AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 15, 2000
REGISTRATION NO. 333- (1)


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            NEW YORK                                                    13-0871985
  (State or other jurisdiction                            (I.R.S. employer identification number)
of incorporation or organization)


ARMONK, NEW YORK 10504
(914) 499-1900
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

ANDREW BONZANI
ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND SENIOR COUNSEL
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
ARMONK, NEW YORK 10504
(914) 499-6118
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: / /

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: /X/

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: / /

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: / /

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box: / /

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                                                                                    PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                                                 AMOUNT TO BE      AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
     TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED         REGISTERED (A)        PRICE (A)(B)       REGISTRATION FEE
Debt Securities.............................................
Preferred Stock(c)..........................................
Depositary Shares(c)........................................
                                                              $10,000,000,000(1)          100%              $2,640,000
Capital Stock(c)............................................
Warrants....................................................

(a) Subject to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in no event will the aggregate initial offering price of the securities issued under this Registration Statement (which includes securities issued hereunder pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act) exceed $12,107,437,190, or if any securities are issued in any foreign currency units, the U.S. dollar equivalent of $12,107,437,190. For Debt Securities issued with an original issue discount, the amount to be registered is calculated as the initial accreted value of such Debt Securities.

(b) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o).

(c) In addition to any Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Capital Stock that may be issued directly under this Registration Statement, there are being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Capital Stock as may be issued upon conversion or exchange of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, as the case may be. No separate consideration will be received for any shares of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Capital Stock so issued upon conversion or exchange.

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.


(1) PURSUANT TO RULE 429 OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE PROSPECTUS INCLUDED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ALSO RELATES TO $2,107,437,190 OF SECURITIES PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED UNDER THE REGISTRANT'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 (FILE NO. 333-70521). THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ALSO CONSTITUTES POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 WITH RESPECT TO THE REGISTRANT'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 (FILE NO. 333-70521).



SUBJECT TO COMPLETION MAY 15, 2000

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.


PROSPECTUS

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

NEW ORCHARD ROAD
ARMONK, NEW YORK 10504
(914) 499-1900

$12,107,437,190
DEBT SECURITIES
PREFERRED STOCK
DEPOSITARY SHARES
CAPITAL STOCK
WARRANTS


WE WILL PROVIDE SPECIFIC TERMS OF THESE SECURITIES
IN SUPPLEMENTS TO THIS PROSPECTUS.

YOU SHOULD READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SUPPLEMENT CAREFULLY
BEFORE YOU INVEST.


These securities have not been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission, nor have these organizations determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is , 2000.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                PAGE
                                                              --------
Summary.....................................................      3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined
 Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends................      4
Where You Can find More Information.........................      5
Description of The Company..................................      6
Use of Proceeds.............................................      6
Description of The Debt Securities..........................      6
Description of the Preferred Stock..........................     18
Description of the Depositary Shares........................     19
Description of the Capital Stock............................     22
Description of the Warrants.................................     22
Plan of Distribution........................................     24
Legal Opinions..............................................     24
Experts.....................................................     24


SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information from this document and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand the terms of our securities, you should carefully read this document with the attached prospectus supplement. Together these documents will give the specific terms of the securities we are offering. You should also read the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus for information on us and our financial statements. Certain capitalized terms used in this summary are defined elsewhere in this prospectus.

THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus is part of a registration statement (No. 333- ) that we filed with the SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf process, we may offer from time to time up to $12,107,437,190 of any of the following securities, either separately or in units: DEBT, PREFERRED STOCK, DEPOSITARY SHARES, CAPITAL STOCK AND WARRANTS. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

DEBT SECURITIES

We may offer unsecured general obligations of our company, which may be senior or subordinate. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are together referred to in this prospectus as the "debt securities". The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of our other unsecured, unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be entitled to payment only after payment on our senior indebtedness. Senior indebtedness includes all indebtedness for money borrowed by us, except indebtedness that is stated to be not superior to, or to have the same rank as, the subordinated debt securities. In addition, the subordinated debt securities will be effectively subordinated to creditors and preferred stockholders of our subsidiaries.

The senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as the trustee. The subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee we name in the prospectus supplement. We have summarized general features of the debt securities from the indentures. We encourage you to read the indentures which are exhibits to the registration statement and our recent periodic and current reports that we file with the SEC.

GENERAL INDENTURE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY TO SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

Neither indenture limits the amount of debt that we may issue. In addition, neither indenture provides holders any protection should there be a recapitalization or restructuring involving our company.

The indentures allow us to merge or consolidate with another company, or to sell all or most of our assets to another company. If these events occur, the other company will be required to assume our responsibilities relating to the debt securities, and we will be released from all liabilities and obligations.

The indentures provide that holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of any series of debt securities may vote to change our obligations or your rights concerning that series. However, to change the amount or timing of principal, interest or other payments under the debt securities, every holder in the series must consent.

We may discharge our obligations under the indenture relating to the senior debt securities by depositing with the trustee sufficient funds or government obligations to pay the senior debt securities when due.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Each indenture provides that the following are events of default:

- If we do not pay interest for 30 days after its due date.

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- If we do not pay principal or premium when due.

- If we do not make any sinking fund payment for 30 days after its due date.

- If we continue to breach a covenant for 90 days after notice.

- If we enter bankruptcy or become insolvent.

If an event of default occurs under any series of debt securities, the trustee or holders of 25% of the outstanding principal amount of that series may declare the principal amount of the series immediately payable. However, holders of a majority of the principal amount may rescind this action.

GENERAL INDENTURE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY ONLY TO SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

The indenture relating to the senior debt securities contains covenants restricting our ability to incur secured indebtedness and enter into sale and leaseback transactions.

GENERAL INDENTURE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY ONLY TO SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to all senior indebtedness. In addition, claims of our subsidiaries' creditors and preferred stockholders generally will have priority with respect to the subsidiaries' assets and earnings over the claims of our creditors, including holders of the subordinated debt securities. The subordinated debt securities, therefore, will be effectively subordinated to creditors and preferred stockholders of our subsidiaries.

The indenture relating to the subordinated debt securities does not provide holders any protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.

PREFERRED STOCK AND DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may issue our preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one or more series. Our Board of Directors will determine the dividend, voting, conversion and other rights of the series being offered and the terms and conditions relating to its offering and sale at the time of the offer and sale. We may also issue fractional shares of preferred stock that will be represented by depositary shares and depositary receipts.

CAPITAL STOCK

We may issue our capital stock, par value $0.20 per share. Holders of capital stock are entitled to receive dividends if and when those dividends are declared by our Board of Directors, subject to rights of preferred stockholders. Each holder of capital stock is entitled to one vote per share. The holders of capital stock have no preemptive rights or cumulative voting rights.

WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock or capital stock. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities.

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the periods indicated are as follows:

                                  THREE
                                 MONTHS
                                  ENDED
                                MARCH 31,                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                           -------------------   ----------------------------------------------------
                             2000       1999       1999       1998       1997       1996       1995
                           --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
Ratio of earnings to
  fixed charges..........    5.71       5.37       7.0        5.3        5.4        5.3        5.0
Ratio of earnings to
  combined fixed charges
  and preferred stock
  dividends..............    5.63       5.29       6.9        5.3        5.4        5.3        4.9

We compute the ratio of earnings to fixed charges by dividing earnings, which includes income before taxes and fixed charges, by fixed charges. This calculation excludes the effects of accounting changes which have been made over time. We compute the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by dividing earnings by the sum of fixed charges and dividends on preferred stock.

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For purposes of calculating this ratio, the preferred stock dividend requirements were assumed to be equal to the pre-tax earnings that would be required to cover such dividend requirements based on our effective income tax rates for the respective periods. "Fixed charges" consist of interest on debt and a portion of rentals determined to be representative of interest.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on their public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC's web site at (http://www.sec.gov).

The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus the information we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until our offering is completed:

i. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999;

ii. Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000; and

iii. Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on January 20, 2000, April 13, 2000, April 19, 2000 and May 5, 2000.

We encourage you to read our periodic and current reports. Not only do we think these items are interesting reading, we think these reports provide additional information about our company which prudent investors find important. You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing to or telephoning our transfer agent at the following address:

EquiServe, the First Chicago Trust Division Mail Suite 4688
P.O. Box 2530
Jersey City, New Jersey 07303-2530 (201) 324-0405

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY

We were originally incorporated in the State of New York on June 16, 1911, as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. (C-T-R). C-T-R was a consolidation of the Computing Scale Co. of America, the Tabulating Machine Co., and The International Time Recording Co. of New York. In 1924, C-T-R adopted the name International Business Machines Corporation, also known more simply as IBM.

We use advanced information technology to provide customer solutions. We operate primarily in a single industry using several segments that create value by offering a variety of solutions that include, either singularly or in some combination, technologies, systems, products, services, software and financing.

Organizationally, our major operations comprise three hardware products segments--Technology, Personal Systems and Enterprise Systems; a Global Services segment; a Software segment; a Global Financing segment and an Enterprise Investment segment. The segments are determined based on several factors, including customer base, homogeneity of products, technology and delivery channels.

We offer our products through our global sales and distribution organization. The sales and distribution organization has both a geographic focus (in the Americas, Europe/Middle East/ Africa, and Asia Pacific) and a specialized and global industry focus. In addition, this organization includes a global sales and distribution effort devoted exclusively to small and medium businesses. We also offer our products through a variety of third party distributors and resellers, as well as through our on-line channels.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement will be used for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include the repayment of debt, investments in or extensions of credit to our subsidiaries, redemption of preferred stock, or the financing of possible acquisitions or business expansion. The net proceeds may be invested temporarily or applied to repay short-term debt until they are used for their stated purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth general terms that may apply to the debt securities. The particular terms of any debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.

The debt securities will be either our senior debt securities or our subordinated debt securities. The senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of October 1, 1993, as supplemented on December 15, 1995, between us and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee. This indenture is referred to as the "senior indenture". The subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture to be entered into between us and the trustee named in a prospectus supplement. This indenture is referred to as the "subordinated indenture". The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are together called the "indentures".

The following is a summary of the most important provisions of the indentures. Copies of the entire indentures are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Section references below are to the section in the applicable indenture. The referenced sections of the indentures are incorporated by reference. We encourage you to read our indentures.

GENERAL

Neither indenture limits the amount of debt securities that we may issue. Each indenture provides that debt securities may be issued up to the principal amount authorized by us from time to time. The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will have the same rank as all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinated and junior to all senior indebtedness.

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The debt securities may be issued in one or more separate series of senior debt securities and/or subordinated debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt securities being offered will specify the particular amounts, prices and terms of those debt securities. These terms may include:

- the title of the debt securities;

- any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

- the maturity date or dates, or the method of determining the maturity dates;

- the interest rate or rates, or the method of determining those rates;

- the interest payment dates and, for debt securities in registered form, the regular record dates;

- the places where payments may be made;

- any mandatory or optional redemption provisions;

- any sinking fund or analogous provisions;

- any conversion or exchange provisions;

- any terms for the attachment to the debt securities of warrants, options or other rights to purchase or sell our securities;

- the portion of principal amount of the debt security payable upon acceleration of maturity if other than the full principal amount;

- any deletions of, or changes or additions to, the events of default or covenants;

- if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies, including the euro and other composite currencies, in which payments on the debt securities will be payable and whether the holder may elect payment to be made in a different currency;

- the method of determining the amount of any payments on the debt securities which are linked to an index;

- whether the debt securities will be issued in fully registered form without coupons or in bearer form, with or without coupons, or any combination of these, and whether they will be issued in the form of one or more global securities in temporary or definitive form;

- any terms relating to the delivery of the debt securities if they are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants;

- whether and on what terms we will pay additional amounts to holders of the debt securities that are not U.S. persons for any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts; and

- any other specific terms of the debt securities.

(Sections 202 and 301)

Unless we otherwise specify in the prospectus supplement:

- the debt securities will be registered debt securities;

- registered debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000; and

- bearer debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued in denominations of $5,000.

Debt securities may bear legends required by United States Federal tax law and regulations. (Section 401)

If any of the debt securities are sold for any foreign currency or currency unit, or if any payments on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, the prospectus supplement will contain any restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information relating to the debt securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.

Some of the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt securities. Original issue discount securities bear no interest

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or bear interest at below-market rates. These are sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. If we issue these securities, the prospectus supplement will describe any special tax, accounting or other information which we think is important.

EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER

Debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate trust office of the security registrar or at any other office or agency which is maintained for these purposes. No service charge will be payable upon the transfer or exchange, except for any applicable tax or governmental charge.

The designated security registrar in the United States for the senior debt securities is The Chase Manhattan Bank, located at 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001. The security registrar for the subordinated debt securities will be designated in a prospectus supplement.

If debt securities are issuable in both registered and bearer form, the bearer securities will be exchangeable for registered securities. If a bearer security with related coupons is surrendered in exchange for a registered security between a record date and the date set for the payment of interest, the bearer security will be surrendered without the coupon relating to that interest payment. That interest payment will be made only to the holder of the coupon when due.

In the event of any redemption in part of any series of debt securities, we will not be required to:

- issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, debt securities of any series between the opening of business 15 business days before any selection of debt securities of that series to be redeemed and the close of business on:

- the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption (if debt securities of the series are issuable only in registered form), and

- the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption (if the debt securities of the series are issuable in bearer form) or,

- the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption (if the debt securities of the series are issuable in bearer and registered form) and there is no publication;

- register the transfer of, or exchange, any registered security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part; or

- exchange any bearer security selected for redemption, except to exchange it for a registered security which is simultaneously surrendered for redemption.

(Section 404)

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENT

We will pay principal, interest and any premium on fully registered securities in the designated currency or currency unit at the office of the paying agent. Payment of interest on fully registered securities may be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement. (Sections 406 and 410)

We will pay principal, interest and any premium on bearer securities in the designated currency or currency unit at the office of the paying agent or agents outside of the United States. Payments will be made at the offices of the paying agent in the United States only if the designated currency is U.S. dollars and payment outside of the United States is illegal or effectively precluded.
(Sections 410 and 1102)

If any amount payable on any debt security or coupon remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount became due and payable, the paying agent will release any unclaimed amounts to us. (Section 1103)

Our paying agent in the United States for the senior debt securities is The Chase Manhattan Bank, located at 450 West 33rd

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Street, New York, New York 10001. If and when we issue subordinated debt securities, we'll designate the paying agent for those subordinated debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

GLOBAL SECURITIES

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates. Those certificates will be deposited with a depositary that we will identify in a prospectus supplement. Global debt securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and can be in either temporary or definitive form. All global securities in bearer form will be deposited with a depositary outside of the United States. We will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement relating to a series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement.

Other than for payments, we can treat a person having a beneficial interest in a definitive global security as the holder of the principal amount of outstanding debt securities represented by the global security. For these purposes, we can rely upon a written statement delivered to the trustee by the holder of the definitive global security, or, in the case of a definitive global security in bearer form, by Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear System, and Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (Clearstream, Luxembourg). (Section 411)

Neither we, the trustee nor any of our respective agents will be responsible for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. (Section 411)

Unless we otherwise specify in a prospectus supplement, we anticipate that the following provisions will apply to our depositary arrangements:

TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITIES

All or any portion of the debt securities of a series that are issuable in bearer form initially may be represented by one or more temporary global securities, without interest coupons. The temporary global securities will be deposited with a depositary in London for Euroclear and Clearstream for credit to the accounts of the beneficial owners of the debt securities or to such other accounts as they may direct.

On and after an exchange date provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each temporary global security will be exchangeable for definitive debt securities in bearer form, registered form, definitive global bearer form or a combination of these, as will be specified in the prospectus supplement.

No bearer security delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary global security will be mailed or delivered to any location in the United States.
(Sections 402 and 403)

Interest on a temporary global security will be paid to Euroclear and/or Clearstream for the portion held for its account only after a certificate is delivered to the trustee stating that the portion:

- is not beneficially owned by a United States person;

- has not been acquired by or on behalf of a United States person or for offer to resell or for resale to a United States person or any person inside the United States; or

- if a beneficial interest has been acquired by a United States person, that:

- such person is a financial institution (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code), purchasing for its own account or has acquired the debt security through a financial institution; and

- that the debt securities are held by a financial institution that has agreed in writing to comply with the requirements of Section
165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue

9

Code and the regulations thereunder, and that it did not purchase for resale inside the United States.

The certificate must be based on statements provided by the beneficial owners of interests in the temporary global security. Each of Euroclear and Clearstream will credit the interest received by it to the accounts of the beneficial owners of the debt security, or to other accounts as they may direct.
(Section 403)

DEFINITIVE GLOBAL SECURITIES

BEARER SECURITIES. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the exchange provisions, if any, of debt securities issuable in definitive global bearer form. We will not deliver any bearer securities in exchange for a portion of a definitive global security to any location in the United States. (Section 404)

U.S. BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES. Debt securities of a series represented by a definitive global registered security and deposited with or on behalf of a depositary in the United States will be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. These securities are referred to as "book-entry securities".

When a global security is issued and deposited with the depositary, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts represented by that global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee. Institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee are referred to as "participants".

The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the underwriters or agents for the sale of such book-entry securities or by us, if we offer and sell those securities directly.

Ownership of book-entry securities are limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. In addition, ownership of these securities will be evidenced only by, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee or by participants or persons that hold through other participants.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, that depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the book-entry securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Payments of principal, interest and premium on those securities will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner or the holder of the global security.

Owners of book-entry securities:

- will not be entitled to have the debt securities registered in their names;

- will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form; and

- will not be considered the owners or holders of those debt securities under the indenture.

The laws of some jurisdictions require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws impair the ability to purchase or transfer book-entry securities. We must comply with the law.

We expect that the depositary for book-entry securities of a series will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments received by the depositary or nominee in amounts proportionate to the participants' beneficial interests as shown on the records of such depositary.

We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through the participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name". The payments by participants to the owners of beneficial interests will be the responsibility of those participants.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF HOLDING DEBT SECURITIES IN STREET NAME

Investors who hold debt securities in accounts at banks or brokers will not generally be recognized by us as the legal holders of debt

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securities. Since we recognize as the holder the bank or broker, or the financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold its debt securities, it is the responsibility of these intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions to pass along principal, interest and other payments on the debt securities, either because they agree to do so in their agreements with their customers, or because they are legally required to do so. If you hold debt securities in street name, you really ought to check with your own institution to find out:

- How it handles securities payments and notices;

- Whether it imposes additional fees or charges;

- How it would handle voting and related issues if ever required;

- How it would pursue or enforce rights under the debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for direct holders to act to protect their interests; and

- Whether and how it would react on other matters which are important to persons who hold debt securities in "street name".

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

We may be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of any series that have matured or will mature or be redeemed within one year if we deposit with the trustee enough cash to pay all the principal, interest and any premium due to the stated maturity date or redemption date of the debt securities. (Section 501)

Each indenture contains a provision that permits us to elect:

1. to be discharged after 90 days from all of our obligations (subject to limited exceptions) with respect to any series of debt securities then outstanding; and/or

2. to be released from our obligations under the following covenants and from the consequences of an event of default or cross-default resulting from a breach of these covenants:

a. the limitations on mergers, consolidations and sale of assets,

b. the limitations on sale and leaseback transactions under the senior indenture, and

c. the limitations on secured indebtedness under the senior indenture.

To make either of the above elections, we must deposit in trust with the trustee enough money to pay in full the principal, interest and premium on the debt securities. This amount may be made in cash and/or U.S. government obligations, if the debt securities are denominated in U.S. dollars. This amount may be made in cash, and/or foreign government securities if the debt securities are denominated in a foreign currency. As a condition to either of the above elections, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the action. (Section 503)

If either of the above events occur, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities. (Sections 501 and 503)

EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND WAIVER

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.

The declaration may be annulled and past defaults may be waived by the holders of a majority of the principal amount of the debt securities of that series. However, payment defaults that are not cured may only be waived

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by all holders of the debt securities. (Sections 602 and 613)

Each indenture defines an event of default in connection with any series of debt securities as one or more of the following events:

- we fail to pay interest on any debt security of the series for 30 days when due;

- we fail to pay the principal or any premium on any debt securities of the series when due;

- we fail to make any sinking fund payment for 30 days when due;

- we fail to perform any other covenant in the debt securities of the series or in the applicable indenture relating to debt securities of that series for 90 days after being given notice; and

- we enter into bankruptcy or become insolvent.

An event of default for one series of debt securities is not necessarily an event of default for any other series of debt securities. (Section 601)

Each indenture requires the trustee to give the holders of a series of debt securities notice of a default for that series within 90 days unless the default is cured or waived. However, the trustee may withhold this notice if it determines in good faith that it is in the interest of those holders. The trustee may not, however, withhold this notice in the case of a payment default.
(Section 702)

Other than the duty to act with the required standard of care during an event of default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities, unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnification. (Section 703)

Generally, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the trustee. (Section 612)

Each indenture includes a covenant that we will file annually with the trustee a certificate of no default, or specifying any default that exists.
(Section 1106)

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks and brokers for information on their requirements for giving notice or taking other actions upon a default.

MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES

Together with the trustee, we may modify the indentures without the consent of the holders for limited purposes, including adding to our covenants or events of default, establishing forms or terms of debt securities, curing ambiguities and other purposes which do not adversely affect the holders in any material respect. (Section 1001)

Together with the trustee, we may also make modifications and amendments to each indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all affected series. However, without the consent of each affected holder, no modification may:

- change the stated maturity of any debt security;

- reduce the principal, premium (if any) or rate of interest on any debt security;

- change any place of payment or the currency in which any debt security is payable;

- impair the right to enforce any payment after the stated maturity or redemption date;

- adversely affect the terms of any conversion right;

- reduce the percentage of holders of outstanding debt securities of any series required to consent to any modification, amendment or waiver under the indenture;

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- change any of our obligations for any outstanding series of debt securities to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in the indenture for that series; or

- change the provisions in the indenture that relate to its modification or amendment.

(Section 1002)

MEETINGS

The indentures contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series. (Section 1401)

A meeting may be called at any time by the trustee, upon request by us or upon request by the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series. In each case, notice will be given to the holders of debt securities of the series. (Section 1402)

Persons holding a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will constitute a quorum at a meeting. A meeting called by us or the trustee that did not have a quorum may be adjourned for not less than 10 days, and if there is not a quorum at the adjourned meeting, the meeting may be further adjourned for not less than 10 days.

Generally, any resolution presented at a meeting at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. However, to change the amount or timing of payments under the debt securities, every holder in the series must consent.

In addition, if the indenture provides that an action may be taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of a series, that action may be taken at a meeting at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of any series duly held in accordance with an indenture will be binding on all holders of debt securities of that series and the related coupons. (Section 1404)

NOTICES TO HOLDERS

In most instances, notices to holders of bearer securities will be given by publication at least once in a daily newspaper in The City of New York and in London. Notices may also be published in another city or cities as may be specified in the securities. In addition, notices to holders of bearer securities will be mailed to those persons whose names and addresses were previously filed with the applicable trustee. Notice to holders of registered securities will be given by mail to the addresses of the holders as they appear in the security register. (Section 106)

TITLE

Title to any bearer securities and any related coupons will pass by delivery. We, the trustee and any agent of ours or the trustee may treat the holder of any bearer security or related coupon as the absolute owner of that security for all purposes. We may also treat the registered owner of any registered security as the absolute owner of that security for all purposes.
(Section 407)

REPLACEMENT OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS

We think it's very important for you to keep your securities safe. If you don't, you'll have to follow these procedures. We'll replace debt securities or coupons that have been mutilated, but you'll have to pay for the replacement, and you'll have to surrender the mutilated debt security or coupon to the security registrar first. Debt securities or coupons that become destroyed, stolen or lost will only be replaced by us, again at your expense, upon your providing evidence of destruction, loss or theft which we and the security registrar think is good. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen debt security or coupon, we may also require you, as the holder of the debt security or coupon, to indemnify the security registrar and us before we'll go about issuing any replacement debt security or coupon. (Section 405)

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GOVERNING LAW

The indentures, the debt securities and the coupons will be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of New York.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TRUSTEE

We may from time to time maintain lines of credit, and have other customary banking relationships, with the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture.

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and non-subordinated debt.

COVENANTS IN THE SENIOR INDENTURE

COVENANTS ARE PROMISES. We must keep our promises or we could be placed in default.

LIMITATION ON MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND CERTAIN SALES OF ASSETS. We may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, merge into or consolidate with any other corporation, or convey or transfer all or substantially all of our properties and assets to another person provided that:

- the successor is a U.S. corporation;

- the successor assumes on the same terms and conditions all the obligations under the debt securities and the indentures; and

- immediately after giving effect to the transaction, there is no default under the applicable indenture. (Section 901)

The remaining or acquiring corporation will take over all of our rights and obligations under the indentures. (Section 902)

LIMITATION ON SECURED INDEBTEDNESS. Neither we nor any Restricted Subsidiary will create, assume, incur or guarantee any Secured Indebtedness without securing the senior debt securities equally and ratably with, or prior to, that Secured Indebtedness, unless the sum of the following amounts would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets:

- the total amount of all Secured Indebtedness that the senior debt securities are not secured equally and ratably with, and

- the discounted present value of all net rentals payable under leases entered into in connection with sale and leaseback transactions entered into after July 15, 1985.

You should note that we don't include in this calculation any leases entered into by a Restricted Subsidiary before the time it became a Restricted Subsidiary. (Section 1104)

LIMITATION ON SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS. Neither we nor any Restricted Subsidiary will enter into any lease longer than three years covering any of our Principal Property or any Restricted Subsidiary that is sold to any other person in connection with that lease unless either:

1. the sum of the following amounts does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets:

- the discounted present value of all net rentals payable under all these leases entered into after July 15, 1985; and

- the total amount of all Secured Indebtedness that the senior debt securities are not secured equally and ratably with.

We don't include in this calculation any leases entered into by a Restricted Subsidiary before the time it became a Restricted Subsidiary.

or

2. an amount equal to the greater of the following amounts is applied within 180 days to the retirement of our long-term

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debt or the debt of a Restricted Subsidiary:

- the net proceeds to us or a Restricted Subsidiary from the sale; and

- the discounted present value of all net rentals payable under the lease.

Amounts applied to debt which is subordinated to the senior debt securities or which is owing to us or a Restricted Subsidiary will not be included in this calculation. (Section 1105)

We think it's important for you to be aware that this limitation on sale and leaseback transactions won't apply to any leases that we may enter into relating to newly acquired, improved or constructed property.

We think it's also important for you to note that the holders of a majority in principal amount of all affected series of outstanding debt securities may waive compliance with each of the above covenants. (Section 1107)

DEFINITIONS

"Secured Indebtedness" means our indebtedness or indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary for borrowed money secured by any lien on, or any conditional sale or other title retention agreement covering, any Principal Property or any stock or indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary. Excluded from this definition is all indebtedness:

- outstanding on July 15, 1985, secured by liens, or arising from conditional sale or other title retention agreements, existing on that date;

- incurred after July 15, 1985 to finance the acquisition, improvement or construction of property, and either secured by purchase money mortgages or liens placed on the property within 180 days of acquisition, improvement or construction or arising from conditional sale or other title retention agreements;

- secured by liens on Principal Property or on the stock or indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries, and, in either case, existing at the time of its acquisition;

- owing to us or any Restricted Subsidiary;

- secured by liens, or conditional sale or other title retention devices, existing at the time a corporation became or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after July 15, 1985;

- arising from any sale and leaseback transaction;

- incurred to finance the acquisition or construction of property secured by liens in favor of any country or any political subdivision; and

- constituting any replacement, extension or renewal of any indebtedness to the extent the amount of indebtedness is not increased.

"Principal Property" means land, land improvements, buildings and associated factory, laboratory and office equipment constituting a manufacturing, development, warehouse, service or office facility owned by or leased to us or a Restricted Subsidiary which is located within the United States and which has an acquisition cost plus capitalized improvements in excess of 0.15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the date of such determination. Principal Property does not include:

- products marketed by us or our subsidiaries;

- any property financed through the issuance of tax-exempt governmental obligations;

- any property which our Board of Directors determines is not of material importance to us and our Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or

- any property in which the interest of us and all of our subsidiaries does not exceed 50%.

"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total assets of us and our subsidiaries, less current liabilities and intangible assets. We

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include in intangible assets the balance sheet value of:

- all trade names, trademarks, licenses, patents, copyrights and goodwill;

- organizational and development costs;

- deferred charges other than prepaid items such as insurance, taxes, interest, commissions, rents and similar items and tangible items we are amortizing; and

- unamortized debt discount and expense minus unamortized premium.

We don't include in intangible assets any program products.

"Restricted Subsidiary" means:

1. any of our subsidiaries:

a. which has substantially all its property in the United States;

b. which owns or is a lessee of any Principal Property; and,

c. in which our investment and the investment of our subsidiaries exceeds 0.15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the date of such determination; and

2. any other subsidiary the Board of Directors may designate as a Restricted Subsidiary.

"Restricted Subsidiary" doesn't include financing subsidiaries and subsidiaries formed or acquired after July 15, 1985 for the purpose of acquiring the stock, business or assets of another person and that have not and do not acquire all or any substantial part of our business or assets or the business or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary. (Section 101 of Senior Indenture)

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment to all senior indebtedness.
(Section 1501 of Subordinated Indenture)

In addition, claims of our subsidiaries' creditors and preferred stockholders generally will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of the subsidiaries over the claims of our creditors, including holders of the subordinated debt securities, even though those obligations may not constitute senior indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities, therefore, will be effectively subordinated to creditors, including trade creditors, and preferred stockholders of our subsidiaries.

The subordinated indenture defines "senior indebtedness" to mean the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on:

- all indebtedness for money borrowed or guaranteed by us other than the subordinated debt securities, unless the indebtedness expressly states to have the same rank as, or to rank junior to, the subordinated debt securities; and

- any deferrals, renewals or extensions of any senior indebtedness.

However, the term "senior indebtedness" will not include:

- any of our obligations to our subsidiaries;

- any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by us;

- any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees of instruments evidencing those liabilities;

- any indebtedness, guarantee or obligation of ours which is expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment in any respect to any other indebtedness, guarantee or obligation of ours, including any senior subordinated indebtedness and any subordinated obligations;

- any obligations with respect to any capital stock; or

- any indebtedness incurred in violation of the Subordinated Indenture.

There is no limitation on our ability to issue additional senior indebtedness. The senior debt securities constitute senior indebtedness under the subordinated indenture. The subordinated debt securities will rank equally with our other subordinated indebtedness.

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Under the subordinated indenture, no payment may be made on the subordinated debt securities and no purchase, redemption or retirement of any subordinated debt securities may be made in the event:

- any senior indebtedness is not paid when due, or

- the maturity of any senior indebtedness is accelerated as a result of a default, unless the default has been cured or waived and the acceleration has been rescinded or that senior indebtedness has been paid in full.

We may, however, pay the subordinated debt securities without regard to the above restriction if the representatives of the holders of the applicable senior indebtedness approve the payment in writing to us and the trustee.

The representatives of the holders of senior indebtedness may notify us and the trustee in writing of a default which can result in the acceleration of that senior indebtedness' maturity without further notice or the expiration of any grace periods. In this event, we may not pay the subordinated debt securities for 179 days after receipt of that notice. If the holders of senior indebtedness or their representatives have not accelerated the maturity of the senior indebtedness at the end of the 179 day period, we may resume payments on the subordinated debt securities. Not more than one such notice may be given in any consecutive 360-day period, irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to senior indebtedness during that period. (Section 1503 of Subordinated Indenture)

In the event we pay or distribute our assets to creditors upon a total or partial liquidation, dissolution or reorganization of us or our property, the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full of the senior indebtedness before the holders of subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive any payment. Until the senior indebtedness is paid in full, any payment or distribution to which holders of subordinated debt securities would be entitled but for the subordination provisions of the subordinated indenture will be made to holders of the senior indebtedness. (Section 1502 of Subordinated Indenture)

If a distribution is made to holders of subordinated debt securities that, due to the subordination provisions, should not have been made to them, those holders of subordinated debt securities are required to hold it in trust for the holders of senior indebtedness, and pay it over to them as their interests may appear. (Section 1505 of Subordinated Indenture)

If payment of the subordinated debt securities is accelerated because of an event of default, either we or the trustee will promptly notify the holders of senior indebtedness or their representatives of the acceleration. We may not pay the subordinated debt securities until five business days after the holders of senior indebtedness or their representatives receive notice of the acceleration. Thereafter, we may pay the subordinated debt securities only if the subordination provisions of the subordinated indenture otherwise permit payment at that time. (Section 1505 of Subordinated Indenture)

As a result of the subordination provisions contained in the subordinated indenture, in the event of insolvency, our creditors who are holders of senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of subordinated debt securities. In addition, our creditors who are not holders of senior indebtedness may recover less, ratably, than holders of senior indebtedness and may recover more, ratably, than the holders of subordinated indebtedness. It's important to keep this in mind if you decide to hold our subordinated debt securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK

The following is a description of general terms and provisions of the preferred stock. The particular terms of any series of preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

All of the terms of the preferred stock are, or will be, contained in our Certificate of Incorporation and the certificate of amendment relating to each series of the preferred stock, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at or before the time we issue a series of the preferred stock.

We are authorized to issue up to 150,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share. As of March 31, 2000, 2,546,011 shares of Series A 7 1/2% Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $100 per share, were outstanding. Subject to limitations prescribed by law, the Board of Directors is authorized at any time to:

- issue one or more series of preferred stock;

- determine the designation for any series by number, letter or title that shall distinguish the series from any other series of preferred stock; and

- determine the number of shares in any series.

The Board of Directors is authorized to determine, for each series of preferred stock, and the prospectus supplement will set forth with respect to the series the following information:

- whether dividends on that series of preferred stock will be cumulative, noncumulative or partially cumulative;

- the dividend rate (or method for determining the rate);

- the liquidation preference per share of that series of preferred stock, if any;

- any conversion provisions applicable to that series of preferred stock;

- any redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to that series of preferred stock;

- the voting rights of that series of preferred stock, if any; and

- the terms of any other preferences or rights, if any, applicable to that series of preferred stock.

The preferred stock, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable.

DIVIDENDS

Holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, cash dividends at the rates and on the dates as set forth in the prospectus supplement. Generally, no dividends will be declared or paid on any series of preferred stock unless full dividends for all series of preferred stock, including any cumulative dividends still owing, have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid. When those dividends are not paid in full, dividends will be declared pro-rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on each series of preferred stock will bear to each other series the same ratio that accrued dividends per share for each respective series of preferred stock bear to aggregate accrued dividends for all outstanding shares of preferred stock. In addition, generally, unless all dividends on the preferred stock have been paid, no dividends will be declared or paid on the capital stock and we may not redeem or purchase any capital stock.

Payment of dividends on any series of preferred stock may be restricted by loan agreements, indentures and other transactions we may enter into.

CONVERTIBILITY

No series of preferred stock will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, other securities or property except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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REDEMPTION AND SINKING FUND

No series of preferred stock will be redeemable or receive the benefit of a sinking fund except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Shares of preferred stock that we redeem or otherwise reacquire will resume the status of authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock undesignated as to series, and will be available for subsequent issuance. There are no restrictions on repurchase or redemption of the preferred stock while there is any arrearage on sinking fund installments except as may be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

LIQUIDATION

In the event we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs, the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive the liquidation preference per share specified in the prospectus supplement, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. Holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive these amounts before any distribution is made to the holders of capital stock.

If the amounts payable to preferred stockholders are not paid in full, the holders of preferred stock will share ratably in any distribution of assets based upon the aggregate liquidation preference for all outstanding shares for each series. After the holders of shares of preferred stock are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

Neither the par value nor the liquidation preference is indicative of the price at which the preferred stock will actually trade on or after the date of issuance.

VOTING

Generally, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to vote. However, if the equivalent of six quarterly dividends payable on any series of preferred stock is in default, the number of directors constituting our Board of Directors will be increased by two and the holders of such series of preferred stock, voting together as a class with all other series of preferred stock entitled to vote on such election of directors, will be entitled to elect those additional directors. In the event of this type of default, the Board of Directors will call a special meeting for the holders of all affected series within 10 business days of the default for the purpose of electing the additional directors. Alternatively, the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of all affected series who are entitled to participate in the election of directors may elect those additional directors by written consent. If all accumulated dividends on any series of preferred stock have been paid in full, the holders of shares of that series will no longer have the right to vote on directors, the term of office of each director so elected will terminate, and the number of our directors will, without further action, be reduced by two.

Unless we otherwise specify in a prospectus supplement, the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each series of preferred stock voting together as a class, is required to authorize any amendment, alteration or repeal of our Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of amendment which would adversely affect the powers, preferences, or special rights of the preferred stock including authorizing any class of stock with superior dividend and liquidation preferences.

NO OTHER RIGHTS

The shares of a series of preferred stock will not have any preemptive rights, preferences, voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights except as set forth above or in the prospectus supplement, the Certificate of Incorporation or certificate of amendment or as otherwise required by law.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

We'll designate the transfer agent for each series of preferred stock in the prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will issue to the public receipts for depositary shares,

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and each of these depositary shares will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in shares of preferred stock underlying that depositary share, to all rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying that depositary share. Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights.

The shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a depositary under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares. The depositary will be a bank or trust company selected by us. The depositary will also act as the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares.

Holders of depositary receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence and paying certain charges.

The following is a summary of the most important terms of the depositary shares. The deposit agreement, our Certificate of Incorporation and the certificate of amendment for the applicable series of preferred stock that are, or will be, filed with the SEC will set forth all of the terms relating to the depositary shares.

DIVIDENDS

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received relating to the series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares, to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date. The record date for the depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts that are entitled to receive the distribution. However, if the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution, the depositary may, with our approval, adopt another method for the distribution. The method may include selling the property and distributing the net proceeds to the holders.

LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of each depositary share will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

REDEMPTION

If a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of preferred stock held by the depositary. Whenever we redeem any preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock so redeemed. The depositary will mail the notice of redemption to the record holders of the depositary receipts promptly upon receiving the notice from us and not less than 35 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of the preferred stock and the depositary shares.

VOTING

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts underlying the preferred stock. Each record holder of those depositary receipts on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock underlying that holder's depositary shares. The record date for the depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock. The depositary will try, as far as practicable, to vote the preferred stock underlying the depositary

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shares in a manner consistent with the instructions of the holders of the depositary receipts. We will agree to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will not vote the preferred stock to the extent that it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts.

WITHDRAWAL OF PREFERRED STOCK

Owners of depositary shares are entitled, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary and payment of any unpaid amount due the depositary, to receive the number of whole shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. These holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to deposit the shares under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares for the preferred stock.

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended at any time and from time to time by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares, other than any change in fees, will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary only if:

- all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or

- there has been a final distribution relating to the preferred stock in connection with our dissolution, and that distribution has been made to all the holders of depositary shares.

CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY

We'll pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We'll also pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and the initial issuance of the depositary shares, any redemption of the preferred stock and all withdrawals of preferred stock by owners of depositary shares. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and certain other charges as provided in the deposit agreement. In certain circumstances, the depositary may refuse to transfer depositary shares, withhold dividends and distributions, and sell the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipt, if the charges are not paid.

REPORTS TO HOLDERS

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications we deliver to the depositary that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary--and at other places as it thinks is advisable--any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of preferred stock.

LIABILITY AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and those of the depositary will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties under the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give such information and on

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documents believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper persons.

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering a notice to us of its election to do so. We may also remove the depositary at any time. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice for resignation or removal. In addition, the successor depositary must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and must have a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000,000.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

Owners of the depositary shares will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as if they were owners of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. Accordingly, the owners will be entitled to take into account for Federal income tax purposes income and deductions to which they would be entitled if they were holders of the preferred stock. In addition:

- no gain or loss will be recognized for Federal income tax purposes upon the withdrawal of preferred stock in exchange for depositary shares;

- the tax basis of each share of preferred stock to an exchanging owner of depositary shares will, upon the exchange, be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the depositary shares exchanged; and

- the holding period for preferred stock in the hands of an exchanging owner of depositary shares will include the period during which the person owned the depositary shares.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL STOCK

As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue up to 4,687,500,000 shares of capital stock, $0.20 par value per share. As of March 31, 2000, 1,772,836,653 shares of capital stock were outstanding.

DIVIDENDS. Holders of capital stock are entitled to receive dividends, in cash, securities, or property, as may from time to time be declared by our Board of Directors, subject to the rights of the holders of the preferred stock.

VOTING. Each holder of capital stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters requiring a vote of the stockholders.

RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the holders of capital stock will be entitled to share equally in our assets available for distribution after payment in full of all debts and after the holders of preferred stock have received their liquidation preferences in full.

MISCELLANEOUS. Shares of capital stock are not redeemable and have no subscription, conversion or preemptive rights.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock or capital stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with our debt securities, preferred stock or capital stock and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. A copy of the warrant agreement will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of warrants.

DEBT WARRANTS

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue debt securities will describe the terms of those warrants, including the following:

- the title of the warrants;

22

- the offering price for the warrants, if any;

- the aggregate number of the warrants;

- the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

- if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each debt security;

- if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable;

- the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the debt securities may be purchased upon exercise;

- the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

- if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

- whether the warrants represented by the warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;

- information relating to book-entry procedures, if any;

- the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

- if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;

- anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

- redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; and

- any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

STOCK WARRANTS

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue capital stock or preferred stock will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

- the title of the warrants;

- the offering price for the warrants, if any;

- the aggregate number of the warrants;

- the designation and terms of the capital stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

- if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security;

- if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

- the number of shares of capital stock or preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise;

- the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire;

- if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

- the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

- if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;

- antidilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

- redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;

- any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and

23

- any other information we think is important about the warrants.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities:

- through underwriters;

- through agents; or

- directly to purchasers.

We'll describe in a prospectus supplement, the particular terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:

- the names of any underwriters;

- the purchase price and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

- any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters' compensation;

- any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;

- any securities exchanges on which the securities of the series may be listed; and

- any other information we think is important.

If we use underwriters in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, either at a fixed public offering price, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.

The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of a series if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

Securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities for which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to that agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts. These contracts will provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The conditions to these contracts and the commissions payable for solicitation of such contracts will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against civil liabilities arising out of this prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution for payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make relating to those liabilities. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriter may make a market in the securities, but won't be obligated to do so, and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We can't and won't give any assurances as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of our securities.

LEGAL OPINIONS

The legality of the securities will be passed upon by Mr. David S. Hershberg, our Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. Mr. Hershberg, together with members of his family, owns, has options to purchase and has other interests in shares of our common stock.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

The following statement sets forth the estimated amounts of expenses, other than underwriting discounts, to be borne by us in connection with the offerings described in this Registration Statement:

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee.........  $2,640,000
Trustee's Fees..............................................      80,000
Printing and Engraving Expenses.............................     150,000
Rating Agency Fees..........................................     700,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses................................     350,000
Legal Fees and Expenses.....................................     200,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses..................................      10,000
Listing Fees................................................      20,000
Miscellaneous Expenses......................................     150,000
                                                              ----------
    Total Expenses..........................................  $4,300,000
                                                              ==========

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

Our By-Laws (Article VI, Section 6) provide the following:

"The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as in effect at any time, indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding whether civil or criminal (including an action or proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation or any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, for which any director or officer of the Corporation served in any capacity at the request of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person or such person's testator or intestate was a director or officer of the Corporation, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein. Such indemnification shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid advances of any expenses incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, consistent with the provisions of applicable law in effect at any time. Indemnification shall be deemed to be "permitted" within the meaning of the first sentence hereof if it is not expressly prohibited by applicable law as in effect at the time."

Our Certificate of Incorporation (Article ELEVEN) provides the following:

"Pursuant to Section 402(b) of the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, the liability of the Corporation's directors to the Corporation or its stockholders for damages for breach of duty as a director shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, as it exists on the date hereof or as it may hereafter be amended. No amendment to or repeal of this Article shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal."

With certain limitations, Sections 721 through 726 of the New York Business Corporation Law permit a corporation to indemnify a director or officer made a party to an action (i) by a corporation or in its right in order to procure a judgment in its favor unless he shall have breached his duties, or

II-1


(ii) other than an action by or in the right of the corporation in order to procure a judgment in its favor, if such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or, in certain cases not opposed to such corporation's interest and additionally, in criminal actions, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

In addition, we maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance policies.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

 (1)(a)   Proposed Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
 (1)(b)   Proposed Form of Agency Agreement.*
 (3)(a)   By-laws*********
 (4)(a)   Certificate of Incorporation.***
 (4)(b)   Indenture dated as of October 1, 1993, between us and The
          Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association) as Trustee.**
 (4)(c)   First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 15, 1995,
          to Indenture dated as of October 1, 1993, between us and The
          Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association).******
 (4)(d)   Form of Subordinated Indenture.******
 (4)(h)   Form of Temporary Global Fixed Rate Bearer Medium-Term
          Note.**
 (4)(i)   Form of Definitive Global Fixed Rate Bearer Medium-Term
          Note.**
 (4)(j)   Form of Definitive Fixed Rate Bearer Medium-Term Note.**
 (4)(k)   Form of Fixed Rate Debt Security with Optional Redemption.**
 (4)(l)   Form of Fixed Rate Debt Security with Optional Redemption
          and Sinking Fund.**
 (4)(m)   Form of Extendible Debt Security with Optional Redemption.**
 (4)(n)   Form of Zero Coupon Debt Security with Optional
          Redemption.**
 (4)(o)   Form of Original Issue Discount Debt Security with Optional
          Redemption.**
 (4)(p)   Form of Certificate of Amendment.****
 (4)(q)   Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.****
 (4)(r)   Form of Deposit Agreement.****
 (4)(s)   Form of Depositary Receipt (included as Exhibit A to the
          Form of Deposit Agreement).****
 (4)(t)   Form of Warrant Agreement.*****
 (4)(u)   Form of Warrant Certificate.*****
 (4)(aa)  Form of Floating Rate Non-Redeemable Medium Term Note*******
 (4)(bb)  Form of Floating Rate Redeemable Medium Term Note*******
 (4)(cc)  Form of Fixed Rate Redeemable Medium Term Note*******
 (4)(dd)  Form of Floating Rate Non-Redeemable Medium Term Note*******
 (4)(ee)  Form of Fixed Rate Redeemable Medium Term Note*******
 (5)      Opinion of IBM Legal Counsel (David S. Hershberg, Esq.)*
(12)      Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
          Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
          Dividends.********

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(23)(a)   Consent of Independent Accountants.*
(23)(b)   Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).*
(24)(a)   Powers of Attorney.*
(24)(b)   Certified copy of a resolution adopted by our Board of
          Directors authorizing execution of the registration
          statement by power of attorney.*
(25)(a)   Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of
          The Chase Manhattan Bank to act as Trustee under the Senior
          Indenture dated October 1, 1993.*
(25)(b)   Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of
          the Subordinated Trustee to act as Trustee under the
          Subordinated Indenture.*****


*          Filed herewith.
**         Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on
           Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-50537).
***        Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) of our Form 8-K
           filed April 28, 1999.
****       Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on
           Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-49475).
*****      To be filed as an Exhibit to a report pursuant to Section
           13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
******     Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on
           Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-65119).
*******    Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K
           dated March 8, 1996.
********   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit I of our Form 10-K for
           the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, and to exhibit 12
           of our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31,
           2000.
*********  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 of our Form 10-Q for
           the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1998.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement (other than as provided in the proviso and instructions to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K)
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be

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deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(5) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such officer, director or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether or not such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 15th day of May, 2000.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

By:                      *
     -----------------------------------------
               Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
         CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
            AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

                 SIGNATURE                                     TITLE                    DATE
                 ---------                                     -----                    ----
                     *                            Chairman of the Board and Chief
-------------------------------------------         Executive Officer (Principal    May 15, 2000
          Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.                    Executive Officer)

                     *                            Senior Vice President and Chief
-------------------------------------------         Financial Officer (Principal    May 15, 2000
               John R. Joyce                        Financial Officer)

                     *                            Vice President and Controller
-------------------------------------------         (Principal Accounting Officer)  May 15, 2000
              Mark Loughridge

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
              Cathleen Black

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
            Kenneth I. Chenault

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
              Juergen Dormann

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                 SIGNATURE                                     TITLE                    DATE
                 ---------                                     -----                    ----
                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
            Nannerl O. Keohane

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
             Charles F. Knight

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
              Minoru Makihara

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
               Lucio A. Noto

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
             John B. Slaughter

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
               Alex Trotman

                     *                            Director
-------------------------------------------                                         May 15, 2000
          Lodewijk C. van Wachem

*By:                   /s/ ANDREW BONZANI
             --------------------------------------
                         Andrew Bonzani
                        ATTORNEY-IN-FACT

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EXHIBIT (1)(a)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Debt Securities

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

New York, New York

To the Representatives named in Schedule I hereto of the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

Dear Sirs:

International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Company"), proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as representatives (the "Representatives"), the principal amount of its Securities identified in Schedule I hereto (the "Securities"), to be issued under an indenture dated as of October 1, 1993 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 15, 1995. If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the firm or firms listed in Schedule I hereto, then the terms "Underwriters" and "Representatives", as used herein shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.

1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") and has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement or statements (the file number or numbers of which is or are set forth in Schedule I hereto), including a related preliminary prospectus, on such Form for the registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto, including the related preliminary prospectus, and has filed a preliminary prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b)(5), each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will next file with the Commission one of the following: (i) prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, a further amendment thereto, including the form of final prospectus, (ii) a final prospectus


in accordance with Rules 430A and 424(b)(1) or (4), or (iii) a final prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b)(2) or (5). In the case of clause (ii), the Company has included in such registration statement or statements, as amended at the Effective Date, all information (other than Rule 430A Information) required by the Act and the rules thereunder to be included in the Prospectus with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof. As filed, such amendment and form of final prospectus, or such final prospectus, shall include all Rule 430A Information and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. If the Registration Statement contains the undertaking specified by Regulation S-K Item 512(a), the Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).

The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated. The term the "Effective Date" shall mean each date that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or become effective. "Execution Time" shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto. "Preliminary Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary prospectus referred to in the preceding paragraph and any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits Rule 430A Information. "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is required, shall mean the form of final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date. "Registration Statement" shall mean the registration statement or statements referred to in the preceding paragraph, including incorporated documents as of the filing of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three month period ended __________________, exhibits and financial statements, in the form in which it or they has or have or shall become effective and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), shall also mean such registration statement or statements as so amended. Such term shall include Rule 430A Information deemed to be included therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A. "Rule 415", "Rule 424", "Rule 430A" and "Regulation S-K" refer to such rules under the Act. "Rule 430A Information" means information with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, a Preliminary Prospectus or the

2

Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on or before the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms "amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did or will, and when the Prospectus is first filed (if required) in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder; on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act") and the rules thereunder; on the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did not or will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and, on the Effective Date, the Prospectus, if not filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), did not or will not, and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto, the respective principal amounts

3

of the Securities set forth opposite each respective Underwriter's name in Schedule II hereto, except that, if Schedule I hereto provides for the sale of Securities pursuant to delayed delivery arrangements, the respective principal amounts of Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be as set forth in Schedule II hereto, less the respective amounts of Contract Securities determined as provided below. Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters are herein sometimes called the "Underwriters' Securities" and Securities to be purchased pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts as hereinafter provided are herein called "Contract Securities".

If so provided in Schedule I hereto, the Underwriters are authorized to solicit offers to purchase Securities from the Company pursuant to delayed delivery contracts ("Delayed Delivery Contracts"), substantially in the form of Schedule III hereto but with such changes therein as the Company may authorize or approve. The Underwriters will endeavor to make such arrangements and, as compensation therefor, the Company will pay to the Representatives, for the account of underwriters, on the Closing Date, the percentage set forth in Schedule I hereto of the principal amount of the Securities for which Delayed Delivery Contracts are made. Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional investors, including commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. The Company will make Delayed Delivery Contracts in all cases where sales of Contract Securities arranged by the Underwriters have been approved by the Company but, except as the Company may otherwise agree, each such Delayed Delivery Contract must be for not less than the minimum principal amount set forth in Schedule I hereto and the aggregate principal amount of Contract Securities may not exceed the maximum aggregate principal amount set forth in Schedule I hereto. The Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts. The principal amount of Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in Schedule II hereto shall be reduced by an amount which shall bear the same proportion to the total principal amount of Contract Securities as the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the aggregate principal amount set forth in Schedule II hereto, except to the extent that you determine that such reduction shall be otherwise than in such proportion and so advise the Company in writing; provided, however, that the total principal amount of Securities to be purchased by all Underwriters shall be the aggregate principal amount set forth in Schedule II hereto, less the aggregate principal amount of Contract Securities.

3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Underwriters' Securities shall be made at the office, on the date and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto, which date and time may be

4

postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 8 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being called the "Closing Date"). Delivery of the Underwriters' Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by certified or official bank check or checks payable, or wire transfers, in immediately available funds. The Debentures shall be delivered in definitive global form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company.

4. Agreements.

(A) The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement, and any amendment thereof, if not effective at the Execution Time, to become effective. If the Registration Statement has become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A, or filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will file the Prospectus, properly completed, pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Registration Statement shall have become effective, (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement relating to the Securities shall have become effective,
(iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment of the Registration Statement or amendment of or supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof. The Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object.

(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the

5

circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, the Company will give the Representatives immediate notice of the occurrence of such event and promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the first sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance.

(c) The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the end of the 12-month period beginning at the end of the current fiscal quarter of the Company, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) of the Company and its subsidiaries, covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the end of the current fiscal quarter of the Company, which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

(d) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and each amendment thereto which shall become effective on or prior to the Closing Date and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act, as many copies of any Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(e) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate, will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and will arrange for the determination of the legality of the Securities for purchase by institutional investors.

(f) Until the earlier of the day on which the distribution of the Securities is completed or the business day following the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the consent of the Representatives, offer or sell, or announce the offering of, any debt securities covered by the Registration Statement or any other registration statement filed under the Act.

(B) The several Underwriters agree with the Company that:

(a) The several Underwriters will pay the expenses of printing, distributing and binding all documents relating to the offering.

6

(b) The several Underwriters will pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel for the Company, the Underwriter and the Trustee relating to the offering.

(c) The several Underwriters will pay the registration fees of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental agency which are associated with the issuance of the Securities.

(d) The several underwriters will pay the pro-rata share of the Company's annual fees, as determined by the Company, relating to the rating of the Securities, which fees are billed by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

(e) The several Underwriters will pay the fees and disbursements of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP relating to the preparation of the letter required by
Section 5(e) of this Agreement.

(f) the several Underwriters will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee.

(g) The several Underwriters will pay any and all fees associated with listing the Securities on any United States or foreign securities exchange.

(h) The several Underwriters will pay for any and all travel expenses, road shows, and other expenses incurred by the Company or its counsel in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, tombstone advertisements, lucite or other mementos, and any other miscellaneous expenditures reasonably determined by the Company to be appropriate in connection with the offering of the Securities.

5. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwriters' Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, as of the date of the effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement filed prior to the Closing Date (including the filing of any document incorporated by reference therein) and as of the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

7

(a) If the Registration Statement has not become effective prior to the Execution Time, unless the Representatives agree in writing to a later time, the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than (i) 6:00 P.M. New York City time, on the date of determination of the public offering price, if such determination occurred at or prior to 3:00 P.M. New York City time on such date or (ii) 12:00 Noon on the business day following the day on which the public offering price was determined, if such determination occurred after 3:00 P.M. New York City time on such date; if filing of the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, is required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the Prospectus shall have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule
424(b); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

(b) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives:

(i) the opinion of the General Counsel, an Assistant General Counsel, an Associate General Counsel or other Senior Counsel of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

(A) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction within the United States which requires such qualifications wherein it owns or leases material properties or conducts material business;

(B) the Securities conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

(C) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions

8

of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, in the case of the Underwriters' Securities, or by the purchasers thereof pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts, in the case of any Contract Securities, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect);

(D) to the best knowledge of such counsel, there is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not adequately disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit, which is not described or filed as required;

(E) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto have become effective under the Act; any required filing of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule
424(b); to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended, has been issued, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Act;

(F) this Agreement and any Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

(G) no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to, consent of, order of, or filing with, any United States Federal or New York governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or in any Delayed Delivery Contracts, except such as have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained;

9

(H) such counsel has no reason to believe that (1) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except the financial statements and the notes thereto and other information of an accounting or financial nature included therein, and the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as to which such counsel need express no view) were not appropriately responsive in all material respects to requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (2) the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof at the time it became effective contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (in each case except for the financial statements and the notes thereto and other information of an accounting or financial nature included therein, as to which such counsel need express no view); and

(I) none of the issue and sale of the Securities, the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or of any Delayed Delivery Contracts will conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel and to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound, or any decree or regulation known to such counsel to be applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

The statements described in one or more of paragraphs (B), (C), (E), (F), (G) and (H)(1) of this subsection 5(b)(i) may be omitted from the opinion of such counsel; provided, however, that in such event the Company shall also have furnished to the Representatives the corresponding opinion or letter of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Company, described in subsection 5(b)(ii) or 5(b)(iii) immediately following.

(ii) in the event that the statements described in one or more of paragraphs (B), (C), (E), (F) or (G) of foregoing subsection 5(b)(i) is

10

omitted from the opinion delivered pursuant to such subsection, the opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect of the statements so omitted.

In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York or the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

(iii) in the event that the statements in paragraph (H)(1) of subsection 5(b)(i) are omitted from the opinion provided pursuant to such subsection, a letter of Cravath, Swaine & Moore dated the Closing Date to the effect that, having participated in conferences with certain officers of, and with the accountants for, the Company and having made certain inquiries and investigations in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, such counsel has no reason to believe that (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except the financial statements and the notes thereto and other information of an accounting or financial nature included therein, and the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as to which such counsel need express no view) were not appropriately responsive in all material respects with requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) the Registration Statement at the Effective Date contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus on the Closing Date includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits 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 (in each case except for the financial statements and the notes thereto and other information of an accounting or financial nature included therein, as to which such counsel need express no view).

(c) The Representatives shall have received from Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, any Delayed Delivery Contracts, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

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(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the principal financial or accounting officer (or Vice President and Treasurer) of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any supplement to the Prospectus and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended, has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened; and

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or other), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus.

(e) At the Closing Date, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter or letters (which may refer to a letter previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable published rules and regulations thereunder, that the response, if any, to Item 10 of the Registration Statement is correct insofar as it relates to them and stating in effect that:

(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and schedules thereto included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder with respect to financial statements and financial statement schedules included or incorporated in annual reports on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act;

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(ii) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and of the latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, directors and executive committees of the Company and the Subsidiaries since the date of the latest audited balance sheet, through a specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of the letter; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe that:

(1) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect to financial statements included or incorporated in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; or

(2) with respect to the period subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there were, at a specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of the letter, any increases in long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or decreases in the capital stock of the Company or decreases in the stockholders' equity of the Company and its subsidiaries as compared with the amounts shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except in all instances for increases or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representatives; and

(iii) they have performed certain other procedures as a result of which they determined that the information described in a schedule to be delivered on behalf of the Underwriters of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the accounting records of the

13

Company) set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and in Exhibit 12 to the Registration Statement (including selected accounting, financial or statistical information included or incorporated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated in the Prospectus or any of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form l0-Q incorporated therein), agrees with the general ledger of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (e) include any supplements thereto at the date of the letter.

(f) Subsequent to the respective dates of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph
(e) of this Section 5 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(g) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(h) The Company shall have accepted Delayed Delivery Contracts in any case where sales of Contract Securities arranged by the Underwriters have been approved by the Company.

(i) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the ratings of any of the Securities by Moody's Investor's Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") and neither Moody's nor S&P shall have publicly announced that it has placed any of the Securities on a credit watch with negative implications.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and their counsel, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time

14

prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or telegraph confirmed in writing.

6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 5 hereof is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred, as incurred, by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that (i) the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in connection with the preparation thereof, and (ii) such indemnity with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or any person controlling such Underwriter) from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased the Securities which are the subject thereof if such person did not receive a

15

copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as supplemented) excluding documents incorporated therein by reference at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person in any case where such delivery is required by the Act and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in such Preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as supplemented prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation of the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page of the Prospectus and under the heading "Underwriting" or "Plan of Distribution" and, if Schedule I hereto provides for sales of Securities pursuant to delayed delivery arrangements, in the last sentence under the heading "Delayed Delivery Arrangements" in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, and you, as the Representatives, confirm that such statements are correct.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to appoint counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party to represent the indemnified party in such action; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other

16

indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to appoint counsel to defend such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel), approved by the Representatives in the case of paragraph (a) of this
Section 7, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party; and except that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such liability shall be only in respect of the counsel referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).

(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) of this
Section 7 is due in accordance with its terms but is for any reason held by a court to be unavailable from the Company on grounds of policy or otherwise, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion so that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount bears to the sum of such discount and the purchase price of the Securities set forth on Schedule I hereto and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, however, that (y) in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder and (z) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act

17

or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clauses
(y) and (z) of this paragraph (d). Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties under this paragraph (d), notify such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have hereunder or otherwise than under this paragraph (d).

8. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 8, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if prior to

18

such time (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities.

10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreement representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to them, at the address specified in Schedule I hereto; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it, at Armonk, New York 10504; attention of the Treasurer.

12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

13. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.

Very truly yours,

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
MACHINES CORPORATION

By:

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The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted on the date specified in Schedule I hereto.

By:

By:

For themselves and the other several
Underwriters, if any, named in
Schedule II to the foregoing Agreement.

20

SCHEDULE I

Debt Securities

Underwriting Agreement dated

Registration Statement No. 333-

Representatives:

Title of Securities:

Principal Amount:

Interest Rate:

Purchase Price:

Offering Price:

Interest Payment Dates:

Subordination Provisions:

Optional Redemption:

Sinking Fund Provisions:

Delayed Delivery:

Closing Date and Time:

Method of Payment of Underwriters' Securities:

Other provisions of or Amendments to Underwriting Agreement:

Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 4:

[Until [ ], the Company will not, without the consent of the Representatives, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or announce the offering


of, any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities).]

Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 5:

[At or prior to the Closing Date, the Indenture dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and [ ], as Trustee, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, shall have been executed and delivered by the parties thereto and shall be in full force and effect.]

Units

Title and principal amount of Debt Securities or title and number of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants or Depositary Shares in one Unit:

Purchase Price and currency:

Section 4(g) Listing upon notice of issuance on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system:

Detachable Date:

Overallotment option:

Other provisions:

Section 5(h) provisions, if any:

Delayed Delivery: [None]

[Underwriters' commission shall be __% of the principal amount of Designated Securities for which Delayed Delivery Contracts have been entered into and the check given in payment of such commission shall be drawn to the order of __________________]

[Maximum aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities to be offered and sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts: [$]_______________]

2

[Minimum principal amount of each Delayed Delivery Contract:
[$]__________________]

3

SCHEDULE I

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants

Underwriting Agreement dated

Registration Statement No. 333-

Representative(s):

Designation, Purchase Price and Description:

Designation:

Liquidation preference per share:

Number of shares:

Purchase price per share (include accrued dividends, if any):

Other provisions:

Over-allotment option:

[Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to [ ] additional shares of
[ ] (the "[U.S.] Option Securities", [together with the International Option Securities (as hereinafter defined]), the "Option Securities") at the same purchase price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Securities. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the day after the date of the Final Prospectus, upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of shares of [U.S.] Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the Settlement Date, as defined in the Underwriting Agreement. The number of shares of [U.S.] Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total number of shares of [U.S.] Option Securities to


be purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the securities, as set forth in Schedule II hereto, subject to such adjustments as the Representatives in their absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

If the option provided for herein is exercised after the business day prior to the Closing Date, as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, the Company will deliver (at the expense of the Company) to the Representatives, at
[ ], New York, New York, on the date specified by the Representatives (which shall be within three business days after exercise of said option) (the "Settlement Date"), certificates for [U.S.] Option Securities in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested not less than three full business days in advance of the Settlement Date unless the parties otherwise agree against payment of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by certified or official bank check or checks payable in, or wire transfers of, (next day) funds. If settlement for [U.S.] Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the Settlement Date for [U.S.] Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the [U.S.] Option Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5 of the Underwriting Agreement.]

Other provisions of or Amendments to Underwriting Agreement:

[The Company is concurrently entering into an International Underwriting Agreement dated the date hereof (the "International Underwriting Agreement") providing for the issue and sale by the Company of [ ] outside the United States and Canada through arrangements with certain underwriters outside the United States and Canada (the "International Underwriters"), for whom [ ] are acting as representatives (the "International Representatives"), and providing for the grant to the International Underwriters of an option to purchase from the Company up to [ ] additional shares of [ ] (the "International Option Securities"). It is further understood and agreed that the Underwriters and the International Underwriters have entered into an Agreement dated the date hereof (the "Agreement between Underwriters and International Underwriters"), pursuant to which, among other things, the International Underwriters may purchase from the Underwriters a portion of the Securities to be sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and the Underwriters may purchase from the International Underwriters a portion of the Securities to be sold pursuant to the International Underwriting Agreement.

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It is understood that two forms of Preliminary Final Prospectuses and two forms of Final Prospectuses are to be used in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and International Underwriting Agreement: one form of Preliminary Final Prospectus and one form of Final Prospectus relating to the Securities, which are to be offered and sold to United States and Canadian Persons, and one form of Preliminary Final Prospectus and one form of Final Prospectus relating to the Securities, which are to be offered and sold to persons other than United States and Canadian Persons. The two forms of Preliminary Final Prospectuses and the two forms of Final Prospectuses are identical except for the outside front cover page, the discussion under the heading "Underwriting" and the outside back cover page. The form of Preliminary Final Prospectus, the form of Final Prospectus and the form of any Rule 434 term sheet relating to the Securities which are to be offered to U.S. and Canadian Persons, as first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 434 or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is made, such form of Preliminary Final Prospectus, Final Prospectus and any Rule 434 term sheet included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date, is hereinafter called the "U.S. Prospectus"; such form of Preliminary Final Prospectus, such form of Final Prospectus and such form of any Rule 434 term sheet relating to the Securities which are to be offered to Persons other than United States and Canadian Persons, as first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 434 or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is made, such form of Preliminary Final Prospectus, such form of Final Prospectus and such form of any Rule 434 terms sheet included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date, is hereinafter called the "International Prospectus"; and the U.S. Prospectus and the International Prospectus are hereinafter collectively called the "Prospectuses."

Each Underwriter agrees that (i) it is not purchasing any of the Securities or Option Securities for the account of anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person, (ii) it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any of the Securities or Option Securities or distribute any U.S. Prospectus to any person outside the United States or Canada, or to anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person, and (iii) any dealer to whom it may sell any of the Securities will represent that it is not purchasing for the account of anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person and agree that it will not offer or resell, directly or indirectly, any of the Securities or Option Securities outside the United States or Canada, or to anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person or to any other dealer who does not so represent and agree; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not restrict (a) purchases and sales between the Underwriters on the one hand and the International Underwriters on the other hand pursuant to the Agreement between Underwriters and International Underwriters, (b) stabilization transactions contemplated

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under the Agreement between Underwriters and International Underwriters, conducted through [ ] as part of the distribution of the Securities or Option Securities, and (c) sales to or through (or distributions of U.S. Prospectuses or U.S. Preliminary Prospectuses to) United States or Canadian Persons who are investment advisors, or who otherwise exercise investment discretion, and who are purchasing for the account of anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person.

The agreements of the Underwriters and International Underwriters set forth above shall terminate upon the earlier of the following events:

(i) a mutual agreement of the Representatives and the International Representatives to terminate the selling restrictions set forth above and in Schedule I of the International Underwriting Agreement; or

(ii) the expiration of a period of 30 days after the Closing Date, unless (A) the Representatives shall have given notice to the Company and the International Representatives that the distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters has not yet been completed or (B) the International Representatives shall have given notice to the Company and the Underwriters that the distribution of the International Securities by the International Underwriters has not yet been completed. If such notice by the Representatives or the International Representatives is given, the agreements set forth above shall survive until the earlier of (1) the event referred to in clause (i) above or
(2) the expiration of an additional period of 30 days from the date of any such notice].

Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 4:

[Until the [ ], the Company will not, without the consent of the Representatives, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities).]

[The Company will arrange for the listing of the Equity Securities upon notice of issuance on [designate any national securities exchange or automated quotation system].]

Additional Covenants Pursuant to Section 5:

Supplemental matters to be covered by the opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore and/or the General Counsel, an Assistant General Counsel or an Associate General Counsel of the Company, to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(b):

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Modification of items to be covered by the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP delivered pursuant to Section 5(e) at the Execution Time:

Section 5(h) provisions, if any:

Deposit Agreement: Terms and Conditions

Warrant Agreement: Terms and Conditions

Purchased Securities Closing Date and Time:

Method of Payment of Underwriters' Securities:

Delayed Delivery Arrangements:

Fee:

Minimum principal amount of each contract:

Maximum aggregate principal amount of all contracts:

Convertibility:

Exchangeability into Debt Securities:

Closing Date and Time:

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SCHEDULE II

                                                Amount
Underwriter                                     To Be Purchased
-----------                                     ---------------


SCHEDULE III

Delayed Delivery Contract

[Date]

[Insert name and address
of lead Representative]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from International Business
Machines Corporation (the "Company"), and the Company agrees to sell to the
undersigned, on                 , 200_ , (the "Delivery Date"), principal amount
of the Company's (the "Securities") offered by the Company's Prospectus dated
          , 200_, and related Prospectus Supplement dated              , 200_,
receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged, at a [purchase price of     %
of the] [principal amount] [thereof, plus] [accrued interest] [amortization of
original issue discount], if any, thereon from              , 200_, to the date
of payment and delivery, and on the further terms and conditions set forth in
this contract.

      Payment for the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned shall be
made on or before 11:00 AM, New York City time, on the Delivery Date to or upon
the order of the Company in New York Clearing House (next day) funds, at your
office or at such other place as shall be agreed between the Company and the
undersigned, upon delivery to the undersigned of the Securities in definitive
fully registered form and in such authorized denominations and registered in
such names as the undersigned may request by written or telegraphic
communication addressed to the Company not less than five full business days
prior to the Delivery Date. If no request is received, the Securities will be
registered in the name of the undersigned and issued in a denomination equal to
the aggregate principal amount or number of Securities to be purchased by the
undersigned on the Delivery Date.

The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment for Securities on the Delivery Date, and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Securities on the Delivery Date, shall be subject to the conditions (and neither party shall incur any liability by reason of the failure thereof) that
(1) the purchase of Securities to be made by the undersigned, which purchase the undersigned represents is not prohibited on the date hereof, shall not on the Delivery Date be


prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject, and (2) the Company, on or before the Delivery Date, shall have sold to certain underwriters (the "Underwriters") such principal amount or number of Securities as is to be sold to them pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement referred to in the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement mentioned above. Promptly after completion of such sale to the Underwriters, the Company will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address set forth below notice to such effect, accompanied by a copy of the opinion of counsel for the Company delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith. The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment for the Securities, and the obligation of the Company to cause the Securities to be sold and delivered, shall not be affected by the failure of any purchaser to take delivery of and make payment for the Securities pursuant to other contracts similar to this contract.

This contract will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other.

It is understood that acceptance of this contract and other similar contracts is in the Company's sole discretion and, without limiting the foregoing, need not be on a first come, first served basis. If this contract is acceptable to the Company, it is required that the Company sign the form of acceptance below and mail or deliver one of the counterparts hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth below. This will become a binding contract between the Company and the undersigned, as of the date first above written, when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to choice of law principles.

Very truly yours,


(Name of Purchaser)

By:

(Signature and Title of Officer)


(Address)

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Accepted:

International Business Machines Corporation

By:
Title:

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EXHIBIT (1)(b)

$________________

International Business Machines Corporation

U.S. Medium-Term Notes

AGENCY AGREEMENT

__________ __, 200_

[Agent Addresses]

Dear Sirs:

1. INTRODUCTION. International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Issuer"), confirms its agreement with each of you (individually an "Agent" and collectively the "Agents") with respect to the issue and sale from time to time by the Issuer on or after the date hereof of up to $___________ in aggregate initial offering price of its Medium-Term Securities (or for Medium-Term Securities denominated in currencies or currency units other than U.S. dollars, the equivalent thereof based on the prevailing exchange rates at the respective times such Medium-Term Securities are first offered) (the "Securities") issued under Article Three of the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1993 (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of December 15, 1995 (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee. The Securities will be issued, and the terms thereof established, from time to time by the Issuer in accordance with the Indenture and the Procedures (as defined in Section 3(d) hereof).

2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ISSUER. The Issuer represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Agent as follows:

(a) Registration statements of the Issuer (Nos. 333-_____ and 333-____), relating to securities of the Issuer (collectively the "Registered Securities"), including the Securities, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and have become effective (such registration statements, as amended as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3(e) hereof), including all material incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Registration Statement," and the prospectus dated _________ __, 200_, a form of which is included in Registration Statement No. 333-_______, as supplemented as of the Closing Date, including all material incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus"). Any reference in this Agreement to amending or supplementing


the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of materials incorporated by reference in the Prospectus after the Closing Date and any reference in this Agreement to any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any such materials incorporated by reference in the Prospectus after the Closing Date.

(b) On the effective date of each registration statement included in the definition of Registration Statement, such registration statement conformed, and on the Closing Date the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "Rules and Regulations"), and on its effective date each registration statement did not, and such Prospectus will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except that the foregoing does not apply to statements in or omissions from any of such documents based upon written information furnished to the Issuer by any Agent specifically for use therein.

3. APPOINTMENT AS AGENT; SOLICITATIONS AS AGENT.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, the Issuer hereby appoints each of the Agents an agent of the Issuer for the purpose of soliciting or receiving offers to purchase the Securities from the Issuer by others. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Issuer from selling at any time to any person any Registered Securities, including the Securities, directly on its own behalf or in a firm commitment underwriting pursuant to an underwriting agreement that does not provide for a continuous offering of such Securities. Each Agent agrees to use its reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of the Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Procedures (as defined below).

(b) On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Agent agrees, as agent of the Issuer, to solicit offers to purchase the Securities upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus, as from time to time amended or supplemented.

Upon receipt of notice from the Issuer as contemplated by Section 4(b) hereof, the Agents shall suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities until such time as the Issuer shall have furnished them with an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, contemplated by Section 4(b) and shall have advised the Agents that such solicitation may be resumed.

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The Issuer reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities commencing at any time for any period of time or permanently. Upon receipt of notice from the Issuer, the Agents will forthwith suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities from the Issuer until such time as the Issuer has advised the Agents that such solicitation may be resumed. During any such suspension, the Issuer's obligations under Sections 6(a), 6(b), 6(c) and 6(d) shall be suspended, except with respect to Notes held by an Agent for resale during the first 180 days after the Agent's purchase thereof and identified in a notice from the Agent to the Issuer as being held by such Agent for resale during such period.

Unless otherwise mutually agreed upon between the Issuer and the Agent soliciting such offer, the Agents are authorized to solicit offers to purchase Securities only in fully registered form in denominations of $1,000 or any multiple thereof. The authorized denominations of Securities not denominated in U.S. dollars will be determined by the Issuer at the time of sale. Each Agent shall communicate to the Issuer, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to purchase the Securities received by it as Agent. The Issuer shall have the sole right to accept offers to purchase the Securities and may reject any such offer, in whole or in part. Each Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, without notice to the Issuer, to reject any offer to purchase the Securities received by it, in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its agreement contained herein.

No Security which the Issuer has agreed to sell pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been purchased and paid for, or sold, by the Issuer until such Security shall have been delivered to the purchaser thereof against payment by such purchaser.

(c) At the time of delivery of, and payment for, any Securities sold by the Issuer as a result of a solicitation made by, or offer to purchase received by, an Agent, the Issuer agrees to pay such Agent a commission in accordance with the schedule set forth in Exhibit A hereto, unless otherwise agreed.

(d) Administrative procedures respecting the sale of Securities (the "Procedures") shall be agreed upon from time to time by the Agents and the Issuer. The initial Procedures, which are set forth in Exhibit B hereto, shall remain in effect until changed by agreement among the Issuer and the Agents. Each Agent and the Issuer agree to perform the respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by each of them herein and in the Procedures. The Issuer will furnish to the Trustee a copy of the Procedures as from time to time in effect.

(e) The documents required to be delivered by Section 5 hereof shall be delivered at the offices of the Issuer in Armonk, New York, or counsel for the Issuer in New York City, not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the

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date of this Agreement or at such other place, and at such later time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Issuer and the Agents, such time and date being herein called the "Closing Date."

4. CERTAIN AGREEMENTS OF THE ISSUER. The Issuer agrees with the Agents that, in connection with each offering of Securities,

(a) The Issuer will advise each Agent promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than an amendment or supplement (i) providing solely for a change in the terms of the Securities, (ii) by means of the filing of materials incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, (iii) relating to an offering by the Issuer of Registered Securities other than the Securities or (iv) that is a pricing amendment or supplement relating to Securities the purchase of which was not solicited by any Agent) and will afford the Agents a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such proposed amendment or supplement; and the Issuer will also advise each Agent of the filing of any such amendment or supplement and of the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations (other than as contemplated in the parenthetical clause of Section 4(a) hereof), the Issuer will promptly notify each Agent to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities; and if the Issuer shall decide so to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, it will promptly advise each Agent by telephone (with confirmation in writing) and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, at the time of any notification to suspend solicitations, any Agent shall own any of the Securities with the intention of reselling them as contemplated by Section 11 hereof, or the Issuer has accepted an offer to purchase Securities but the related settlement has not occurred, the Issuer, subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section, will promptly prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance.

(c) The Issuer, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, will file promptly all

4

documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Issuer will promptly furnish each Agent with copies of all material press releases or announcements to the general public which are not filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and are not otherwise available on the IBM home page on the Internet, at (HTTP://WWW.IBM.COM) or at the Commission's website which is located at (HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV ). The Issuer will also immediately notify each Agent of any downgrading in the rating of the Securities or any other debt securities of the Issuer, or any proposal to downgrade the rating of the Securities or any other debt securities of the Issuer, by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), as soon as the Issuer learns of such downgrading or proposal to downgrade.

(d) The Issuer will furnish to each Agent copies of the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, and all amendments to the Registration Statement after the date hereof (other than an amendment or supplement (i) relating to an offering by the Issuer of Registered Securities other than the Securities or (ii) that solely specifies the terms of the Securities the purchase of which was not solicited by any Agent), in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as are reasonably requested.

(e) The Issuer will arrange for the qualification of the Securities for sale and the termination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Agents designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities.

(f) So long as any Securities are outstanding, if so requested by the Agents, the Issuer will furnish to the Agents, (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year, (ii) as soon as available, a copy of each report or definitive proxy statement of the Issuer, if any, filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders, and (iii) from time to time, such other information concerning the issuer as the Agents may reasonably request.

(g) The Issuer will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and will reimburse each Agent for any expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred by it in connection with qualification of the Securities for sale and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as such Agent may designate and the printing of memoranda relating thereto, for any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, for expenses incurred in distributing the Prospectus and all supplements thereto, any preliminary prospectuses and any preliminary prospectus supplements, to each Agent and for the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents.

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5. CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS. The obligation of each Agent, as agent of the Issuer, under this Agreement at any time to solicit offers to purchase the Securities is subject to the accuracy, on the date hereof, on the Closing Date, on the date of each such solicitation, and at each of the times of acceptance and of delivery referred to in Section 6(a) hereof and at each Representation Date (as defined in Section 6(b)), of the representations and warranties of the Issuer herein, to the accuracy, on each such date, of the statements of the Issuer's officers in any certificates made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance, on or prior to each such date, by the Issuer of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions precedent:

(a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Issuer or any Agent, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

(b) The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the Closing Date, the date of such solicitation or any Representation Date, shall not contain any untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of any Agent, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of any Agent, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(c) There shall not have occurred between each trade and settlement date (i) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting particularly the business or properties of the Issuer or its subsidiaries which, in the judgment of such Agent, materially impairs the investment quality of the Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of the Issuer's debt securities or public announcement that such debt securities are under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act);
(iii) any suspension or limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Issuer on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (iv) any banking moratorium declared by Federal or New York authorities; or (v) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of such Agent, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with solicitations of purchases of, or sales of, Securities.

(d) At the Closing Date, the Agents shall have received:

(i) the opinion of the General Counsel of the Issuer (or any Assistant General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, or other Senior Counsel of the Issuer having knowledge of and responsibility for securities or financial matters, the "Issuer Counsel"), or the opinion of Cravath,

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Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Issuer, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

(A) the Issuer (x) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and (y) is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction within the United States which requires such qualification wherein it owns or leases material properties or conducts material business where such failure so to qualify may have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, earnings, business or properties of the Issuer;

(B) to the knowledge of opining counsel, there is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries, of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not adequately disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit, which is not described or filed as required; and the statements in the Prospectus describing the terms of the Securities and the provisions of the Indenture fairly summarize the matters therein described; and

(C) none of the issue and sale of the Securities, the consummation of any other of the transactions contemplated herein or the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under,
(x) the charter or by-laws of the Issuer; (y) the terms of any indenture or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel and to which the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound, or (z) any order or regulation known to such counsel to be applicable to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries.

(D) the authorized Securities conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

(E) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and constitutes a valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,

7

moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Securities have been duly authorized by resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Issuer for issuance for a period of two years following the effective date of the Registration Statement (the "Period"), subject to the establishment of certain terms of the Securities by officers of the Issuer authorized by such resolutions to establish such terms, and, when the terms of any such Security have been established as provided in such resolutions and in the Indenture and such has been executed and authenticated during such period in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the purchaser thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, each such Security, assuming it does not violate any applicable law then binding on the Issuer, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Issuer entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

(F) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto have become effective under the Act, and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended, has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened;

(G) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer; and

(H) no consent, approval, authorization or order of any United States Federal or New York governmental agency or regulatory body is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained.

(ii) such counsel shall also furnish a letter, dated the Closing Date, that shall state that such counsel has no reason to believe that: (A) the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof at the time it became effective contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (in each case, except for the financial statements and other information of

8

an accounting or financial nature included therein, and the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1), included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as to which such counsel need express no view); and (B) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (except the financial statements and other information of an accounting or financial nature included therein, and the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1), included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as to which such counsel need express no view), were not appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

(e) At the Closing Date, the Agents shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President and the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, or any principal financial or accounting officer of the Issuer in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that (i) the representations and warranties of the Issuer in this Agreement are true and correct, (ii) the Issuer has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, (iii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are threatened by the Commission, and (iv) subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus or as described in such certificate.

(f) At the Closing Date, the Agents shall have received a letter, dated such date, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PWC"), confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder, that the response, if any, to Item 10 of the Registration Statement is correct insofar as it relates to them and stating in effect that:

(i) in their opinion, the audited financial statements and schedules thereto included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the related published Rules and Regulations thereunder with respect to financial statements and financial statement schedules included or incorporated in annual reports on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act;

(ii) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and of the latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Issuer and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an

9

audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the Board of Directors of the Issuer and the Pricing Committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Issuer, if any; and inquiries of certain officials of the Issuer who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters as to transactions and events subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

(A) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect to financial statements included or incorporated in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not stated on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; or

(B) any unaudited capsule information included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and Prospectus does not agree with the amounts set forth in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which it was derived or was not determined on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; and

(iii) they have performed certain other procedures as a result of which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Issuer) set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including the information included or incorporated in Items 1 and 7 of the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated therein or in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included or incorporated in any of the Issuer's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated therein, agrees with the accounting records of the Issuer and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this subsection (f) are to such documents as amended and supplemented at the date of the letter.

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(g) The Agents shall have received from Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Agents, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the validity of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as they may require, and the Issuer shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(h) With respect to any Security denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, more than one currency or a composite currency or any Security the principal or interest of which is indexed to such currency, currencies or composite currency, there shall not have occurred a suspension or material limitation in foreign exchange trading in such currency, currencies or composite currency by a major international bank, a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in the country or countries issuing such currency, currencies or composite currency, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving, the occurrence of any material adverse change in the existing financial, political or economic conditions of, or the declaration of war or a national emergency by, the country or countries issuing such currency, currencies or composite currency or the imposition or proposal of exchange controls by any governmental authority in the country or countries issuing such currency, currencies or composite currency.

The obligation of each Agent, as agent of the Issuer, under this Agreement to solicit offers to purchase Securities at any time after the end of the Period is also subject to the delivery to the Agents before that date and thereafter, periodically as appropriate, of an opinion from either Issuer Counsel or Cravath, Swaine & Moore, to the effect of subparagraph (d)(i)(E) above with respect to the Securities to be issued during the period set forth therein (which shall include the period of contemplated solicitation) and such other documents and certificates (including an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell to the effect of subparagraph (g) above) as the Agents may reasonably request before that date and the Issuer shall have furnished to Davis Polk & Wardwell such documents as they may reasonably request before that date for the purpose of enabling them to render such opinion.

The Issuer will furnish the Agents with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as they reasonably request.

6. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER. The Issuer agrees that:

(a) Each acceptance by the Issuer of an offer for the purchase of Securities solicited by any Agent pursuant hereto shall be deemed to be an affirmation that its representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are true and correct at the time of such acceptance and a covenant that such representations and warranties will be true and correct at the time of delivery to the purchaser of the Securities relating to such acceptance as though made at and as of each such time, it being understood that such representations and warranties shall relate to the

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Prospectus as amended or supplemented at each such time. Each such acceptance by the Issuer of an offer for the purchase of Securities shall be deemed to constitute an additional representation, warranty and agreement by the Issuer that, as of the settlement date for the sale of such securities, after giving effect to the issuance of such Securities, of any other Securities to be issued on or prior to such settlement date and of any other Registered Securities to be issued and sold by the Issuer on or prior to such settlement date, the aggregate amount of Registered Securities (including any Securities) which have been issued and sold by the Issuer will not exceed the amount of Registered Securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(b) Each time that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an amendment or supplement
(i) that relates to an offering by the Issuer of Registered Securities other than the Securities or (ii) that solely specifies the terms of the Securities) (each such time being herein referred to as a "Representation Date"), the Issuer shall, concurrently with such amendment or supplement, furnish the Agents with a certificate, dated the date of delivery thereof, of the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President and the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, or any principal financial or accounting officer of the Issuer, in form satisfactory to the Agents, to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate covering the matters set forth in
Section 5(e) hereof which was last furnished to the Agents are true and correct at the time of such amendment or supplement as though made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such time and except that the statements contained in the certificate covering the matters set forth in clause (ii) of Section 5(e) shall be deemed to relate to the time of delivery of such certificate) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 5(e), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at the time of delivery of such certificate and, in the case of the matters set forth in clause (ii) of Section 5(e), to the time of delivery of such certificate; provided, however, that the Issuer shall deliver such certificate with respect to a Representation Date arising from the incorporation by reference into the Prospectus of a current report on Form 8-K or a quarterly report on Form 10-Q only upon the reasonable request of the Agents.

(c) At each Representation Date, the Issuer shall, if reasonably requested by the Agents, concurrently furnish the Agents with a written opinion or opinions, dated the date of such Representation Date, of Issuer Counsel or Cravath, Swaine & Moore, in form satisfactory to the Agents, to the effect set forth in Section 5(d) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinion or opinions, counsel may furnish the Agents with a letter or letters to the effect that the Agents may rely on a prior opinion delivered under Section 5(d) or this Section 6(c) to the same extent as if it were

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dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

(d) At each Representation Date on which the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional financial information as a result of filing of the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and upon the reasonable request of the Agents and at the expense of the Agents, the Issuer shall cause PWC concurrently to furnish the Agents with a letter, addressed jointly to the Issuer and the Agents and dated the date of such Representation Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, to the effect set forth in Section 5(f) hereof but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date, with such changes as may be necessary to reflect changes in the financial statements and other information derived from the accounting records of the Issuer; provided, however, that if the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or supplemented solely to include financial information as of and for a fiscal quarter, PWC may limit the scope of such letter to the audited financial statements included in such amendment or supplement unless there is contained therein any other accounting, financial or statistical information that, in the reasonable judgment of the Agents, should be covered by such letter, in which event such letter shall also cover such other information and procedures as shall be agreed upon by the Agents.

(e) The Issuer agrees that any obligation of a person who has agreed to purchase Securities as the result of solicitation by any Agent pursuant hereto to make payment for and take delivery of such Securities shall be subject to (i) the accuracy, on the related settlement date fixed pursuant to the Procedures, of the Issuer's representation and warranty deemed to be made to the Agents pursuant to the last sentence of subsection (a) of this Section 6, and (ii) the satisfaction, on such settlement date, of each of the conditions set forth in Sections 5(a), (b) and (c), it being understood that under no circumstance shall any Agent have any duty or obligation to exercise the judgment permitted under Section 5(b) or (c) on behalf of any such person.

7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

(a) The Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and each person who controls such Agent within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or State statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement relating to the Registered Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereto, or in

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any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each Agent for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Agent in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that (i) the Issuer will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuer by any Agent specifically for use in connection with the preparation thereof and (ii) such indemnity with respect to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Agent (or any person controlling such Agent) through which the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased the Securities which are the subject thereof if such person did not receive a copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented), excluding documents incorporated therein by reference, at or prior to the earlier of the confirmation of the sale of such Securities or the delivery of the Securities to such person in any case where such delivery is required by the Act and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Issuer may otherwise have.

(b) Each Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, and each person who controls the Issuer within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuer to such Agent, but only with reference to written information relating to such Agent furnished to the Issuer by such Agent specifically for use in the preparation of the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Agent may otherwise have.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and to the extent that it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel

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satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party 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 indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel, approved by the Agents in the case of subparagraph
(a), representing the indemnified parties under subparagraph (a) who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party; and except that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such liability shall be only in respect of the counsel referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).

(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) of this Section 7 is due in accordance with its terms but is for any reason held by a court to be unavailable from the Issuer on grounds of policy or otherwise, the Issuer and each Agent shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) to which the Issuer and such Agents may be subject in such proportion so that each Agent is responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the sum of aggregate commissions received by such Agent pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof in connection with the sale of the Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability relates to the aggregate principal amount of such Securities and the Issuer is responsible for the balance; provided, however, that (y) in no case shall any Agent be responsible for any amount in excess of the commissions received by it for such Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability relates, and (z) no person found liable for fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was found not liable for such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls

15

any Agent within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Agent, and each person who controls the Issuer within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Issuer who shall have signed the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, and each director of the Issuer shall have the same rights to contribution as the Issuer, subject in each case to clause (y) of this paragraph (d). Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties under this paragraph (d), notify such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may have hereunder or otherwise than under this paragraph (d).

8. STATUS OF EACH AGENT. In soliciting offers to purchase the Securities from the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement and in assuming its other obligations hereunder (other than offers to purchase pursuant to Section 11 hereof), each Agent is acting solely as agent for the Issuer and not as principal. Each Agent will make reasonable efforts to assist the Issuer in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Securities from the Issuer has been solicited by such Agent and accepted by the Issuer, but such Agent shall have no liability to the Issuer in the event any such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Issuer shall default on its obligations to deliver Securities to a purchaser who has agreed to purchase Securities as a result of solicitation by any Agent pursuant hereto, and whose offer the Issuer has accepted, the Issuer (i) shall hold the Agents harmless against any loss, claim or damages arising from or as a result of such default by the Issuer, and (ii) in particular, shall pay to the Agents any commission to which they would be entitled in connection with such sale.

9. SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Issuer or its officers and of the Agents set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Agent, the Issuer or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 or for any other reason, the Issuer shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 4(g) and the obligations of the Issuer under Section 4(f) and the respective obligations of the Issuer and the Agents pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect. In addition, if any such termination shall occur either (i) at a time when any Agent shall own any of the Securities with the intention of reselling them as contemplated by Section 11 hereof or (ii) after the Issuer has accepted an offer to purchase Securities solicited by any Agent pursuant hereto and prior to the related settlement, the obligations of the Issuer under the last sentence of Section 4(b), under Sections 4(a), 4(c), 4(d),
4(e), 6(a), and 6(e) and, in the case of a termination occurring as described in
(ii) above, under Section 3(c) and under the last sentence of Section 8, shall also remain in effect.

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10. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated for any reason at any time by the Issuer as to any Agent or, in the case of any Agent, by such Agent insofar as this Agreement relates to such Agent, upon the giving of one day's written notice of such termination to the other parties hereto. Any settlement with respect to Securities placed by an Agent occurring after termination of this Agreement shall be made in accordance with the Procedures and each Agent agrees, if requested by the Issuer, to take the steps therein provided to be taken by such Agent in connection with such settlement.

11. PURCHASES AS PRINCIPAL. From time to time, any Agent may agree with the Issuer to purchase Securities from the Issuer as principal. In such case the purchasing Agent and the Issuer may set forth the terms of such purchase in a separate agreement (a "Purchase Agreement") to be entered into between such Agent and the Issuer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. Upon acceptance by the Issuer of an offer to purchase Securities, unless the Issuer and the purchasing Agent otherwise agree in writing, any such Purchase Agreement or other written confirmation or communication transmitted by the purchasing Agent to the Issuer or, in the absence of a Purchase Agreement or other written confirmation or communication from the purchasing Agent, the oral agreement with respect to the terms of the Securities and of their offer and sale evidenced by the offer communicated by the purchasing Agent and accepted by the Issuer, in each case together with the provisions of this Agreement, shall constitute an agreement between the purchasing Agent and the Issuer for the sale and purchase of such Securities (whether or not any Purchase Agreement or other written confirmation or communication shall have been executed by the Issuer or the purchasing Agent). In connection with any resale of Securities so purchased, such Securities may be resold by such Agent at varying prices from time to time or at a fixed public offering price or that such Agent may use a selling or dealer group. Such Agent may reallow to any broker or dealer any portion of the discount or commission payable pursuant hereto. A Purchase Agreement, to the extent set forth therein, may incorporate by reference specified provisions of this Agreement.

12. NOTICES. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Except as otherwise provided in the Procedures:

To the Issuer:

Notices to International Business Machines Corporation shall be directed to it at New Orchard Road, Armonk, New York 10504, Attention:
Treasurer (Fax: 914-499-2883).

To the Agents:

Notices to ____________________ shall be directed to it at ______________________, Attention: ____________________ (Fax: _____________).

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In the case of any party hereto, alternatively notice may be directed to such other address or person as such party shall specify to each other party by a notice given in accordance given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 12. Any such notice shall take effect at the time of receipt.

13. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, their respective successors, the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 and, to the extent provided in
Section 6(e), any person who has agreed to purchase Securities from the Issuer as the result of solicitation by any Agent pursuant hereto, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

14. GOVERNING LAW; COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and the executed counterparts shall together constitute a single instrument.

15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement incorporates the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. All prior negotiations and agreements between the parties are merged in, and superseded by, this Agreement and there are no agreements, representations or warranties between the parties other than those set forth or provided for herein.

If the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement, please indicate your acceptance hereof in the space provided for that purpose below.

Very truly yours,

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
MACHINES CORPORATION

By

Title:

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the
date first above written:

By
Title:

By
Title:

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By
Title:

By
Title:

By
Title:

19

EXHIBIT A

The Issuer agrees to pay the relevant Agent a commission which will be no more than the following percentage of the principal amount of Securities sold to purchasers solicited by such Agent:

                                           Commission Rate
                                           (as a percentage
Term                                       of Principal Amount)
--------------------------------           --------------------

12 months to less than 18 months             .15
18 months to less than 24 months             .20
24 months to less than 30 months             .25
30 months to less than 3 years               .30
3 years to less than 4 years                 .35
4 years to less than 5 years                 .45
5 years to less than 7 years                 .50
7 years to less than 10 years                .55
10 years to less than 15 years               .625
15 years to less than 20 years               .700
20 years to 30 years                         .750
More than 30 years                           as negotiated between the Company
                                             and the relevant Agent at the time
                                             of sale


EXHIBIT B

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

The Medium-Term Notes due one year or more from their issue date (the "Notes") are to be offered on a continuing basis by International Business Machines Corporation (the "Issuer").

________________________, as agents (each individually an "Agent" and collectively the "Agents"), have agreed to use reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of the Notes pursuant to an Agency Agreement dated _______________ (the "Agency Agreement"), among the Issuer and the Agents. No Agent will be obligated to purchase Notes for its own account. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1993 (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as trustee (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of December15, 1995. The Notes will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer and have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

Each Note will be represented initially by either a global security registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, as Depositary ("DTC") (a "BookEntry Note") or a certificate issued in definitive form (a "Certificate Note"). It is currently contemplated that both Fixed Rate Notes (as defined below) and Floating Rate Notes (as defined below) may be issued as Book-Entry Notes.

Administrative procedures and specific terms of the Notes and the offering, to the extent Notes are offered and sold through the Agents, are explained below. Administrative and record-keeping responsibilities will be handled for the Issuer by its Treasury Department. The Issuer will advise each Agent in writing of those persons handling administrative responsibilities with whom each Agent is to communicate regarding offers to purchase Notes and the details of their delivery. To the extent that the following procedures conflict with the provisions of the Notes, the Indenture or the Letter (as defined below), the relevant provisions of the Note, the Indenture or the Letter shall control.


I. CERTIFICATE NOTES AND GENERAL TERMS

Unless otherwise agreed by the Issuer and the relevant agent, the following administrative procedures and specific terms are applicable to Certificate Notes and, except to the extent otherwise specified under II below, Book-Entry Notes.

ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:        Each Note will be dated the date of its
                            authentication. Each Note will also bear an original
                            issue date which, with respect to any Note (or
                            portion thereof), shall mean the date of its
                            original issuance and shall be specified therein.
                            The original issue date shall remain the same for
                            all Notes subsequently issued upon transfer,
                            exchange or substitution of a Note, regardless of
                            their dates of authentication.

MATURITIES:                 Each Note will mature on a date, selected by the
                            purchaser and agreed to by the Issuer, which will be
                            at least one year after the date of issue; PROVIDED,
                            however, that each Floating Rate Note (as defined
                            below) will mature on an Interest Payment Date (as
                            defined below) for such Note.

REDEMPTION:                 The Floating Rate Notes will not be redeemable prior
                            to maturity, unless otherwise specified in the
                            applicable Pricing Supplement. The Fixed Rate Notes
                            (as defined below) either (i) will not be redeemable
                            prior to maturity, or (ii) will be redeemable at the
                            option of the Issuer on or after a specified date
                            prior to maturity at par or at prices which will
                            decline annually by a fixed percentage from a
                            specified initial premium to par. Unless otherwise
                            specified in the applicable pricing supplement,
                            Redemption Dates for redeemable Fixed Rate Notes
                            will correspond with the Interest Payment Dates for
                            such Notes.

PRICE TO PUBLIC:            Each Note will be issued at 100% of principal
                            amount, unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer
                            and the relevant Agent.

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DENOMINATIONS:              Unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer and the
                            relevant Agent, the denominations of the Notes will
                            be $1,000 or any multiple thereof. The denominations
                            of Notes denominated in currencies or currency units
                            other than U.S. dollars will be as agreed between
                            the Issuer and the relevant Agent.

REGISTRATION:               Notes will be issued only in fully registered form.

INTEREST PAYMENT:           Unless otherwise specified in a Pricing Supplement,
                            each Note will bear interest from and including its
                            original issue date or, in the case of Notes issued
                            upon replacement, transfer or exchange, from the
                            most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest
                            has been paid or provided for, to but excluding the
                            maturity date of such Note; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
                            a Floating Rate Note which has a rate of interest
                            that is reset weekly will bear interest from and
                            including its original issue date or the day
                            following the most recent Record Date (as defined
                            below) for the most recent Interest Payment Date to
                            which interest on such Note has been paid or
                            provided for. Each Note will bear interest (i) in
                            the case of Notes bearing interest at a Fixed Rate
                            (the "Fixed Rate Notes"), at the annual rate stated
                            on the face thereof, payable semiannually in arrears
                            on April 1 and October 1 (each an "Interest Payment
                            Date" with respect to such Fixed Rate Note) and at
                            maturity and (ii) in the case of Notes bearing
                            interest at a rate or rates determined by reference
                            to an interest rate formula (the "Floating Rate
                            Notes"), at a rate determined pursuant to the
                            formula stated on the face thereof, payable in
                            arrears on such dates as are specified therein and
                            in the related Pricing Supplement (each an "Interest
                            Payment Date" with respect to such Floating Rate
                            Note). Interest payable on a Fixed Rate Note
                            (including payments for partial periods) will be
                            calculated and paid on the basis of a 360-day year
                            of 12 30-day months. Interest payable on a Floating
                            Rate Note will be calculated and paid on the basis
                            of the actual number of days elapsed in the interest
                            period and a year of 360 days; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
                            that interest payable on a Floating Rate Note which
                            has a rate of interest determined in accordance with
                            the Treasury Rate will be calculated on the basis of
                            the actual number of days in the year. Interest will
                            be payable on each Interest Payment

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                            Date to the person in whose name the Note is
                            registered at the close of business 15 calendar days
                            prior to such Interest Payment Date whether or not
                            such day is a Business Day (as defined in the
                            Indenture) (the "Record Date") except that (a) on
                            any Note originally issued after a Record Date and
                            prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date,
                            the first payment of interest on such Note will be
                            made on the Interest Payment Date following the next
                            succeeding Regular Record Date to the registered
                            owner on such next Regular Record Date and (b)
                            interest payable at maturity (or, in the case of a
                            Fixed Rate Note, upon redemption) will be payable to
                            the person to whom principal shall be payable. With
                            respect to Fixed Rate Notes, each payment of
                            interest shall include interest accrued to but
                            excluding the date of such payment. All interest
                            payments (excluding interest payments made at
                            maturity) will be made by check mailed to the person
                            entitled thereto as provided above.

ACCEPTANCE OF OFFERS:       Each Agent will promptly advise the Issuer of each
                            reasonable offer to purchase Notes received by it,
                            other than those rejected by such Agent. Each Agent
                            may, in its discretion reasonably exercised, without
                            notice to the Issuer, reject any offer received by
                            it, in whole or in part. The Issuer will have the
                            sole right to accept offers to purchase Notes and
                            may reject any such offer, in whole or in part. If
                            the Issuer rejects an offer solicited by an Agent,
                            the Issuer will promptly notify the Agent involved.

SETTLEMENT:                 All offers accepted by the Issuer will be settled on
                            the third Business Day next succeeding the date of
                            acceptance unless otherwise agreed by any purchaser
                            and the Issuer. Prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City
                            time, on the Business Day next preceding the
                            settlement date, the Issuer will instruct the
                            Trustee to authenticate and deliver the Notes no
                            later than 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the
                            settlement date.

DETAILS FOR SETTLEMENT:     For each offer solicited by an Agent that is
                            accepted by the Issuer, the Agent who presented the
                            offer (the "Presenting Agent") shall communicate to
                            the Issuer's Treasury Department by telephone,

4

facsimile transmission or other acceptable means the following information (the "Purchase Information"):

1. Exact name in which the Note or Notes are to be registered ("registered owner").

2. Exact address of registered owner.

3. Taxpayer identification number of registered owner.

4. Principal amount of each Note to be delivered to the registered owner.

5. Issue price, interest rate if fixed or initial interest rate if floating, interest rate basis, spread or spread multiplier, maximum or minimum interest rates, index maturity, Interest Determination Dates, Interest Reset Dates (as such terms are defined in the applicable Prospectus Supplement) interest reset period, interest payment period and Interest Payment Dates of Notes, in each case, to the extent applicable.

6. The currency, currencies, currency unit or currency units in which the Note or Notes are to be denominated and (if not the same) payable.

7. Maturity date of Notes.

8. Initial redemption date of Notes, if any.

9. Optional redemption price (including the fixed percentage by which the premium, if any, annually declines) of Notes, if any.

10. Original issue date of Notes.

11. Settlement date for Notes.

12. Presenting Agent's commission (to be paid in the form of a discount from the proceeds remitted to the Issuer upon settlement).

The original issue date of, and the settlement date for, Notes will be the same. Before accepting any

5

                            offer to purchase Notes to be settled in less than
                            three days, the Issuer shall verify that the Trustee
                            will have adequate time to prepare and authenticate
                            the Notes. After receiving the details for each
                            offer from the Presenting Agent, the Issuer will,
                            after recording the details and any necessary
                            calculations, communicate the Purchase Information
                            by telephone, facsimile transmission or other
                            acceptable means, to the Trustee. Prior to preparing
                            the Notes for delivery, the Trustee will confirm the
                            Purchase Information by telephone with the
                            Presenting Agent. The Trustee will assign to and
                            enter on each Note a transaction number.

                            Special provisions relating to Certificate Notes
                            denominated or payable in a currency, currencies, a
                            currency unit or currency units other than U.S.
                            dollars may be agreed by the Issuer and the Agents
                            at a later time.

CONFIRMATION:               For each accepted offer solicited by an Agent, the
                            Presenting Agent will issue a confirmation to the
                            purchaser, with a copy to the Issuer's Treasury
                            Department and the Trustee, setting forth the
                            Purchase Information and delivery and payment
                            instructions.

NOTE DELIVERIES             Upon the receipt of appropriate documentation and
AND CASH PAYMENT:           instructions, which may be by telephone to be
                            confirmed in writing from the Issuer, and
                            verification thereof, the Trustee will cause the
                            Notes to be prepared and authenticated and hold the
                            Notes for delivery against payment.

                            The Trustee will deliver the Notes, in accordance
                            with instructions from the Issuer, to the Presenting
                            Agent, as the Issuer's agent, for the benefit of the
                            purchaser only against delivery of a receipt
                            therefor.

Agents' addresses for delivery of Certificate Notes:

6

                            The Presenting Agent, as the Issuer's agent, will
                            deliver the Notes (with the written confirmation
                            provided for above) to the purchaser thereof against
                            payment by such purchaser in immediately available
                            funds and will give instructions for payment to be
                            made to the Issuer of an amount equal to the face
                            amount of the Notes less the Presenting Agent's
                            commission. Delivery of any confirmation or Note
                            will be made in compliance with "Delivery of
                            Prospectus" below.

FAILS:                      In the event that a purchaser shall fail to accept
                            delivery of and make payment for a Note on the
                            settlement date, the Presenting Agent will notify
                            the Trustee and the Issuer by telephone, confirmed
                            in writing. If the Note has been delivered to the
                            Presenting Agent, as the Issuer's agent, the
                            Presenting Agent shall return such Note to the
                            Trustee. If funds have been advanced by the
                            Presenting Agent for the purchase of such Note, the
                            Issuer will, immediately upon receipt of such
                            notice, refund the payment previously made to it by
                            the Presenting Agent in immediately available funds.
                            Such payments will be made on the settlement date,
                            if possible, and in any event not later than the
                            Business Day following the settlement date. If such
                            failure shall have occurred for any reason other
                            than the failure of the Presenting Agent to provide
                            the Purchase Information to the Issuer or to provide
                            a confirmation to the purchaser, the Issuer will
                            reimburse the Presenting Agent on an equitable basis
                            for its loss of the use of funds during the period
                            when they were credited to the account of the
                            Issuer.

                            Immediately upon receipt of the Note in respect of
                            which the failure occurred, the Trustee will cause
                            the Security Registrar to make appropriate entries
                            to reflect the fact that the Note was never issued
                            and will destroy the Note.

PROCEDURE FOR               The Issuer and the Agents will discuss from time to
RATE CHANGES:               time the rates to be borne by the Notes that may be
                            sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by
                            the Agents. Once any Agent has recorded any
                            indication of interest in Notes upon certain terms,
                            and communicated with the Issuer, if the Issuer

7

                            plans to accept an offer to purchase Notes upon such
                            terms, it will prepare a pricing sticker reflecting
                            the terms of such Notes and, after approval from the
                            Agents, will arrange to have the required number of
                            copies of the sticker filed with the Commission
                            within two Business Days following such acceptance
                            and will supply at least five copies of such sticker
                            to the Presenting Agent. No settlements with respect
                            to Notes upon such terms may occur prior to such
                            filing and the Agents will not, prior to such
                            filing, mail confirmations to customers who have
                            offered to purchase Notes upon such terms. After
                            such filing, sales, mailing of confirmations and
                            settlements may occur with respect to Notes upon
                            such terms, subject to the provisions of "Delivery
                            of Prospectus" below.

                            If the Issuer decides to "post" fixed interest rates
                            and a decision has been reached to change interest
                            rates, the Issuer will promptly notify each Agent.
                            Each Agent will forthwith suspend solicitation of
                            purchases. At that time, the Agents will recommend
                            and the Issuer will establish fixed interest rates
                            to be so posted. Following establishment of posted
                            fixed interest rates and prior to the filing of the
                            pricing sticker described in the preceding
                            paragraph, the Agents may only record indications of
                            interest in purchasing Fixed Rate Notes at the
                            posted fixed interest rates. After such filing,
                            sales, mailing of confirmations and settlements at
                            the posted rates may resume, subject to the
                            provisions of "Delivery of Prospectus" below.

                            Outdated stickers, and copies of the Prospectus to
                            which they are attached (other than those retained
                            for files), will be destroyed.

SUSPENSION OF               As provided in the Agency Agreement, the Issuer may
SOLICITATION                suspend Amendment or solicitation of purchases at
AMENDMENT OR                any time and, upon receipt of notice from the
SUPPLEMENT:                 Issuer, each Agent will forthwith suspend
                            solicitation until such time as the Issuer has
                            advised them that solicitation of purchases may be
                            resumed.

                            If the Agents receive the notice from the Issuer
                            contemplated by Section 4(b) of the Agency

8

                            Agreement, they will promptly suspend solicitation
                            and will only resume solicitation as provided in the
                            Agency Agreement. If the Issuer decides to amend or
                            supplement the Registration Statement or the
                            Prospectus relating to the Notes (other than by an
                            amendment or supplement that (i) only specifies the
                            terms of the Securities or (ii) relates to an
                            offering by the Issuer of Registered Securities
                            other than the Securities), it will promptly advise
                            each Agent and will furnish each Agent with the
                            proposed amendment or supplement in accordance with
                            the terms of the Agency Agreement. The Issuer will
                            promptly file or mail to the Commission for filing
                            such amendment or supplement, provide the Agents
                            with copies of any such amendment or supplement,
                            confirm to the Agents that such amendment or
                            supplement has been filed with the Commission and
                            advise the Agents that solicitation may be resumed.

                            Any such suspension shall not affect the Issuer's
                            obligations under the Agency Agreement; and in the
                            event that at the time the Issuer suspends
                            solicitation of offers to purchase Notes there shall
                            be any offers already accepted by the Issuer
                            outstanding for settlement, the Issuer will have the
                            sole responsibility for fulfilling such obligations.
                            The Issuer will in addition promptly advise the
                            Agents and the Trustee if such offers are not to be
                            settled and if copies of the Prospectus as in effect
                            at the time of the suspension may not be delivered
                            in connection with the settlement of such offers.

DELIVERY OF                 With respect to each purchase resulting from a
PROSPECTUS:                 solicitation by any Agent, a copy of the Prospectus,
                            as most recently amended or supplemented on the date
                            of delivery thereof (except as provided below), but
                            excluding materials incorporated by

9

reference therein, must be delivered to a purchaser prior to or together with the earlier of delivery of
(i) the written confirmation provided for above, and
(ii) any Note purchased by such purchaser as a result of such solicitation. The Issuer shall ensure that the Presenting Agent receives the required number of copies of the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto (including appropriate pricing stickers), but excluding materials incorporated by reference therein, by telecopy or overnight express (for delivery not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day next following the trade date) to enable the Presenting Agent to deliver such confirmation or Note to such purchaser as contemplated by these procedures and in compliance with the preceding sentence. If, since the date of acceptance of such purchaser's offer, the Prospectus shall have been supplemented solely to reflect any sale of Notes on terms different from those agreed to between the Issuer and such purchaser or a change in posted rates not applicable to such purchaser, such purchaser shall not receive the Prospectus as supplemented by such new supplement, but shall receive the Prospectus as supplemented to reflect the terms of the Notes being purchased by such purchaser and otherwise as most recently amended or supplemented on the date of delivery of the Prospectus.

AGENTS' ADDRESSES FOR DELIVERY OF PRICING
SUPPLEMENTS:

AUTHENTICITY OF             The Issuer will cause the Trustee to furnish the
SIGNATURES:                 Agents from time to time with the specimen
                            signatures of each of the Trustee's officers,
                            employees or agents who have been authorized by the
                            Trustee to authenticate Notes, but the Agents will
                            have no obligation or liability to the Issuer or the
                            Trustee in respect of the authenticity of the
                            signature of any officer, employee or agent of the
                            Issuer or the Trustee on any Note.

ADVERTISING COST:           The Issuer will determine with the Agents the amount
                            of advertising that may be appropriate in offering
                            the Notes. Advertising expenses will be paid by the
                            Issuer.

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II. BOOK-ENTRY NOTES

The following procedures supplement and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replace the procedures set forth above with respect to the offering of Book-Entry Notes. In connection with the qualification of the Book-Entry Notes for eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by DTC, the Trustee will perform the custodial, document control and administrative functions described below, in accordance with its respective obligations under a Letter of Representation (the "Letter") from the Issuer and the Trustee to be entered into with DTC and a Medium-Term Note Certificate Agreement between the Trustee and DTC dated as of March 10, 1989, and its obligations as a participant in DTC, including DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System ("SDFS"). Both Fixed and Floating Rate Notes may be issued in book-entry form.

ISSUANCE:                   On any date of settlement (as defined under
                            "Settlement" below) for one or more Book-Entry
                            Notes, the Issuer will issue a single global
                            security in fully registered form without coupons (a
                            "Global Security") representing up to $400,000,000
                            principal amount of all such Notes that have the
                            same maturity date, redemption provisions, if any,
                            repayment provisions, if any, Interest Payment
                            Dates, interest rate basis, spread or spread
                            multiplier, maximum or minimum interest rates, index
                            maturity, Interest Determination Dates, Interest
                            Reset Dates (as such terms are defined in the
                            applicable Prospectus Supplement), interest reset
                            period, original issue date and original issue
                            discount provisions, in each case, to the extent
                            applicable (collectively, the "Terms"). Each Global
                            Security will be dated and issued as of the date of
                            its authentication by the Trustee. Each Global
                            Security will bear an "Issue Date", which will be
                            (i) with respect to an original Global Security (or
                            any portion thereof), its original issue date, and
                            (ii) following a consolidation of Global Securities,
                            the most recent Interest Payment Date to which
                            interest has been paid or duly provided for on the
                            predecessor Global Securities, regardless of the
                            date of authentication of such subsequently issued
                            Global Security. No Global Security will represent
                            any Certificated Note.

IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS:     The Issuer will arrange with the CUSIP Service
                            Bureau of Standard & Poor's Corporation (the "CUSIP
                            Service Bureau") for the reservation of a series of
                            CUSIP numbers, consisting of approximately 50 CUSIP
                            numbers relating to Global

11

                            Securities representing Book-Entry Notes. The Issuer
                            will obtain from the CUSIP Service Bureau a written
                            list of such series of reserved CUSIP numbers and
                            will deliver to the Trustee and DTC a written list
                            of CUSIP numbers of such series. The Trustee will
                            assign CUSIP numbers to Global Securities as
                            described below under Settlement Procedure "C". DTC
                            will notify the CUSIP Service Bureau periodically of
                            the CUSIP numbers that the Trustee has assigned to
                            Global Securities. The Trustee will notify the
                            Issuer at any time when fewer than 25 of the
                            reserved CUSIP numbers remain unassigned to Global
                            Securities, and if it deems necessary, the Issuer
                            will reserve additional CUSIP numbers for assignment
                            to Global Securities representing Book-Entry Notes.
                            Upon obtaining such additional CUSIP numbers, the
                            Issuer shall deliver a list of such additional CUSIP
                            numbers to the Trustee and DTC.

REGISTRATION:               Each Global Security will be registered in the name
                            of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, on the Securities
                            Register maintained under the Indenture. The
                            beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Note (or one or
                            more indirect participants in DTC designated by such
                            owner) will designate one or more participants in
                            DTC (with respect to such Note, the "Participants")
                            to act as agent or agents for such owner in
                            connection with the book-entry system maintained by
                            DTC, and DTC will record in book-entry form, in
                            accordance with instructions provided by such
                            Participants, a credit balance with respect to such
                            Note in the account of such Participants. The
                            ownership interest of such beneficial owner in such
                            Note will be recorded through the records of such
                            Participants or through the separate records of such
                            Participants and one or more indirect participants
                            in DTC.

TRANSFERS:                  Transfers of a Book-Entry Note will be accomplished
                            by book entries made by DTC and, in turn, by
                            Participants (and, in certain cases, one or more
                            indirect participants in DTC) acting on behalf of
                            beneficial transferors and transferees of such Note.

12

EXCHANGES:                  The Trustee may deliver to DTC and the CUSIP Service
                            Bureau at any time a written notice of consolidation
                            (a copy of which shall be attached to the Global
                            Security resulting from such consolidation)
                            specifying (i) the CUSIP numbers of two or more
                            Outstanding Global Securities that represent
                            Book-Entry Notes having the same Terms (other than
                            original issue date) and for which interest has been
                            paid to the same date, (ii) a date, occurring at
                            least 30 days after such written notice is delivered
                            and at least 30 days before the next Interest
                            Payment Date for such Book-Entry Notes, on which
                            such Global Securities shall be exchanged for a
                            single replacement Global Security and (iii) a new
                            CUSIP number to be assigned to such replacement
                            Global Security. Upon receipt of such a notice, DTC
                            will send to its Participants (including the
                            Trustee) a written reorganization notice to the
                            effect that such exchange will occur on such date.
                            Prior to the specified exchange date, the Trustee
                            will deliver to the CUSIP Service Bureau a written
                            notice setting forth such exchange date and the new
                            CUSIP number and stating that, as of such exchange
                            date, the CUSIP numbers of the Global Securities to
                            be exchanged will no longer be valid. On the
                            specified exchange date, the Trustee will exchange
                            such Global Securities for a single Global Security
                            bearing the new CUSIP number and a new original
                            issue date and the CUSIP numbers of the exchanged
                            Global Securities will, in accordance with CUSIP
                            Service Bureau procedures, be canceled and not
                            immediately reassigned. Notwithstanding the
                            foregoing, if the Global Securities to be exchanged
                            exceed $400,000,000 in aggregate principal amount,
                            one Global Security will be authenticated and issued
                            to represent each $400,000,000 of principal amount
                            of the exchanged Global Securities and an additional
                            Global Security will be authenticated and issued to
                            represent any remaining principal amount of such
                            Global Securities (see "Denominations" below).

NOTICE OF REPAYMENT         With respect to each Book-Entry Note that is
TERMS:                      repayable at the option of the Holder, the Trustee
                            will furnish DTC on or not more than 60 days prior
                            to the settlement date pertaining to such Book-Entry
                            Note a notice setting forth the terms of such

13

repayment option. Such terms shall include the start date and end dates of the first exercise period, the purchase date following such first exercise period, the frequency that such exercise periods occur (I.E., quarterly, semiannually, annually, etc.) and, if the repayment option expires before maturity, the same information (except frequency) concerning the last exercise period. It is understood that the exercise period shall be at least 15 calendar days long and that the purchase date shall be at least 7 calendar days, after the last day of the exercise period.

REDEMPTION AND              The Trustee will comply with the terms of the Letter
REPAYMENT:                  with regard to redemptions and repayments of the
                            Notes. If a Global Security is to be redeemed or
                            repaid in part, the Trustee will exchange such
                            Global Security for two Global Securities, one of
                            which shall represent the portion of the Global
                            Security being redeemed or repaid and shall be
                            canceled immediately after issuance and the other of
                            which shall represent the remaining portion of such
                            Global Security and shall bear the CUSIP number of
                            the surrendered Global Security.


DENOMINATIONS:              Unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer and the
                            relevant Agent, Book-Entry Notes will be issued in
                            principal amounts of $1,000 or any multiple thereof.
                            Global Securities will be denominated in principal
                            amounts not in excess of $400,000,000. If one or
                            more Book-Entry Notes having an aggregate principal
                            amount in excess of $400,000,000 would, but for the
                            preceding sentence, be represented by a single
                            Global Security, then one Global Security will be
                            issued to represent each $400,000,000 principal
                            amount of such Book-Entry Note or Notes and an
                            additional Global Security will be issued to
                            represent any remaining principal amount of such
                            Book-Entry Note or Notes. In such a case, each of
                            the Global Securities representing such Book-Entry
                            Note or Notes shall be assigned the same CUSIP
                            number.

INTEREST:                   PUBLICATION. Standard & Poor's Corporation will use
                            the information received in the pending deposit
                            message described under the Settlement Procedure "C"
                            below in order to include the amount of any interest
                            payable and certain other information

14

                            regarding the related Global Security in the
                            appropriate weekly bond report published by Standard
                            & Poor's Corporation.

NOTICE OF INTEREST          On the first Business Day of January,
PAYMENT AND REGULAR         April, July and October of each year, the
RECORD DATES:               Trustee will deliver to the Issuer and DTC
                            a written list of Regular Record Dates and Interest
                            Payment Dates that will occur with respect to
                            Book-Entry Notes during the six-month period
                            beginning on such first Business Day. Promptly after
                            each Interest Determination Date or Calculation
                            Date, as applicable (as defined in the applicable
                            Note) for Floating Rate Notes, the Company, upon
                            receiving notice thereof, will notify Standard &
                            Poor's Corporation of the interest rate determined
                            on such Interest Determination Date or Calculation
                            Date, as applicable.

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND   PAYMENTS OF INTEREST ONLY. Promptly after each
INTEREST:                   Regular Record Date, the Trustee will deliver to the
                            Issuer and DTC a written notice specifying by CUSIP
                            number the amount of interest to be paid on each
                            Global Security on the following Interest Payment
                            Date (other than an Interest Payment Date coinciding
                            with maturity) and the total of such amounts. The
                            Issuer will confirm with the Trustee the amount
                            payable on each Global Security on such Interest
                            Payment Date. DTC will confirm the amount payable on
                            each Global Security on such Interest Payment Date
                            by reference to the daily or weekly bond reports
                            published by Standard & Poor's Corporation. The
                            Issuer will pay to the Trustee the total amount of
                            interest due on such Interest Payment Date (other
                            than at maturity), and the Trustee will pay such
                            amount to DTC at the times and in the manner set
                            forth below under "Manner of Payment". If any
                            Interest Payment Date for a Book-Entry Note is not a
                            Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be
                            made on the next succeeding Business Day and no
                            interest shall accrue on such payment for the period
                            from and after such Interest Payment Date.


                            PAYMENTS AT MATURITY. On or about the first Business
                            Day of each month, the Trustee will deliver to the
                            Issuer and DTC a written list of principal and

15

interest to be paid on each Global Security maturing either at stated maturity or on a redemption or repayment date in the following month. The Issuer, the Trustee and DTC will confirm the amounts of such principal and interest payments with respect to each such Global Security on or about the fifth Business Day preceding the maturity of such Global Security. The Issuer will pay to the Trustee, as the paying agent, the principal amount of such Global Security, together with interest due at such maturity. The Trustee will pay such amounts to DTC at the times and in the manner set forth below under "Manner of Payment". If any maturity of a Global Security representing Book-Entry Notes is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such maturity. Promptly after payment to DTC of the principal and interest due at the maturity of such Global Security, the Trustee will cancel and destroy such Global Security in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and deliver a certificate of destruction to the Issuer.

MANNER OF PAYMENT. The total amount of any principal and interest due on Global Securities on any Interest Payment Date or at Maturity shall be paid by the Issuer to the Trustee in funds available for use by the Trustee as of 9:30 a.m. (New York City time), or as soon as practicable thereafter on such date. The Issuer will make such payment on such Global Securities by wire transfer to the Trustee. The Issuer will confirm instructions regarding payment in writing to the Trustee. Prior to 10:00
a.m. (New York City time) on each maturity date or as soon as possible thereafter, following receipt of such funds from the Issuer, the Trustee will pay by separate wire transfer (using Fedwire message entry instructions in a form previously specified by DTC) to an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York previously specified by DTC, in funds available for immediate use by DTC, each payment of principal (together with interest thereon) due on Global Securities on any maturity date. On each Interest Payment Date, interest payment shall be made to DTC in same-day funds in

16

                            accordance with existing arrangements between the
                            Trustee and DTC. Thereafter, on each such date, DTC
                            will pay, in accordance with its SDFS operating
                            procedures then in effect, such amounts in funds
                            available for immediate use to the respective
                            Participants in whose names the Book-Entry Notes
                            represented by such Global Securities are recorded
                            in the book-entry system maintained by DTC. Neither
                            of the Issuer or the Trustee shall have any direct
                            responsibility or liability for the payment by DTC
                            to such Participants of the principal of and
                            interest on the Book-Entry Notes.

                            WITHHOLDING TAXES. The amount of any taxes required
                            under applicable law to be withheld from any
                            interest payment on a Book-Entry Note will be
                            determined and withheld by the Participant, indirect
                            participant in DTC or other Person responsible for
                            forwarding payments and materials directly to the
                            beneficial owner of such Note.

SETTLEMENT:                 The receipt by the Issuer of immediately available
                            funds in payment for a Book-Entry Note and the
                            authentication and issuance of the Global Security
                            or Global Securities representing such Note shall
                            constitute "settlement" with respect to such Note.
                            All orders accepted by the Issuer will be settled on
                            the fifth Business Day from the date of the sale
                            pursuant to the timetable for settlement set forth
                            below unless the Issuer and the purchaser agree to
                            settlement on another day.

SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES:      Settlement Procedures with regard to each
                            Book-Entry Note sold by the Issuer through
                            a Presenting Agent as agent shall be as
                            follows:

                            A.    The Presenting Agent shall communicate to the
                                  Issuer's Treasury Department by telephone,
                                  facsimile transmission or other acceptable
                                  means the Purchase Information.

                            B.    After receiving the details for each
                                  offer from the Presenting Agent, the
                                  Issuer will, after recording the
                                  details and any necessary
                                  calculations, communicate the
                                  Purchase Information by telephone,
                                  facsimile

17

transmission or other acceptable means, to the Trustee.

C. The Trustee will assign a CUSIP number to the Global Security representing such Note and will telephone the Issuer and advise the Issuer of such CUSIP number. The Trustee will enter a pending deposit message through DTC's Participant Terminal System, providing the following settlement information to DTC (which shall route such information to Standard & Poor's Corporation and Interactive Data Services) and the Presenting Agent:

1. The applicable information set forth in Settlement Procedure "A".

2. Identification as a Fixed Rate Book-Entry Note or a Floating Rate Book-Entry Note.

3. Interest payment period.

4. Initial Interest Payment Date for such Note, number of days by which such date succeeds the related DTC record date (which, in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset weekly shall be the date five calendar days immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date and in the case of all other Notes shall be the Regular Record Date as defined in the Note) and amount of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date per $1,000 principal amount of Notes.

5. Participants' account numbers maintained by DTC on behalf of the Trustee and the Presenting Agent.

6. CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such Note.

18

7. Whether such Global Security will represent any other Book-Entry Note (to the extent known at such time).

D. The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee a Global Security representing such Note.

E. The Trustee will complete and authenticate the Global Security representing such Note. Prior to preparing the Global Security for delivery, the Trustee will confirm the Purchase Information by telephone with the Presenting Agent.

F. DTC will credit such Note to the Trustee's participant account at DTC.

G. The Trustee will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant Terminal System instructing DTC to (i) debit such Note to the Trustee's participant account and credit such Note to the Presenting Agent's participant account and (ii) debit the Presenting Agent's settlement account and credit the Trustee's settlement account for an amount equal to the price of such Note less the Presenting Agent's commission. The entry of such a delivery order shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Trustee to DTC that (i) the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Note has been executed, delivered and authenticated and (ii) the Trustee is holding such Global Security pursuant to the Medium-Term Note Certificate Agreement between the Trustee and DTC.

H. The Presenting Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant Terminal System instructing DTC (i) to debit such Note to the Presenting Agent's participant account and credit such Note to the participant accounts of the Participants with respect to such Note and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts of such Participants

19

and credit the settlement account of The Presenting Agent for an amount equal to the price of such Note.

I. Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders described in Settlement Procedures "G" and "H" will be settled in accordance with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the settlement date.

J. The Trustee, upon confirming receipt of such funds, will wire transfer to the account of the Issuer maintained at Chase Manhattan Bank, New York
N.Y., Account of International Business Machines Corporation, Cash Concentration, ABA Number 021000021, Account Number 323 213 499, in funds available for immediate use in the amount transferred to the Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure "G".

                            K.    The Presenting Agent will confirm
                                  the purchase of such Note to the
                                  purchaser either by transmitting to
                                  the Participants with respect to
                                  such Note a confirmation order or
                                  orders through DTC's institutional
                                  delivery system or by mailing a
                                  written confirmation to such
                                  purchaser.

SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES       For orders of Book-Entry Notes solicited by an Agent
TIMETABLE:                  and accepted by the Issuer for settlement on the
                            first Business Day after the sale date, Settlement
                            Procedures "A" through "K" set forth above shall be
                            completed as soon as possible but not later than the
                            respective times (New York City time) set forth
                            below:

                            SETTLEMENT
                            PROCEDURE TIME

A 11:00 a.m. on the sale date
B 12:00 noon on the sale date
C 2:00 p.m. on the sale date
D 3:00 p.m. on the sale date
E 9:00 a.m. on settlement date
F 10:00 a.m. on settlement date

20

                            G-H  2:00 p.m. on settlement date
                            I    4:45 p.m. on settlement date
                            J-K  5:00 p.m. on settlement date

                            If a sale is to be settled two Business Days after
                            the sale date, Settlement Procedures "A", "B" and
                            "C" shall be completed as soon as practicable but no
                            later than 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m., as
                            the case may be, on the first Business Day after the
                            sale date.

                            If a sale is to be settled more than two Business
                            Days after the sale date, Settlement Procedure "A"
                            shall be completed as soon as practicable but no
                            later than 11:00 a.m. on the first Business Day
                            after the sale date and Settlement Procedures "B"
                            and "C" shall be completed as soon as practicable
                            but no later than 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m., as the
                            case may be, on the second Business Day after the
                            sale date. If the initial interest rate for a
                            Floating Rate Book-Entry Note has not been
                            determined at the time that Settlement Procedure "A"
                            is completed, Settlement Procedures "B" and "C"
                            shall be completed as soon as such rate has been
                            determined but no later than 12:00 noon and 2:00
                            p.m., respectively, on the Business Day before the
                            settlement date. Settlement Procedure "I" is subject
                            to extension in accordance with any extension of
                            Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events
                            specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect
                            on the settlement date.

                            If settlement of a Book-Entry Note is rescheduled or
                            canceled, the Trustee, upon receipt of notice, will
                            deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal
                            System, a cancellation message to such effect by no
                            later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately
                            preceding the scheduled settlement date.

FAILURE TO SETTLE:          If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order
                            with respect to a Book-Entry Note pursuant to
                            Settlement Procedure "G", the Trustee may deliver to
                            DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, as
                            soon as practicable, a withdrawal message
                            instructing DTC to debit such Note to the Trustee's
                            participant account. DTC will process the withdrawal
                            message, provided that the Trustee's participant
                            account

21

contains a principal amount of the Global Security representing such Note that is at least equal to the principal amount to be debited. If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to all the Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will mark such Global Security "canceled", make appropriate entries in its records and send such canceled Global Security to the Issuer. The cusip number assigned to such Global Security shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be canceled and not immediately reassigned. If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to one or more, but not all, the Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will exchange such Global Security for two Global Securities, one of which shall represent such Book-Entry Note or Notes and shall be canceled immediately after issuance and the other of which shall represent the remaining Book-Entry Notes previously represented by the surrendered Global Security and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Security.

If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Note is not timely paid to the Participants with respect to such Note by the beneficial purchaser thereof (or a Person, including an indirect participant in DTC, acting on behalf of such purchaser), such Participants and, in turn, the Presenting Agent may enter SDFS deliver orders through DTC's Participant Terminal System reversing the orders entered pursuant to Settlement Procedures "H" and "G", respectively. Thereafter, the Trustee will deliver the withdrawal message and take the applicable related actions described in the preceding paragraph. If such failure shall have occurred for any reason other than the failure of the Presenting Agent to provide the Purchase Information to the Issuer or to provide a confirmation to the purchaser, the Issuer will reimburse the Presenting Agent on an equitable basis for its loss of the use of funds during the period when they were credited to the account of the Issuer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with respect to a Book-Entry Note, DTC may take any actions in accordance with its SDFS

22

operating procedures then in effect. In the event of a failure to settle with respect to one or more, but not all, the Book-Entry Notes to have been represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedure "E", for the authentication and issuance of a Global Security representing the other Book-Entry Notes to have been represented by such Global Security and will make appropriate entries in its records.

23

EXHIBIT C

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

[Date _____, 200_]

International Business Machines Corporation New Orchard Road
Armonk, NY 10504

Attention: Treasurer

The undersigned agrees to purchase the following principal amount of the Securities described in the Agency Agreement dated __________________ (the "Agency Agreement"):

Principal Amount  $______________________
Interest Rate      ______________________
Maturity Date      ______________,  20___
Discount           ________% of Principal Amount
Price to be paid
to Issuer
(in immediately
available funds)  $______________________
Settlement Date    ______________________

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms used herein which are defined in the Agency Agreement shall have the same meanings as in the Agency Agreement. The terms Agent or Agents, as used in the Agency Agreement, shall be deemed to refer to the undersigned for purposes of this Agreement.

This Agreement incorporates by reference Sections 3(c), 4, 6, 7, 12 and 13 of the Agency Agreement, the first and last sentences of Section 9 thereof and, to the extent applicable, the Procedures. You and we agree to perform, to the extent applicable, our respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by each of us in the Procedures.

Our obligation to purchase Securities hereunder is subject to the accuracy on the above Settlement Date of your representations and warranties contained in Section 2 of the Agency Agreement (it being understood that such representations and warranties


shall relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended at such Settlement Date) and to your performance and observance of all covenants and agreements contained in Sections 4 and 6 thereof. Our obligation hereunder is also subject to the following conditions:

(a) the satisfaction, at such Settlement Date, of each of the conditions set forth in subsections (a) and (b) and (d) through (g) of Section 5 of the Agency Agreement (it being understood that each document so required to be delivered shall be dated such Settlement Date and that each such condition and the statements contained in each such document that relate to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as amended or supplemented at the time of settlement on such Settlement Date and except that the opinion described in Section 5(d) of the Agency Agreement shall be modified so as to state that the Securities being sold on such Settlement Date, when delivered against payment therefor as provided in the Indenture and this Agreement, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject only to the exceptions as to enforcement set forth in clause (ii) of Section 5(d) of the Agency Agreement, and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Settlement Date); and

(b) there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting particularly the business or properties of the Issuer or its subsidiaries which, in our judgment, materially impairs the investment quality of the Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of the Issuer's debt securities or public announcement that such debt securities are under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act); (iii) any suspension or limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Issuer on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (iv) any banking moratorium declared by Federal or New York authorities; or (v) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial national or international calamity or emergency if, in our judgment, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the sale of and payment for the Securities.

[In further consideration of our agreement hereunder, you agree that between the date hereof and the above Settlement Date, you will not offer or sell, or enter into any agreement to sell, any debt securities of the Issuer in the United States, other than sales of Securities, borrowings under your revolving credit agreements and lines of credit, the private placement of securities and issuances of your commercial paper.]

If for any reason our purchase of the above Securities is not consummated, you shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by you pursuant to

2

Section 4 of the Agency Agreement and the respective obligations of you and the undersigned pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect. If for any reason our purchase of the above Securities is not consummated other than because of our default or a failure to satisfy a condition set forth in clause (iii), (iv) or
(v) of paragraph (b) above, you shall reimburse us, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by us in connection with the offering of the above Securities and not otherwise required to be reimbursed pursuant to
Section 4 of the Agency Agreement.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and the executed counterparts shall together constitute a single instrument.

[Insert Name of Purchaser]

By_________________________

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of
the date first above written:

International Business Machines Corporation

By:___________________________
Title:________________________

3

EXHIBIT 5

[LETTERHEAD]

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Office of the Vice President and Assistant General Counsel Armonk, New York 10504

May 15, 2000

Ladies & Gentlemen:

As a Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of International Business Machines Corporation (the "Company") and an attorney duly admitted to practice in the State of New York, I am giving this opinion in connection with the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1993 (the "Securities Act") of senior or subordinated debt securities of the Company, to be issued under an Indenture dated as of October 1, 1993, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of December 15, 1995 (the "Senior Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Senior Trustee") or an Indenture (the Subordinated Indenture") to be entered into between the Company and a Trustee (the "Subordinated Trustee"), preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company, depositary shares (the "Depositary Shares") of the Company representing a fractional interest in a share of Preferred Stock, capital stock (the "Capital Stock") of the Company and/or warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Capital Stock (the "Warrants") of the Company (the Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock and Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities").

I, working together with competent members of my legal staff acting under my direct supervision and control, have examined the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended; the By-laws of the Company, the Senior


Indenture; and the forms of Subordinated Indenture and Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement") filed as Exhibits to the Registration Statement. In addition, I am familiar with the proceedings by which such instruments and the transactions contemplated thereby were authorized by the Company.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and assuming that: (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective and comply with all applicable laws; (ii) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement; (iii) a Prospectus Supplement, Pricing Supplement or term sheet will have been prepared and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws; (iv) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the appropriate Prospectus Supplement; (v) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and (vi) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Security being offered or issued will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise, I am of the opinion that:

(1) the Company has been duly incorporated and is a validly existing corporation under the laws of the State of New York.

(2) with respect to Debt Securities to be issued under either the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, when (A) the Senior Trustee or Subordinated Trustee, as applicable, is qualified to act as Senior Trustee or Subordinated Trustee, as applicable, under the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, (B) the Senior Trustee or Subordinated Trustee, as applicable, has duly executed and delivered the Subordinated Indenture or Senior Indenture, as applicable, (C) the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company to the Senior Trustee or Subordinated Trustee, as

2

applicable, (D) the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (E) the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof (such Board of Directors or committee being hereinafter referred to as the "Board") has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, and (F) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Indenture or Subordinated Indenture, as applicable, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Debt Securities will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws in effect and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

(3) with respect to shares of Preferred Stock, when both (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Amendment relating to such Preferred Stock (a "Certificate") and the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of New York, and (B) certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), then the shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;

(4) with respect to Depositary Shares, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve

3

the issuance and terms of the Depositary Shares, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate relating to the Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares and the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of New York, (B) the Deposit Agreement or Agreements relating to the Depositary Shares and the related Depositary Receipts have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Depositary appointed by the Company, (C) the shares of Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares have been deposited with a bank or trust company (which meets the requirements for the Depositary set forth in the Registration Statement) under the applicable Deposit Agreement, and (D) the Depositary Receipts representing the Depositary Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the appropriate Deposit Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Depositary Shares will be validly issued;

(5) with respect to shares of Capital Stock, when both (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of the shares of Capital Stock and related matters and (B) certificates representing the shares of Capital Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Capital Stock) provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (not less than the par value of the Capital Stock), then the shares of Capital Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and

(6) with respect to the Warrants, when (A) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, (B) the Warrant Agreement or Agreements relating to the Warrants have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent appointed by the Company, and (C) the Warrants or certificates

4

representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the appropriate Warrant Agreement or Agreements and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Warrants will be validly issued.

I understand that I may be referred to, as counsel who has passed upon the validity of the Debt Securities or the issuance of the Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock or Warrants on behalf of the Company, in a supplement to the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the Securities filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, and I hereby consent to such use of my name in said Registration Statement and to the use of this opinion for filing with said Registration Statement as Exhibit (5) thereto.

Very truly yours,

/s/ David S. Hershberg
----------------------
David S. Hershberg

5

EXHIBIT 23(a)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 19, 2000 relating to the consolidated financial statements, which appears in the 1999 Annual Report to Stockholders of International Business Machines Corporation which is incorporated by reference in International Business Machines Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated January 19, 2000 relating to the Financial Statement Schedule which appears in such Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such registration statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
-------------------------------

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
May 15, 2000


EXHIBIT 24(a)

POWER OF ATTORNEY OF LOUIS V. GERSTNER, JR.

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Corporation"), which may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 in a total amount which includes $10B authorized by resolutions dated the date hereof plus all amounts available for issuance pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-70521, of Indebtedness, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock and Warrants (collectively the "Securities") of the Corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Lawrence R. Ricciardi, John R. Joyce, Mark Loughridge, Walter S. Berman, Daniel E. O'Donnell, Andrew Bonzani and Cassio A. Calil, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act, together or each without the others, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, or cause to be signed electronically, such registration statement and any and all amendments to the aforementioned registration statement, and to file said registration statement and amendments thereto so signed with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the undersigned, have executed this Power of Attorney as of this 29th day of February, 2000.

/s/ Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
--------------------------
Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
Chairman of the Board of Directors
and Chief Executive Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY OF JOHN R. JOYCE

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Corporation"), which may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 in a total amount which includes $10B authorized by resolutions dated the date hereof plus all amounts available for issuance pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-70521, of Indebtedness, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock and Warrants (collectively the "Securities") of the Corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Lawrence R. Ricciardi, Mark Loughridge, Walter S. Berman, Daniel E. O'Donnell, Andrew Bonzani and Cassio A. Calil, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act, together or each without the others, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, or cause to be signed electronically, such registration statement and any and all amendments to the aforementioned registration statement, and to file said registration statement and amendments thereto so signed with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the undersigned, have executed this Power of Attorney as of this 29th day of February, 2000.

/s/ John R. Joyce
-----------------
John R. Joyce
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

2

POWER OF ATTORNEY OF MARK LOUGHRIDGE

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned Vice President and Controller of International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Corporation"), which may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 in a total amount which includes $10B authorized by resolutions dated the date hereof plus all amounts available for issuance pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-70521, of Indebtedness, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock and Warrants (collectively the "Securities") of the Corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Lawrence R. Ricciardi, John R. Joyce, Walter S. Berman, Daniel E. O'Donnell, Andrew Bonzani and Cassio A. Calil, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act, together or each without the others, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, or cause to be signed electronically, such registration statement and any and all amendments to the aforementioned registration statement, and to file said registration statement and amendments thereto so signed with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the undersigned, have executed this Power of Attorney as of this 29th day of February, 2000.

/s/ Mark Loughridge
-------------------
Mark Loughridge
Vice President and Controller

3

POWER OF ATTORNEY OF IBM DIRECTOR

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned Director of International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation (the "Corporation"), which may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 in a total amount which includes $10B authorized by resolutions dated the date hereof, plus all amounts available for issuance pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-70521, of Indebtedness, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock and Warrants (collectively the "Securities") of the Corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Lawrence R. Ricciardi, John R. Joyce, Mark Loughridge, Walter S. Berman, Daniel E. O'Donnell, Andrew Bonzani and Cassio A. Calil, and each of them, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act, together or each without the others, for me and in my name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, or cause to be signed electronically, such registration statement and any and all amendments to the aforementioned registration statement, and to file said registration statement and amendments thereto so signed with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the undersigned, have executed this Power of Attorney as of this 29th day of February, 2000.

/s/ Cathleen Black
------------------
Director

/s/ Kenneth I. Chenault
-----------------------
Director

/s/ Juergen Dormann
-------------------
Director

/s/ Nannerl O. Keohane
----------------------
Director

/s/ Charles F. Knight
---------------------
Director

/s/ Minoru Makihara
-------------------
Director

/s/ Lucio A. Noto
-----------------
Director

/s/ John B. Slaughter
---------------------
Director

/s/ Alex Trotman
----------------
Director

/s/ Lodewijk C. van Wachem
--------------------------
Director

4

EXHIBIT 24(b)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

CERTIFICATE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY

I, Andrew Bonzani, the undersigned Assistant Secretary of International Business Machines Corporation, a New York Corporation, do hereby certify as follows:

Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true copy of the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of International Business Machines Corporation, authorizing the officers of the Corporation to execute the Registration Statement, to which this certificate is attached as an exhibit, by power of attorney.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this certificate as of this 15th day of May 2000.

By: /s/ Andrew Bonzani
-----------------------
Andrew Bonzani
Assistant Secretary


EXHIBIT A

RESOLUTIONS REGARDING SEC UNIVERSAL SHELF REGISTRATION

RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Corporation hereby authorizes (in addition to the authority previously granted by resolutions of the Board of Directors, all of which other resolutions remain in full force and effect) the issuance and sale by the Corporation during the period from the date hereof through and including the date which is two years from the date the registration statement authorized to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to these resolutions becomes effective (the "Period") of an additional $10B of: (a) notes, debentures or other debt instruments (the "Indebtedness"); (b) shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value, of the Corporation (the "Preferred Stock") or depositary shares representing ownership of and entitlement to all rights and preferences of a fraction of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Depositary Shares"); (c) shares of Capital Stock, $0.20 par value, of the Corporation (the "Capital Stock"); and (d) warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, Preferred Stock or Indebtedness of the Corporation or securities of any other corporation (the "Warrants"). The Indebtedness, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock and Warrants shall sometimes hereinafter be referred to collectively as the "Securities." The issuance of any Securities hereunder shall require the prior approval of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel or such other person as may be designated by the General Counsel from time to time; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Indebtedness, for purposes of these resolutions, shall exclude all debt having a maturity of less than one year at the time of issuance, all notes issued to banks pursuant to lines of credit, and all debt which is privately

2

placed or sold pursuant to an exemption from the U.S. securities laws. The Indebtedness shall include, without limitation, debt denominated in U.S. dollars or in a foreign currency computed at a conversion rate prevailing on dates determined by either the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President and Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer, to be relevant to the issuance of such Indebtedness, with such Indebtedness to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or sold pursuant to an exemption therefrom or outside the scope thereof; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President and Treasurer, and any Assistant Treasurer, or any of them acting individually, be, and they hereby are, delegated full power and authority to authorize and approve during the Period the issuance of Indebtedness of the Corporation pursuant to the foregoing resolutions and, in connection therewith, to determine the terms and provisions of such Indebtedness and of the issuance and sale thereof, including, without limitation, the following: (i) the principal amount of such Indebtedness, (ii) the final maturity date of such Indebtedness and any sinking fund or other repayment provisions, (iii) the effective rate of interest of such Indebtedness, (iv) the price at which such Indebtedness shall be sold by the Corporation, (v) the provisions, if any, for the redemption of such Indebtedness and the premiums, if any, to be paid upon any such redemption, (vi) the right to convert such Indebtedness into or exchange such Indebtedness for shares or other securities of the Corporation or any other corporation or to issue warrants or other rights to acquire shares or other securities of the Corporation or any other corporation in conjunction with such Indebtedness, and all terms of such conversion or exchange provisions or warrants or other rights, including the conversion, exchange or exercise prices and any antidilution provisions, and the authorization of the issuance of any shares and the delivery of such shares or other securities of the Corporation or any other corporation upon the conversion or exchange of such Indebtedness or the

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exercise of such warrants or other rights, (vii) the form, terms and provisions of any indentures, fiscal agency agreements or other instruments under which such Indebtedness may be issued and the banks or trust companies to act as trustees, fiscal agents and paying agents thereunder, (viii) the preparation and filing of all documents necessary or appropriate in connection with the registration of the Indebtedness under the Securities Act of 1933, the qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the qualification under any other applicable Federal, foreign, state, local or other governmental requirements, (ix) the preparation of any offering memorandum or other descriptive material relating to the issuance of such Indebtedness, (x) the listing of the Indebtedness on any United States or non-United States stock exchange, and (xi) underwriting arrangements; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, is delegated, without further action of the Board of Directors, full power and authority to authorize the issuance and sale by the Corporation during the Period of Capital Stock, Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares. In connection therewith, the Executive Committee be, and it hereby is, delegated full power and authority to determine the terms and provisions of the Preferred Stock and of the issuance and sale thereof, including, without limitation, with respect to: (i) whether the holders thereof shall be entitled to cumulative, noncumulative or partially cumulative dividends and, with respect to shares entitled to dividends, the dividend rate or rates, including, without limitation the methods and procedures for determining such rate or rates, and any other terms and conditions relating to such dividends, (ii) whether, and if so to what extent and upon what terms

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and conditions, the holders thereof shall be entitled to rights upon the liquidation of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Company, (iii) whether, and if so upon what terms and conditions, such shares shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares or other securities of the Corporation or any other corporation, (iv) whether, and if so upon what terms and conditions, such shares shall be redeemable, (v) whether the shares shall be redeemable and subject to any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of such shares and, if so, the terms of such fund, (vi) whether the holders thereof shall be entitled to voting rights and, if so, the terms and conditions for the exercise thereof, subject to the provisions of Section 2(f) of Article Four of the Certificate of Incorporation, and (vii) whether the holders thereof shall be entitled to any other preferences or rights and, if so, the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences or rights; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, is delegated, without further action of the Board of Directors, full power and authority to authorize the issuance and sale by the Corporation during the Period of Warrants, and the Executive Committee be, and it hereby is, delegated power and authority to determine the terms and provisions of the Warrants and of the issuance and sale thereof, including, without limitation, with respect to: (i) whether such warrants will be for Indebtedness, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Capital Stock, and (ii) the form, terms and provisions of any warrant agreements; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Corporation be, and hereby are, authorized, and directed to prepare for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), Washington, D.C., under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, for a total amount which includes both the $10B authorized herein plus all amounts then available for issuance pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-70521, of Indebtedness, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Capital Stock and Warrants (collectively the "Securities") of the Corporation that may be issued in the future pursuant to these resolutions, and that each of Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Lawrence R. Ricciardi, John R. Joyce, Mark Loughridge, Walter S. Berman, Daniel E. O'Donnell, Andrew Bonzani and Cassio A. Calil, be, and each of

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them is hereby vested with full power to act, together or each without the others, in any and all capacities, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to sign, or cause to be signed electronically, such registration statement (which may constitute a post-effective amendment to a registration statement previously filed with the SEC) and any and all amendments to the aforementioned registration statement, and to file said registration statement and amendments thereto so signed with all exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, and all actions in connection with the preparation, execution and filing of said registration statement with the SEC on behalf of and as attorneys for the Corporation are hereby ratified, approved and adopted in all respects; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Corporation be, and they hereby are, authorized in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to take any and all action which they may deem necessary or advisable in order to effect the registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) of the Securities for issue, offer, sale or trade under the Blue Sky or securities laws of any of the States of the United States of America as well as in any foreign jurisdiction and political subdivisions thereof, and in connection therewith to execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file or cause to be published any applications, reports, consents to service of process, appointments of attorneys to receive service of process and other papers and instruments which may be required under such laws, and to take any and all further action which they may deem necessary or advisable in order to maintain any such registration, qualification or exemption for as long as they deem necessary or as required by law, and that the execution by such officers of any such paper or document, or the doing by them of any act in connection with the foregoing matters shall conclusively establish their authority therefor from the Corporation and the ratification by the Corporation of the papers and documents so executed and the actions so taken; and be it further

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RESOLVED, that the Corporation is hereby authorized to list the Securities on any public exchanges, and that the proper officers of the Corporation are hereby authorized on behalf of the Corporation to execute all listing applications, fee agreements and other documents in connection with the foregoing; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Corporation be, and they hereby are, authorized to take all such further action and to execute all such further instruments and documents in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, and to pay all expenses and taxes as in their judgment shall be necessary, proper or advisable in order fully to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of the foregoing Resolutions; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Corporation shall have the authority to further delegate, in whole or in part, the authority provided in these Resolutions to any other officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

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EXHIBIT 25(a)


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549


FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

New York                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                  ---------------------------------------------

International Business Machines Corporation
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

New York                                                              13-0871985
(State or other jurisdiction of                                  (I.R.S.employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

New Orchard Road
Armonk, New York                                                           10504
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                  -----------------------------------------

Debt Securities



GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

Item 16. List of Exhibits

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee as now in effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is incorporated by reference).

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2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase Manhattan Bank).

3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is incorporated by reference).

5. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase Manhattan Bank).

7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

8. Not applicable.

9. Not applicable.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 27th day of April, 2000.

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

By /s/ Sheik Wiltshire
   -------------------
   Sheik Wiltshire
   Assistant Vice President

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Exhibit 7 to Form T-1

Bank Call Notice

RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

The Chase Manhattan Bank
of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System,

at the close of business December 31, 1999, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                                                Dollar Amounts
                                                                  in Millions
                  ASSETS

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
   Noninterest-bearing balances and
     currency and coin ..........................................  $  13,271
   Interest-bearing balances ....................................     30,165
Securities:
  Held to maturity securities....................................        724
  Available for sale securities..................................     54,770
  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
      agreements to resell ......................................     26,694
Loans and lease financing receivables:
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income    $132,814
   Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses      2,254
   Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve              0
                                               --------
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
      allowance, and reserve ....................................    130,560
Trading Assets ..................................................     53,619
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
   leases).......................................................      3,359
Other real estate owned .........................................         29
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
   associated companies..........................................        186
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
   outstanding ..................................................        608
Intangible assets ...............................................      3,659
Other assets ....................................................     14,554
                                                                      ------
                  TOTAL ASSETS ..................................   $332,198
                                                                    ========

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                                    LIABILITIES

Deposits
   In domestic offices .................................... $102,421
   Noninterest-bearing ....................................  $41,580
   Interest-bearing .......................................   60,841
   In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement
     subsidiaries and IBF's ...............................  108,233
Noninterest-bearing .......................................    6,061
   Interest-bearing .......................................  102,172

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under
    agreements to repurchase ..............................   47,425
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ..................      100
Trading liabilities .......................................   33,626
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
   and obligations under capitalized leases):
   With a remaining maturity of one year or less ..........    3,964
       With a remaining maturity of more than one year
          through three years..............................       14
       With a remaining maturity of more than three years..       99
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding...      608
Subordinated notes and debentures .........................    5,430
Other liabilities .........................................   11,886

TOTAL LIABILITIES .........................................  313,806


                                  EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus..............        0
Common stock ..............................................    1,211
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)...   11,066
Undivided profits and capital reserves ....................    7,376
Net unrealized holding gains (losses)
   on available-for-sale securities .......................   (1,277)
Accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges.........        0
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments .......       16
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL ......................................   18,392
                                                              ------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL ................       $332,198
                                                          ==========

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR. )
HELENE L. KAPLAN ) DIRECTORS
HENRY B. SCHACHT )

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