such Claim and approval by the Indemnitee of counsel, the Issuer and the Guarantor 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 neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall 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 and the Guarantor 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 or the Guarantor has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the Indemnitee. The indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor hereunder shall be in addition to any other liability the Issuer or the Guarantor 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, the Guarantor and any |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 21 |
Indemnitee. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees that without the Dealers 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. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 22 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 23 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 24 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 25 |
3Such nonbank dealers referred to in this Statement of Terms may include affiliates of the Dealer. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 26 |
D x 360 | ||||||
Money Market Yield = | x 100 | |||||
360 (D x M) |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 27 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 28 |
D x N | ||||
Money Market Yield = | x 100 | |||
360 (D x M) |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 29 |
4Unlike 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. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 30 |
1. | The Guarantor irrevocably guarantees payment in full, as and when the same becomes due and payable, of the principal of and interest, if any, on the promissory notes (the Notes) issued by ___, a ___corporation and a [wholly-owned] subsidiary of the Guarantor (the Issuer), from time to time pursuant to the Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, dated as of ___, ___, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, between the Issuer [, the Guarantor] and ___(the Agreement). | ||
2. | The Guarantors obligations under this Guarantee shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity or enforceability of any provision of the Agreement or the Notes. | ||
3. | This Guarantee is a guaranty of the due and punctual payment (and not merely of collection) of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes by the Issuer and shall remain in full force and effect until all amounts have been validly, finally and irrevocably paid in full, and shall not be affected in any way by any circumstance or condition whatsoever, including without limitation (a) the absence of any action to obtain such amounts from the Issuer, (b) any variation, extension, waiver, compromise or release of any or all of the obligations of the Issuer under the Agreement of the Notes or of any collateral security therefore or (c) any change in the existence or structure of, or the bankruptcy or insolvency of, the Issuer or by any other circumstance (other than by complete, irrevocable payment) that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor or surety. The Guarantor waives all requirements as to diligence, presentment, demand for payment, protest and notice of any kind with respect to the Agreement and the Notes. | ||
4. | In the event of a default in payment of principal of or interest on any Notes, the holders of such Notes, may institute legal proceedings directly against the Guarantor to enforce this Guarantee without first proceeding against the Issuer. | ||
5. | This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect or shall be reinstated (as the case may be) if at any time any payment by the Issuer of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Notes, in whole or in part, is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 31 |
6. | This Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. | ||
7. | (a) Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Guarantee may be brought in the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from either thereof, and, by execution and delivery of this Guarantee, the Guarantor irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, unconditionally, the non exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts with respect to any such action or proceeding. The Guarantor, to the extent it is not qualified to do business in New York, hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers CT Corporation System, with offices on the date hereof at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents which may be served in any such action or proceeding. If for any reason such designee, appointee and agent shall cease to be available to act as such, the Guarantor agrees to designate a new designee, appointee and agent in New York on the terms and for the purposes of this provision satisfactory to the Dealer (as such term is defined in the Agreement, and as so defined is herein so used). The Guarantor further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at its address provided in Section 7.1 of the Agreement, and at its registered office, if different. Such service to become effective thirty days after such mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party to the Agreement or beneficiary of this Guarantee to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against the Guarantor in any other jurisdiction. | ||
(b) | The Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Guarantee brought in the courts referred to in clause (a) above and hereby further irrevocably waives, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. | ||
8. | To the extent that the Guarantor or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to them, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding in connection with or arising out of this Guarantee, the Agreement or the Notes or the offer and sale of the Notes, from the giving of any relief in any thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceeding may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Guarantee, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement (as such term is defined in the Agreement, and as so defined |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 32 |
9. | Any payments hereunder shall be in United States dollars and shall be free of all withholding and other taxes and of all other governmental charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by the jurisdiction in which the Guarantor is located. In the event any withholding is required by law, the Guarantor agrees to (i) pay the same and (ii) pay such additional amounts which, after deduction of any such withholding, or other taxes or governmental charges of any nature whatsoever imposed with respect to the payment of such additional amount, shall equal the amount withheld pursuant to clause (i). The Guarantor will promptly pay any stamp duty or other taxes or governmental charges payable in connection with the execution, delivery, payment or performance of this Guarantee and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Dealer and each holder of Notes from all liabilities arising from any failure to pay, or delay in paying, such taxes or charges. Dealer agrees to complete any form or document that may be reasonably requested by the Guarantor or required in order to allow the Guarantor to make a payment under this Guarantee without any deduction or withholding for or on account of any taxes or other governmental changes (or to avoid the imposition of any stamp duty or other taxes or governmental changes), and the Guarantor shall not be obligated to pay any additional amounts to Dealer for any taxes or other governmental charges arising out of a failure by Dealer to complete any such form or document. | ||
10. | The obligation of the Guarantor to make payments due under this Guarantee in any currency (the first currency) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender or recovery pursuant to any judgment expressed in or converted into any other currency (the second currency) except to the extent to which such tender or recovery shall result in the effective receipt by the Dealer or holders of the Notes, as the case may be, of the full amount of the first currency payable, and accordingly the primary obligation of the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovery in the second currency of the amount (if any) by which such effective receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the full currency payable and shall not be affected by a judgment being obtained for any other sum due hereunder. |
Name of Guarantor] | ||||
By: | ________________________ | |||
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 33 |
1. | The Issuer is a ___[duly formed/organized], validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the ___of ___and has all the requisite ___power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Notes, the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement. | ||
2. | Each of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), and except as rights under each of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal or state laws. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 34 |
3. | The Notes have been duly authorized by the Issuer, and when issued and delivered as provided in the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and delivered by, and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of, the Issuer enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law). |
4. | The offer and sale of the Notes and the Guarantee in the manner contemplated by the Agreement 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. |
5. | Assuming the offer and sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated by the Agreement, no consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any governmental or public regulatory body or authority, including the SEC, is required to be obtained or made by the Issuer under any statute or regulation applicable to it to authorize its execution, delivery or performance of, the Agreement, the Notes or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, except as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes. |
6. | Neither the execution and delivery of the Agreement, the Guarantee 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, pursuant to the express provisions of any Material Agreement (as herein defined), in the creation or imposition of any consensual mortgage, lien or similar encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Issuer, or (ii) violate or result in an event of default under, as the case may be, any of the terms of the Issuers [governance documents], any agreement or instrument binding on the Issuer which is filed as an exhibit to the ___s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the Material Agreements), or any statutory law or regulation applicable to it, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or government instrumentality, which is known by us to be expressly applicable to the Issuer. |
7. | The Issuer is not an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
8. | 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 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]].1 [NOTE: Subject |
5 | Paragraphs 9 through 14 will only be necessary where the Issuer is a foreign entity. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 35 |
9. | 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. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Issuer, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] |
10. | 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. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Issuer, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] |
11. | 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. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Issuer, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] |
12. | 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]. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Issuer, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] |
13. | 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]. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Issuer, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 36 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program § 37 |
1. | The Guarantor is a corporation [duly organized], validly existing and in good standing under the laws of and has all the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Agreement, the Guarantee and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement. | ||
2. | Each of the Agreement, the Guarantee and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor 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 each of the Agreement and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement to indemnity and contribution may be limited by federal or state laws. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program §38 |
3. | The offer and sale of the Notes and the Guarantee in the manner contemplated by the Agreement do not require registration of the Guarantee under the Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) thereof, and no indenture in respect of the Guarantee is required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. | ||
4. | Assuming the offer and sale of the Notes in the manner contemplated by the Agreement, no consent or action of, or filing or registration with, any governmental or public regulatory body or authority, including the SEC, is required to be obtained or made by the Guarantor under any statute or regulation applicable to it to authorize its execution, delivery or performance of, the Agreement, the Guarantee or the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, except as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes. | ||
5. | Neither the execution and delivery of the Agreement, the Guarantee 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 Guarantor, will (i) result, pursuant to the express provisions of any Material Agreement (as herein defined), in the creation or imposition of any consensual mortgage, lien or similar encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Guarantor, or (ii) violate or result in an event of default under, as the case may be, any of the terms of the Guarantors [governance documents], any agreement or instrument binding on the Guarantor which is filed as an exhibit to the s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the Material Agreements), or any statutory law or regulation applicable to it, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or government instrumentality, which is known by us to be expressly applicable to the Guarantor. | ||
6. | The Guarantor is not an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. | ||
7. | As a condition to the admissibility in evidence of the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Notes or the Guarantee in [foreign jurisdiction], it is not necessary that the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Notes or the Guarantee be filed or recorded with any court or other authority. [All documentary evidence in a foreign language to be submitted 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]].6 [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Guarantor, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] | ||
8. | Under the laws of [foreign jurisdiction], neither the Guarantor 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 |
6 | Paragraphs 8 through 13 will only be necessary where the Guarantor is a foreign entity. |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program §39 |
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 Guarantee. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Guarantor, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] | |||
9. | The Guarantor is permitted to make all payments under the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement and the Guarantee (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 Guarantor 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, the Notes or the Guarantee. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Guarantor, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] | ||
10. | The choice of New York law to govern the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Notes and the Guarantee is, under the laws of [foreign jurisdiction], a valid, effective and irrevocable choice of law. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Guarantor, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] | ||
11. | The submission by the Guarantor, in the Agreement and the Guarantee, 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 Guarantor under the laws of [foreign jurisdiction]. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Guarantor, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] | ||
12. | 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 Guarantor under the Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, the Notes or the Guarantee is capable of being enforced in the courts of [foreign jurisdiction]. [NOTE: Subject to applicability of the foregoing to the Guarantor, and if so, to Foreign Counsels review, comment and modification.] |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program §40 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program §41 |
[Name of Issuer]
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: |
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 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program §42 |
[Name of Guarantor]
1. | The following resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Guarantor [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: | ||
[RESOLUTION TO COME FROM GUARANTOR] | |||
2. | Each of the Agreement, the Guarantee and the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement, as executed and delivered by the Guarantor, 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 |
Merrill Lynch | Guaranteed Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement 4(2) Program §43 |