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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2016

Registration No. 333-            


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


NOMURA HORUDINGUSU KABUSHIKI KAISHA

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

Japan

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

None

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

9-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome

Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645

Japan

(81-3-5255-1000)

(Address and Telephone Number of

Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)


Nomura Holding America Inc.

Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street

New York, New York 10019-7316

(212-667-9000)

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)


Copy To:

Izumi Akai, Esq.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Otemachi First Square

5-1, Otemachi 1-chome

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004

Japan


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, 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, 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 registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of

Securities to Be Registered

 

Amount to Be

Registered(1)(2)

 

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Price

Per Unit(1)

 

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(1)

Senior Debt Securities

               

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.
(2) This registration statement also covers an undeterminable amount of the registered securities that may be reoffered and resold on an ongoing basis after their initial sale in market-making transactions by affiliates of the Registrant. These securities consist of an undeterminable amount of such securities that are initially being registered, and will initially be offered and sold, under this registration statement and an undeterminable amount of such securities that were initially registered, and were initially offered and sold, under registration statements previously filed by the Registrant. All such market-making reoffers and resales that are made pursuant to a registration statement after the effectiveness of this registration statement are being made solely pursuant to this registration statement.


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PROSPECTUS

 

 

LOGO

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

Senior Debt Securities

 


 

We, Nomura Holdings, Inc., a joint stock company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of Japan, from time to time may offer to sell our senior debt securities. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.

 

The securities are not bank deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, nor are they obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank.

 

We may offer and sell the securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents, including the firm named below, or through a combination of these methods. The names of any underwriters, dealers or agents will be included in a prospectus supplement. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts.

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 3 of, and incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement(s) before you invest in any of our securities.

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 


 

We may use this prospectus in the initial sale of the senior debt securities. In addition, Nomura Securities International, Inc. or any other of our affiliates may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction in any of these or similar securities after its initial sale. Unless we or our agent inform the purchaser otherwise in the confirmation of sale, this prospectus is being used in a market-making transaction.

 


 

Nomura

 

The date of this prospectus is February 19, 2016.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

 

Summary

     1   

Risk Factors

     3   

Use of Proceeds

     8   

Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges

     9   

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

     10   

Description of Senior Debt Securities

     11   

Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance

     35   

Taxation

     40   

Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)

     55   

Validity of the Securities

     58   

Experts

     58   

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities

     58   

Clearance and Settlement

     59   

Benefit Plan Investor Considerations

     63   

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We are offering to sell the securities only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on the front of those documents, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents or any sale of the securities.

 

The senior debt securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Act”, and are subject to the Act on Special Measures Concerning Taxation of Japan (Act No. 26 of 1957, as amended), or the “Special Taxation Measures Act”. The senior debt securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and governmental guidelines of Japan. In addition, the senior debt securities are not, as part of the initial distribution by the underwriters, dealers and agents, including our affiliates, at any time to be directly or indirectly offered or sold to, or for the benefit of, any person other than, or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, any person other than (i) a beneficial owner that is, for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a person having a special relationship with us as described in Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act, or a “specially-related person of ours”, (ii) a Japanese financial institution, designated in Article 3-2-2, paragraph 29 (all references to which shall be to paragraph 28 with effect from April 1, 2016) of the Cabinet Order (Cabinet Order No. 43 of 1957, as amended), or the “Cabinet Order”, relating to the Special Taxation Measures Act that will hold the senior debt securities for its own proprietary account or (iii) any other excluded category of persons, corporations or other entities under the Special Taxation Measures Act. For the purpose of senior debt securities issued on or before March 31, 2010, references above to specially-related persons of ours do not apply. By subscribing for the senior debt securities, the investor will be deemed to have represented that it is (i) a beneficial owner that is, for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a specially-related person of ours, (ii) a Japanese financial institution, designated in Article 3-2-2, paragraph 29 of the Cabinet Order that will hold the senior debt securities for its own proprietary account or (iii) any other excluded category of persons, corporations or other entities under the Special Taxation Measures Act.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

The term “Nomura” refers to Nomura Holdings, Inc. The terms “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to Nomura and, unless the context requires otherwise, will include Nomura’s consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Nomura’s financial statements, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which we refer to as U.S. GAAP. Nomura’s financial statements are denominated in Japanese yen, the legal tender of Japan. When we refer to “yen” or “¥”, we mean Japanese yen. When we refer to “$”, we mean U.S. dollars.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 which we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. The specific terms of any securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. A supplement to this prospectus may be in the form of one or more prospectus supplements, pricing supplements, addenda or free writing prospectuses, any and all of which are referred to herein as a “prospectus supplement” or “supplement to this prospectus”. The prospectus supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

 


 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. In addition, in the future we, and others on our behalf, may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any of these statements. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the following:

 

   

our plans, objectives or goals;

 

   

our future economic performance or prospects;

 

   

the potential effect on our future performance of certain contingencies; and

 

   

assumptions underlying any such statements.

 

Words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend” and “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

 

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections and other outcomes described or implied in forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include:

 

   

market and interest rate fluctuations;

 

   

the strength of the global economy in general and the strength of the economies of the countries in which we conduct our operations in particular;

 

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the ability of counterparties to meet their obligations to us;

 

   

the effects of, and changes in, fiscal, monetary, trade and tax policies, and currency fluctuations;

 

   

political and social developments, including war, civil unrest or terrorist activity;

 

   

the possibility of foreign exchange controls, expropriation, nationalization or confiscation of assets in countries in which we conduct our operations;

 

   

changes in the monetary and interest rate policies of the Bank of Japan and other central banks;

 

   

the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and access to capital markets;

 

   

operational factors such as systems failure, human error or the failure to properly implement procedures;

 

   

actions taken by regulators with respect to our business and practices in one or more of the countries in which we conduct our operations;

 

   

the effects of changes in laws, regulations or accounting policies or practices;

 

   

competition in geographic and business areas in which we conduct our operations;

 

   

the ability to retain and recruit qualified personnel;

 

   

the ability to increase market share and control expenses;

 

   

acquisitions, including the ability to integrate successfully acquired businesses; and

 

   

our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

 

We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. When evaluating forward-looking statements, you should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and events, the risk factors and other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as the risk factors relating to us, a particular security offered by this prospectus or a particular offering discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

Available Information

 

We file annual reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document, please be aware that the reference is not necessarily complete and that you should refer to the exhibits that are part of the registration statement for a copy of the applicable contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. as well as through the SEC’s Internet site noted above.

 

Incorporation of Documents by Reference

 

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file after the date of this prospectus with the SEC and which is incorporated by reference will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

We are incorporating by reference (i) our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 filed with the SEC on June 25, 2015; (ii) our current report on Form 6-K submitted to the SEC on November 27, 2015; (iii) our current report on Form 6-K submitted to the SEC on December 18, 2015 (containing our interim operating and financial review for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2015); and (iv) our current report on Form 6-K submitted to the SEC on February 2, 2016 (containing our financial summary for the nine months ended December 31, 2015 (U.S. GAAP)).

 

All annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will be incorporated by reference to this prospectus. In addition, our current reports on Form 6-K submitted to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (or portions thereof) will be incorporated by reference in this prospectus only to the extent that the reports expressly state that we incorporate them (or such portions) by reference in this prospectus.

 

Each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered may request a copy of items incorporated by reference, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at our principal executive offices at Nomura Holdings, Inc., 9-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645, Japan; Telephone: 81-3-5255-1000; Attention: Treasury and Capital Management Department.

 

Except as described above, no other information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including, without limitation, information on our website.

 

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SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights key information described in greater detail elsewhere, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus. You should read carefully the entire prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference and any applicable prospectus supplement before making an investment decision.

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

We are one of the leading financial services groups in Japan and have global operations. We operate offices in countries and regions worldwide, including Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

 

Senior Debt Securities

 

For any particular series of senior debt securities we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the title and series of the senior debt securities, the aggregate principal amount and the original issue price; the stated maturity; the redemption terms, if any; the rate or manner of calculating the rate and the payment dates for interest, if any; the amount or manner of calculating the amount payable at maturity and whether that amount may be paid by delivering cash, securities or other property; and any other specific terms. The senior debt securities will be issued under the amended and restated senior debt indenture between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee. The senior debt securities offered in market-making transactions by our affiliates after initial issuance will include senior debt securities issued under the amended and restated senior debt indenture as well as those senior debt securities that we previously issued under the original senior debt indenture between us and the same trustee. We have summarized the general features of the senior debt indenture under the heading “Description of Senior Debt Securities”.

 

Form of Securities

 

We will issue the securities in book-entry form through one or more depositaries, such as The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or Euroclear, or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme , or Clearstream, named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each sale of a security in book-entry form will settle in immediately available funds through the applicable depositary, unless otherwise stated. We will generally issue the securities in registered form, without coupons. We may, however, issue the securities in bearer form if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Payment Currencies

 

Amounts payable in respect of the securities, including the original issue price, will be payable in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Listing

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any listing on any stock exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Use of Proceeds

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities to provide additional funds for our operations and for other general corporate purposes, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

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Manner of Offering

 

The securities will be offered in connection with their initial issuance or in market-making transactions by our affiliates after initial issuance. Those offered in market-making transactions may be securities that we will not issue until after the date of this prospectus as well as securities that we have previously issued under the amended and restated senior debt indenture or the original senior debt indenture. When we issue new securities, we may offer them for sale to or through underwriters, dealers and agents, including our affiliates, or directly to purchasers. The applicable prospectus supplement will include any required information about the firms we use and the discounts or commissions we may pay them for their services.

 

Our affiliates that we refer to above may include, among others, Nomura Securities International, Inc., for offers and sales in the United States, and Nomura International plc, for offers and sales outside the United States.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

To the extent an initial offering of the securities will be distributed by one of our affiliates, each such offering of securities will be conducted in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of securities of an affiliate. See “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest)”.

 


 

Our registered head office is located at 9-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645, Japan. You can reach us by phone at +81-(3)-5255-1000 or by facsimile at +81-(3)-6746-7850. Our website is located at http://www.nomura.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in the senior debt securities offered using this prospectus involves risk. You should consider carefully the risks described below, together with the risks described in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any risk factors included in any prospectus supplement to this prospectus, before you decide to buy our senior debt securities. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer, and the trading price and liquidity of the securities offered using this prospectus could decline, in which case you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

For a discussion of the risk factors affecting us and our business, you should also read the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, or similar sections in subsequent reports incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Risks Relating to Foreign Currency

 

The following risk factors should be primarily considered by investors located in the United States or investors outside of the United States wishing to receive payments in U.S. dollars. Similar risks may apply to those investors who invest in currencies other than the currencies of their home jurisdictions or the currencies in which the investors wish to receive payments.

 

An Investment in Our Securities May Involve Currency-Related Risks

 

An investment in a currency other than the currency of the investor’s home jurisdiction and/or in a currency other than the currency in which an investor wishes to receive funds entails significant risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a security not subject to currency-related risks. These risks include the possibility of significant changes in rates of exchange between foreign currencies or composite currencies and the possibility of the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls or other conditions by the United States, Japan or other non-U.S. governments. These risks generally depend on factors over which we have no control, such as economic and political events and the supply of and demand for the relevant currencies in the global markets.

 

Changes in Currency Exchange Rates Can Be Volatile and Unpredictable

 

Rates of exchange between currencies have been highly volatile, and this volatility may continue in the future. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could adversely affect an investment in a security denominated in, or whose value is otherwise linked to, a specified currency other than U.S. dollars. Depreciation of the specified currency against the U.S. dollar could result in a decrease in the U.S. dollar-equivalent value of payments on the security, including the principal payable at maturity or settlement value payable upon exercise. That in turn could cause the market value of the senior debt security to fall. Depreciation of the specified currency against the U.S. dollar could result in a loss to the investor on a U.S. dollar basis.

 

Government Policy Can Adversely Affect Foreign Currency Exchange Rates and an Investment in a Non-U.S. Dollar Security

 

Foreign currency exchange rates can either float or be fixed by sovereign governments. From time to time, governments use a variety of techniques, such as intervention by a country’s central bank or imposition of regulatory controls or taxes, to affect the exchange rate of their currencies. Governments may also issue a new currency to replace an existing currency or alter the exchange rate or exchange characteristics by devaluation or revaluation of a currency. Even in the absence of governmental action directly affecting currency exchange rates, political or economic developments in the country issuing the specified currency for a non-U.S. dollar security or elsewhere could lead to significant and sudden changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the specified currency. These changes could affect the value of the security as participants in the global currency markets move to buy or sell the specified currency or U.S. dollars in reaction to these developments.

 

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Governments have imposed from time to time and may in the future impose exchange controls or other conditions, including taxes, with respect to the exchange or transfer of a specified currency that could affect exchange rates as well as the availability of a specified currency for a security at its maturity or on any other payment date. In addition, the ability of a holder to move currency freely out of the country in which payment in the currency is received or to convert the currency at a freely determined market rate could be limited by governmental actions.

 

Non-U.S. Dollar Securities May Permit Us to Make Payments in U.S. Dollars If We Are Unable to Obtain the Specified Currency

 

Securities payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars may provide that, if the other currency is subject to convertibility, transferability, market disruption or other conditions affecting its availability at or about the time when a payment on the securities comes due because of circumstances beyond our control, we will be entitled to make the payment in U.S. dollars. These circumstances could include the imposition of exchange controls or our inability to obtain the other currency because of a disruption in the currency markets. If we made payment in U.S. dollars, the exchange rate we would use would be determined in the manner described under “Description of Senior Debt Securities—Payment Mechanics for Senior Debt Securities—Payments Due in non-U.S. Currencies—When the Specified Currency Is Not Available”. A determination of this kind may be based on limited information and would involve significant discretion on the part of our exchange rate agent, which may be an affiliate of ours. As a result, the value of the payment in U.S. dollars an investor would receive on the payment date may be less than the value of the payment the investor would have received in the other currency if it had been available, or may be zero. In addition, a government may impose extraordinary taxes on transfers of a currency. If that happens we will be entitled to deduct these taxes from any payment on securities payable in that currency.

 

We Will Not Adjust Non-U.S. Dollar Securities to Compensate for Changes in Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

 

Except as described above, we will not make any adjustment or change in the terms of a non-U.S. dollar security in the event of any change in foreign currency exchange rates for the relevant currency, whether in the event of any devaluation, revaluation or imposition of exchange or other regulatory controls or taxes or in the event of other developments affecting that currency, the U.S. dollar or any other currency. Consequently, investors in non-U.S. dollar securities will bear the risk that their investment may be adversely affected by these types of events.

 

In a Lawsuit for Payment on a Non-U.S. Dollar Security, an Investor May Bear Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

 

Our senior debt securities will be governed by New York law. Under Section 27 of the New York Judiciary Law, a state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment on a security denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars would be required to render the judgment in the specified currency; however, the judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on a security denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, investors would bear currency exchange risk until judgment is entered, which could be a long time.

 

In courts outside of New York, investors may not be able to obtain judgment in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars. For example, a judgment for money in an action based on a non-U.S. dollar security in many other U.S. federal or state courts ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in U.S. dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the currency in which any particular security is denominated into U.S. dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment.

 

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Information About Foreign Currency Exchange Rates May Not Be Indicative of Future Performance

 

If we issue a non-U.S. dollar security, we may include in the applicable prospectus supplement information about historical exchange rates for the relevant non-U.S. dollar currency or currencies. Any information about exchange rates that we may provide will be furnished as a matter of information only, and you should not regard the information as indicative of the range of, or trends in, fluctuations in currency exchange rates that may occur in the future. That rate will likely differ from the exchange rate used under the terms that apply to a particular security.

 

Determinations Made by the Exchange Rate Agent

 

All determinations made by the exchange rate agent will be made in its sole discretion (except to the extent expressly provided in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement that any determination is subject to approval by Nomura Holdings, Inc.). In the absence of manifest error, its determinations will be conclusive for all purposes and will bind all holders and us. The exchange rate agent will not have any liability for its determinations.

 

Risks Relating to Indexed Securities

 

We use the term “indexed securities” to mean any of the securities described in this prospectus the value of which is linked to an underlying asset or index or another property (including one or more securities or indices of securities). Indexed securities may present a high level of risk, and investors in certain indexed securities may lose their entire investment. In addition, the treatment of indexed securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes is often unclear due to the absence of any authority specifically addressing the issues presented by any particular indexed security. Thus, if you propose to invest in indexed securities, you should independently evaluate the federal income tax consequences of purchasing an indexed security that apply in your particular circumstances. You should also read “Taxation—United States Taxation” for a discussion of U.S. tax matters.

 

Investors in Indexed Securities Could Lose Their Investment

 

The amount of principal and/or interest payable on an indexed debt security and the cash value or physical settlement value of a physically settled debt security will be determined by reference to the price, value or level of one or more securities, currencies, commodities or other properties, any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance, one or more indices and/or one or more baskets of any of these items. We refer to each of these as an “index”. The direction and magnitude of the change in the price, value or level of the relevant index will determine the amount of principal and/or interest payable on an indexed debt security and the cash value or physical settlement value of a physically settled debt security. The terms of a particular indexed debt security may or may not include a guaranteed return of a percentage of the principal amount at maturity or a minimum interest rate. If you purchase an indexed security that does not guarantee the return of 100% of the principal or other amount you invest, you may lose all or a portion of the principal or other amount you invest and may receive no interest on your investment.

 

The Return on Indexed Securities May Be Below the Return on Similar Securities

 

Depending on the terms of an indexed security, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may not receive any periodic interest payments or receive only very low payments on such indexed security. As a result, the overall return on such indexed security may be less than the amount you would have earned by investing the principal or other amount you invest in such indexed security in a non-indexed debt security that bears interest at a prevailing market fixed or floating rate.

 

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The Issuer of a Security or Currency That Serves as an Index Could Take Actions That May Adversely Affect an Indexed Security

 

The issuer of a security that serves as an index or part of an index for an indexed security will have no involvement in the offer and sale of the indexed security and no obligations to the holder of the indexed security. The issuer may take actions, such as a merger or sale of assets, without regard to the interests of the holder. Any of these actions could adversely affect the value of a security indexed to that security or to an index of which that security is a component.

 

If the index for an indexed security includes a non-U.S. dollar currency or other asset denominated in a non-U.S. dollar currency, the government that issues that currency will also have no involvement in the offer and sale of the indexed security and no obligations to the holder of the indexed security. That government may take actions that could adversely affect the value of the security. See “Risks Relating to Foreign Currency—Government Policy Can Adversely Affect Foreign Currency Exchange Rates and an Investment in a Non-U.S. Dollar Security” above for more information about these kinds of government actions.

 

An Indexed Security May Be Linked to a Volatile Index, Which May Adversely Affect Your Investment

 

Some indices are highly volatile, which means that their value may change significantly, up or down, over a short period of time. It is impossible to predict the future performance of an index based on its historical performance. The amount of principal or interest that can be expected to become payable on an indexed debt security may vary substantially from time to time. Because the amounts payable with respect to an indexed security are generally calculated based on the price, value or level of the relevant index on a specified date or over a limited period of time, volatility in the index increases the risk that the return on the indexed security may be adversely affected by a fluctuation in the level of the relevant index.

 

The volatility of an index may be affected by financial, political, military or economic events, including governmental actions, or by the activities of participants in the relevant markets. Any of these events or activities could adversely affect the value of an indexed security.

 

An Index to Which a Security Is Linked Could Be Changed or Become Unavailable

 

Some indices compiled by us or our affiliates or third parties may consist of or refer to several or many different securities, commodities or currencies or other instruments or measures. The index sponsor of such an index typically reserves the right to alter the composition of the index and the manner in which the value or level of the index is calculated. Changes to the composition of an index may result in a decrease in the value of or return on an indexed security that is linked to such index. The indices for our indexed securities may include published indices of this kind or customized indices developed by us or our affiliates in connection with particular issues of indexed securities.

 

A published index may become unavailable, or a customized index may become impossible to calculate in the normal manner, due to events such as war, natural disasters, cessation of publication of the index or a suspension or disruption of trading in one or more securities, commodities or currencies or other instruments or measures on which the index is based. If an index becomes unavailable or impossible to calculate in the normal manner, the terms of a particular indexed security may allow us to delay determining the amount payable as principal or interest on that security, or we may use an alternative method to determine the value of the unavailable index. Alternative methods of valuation are generally intended to produce a value similar to the value resulting from reference to the relevant index. However, it is unlikely that any alternative method of valuation we use will produce a value identical to the value that the actual index would produce. If we use an alternative method of valuation for a security linked to an index of this kind, the value of the security, or the rate of return on it, may be lower than it otherwise would be.

 

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Some indexed securities are linked to indices that are not commonly used or that have been developed only recently. The lack of a trading history may make it difficult to anticipate the volatility or other risks associated with an indexed security of this kind. In addition, trading in these indices or their underlying stocks, commodities or currencies or other instruments or measures, or options or futures contracts on these stocks, commodities or currencies or other instruments or measures, may be limited, which could increase their volatility and decrease the value of the related indexed securities or the rates of return on them.

 

We May Engage in Hedging Activities that Could Adversely Affect an Indexed Security

 

In order to hedge an exposure on a particular indexed security, we may, directly or through our affiliates, enter into transactions involving the securities, commodities or currencies or other instruments or measures that underlie the index for that security, or derivative instruments, such as swaps, options or futures, on the index or any of its component items. By engaging in transactions of this kind, we could adversely affect the value of an indexed security. It is possible that we could achieve substantial returns from our hedging transactions while the value of the indexed security may decline.

 

Information About an Index or Indices May Not Be Indicative of Future Performance

 

If we issue an indexed security, we may include historical information about the relevant index or indices in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any information about indices that we may provide will be furnished as a matter of information only, and you should not regard the information as indicative of the range of, or trends in, fluctuations in the relevant index or indices that may occur in the future.

 

We May Have Conflicts of Interest Regarding an Indexed Security

 

Nomura Securities International, Inc. and our other affiliates may have conflicts of interest with respect to some indexed securities. Nomura Securities International, Inc. and our other affiliates may engage in trading, including trading for hedging purposes, for their proprietary accounts or for other accounts under their management, in indexed securities and in the securities, commodities or currencies or other instruments or measures on which the index is based or in other derivative instruments related to the index or its component items. These trading activities could adversely affect the value of indexed securities. We and our affiliates may also issue or underwrite securities or derivative instruments that are linked to the same index as one or more indexed securities. By introducing competing products into the marketplace in this manner, we could adversely affect the value of an indexed security.

 

Nomura Securities International, Inc. or another of our affiliates may serve as calculation agent for the indexed securities and may have considerable discretion in calculating the amounts payable in respect of the securities. To the extent that Nomura Securities International, Inc. or another of our affiliates calculates or compiles a particular index, it may also have considerable discretion in performing the calculation or compilation of the index. Exercising discretion in this manner could adversely affect the value of an indexed security based on the index or the rate of return on the security.

 

If You Purchase an Indexed Security, You Will Have No Rights with Respect to any Underlying Index to which Such Indexed Security is Linked

 

Investing in an indexed security will not make you a holder of the underlying asset or index or other property. As a result, you will not have any voting rights, any right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to any of the index components.

 

You should also carefully consider any additional risks that are described in the applicable prospectus supplements.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities described in this prospectus to provide additional funds for our operations and for other general corporate purposes, unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

Our ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2015 and the nine months ended December 31, 2015, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, were as follows:

 

     Fiscal year ended March 31

     Nine months
ended
December  31,

2015

 
     2011

     2012

     2013

     2014

     2015

    

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)

     1.3         1.3         1.8         2.2         2.0         1.7   

 

(1) For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of pre-tax income before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees, plus (i) fixed charges and (ii) distributed income of equity investees. Fixed charges consist of interest expense. Fixed charges exclude premium and discount amortization as well as interest expense, which are included in Net gain (loss) on trading. Fixed charges also exclude interest within rent expense, which is insignificant.

 

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NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

We are one of the leading financial services groups in Japan and have global operations. We operate offices in countries and regions worldwide, including Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Our clients include individuals, corporations, financial institutions, governments and governmental agencies.

 

Our business consists of Retail, Asset Management and Wholesale divisions. In the Retail segment, we provide investment consultation services mainly to individual clients in Japan. In the Asset Management segment, we develop and manage investment trusts, and provide investment advisory services. In the Wholesale segment, we engage in the sales and trading of debt and equity securities, derivatives, and currencies on a global basis, and provide investment banking services such as the underwriting of debt and equity securities as well as mergers and acquisitions and financial advice.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 

In this section, references to “holders” mean those who own senior debt securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the applicable trustee maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in senior debt securities registered in street name or in senior debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. When we refer to “you” in this prospectus, we mean those who invest in the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. When we refer to “your securities” in this prospectus, we mean the securities in which you will hold a direct or indirect interest.

 

We may issue as many distinct series of securities as we wish. The provisions of the amended and restated senior debt indenture described below allow us not only to issue senior debt securities with terms different from those previously issued under the senior debt indenture, but also to “re-open” a previous issue of a series of senior debt securities and issue additional senior debt securities of that series. We may issue senior debt securities in amounts that exceed the total amount specified on the cover of the applicable prospectus supplement at any time without your consent and without notifying you.

 

The senior debt securities will be offered in connection with their initial issuance or in market-making transactions by our affiliates after initial issuance. Those offered in market-making transactions may be securities that we will not issue until after the date of this prospectus as well as securities that we have previously issued under the amended and restated senior debt indenture or the original senior debt indenture. We summarize below in this section material terms and provisions of the amended and restated senior debt indenture and those of senior debt securities issued thereunder; however, terms and provisions of the original senior debt indenture and those of senior debt securities issued thereunder are substantially identical to those summarized below in this section, except as described under “—Payment of Additional Amounts—For Debt Securities Issued under the Original Indenture”.

 

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the senior debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the amended and restated senior debt indenture (or, to the extent it is meant to provide a summary for the original debt indenture or senior debt securities issued thereunder, to all the provisions of the original senior debt indenture), including definitions of certain terms used therein. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the senior debt indenture in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. You must look to the amended and restated senior debt indenture (or the original senior debt indenture) for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement.

 

General

 

The following description of senior debt securities sets forth the material terms and provisions of the senior debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Our senior debt securities will be issued under an amended and restated senior debt indenture between us, as issuer, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, a form of which is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any supplemental indentures will be submitted to the SEC on a Form 6-K or by a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

When we refer to the “senior debt indenture” or the “trustee” with respect to any senior debt securities, we mean the amended and restated senior debt indenture under which those senior debt securities are issued and the trustee under that amended and restated senior debt indenture. When we refer to “senior debt securities” or a “series of senior debt securities”, we mean, respectively, senior debt securities or a series of senior debt securities issued under the senior debt indenture. When we refer to your prospectus supplement, we mean the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the senior debt security you purchase. The terms used in your

 

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prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified. The senior debt indenture and its associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The senior debt indenture and the senior debt securities are governed by New York law. The senior debt indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. A form of the senior debt indenture is an exhibit to our registration statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” above for information on how to obtain a copy.

 

We may issue senior debt securities in one or more series under our senior debt indenture. This section summarizes the material terms of the senior debt securities that are common to all senior debt securities and series of senior debt securities, although the prospectus supplement which describes the terms of each series of senior debt securities may also describe differences with the material terms summarized here.

 

We may issue the senior debt securities as original issue discount securities, which will be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. This prospectus describes, and the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities will describe, federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to such securities. The senior debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular senior debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific senior debt securities will also describe certain additional tax considerations (if any) applicable to such senior debt securities.

 

The specific terms of your senior debt security as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of senior debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus. If there are any differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. The statements we make in this section may not apply to your senior debt security.

 

Issuable Amounts

 

The senior debt indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities that we may issue or the number of series or the aggregate principal amount of any particular series of senior debt securities. We may issue senior debt securities at any time without your consent and without notifying you.

 

The senior debt indenture and the senior debt securities do not limit our ability to incur other indebtedness or to issue other securities. Also, we are not subject to financial or similar restrictions by the terms of the senior debt securities, except as described below under “—Restriction on Certain Liens”.

 

Principal Amount, Stated Maturity and Maturity

 

Unless otherwise stated, the principal amount of a senior debt security means the principal amount payable at its stated maturity, unless such amount is not determinable, in which case the principal amount of a senior debt security is its face amount. Any senior debt securities owned by us or any of our affiliates are not deemed to be outstanding for certain purposes.

 

The term “stated maturity” with respect to any senior debt security means the fixed date on which the principal amount of your senior debt security is scheduled to become due and payable. The principal of your senior debt security may become due and payable sooner, by reason of redemption or acceleration after a default or otherwise in accordance with the terms of your senior debt security. The date on which the principal of your senior debt security actually becomes due and payable, whether at the stated maturity or otherwise, is called the “maturity” of the principal.

 

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We also use the terms “stated maturity” and “maturity” to refer to the dates when other payments become due and payable. For example, we may refer to a regular interest payment date when an installment of interest is scheduled to become due and payable as the “stated maturity” of that installment. When we refer to the “stated maturity” or the “maturity” of a senior debt security without specifying a particular payment, we mean the stated maturity or maturity, as the case may be, of the principal.

 

Ranking

 

The securities will not be secured by any of our property or assets or the property or assets of our subsidiaries. Thus, by owning a senior debt security, you are one of our unsecured creditors.

 

The securities will rank at least equally with all of our existing and future unsubordinated and, subject to the provisions set forth under “—Restriction on Certain Liens”, unsecured obligations (except for obligations in respect of national and local taxes and certain other statutory exceptions). The senior debt indenture does not limit our ability to incur additional unsecured indebtedness.

 

Payment of Additional Amounts

 

The Japanese government may require us to withhold or deduct amounts from payments on the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the senior debt securities, as the case may be, for taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges. If a withholding or deduction of this type is required, we may be required to pay you an additional amount so that the net amounts you receive after such withholding or deduction will be the amount specified in the security to which you are entitled.

 

Payments will be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Japan or any authority thereof or therein, or “Japanese taxes”, unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. No additional amounts will be payable with respect to any senior debt security (a) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a holder who is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation and is liable for such Japanese taxes in respect of such senior debt security by reason of its (i) having some connection with Japan other than the mere holding of such senior debt security or (ii) being a specially-related person of ours; or (b) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a holder who would otherwise be exempt from any such withholding or deduction but who fails to comply with any applicable requirement to provide interest recipient information (as defined below) or to submit a written application for tax exemption (as defined below) to the paying agent to whom the senior debt securities are presented (if presentation is required), or whose interest recipient information is not duly communicated through the participant (as defined below) and the relevant depositary to such paying agent; or (c) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a holder who is for Japanese tax purposes treated as an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation (except for (A) a designated financial institution (as defined below) which complies with the requirement to provide interest recipient information or to submit a written application for tax exemption and (B) an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation who duly notifies (directly or through the participant or otherwise) the relevant paying agent of its status as exempt from Japanese taxes to be withheld or deducted by us by reason of such individual resident of Japan or Japanese corporation receiving interest on the relevant senior debt security through a payment handling agent in Japan appointed by it); or (d) if the senior debt securities are presented for payment (if presentation is required) more than 30 days after the date on which such payment first becomes due or after the date on which the full amount payable is duly provided for, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the holder of the senior debt securities would have been entitled to such additional amounts on presenting the same for payment on the last day of such 30-day period; or (e) if such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual holder and is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or (f) to, or to a third party on behalf of a holder who would be able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting (if presentation is required) the senior debt securities to another paying agent; or (g) if the amount of interest on the senior debt securities is to be

 

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calculated by reference to certain indices (as prescribed by the cabinet order under Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act) relating to us or any specially-related person of ours, except if the recipient of interest is a designated financial institution which complies with the requirement to provide interest recipient information or to submit a written application for tax exemption; or (h) any combination of (a) through (g).

 

Additional amounts will not be paid with respect to any payment on the senior debt securities to or on behalf of a holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of Japan to be included in the income, for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settler with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who, in each case, would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the holder of the senior debt securities. The obligation to pay additional amounts with respect to any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges will not apply to (A) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or any similar tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge or (B) any tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the senior debt securities. References to principal (and premium, if any) and interest in respect of the senior debt securities will be deemed to include any additional amounts due which may be payable in respect of the principal (or premium, if any) or interest.

 

If senior debt securities are held through a participant of a depositary or a financial intermediary, in each case, as prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act, each such participant or financial intermediary being referred to as a “participant”, in order to receive payments free of withholding or deduction by us for, or on account of, Japanese taxes, if the relevant beneficial owner is (A) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation (other than a specially-related person of ours) or (B) a Japanese financial institution or financial instruments business operator falling under certain categories prescribed by the cabinet order under Article 6, paragraph 9 of the Special Taxation Measures Act, or a “designated financial institution”, such beneficial owner shall, at the time of entrusting a participant with the custody of the relevant senior debt securities, provide certain information prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act and the cabinet order and other regulations thereunder to enable the participant to establish that such beneficial owner is exempted from the requirement for Japanese taxes to be withheld or deducted, or the “interest recipient information”, and advise the participant if the beneficial owner ceases to be so exempted (including where the beneficial owner who is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation becomes a specially-related person of ours).

 

If senior debt securities are not held by a participant, in order to receive payments free of withholding or deduction by us for, or on account of, Japanese taxes, if the relevant beneficial owner is (A) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation (other than a specially-related person of ours) or (B) a designated financial institution, such beneficial owner shall, prior to each time at which it receives interest, submit to the relevant paying agent a “written application for tax exemption” ( hikazei tekiyo shinkokusho ), in a form obtainable from the paying agent stating, inter alia, the name and address of the beneficial owner, the title of the senior debt securities, the relevant interest payment date, the amount of interest and the fact that the beneficial owner is qualified to submit the written application for tax exemption, together with documentary evidence regarding its identity and residence.

 

All payments of principal and interest in respect of the senior debt securities by us shall be made in all cases subject to any withholding or deduction required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, official interpretations thereof, or law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto. Any such amounts withheld or deducted will be treated as paid for all purposes under the senior debt securities, and no additional amounts will be paid on the senior debt securities with respect to any such withholding or deduction.

 

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For Debt Securities Issued under the Original Indenture

 

The Japanese government may require us to withhold or deduct amounts from payments on the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the senior debt securities, as the case may be, for taxes or any other governmental charges. If a withholding or deduction of this type is required, we may be required to pay you an additional amount so that the net amounts you receive after such withholding or deduction will be the amount specified in the security to which you are entitled.

 

Payments will be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed or levied by or on behalf of Japan or any Japanese political subdivision or taxing authority, unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. No additional amounts will be payable in respect of any payment (a) received by or on behalf of a holder or beneficial owner (i) who is for Japanese tax purposes treated as an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation or (ii) who fails to comply with the Japanese tax law requirements in respect of the exemption from such withholding or deduction or (iii) who is otherwise subject to such taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges by reason of his having some connection with Japan other than the mere holding of, or receipt of any payments in respect of, the securities; or (b) where the securities are presented for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the date on which such payment first becomes due or after the date on which the full amount payable is duly provided for, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the holder of the securities would have been entitled to the additional amounts on presenting the same for payment on the last day of such 30-day period; or (c) where such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual holder and is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or (d) received by or on behalf of a holder who would be able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting the securities to another paying agent, or (e) any combination of (a) through (d).

 

Additional amounts will not be paid with respect to any payment on the senior debt securities to or on behalf of a holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of Japan to be included in the income, for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who, in each case, would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the holder of the senior debt securities. The obligation to pay additional amounts with respect to any taxes, duties, assessments and other governmental charges will not apply to (A) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or any similar tax, duty, assessment, fee or other governmental charge or (B) any tax, duty, assessment, fee or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the senior debt securities. References to principal and interest in respect of the senior debt securities include any additional amounts which may be payable in respect of the principal or interest.

 

Governing Law

 

The senior debt indenture is, and the senior debt securities will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, New York law.

 

Consent to Service of Process and Submission to Jurisdiction

 

Under the senior debt indenture, we designate Nomura Holding America Inc. (or any successor corporation) as our authorized agent for service of process in any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the senior debt indenture or any senior debt securities brought in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, and we irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of those courts.

 

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Currency of Senior Debt Securities

 

Amounts that become due and payable on your senior debt security in cash will be payable in a currency, composite currency, basket of currencies or currency unit or units specified in your prospectus supplement. We refer to this currency, composite currency, basket of currencies or currency unit or units as a “specified currency”. The specified currency for your senior debt security will be U.S. dollars, unless your prospectus supplement states otherwise. Some senior debt securities may have different specified currencies for principal and interest. You will have to pay for your senior debt securities by delivering the requisite amount of the specified currency for the principal to Nomura Securities International, Inc. or another firm that we name in your prospectus supplement, unless other arrangements have been made between you and us or you and Nomura Securities International, Inc. We will make payments on your senior debt securities in the specified currency, except as described below in “—Payment Mechanics for Senior Debt Securities”.

 

Form of Senior Debt Securities

 

We will issue each senior debt security in global, or book-entry, form only, without coupons, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Senior debt securities in book-entry form will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the senior debt securities represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in a global senior debt security will do so through participants in the depositary’s securities clearing system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. We describe book-entry securities below under “Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance”.

 

Authentication and Delivery

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of the senior debt indenture, we may deliver senior debt securities of any series to the trustee for authentication, and the trustee shall then authenticate and deliver such securities to or upon our written order, signed by an authorized officer of ours, without any further action by us. In authenticating the senior debt securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under the senior debt indenture, the trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, various documentation from us, including copies of the resolution of our board of directors authorizing the issuance of securities, any supplemental indenture, officer’s certificates and opinions from legal counsel.

 

Types of Senior Debt Securities

 

We may issue any of the three types of senior debt securities described below. A senior debt security may have elements of each of the three types of senior debt securities described below. For example, a senior debt security may bear interest at a fixed rate for some periods and at a floating rate in others. Similarly, a senior debt security may provide for a payment of principal at maturity linked to an index and also bear interest at a fixed or floating rate.

 

Fixed Rate Senior Debt Securities

 

A fixed rate senior debt security will bear interest at a fixed rate described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This type includes zero coupon senior debt securities, which bear no interest and are instead issued at a price lower than the principal amount. See “—Original Issue Discount Senior Debt Securities” below for more information about zero coupon and other original issue discount senior debt securities.

 

Each fixed rate senior debt security, except any zero coupon senior debt security, will bear interest from its original issue date or from the most recent date to which interest on the senior debt security has been paid or made available for payment. Interest will accrue on the principal of a fixed rate senior debt security at the fixed rate per annum stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, until the principal is paid or made available for

 

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payment or the senior debt security is converted or exchanged. Each payment of interest due on an interest payment date or the date of maturity will include interest accrued from and including the last date to which interest has been paid, or made available for payment, or from the issue date if none has been paid or made available for payment, to but excluding the interest payment date or the maturity. We will compute interest on fixed rate senior debt securities on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months (30/360 (ISDA) day count convention), unless your prospectus supplement provides that we will compute interest on a different basis.

 

If your senior debt security is a zero coupon senior debt security, the applicable prospectus supplement may specify the original issue discount and the information necessary to determine the accreted value. The accreted value will be (1) as of any date prior to the stated maturity, an amount equal to the sum of (A) the original issue price of your senior debt security and (B) the portion of the excess of the principal amount of your senior debt security over the original issue price that shall have been accreted from the original issue price on a daily basis and compounded annually on a date specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, up to and including the stated maturity, at a rate that will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement from the original issue date, computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months; and (2) as of any date on or after the stated maturity, the principal amount of your senior debt security.

 

Floating Rate Senior Debt Securities

 

A floating rate senior debt security will bear interest at rates that are determined by reference to an interest rate formula. In some cases, the rates may also be adjusted by adding or subtracting a spread or multiplying by a spread multiplier and may be subject to a minimum rate or a maximum rate. If your senior debt security is a floating rate senior debt security, the formula and any adjustments that apply to the interest rate will be specified in your prospectus supplement.

 

Each floating rate senior debt security will bear interest from its original issue date or from the most recent date to which interest on the senior debt security has been paid or made available for payment. Interest will accrue on the principal of a floating rate senior debt security at a rate per annum determined according to the interest rate formula stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, until the principal is paid or made available for payment.

 

Calculation Agent . Calculations relating to floating rate senior debt securities will be made by the calculation agent, an institution that we appoint as our agent for this purpose. That institution may include one of our affiliates. The prospectus supplement for a particular floating rate senior debt security will name the institution that we have appointed to act as the calculation agent for that senior debt security as of its original issue date. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date of the debt security without your consent and without notifying you of the change. Absent manifest error, all determinations of the calculation agent will be final and binding on you and us, without any liability on the part of the calculation agent.

 

Calculation of Interest . For each floating rate senior debt security, the calculation agent will determine, on the corresponding interest calculation or interest determination date, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the interest rate that takes effect on each interest reset date. In addition, the calculation agent will calculate the amount of interest that has accrued during each interest period— i.e ., the period from and including an interest payment date (or, with respect to the initial interest period, the original issue date) to but excluding the next succeeding interest payment date. For each interest period, the calculation agent will calculate the amount of accrued interest by multiplying the face or other specified amount of the floating rate senior debt security by an accrued interest factor for the interest period. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, this factor will be equal to the number of days in the applicable interest period divided by 360 (Actual/360 (ISDA) day count convention).

 

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Upon the request of the holder of any floating rate senior debt security, the calculation agent will provide for that senior debt security the interest rate then in effect—and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective on the next interest reset date. The calculation agent’s determination of any interest rate, and its calculation of the amount of interest for any interest period, will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.

 

All percentages resulting from any calculation relating to any senior debt security will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the next higher or lower one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point. All amounts used in or resulting from any calculation relating to a floating rate senior debt security will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the nearest cent, in the case of U.S. dollars, or to the nearest corresponding hundredth of a unit, in the case of a currency other than U.S. dollars, with one-half cent or one-half of a corresponding hundredth of a unit or more being rounded upward.

 

In determining the base rate that applies to a floating rate senior debt security during a particular interest period, the calculation agent may obtain rate quotes from various banks or dealers active in the relevant market, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Those reference banks and dealers may include the calculation agent itself and its affiliates, as well as any underwriter, dealer or agent participating in the distribution of the relevant floating rate senior debt securities and its affiliates, and they may include our affiliates.

 

Indexed Senior Debt Securities

 

An indexed senior debt security provides that the principal amount payable at its maturity, and/or the amount of interest payable on an interest payment date, will be determined by reference to:

 

   

securities of one or more issuers;

 

   

one or more currencies;

 

   

one or more commodities;

 

   

any other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstance;

 

   

one or more indices; and/or

 

   

one or more baskets of the items described above.

 

An indexed senior debt security may provide either for cash settlement or for physical settlement by delivery of the underlying security or another property of the type listed above. An indexed senior debt security may also provide that the form of settlement may be determined at our option or at the holder’s option. Some indexed senior debt securities may be convertible, exercisable or exchangeable, at our option or at the holder’s option, into or for our securities or securities of an issuer other than us.

 

If you purchase an indexed senior debt security, your prospectus supplement will include information about the relevant index or indices, about how amounts that are to become payable will be determined by reference to the price or value of that index or indices and about the terms on which the security may be settled physically or in cash. Your prospectus supplement will also identify the calculation agent that will calculate the amounts payable with respect to the indexed senior debt security and will have sole discretion in doing so.

 

Original Issue Discount Senior Debt Securities

 

A fixed rate senior debt security, a floating rate senior debt security or an indexed senior debt security may be an original issue discount senior debt security. A senior debt security of this type is generally issued at a price lower than its principal amount and may provide that, upon redemption or acceleration of its maturity, an amount

 

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less than its principal amount may be payable. An original issue discount senior debt security may be a zero coupon senior debt security. However, a senior debt security may be treated as issued with original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of whether the senior debt security is issued at a discount to its principal. See, “Taxation—United States Taxation—United States Holders—Original Issue Discount” for a brief description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning a debt security that is treated as issued with original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Your prospectus supplement will state whether we intend to treat your senior debt security as issued with original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Information in Your Prospectus Supplement

 

Your prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of your senior debt security, which will include some or all of the following:

 

   

the aggregate principal amount of your senior debt security or the senior debt securities of the same series, as applicable;

 

   

the stated maturity;

 

   

the specified currency or currencies for principal and interest and, if the specified currency is not U.S. dollars, certain other terms relating to your senior debt security;

 

   

the issue price at which we originally issue your senior debt security, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, and the original issue date;

 

   

whether your senior debt security is a fixed rate senior debt security, a floating rate senior debt security or an indexed senior debt security or any combination thereof;

 

   

if your senior debt security is a fixed rate senior debt security, a rate per annum at which your senior debt security will bear interest, if any, and the interest payment dates;

 

   

if your senior debt security is a floating rate senior debt security, the interest rate basis; any applicable index currency or index maturity, spread or spread multiplier or initial base rate, maximum rate or minimum rate; the interest reset, determination, calculation and payment dates; the day count convention used to calculate interest payments for any period; the business day convention; and the calculation agent;

 

   

if your senior debt security is an indexed senior debt security, the principal amount, if any, we will pay you at maturity, the amount of interest, if any, we will pay you on an interest payment date or the formula we will use to calculate these amounts, if any, and the terms on which your senior debt security will be exchangeable for or payable in cash, securities or other property;

 

   

if your senior debt security is also an original issue discount senior debt security, the yield to maturity;

 

   

if applicable, the circumstances under which your senior debt security may be redeemed at our option or repaid at the holder’s option before the stated maturity, including any redemption commencement date, repayment date(s), redemption price(s) and redemption period(s);

 

   

the authorized denominations, if other than denominations of $2,000, and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

   

the depositary for your senior debt security, if other than DTC, and any circumstances under which the holder may request securities in non-global form, if we choose not to issue your senior debt security in book-entry form only;

 

   

if we will pay you additional amounts with respect to withholding or deduction for or on account of taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges imposed or levied in Japan;

 

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if your senior debt security will be issued in bearer form, any special provisions relating to bearer securities that are not addressed in this prospectus;

 

   

the names and duties of any co-trustees, depositaries, authenticating agents, paying agents, transfer agents or registrars for your senior debt security, as applicable;

 

   

any change in the actions permitted or required under the applicable senior debt indenture to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of the senior debt securities; and

 

   

any other terms of your senior debt security, which could be different from those described in this prospectus.

 

Market-Making Transactions

 

One or more of our subsidiaries may purchase and resell senior debt securities in market-making transactions after their initial issuance. We may also purchase senior debt securities in the open market or in private transactions to be held by us or cancelled.

 

Redemption and Repayment

 

Unless otherwise indicated in your prospectus supplement, your senior debt security will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund—that is, we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial account to repay your senior debt securities. In addition, we will not be entitled to redeem your senior debt security before its stated maturity unless your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date. You will not be entitled to require us to buy your senior debt security from you, before its stated maturity, unless your prospectus supplement specifies one or more repayment dates.

 

If your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date or a repayment date, it will also specify one or more redemption prices or repayment prices, which may be expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of your senior debt security. It may also specify one or more redemption periods during which the redemption prices relating to a redemption of senior debt securities during those periods will apply.

 

If your prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, your senior debt security will be redeemable at our option at any time on or after that date or at a specified time or times. If we redeem your senior debt security, we will do so at the specified redemption price, together with interest accrued to but excluding the redemption date. If different prices are specified for different redemption periods, the price we pay will be the price that applies to the redemption period during which your senior debt security is redeemed.

 

If your prospectus supplement specifies a repayment date, your senior debt security will be repayable at the holder’s option on the specified repayment date at the specified repayment price, together with interest accrued to but excluding the repayment date.

 

If we exercise an option to redeem any senior debt security, we will give to the holder written notice of the principal amount of the senior debt security to be redeemed, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date. We will give the notice in the manner described below in “—Notices”.

 

If a senior debt security represented by a global senior debt security is subject to repayment at the holder’s option, the depositary or its nominee, as the holder, will be the only person that can exercise the right to repayment. Any indirect owners who own beneficial interests in the global senior debt security and wish to exercise a repayment right must give proper and timely instructions to their banks or brokers through which they hold their interests, requesting that they notify the depositary to exercise the repayment right on their behalf.

 

Different firms have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers, and you should take care to act promptly enough to ensure that your request is given effect by the depositary before the applicable deadline for exercise.

 

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Street name and other indirect owners should contact their banks or brokers for information about how to exercise a repayment right in a timely manner.

 

We or our affiliates may purchase senior debt securities from investors who are willing to sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Senior debt securities that we or they purchase may, at our discretion, be held, resold or canceled.

 

Optional Tax Redemption

 

In the event of changes to Japanese withholding tax law after the date of the applicable prospectus supplement, and in other limited circumstances that require us to pay additional amounts, as described in “—Payment of Additional Amounts”, we may call all, but not less than all, of the relevant senior debt securities for redemption.

 

If we call the senior debt securities, we must pay you 100% of their principal amount (except in the case of certain original issue discount securities). We will also pay you accrued but unpaid interest through but not including the date fixed for redemption and any related additional amounts due on the date fixed for redemption. Senior debt securities will stop bearing interest on the redemption date, even if you do not collect your money. We will give notice to the depositary of any redemption we propose to make at least 45 days, but not more than 60 days, before the redemption date. Notice by the depositary to participating institutions and by these participants to street name holders of indirect interests in the senior debt securities will be made according to arrangements among them and may be subject to statutory or regulatory requirements.

 

Prior to giving notice of a tax redemption, we will deliver to the trustee (i) a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer stating that we are entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to our right to so redeem have occurred, and (ii) an opinion of independent legal counsel of recognized standing to the effect that we are or would be required to pay additional amounts as a result of such change in Japanese law.

 

Mergers and Similar Transactions

 

We are generally permitted to consolidate with or merge into another corporation or other entity. We are also permitted to convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another corporation or other entity. With regard to any series of senior debt securities, however, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

 

   

If the successor entity in the transaction is not Nomura Holdings, Inc., the successor entity must be organized and validly existing as a corporation, partnership or trust and must expressly assume our obligations under the senior debt securities of that series and the underlying senior debt indenture with respect to that series. The successor entity may be organized under the laws of any jurisdiction, whether in Japan, the United States or elsewhere.

 

   

Immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default under the senior debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing. For this purpose, “default under the senior debt securities of that series” means an event of default with respect to that series or any event that would be an event of default with respect to that series if the requirements for giving us default notice and for our default having to continue for a specific period of time were disregarded. We describe these matters below under “—Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default”.

 

If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to the senior debt securities of any series, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those senior debt securities in order to merge or consolidate or to convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an

 

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entirety to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control of Nomura Holdings, Inc., or any share-for-share exchange ( kabushiki-kokan ), share transfer ( kabushiki-iten ) or corporate split ( kaisha bunkatsu ) pursuant to the Companies Act of Japan, but in which we do not merge or consolidate, and any transaction in which we convey, transfer or lease less than substantially all our properties and assets.

 

Also, if we merge, consolidate or sell our assets substantially as an entirety, neither we nor any successor would have any obligation to compensate you for any resulting adverse tax consequences relating to your senior debt securities.

 

Restriction on Certain Liens

 

We will not, so long as any senior debt securities remain outstanding, create or permit to be outstanding any mortgage, charge, pledge or other security interest upon the whole or any part of our property, assets or revenues, present or future, to secure for the benefit of the holders of any External Indebtedness (i) payment of any sum due in respect of any External Indebtedness or (ii) any payment under any guarantee of any External Indebtedness or (iii) any payment under any indemnity or other like obligation relating to any External Indebtedness, without in any such case at the same time according to the senior debt security either the same security as is granted to or is outstanding in respect of such External Indebtedness or guarantee of or indemnity or other like obligation in respect of External Indebtedness or such other security, guarantee of or indemnity or other like obligation as shall be approved with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of all senior debt securities at the time outstanding (considered together as one class for this purpose).

 

For the purpose of this subsection, “External Indebtedness” means any indebtedness represented by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar investment securities with a stated maturity of more than one year from the creation thereof, which (a) are either (i) by their terms payable, or confer a right to receive payment, in any currency other than Japanese yen or (ii) denominated in Japanese yen and more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount thereof is initially distributed outside Japan by or with the authorization of the issuer thereof; and (b) are for the time being, or are intended to be, quoted, listed, ordinarily dealt in or traded on any stock exchange or over-the-counter or other securities market outside Japan.

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

Unless we say otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the provisions for full defeasance and covenant defeasance described below apply to our senior debt securities. In general, we expect these provisions to apply to each senior debt security that has a specified currency of U.S. dollars and is not a floating rate or indexed senior debt security.

 

Full Defeasance

 

If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on any senior debt securities. For us to do so, each of the following conditions, among others, must occur:

 

   

We must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of those senior debt securities (i) money, (ii) U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds or (iii) a combination thereof, in each case in an amount that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on those senior debt securities on their various due dates;

 

   

There must be a change in current U.S. federal income tax law or an Internal Revenue Service ruling that permits us to make the above deposit without causing the holders to be taxed on those senior debt securities under the then current U.S. federal income tax law any differently than if we did not make

 

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the deposit and just repaid those senior debt securities ourselves. Under current U.S. federal income tax law, the deposit and our legal release from your senior debt security would be treated as though we took back your senior debt security and gave you your share of the cash and notes or bonds deposited in trust. In that event, you could recognize gain or loss on your senior debt security; and

 

   

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming the tax law change described above.

 

If we ever fully defeased your senior debt security, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for payments on your senior debt security. You would not be able to look to us for payment in the event of any shortfall.

 

Covenant Defeasance

 

Under current U.S. federal tax law, we can make the same type of deposit described above and be released from the restriction on liens described under “—Restriction on Certain Liens” above and any other restrictive covenants relating to your senior debt security that may be described in your prospectus supplement. In that event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants. In order to achieve covenant defeasance for any senior debt securities, we must do both of the following:

 

   

We must deposit in trust for the benefit of the holders of those senior debt securities (i) money, (ii) U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds or (iii) a combination thereof, in each case in an amount that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on those senior debt securities on their various due dates; and

 

   

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that under then current U.S. federal income tax law we may make the above deposit without causing the holders to be taxed on those senior debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid those senior debt securities ourselves.

 

If we accomplish covenant defeasance with regard to your senior debt security, the following provisions of the applicable senior debt indenture and your senior debt security would no longer apply:

 

   

Our promise not to create liens on our External Indebtedness or our guarantee of a third party indebtedness described above under “—Restriction on Certain Liens;

 

   

Any additional covenants that your prospectus supplement may state are applicable to your senior debt security; and

 

   

The events of default resulting from a breach of covenants, described below in the fourth bullet point under “—Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default—Events of Default”.

 

Any right we have to redeem will survive covenant defeasance with regard to those senior debt securities.

 

If we accomplish covenant defeasance on your senior debt security, you can still look to us for repayment of your senior debt security in the event of any shortfall in the trust deposit. You should note, however, that if one of the remaining events of default occurred, such as our bankruptcy, and your senior debt security became immediately due and payable, there may be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

 

Default, Remedies and Waiver of Default

 

You will have special rights if an event of default with respect to your series of senior debt securities occurs and is continuing, as described in this subsection.

 

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Events of Default

 

Unless your prospectus supplement says otherwise, when we refer to an event of default with respect to any series of senior debt securities, we mean any of the following:

 

   

We do not pay the principal or any premium on any senior debt security of that series on the due date and the non-payment continues for a period of seven days;

 

   

We do not pay interest on any senior debt security of that series within 30 days after the due date;

 

   

We do not deposit a sinking fund payment with regard to any senior debt security of that series on the due date, but only if the payment is required under provisions described in the applicable prospectus supplement and non-deposit continues for a period of seven days;

 

   

We default in the performance or remain in breach of any covenant we make in the senior debt indenture for the benefit of the relevant series, for 90 days after we receive a notice of default stating that we are in default or breach and requiring us to remedy the default or breach. The notice must be sent by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the relevant series of senior debt securities then outstanding;

 

   

We do not repay indebtedness for borrowed money with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of at least $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) becoming prematurely repayable following a default, or default in the repayment of any such indebtedness at maturity or at the expiration of any applicable grace period (or in the case of such indebtedness due on demand, default in the payment of such indebtedness at the expiration of three business days after demand or, if longer, any applicable grace period), or any guarantee of or indemnity in respect of any indebtedness for borrowed money of others with a principal amount or aggregate principal amount for the time being outstanding of at least $10,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) not honored when due and called upon at the expiration of any applicable grace period; or

 

   

We file for bankruptcy or other events of voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us occur; or

 

   

If the applicable prospectus supplement states that any additional event of default applies to the series, that event of default occurs.

 

We may change, eliminate, or add to the events of default with respect to any particular series or any particular senior debt security or senior debt securities within a series, as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs

 

Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default has occurred with respect to any series of senior debt securities and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all senior debt securities of that series then outstanding may accelerate the stated maturity of the affected series of senior debt securities by declaring the entire principal amount of the senior debt securities of that series to be due immediately.

 

Except as otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if the stated maturity of any series is accelerated and a judgment for payment has not yet been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the senior debt securities of that series may cancel the acceleration, subject to certain conditions set forth in the senior debt indenture.

 

The trustee is not required to take any action under the relevant senior debt indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability. If the trustee is provided with an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, the holders of a majority in principal amount of all

 

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senior debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee with respect to that series. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the applicable senior debt indenture with respect to the senior debt securities of that series.

 

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to any senior debt security, all of the following must occur:

 

   

The holder of our senior debt securities must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred, and the event of default must not have been cured or waived;

 

   

The holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all senior debt securities of your series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and they or other holders must offer to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action;

 

   

The trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after the above steps have been taken; and

 

   

During those 60 days, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the senior debt securities of your series must not have given the trustee directions that are inconsistent with the above written request of the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the senior debt securities of your series.

 

You are entitled at any time, however, to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your senior debt security on or after its stated maturity (or, if your senior debt security is redeemable, on or after its redemption date).

 

Waiver of Default

 

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the senior debt securities of any series may waive a default for all senior debt securities of that series. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it has not occurred. No one can waive a payment default on your senior debt security, however, without the approval of the particular holder of that senior debt security.

 

Compliance with Senior Debt Indenture

 

We will furnish to the trustee every year a written statement certifying that to our knowledge we are in compliance with the applicable senior debt indenture and the senior debt securities issued under it, or else specifying any default under the relevant senior debt indenture.

 

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of the stated maturity of a series of senior debt securities. Book-entry and other indirect owners are described below under “Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance”.

 

Modification of the Senior Debt Indenture and Waiver of Covenants

 

There are four types of changes we can make to our senior debt indenture and the senior debt securities or series of senior debt securities issued under a particular senior debt indenture.

 

Changes Requiring Holders’ Approval

 

First, there are changes that cannot be made without the approval of the holder of each senior debt security affected by the change under the applicable senior debt indenture. Here is a list of those types of changes:

 

   

change the stated maturity for any principal or interest payment on a senior debt security;

 

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reduce the principal amount, the amount payable on acceleration of the stated maturity after a default, the interest rate or the redemption price for a senior debt security;

 

   

permit redemption of a senior debt security if not previously permitted;

 

   

impair any right a holder may have to require repayment of its senior debt security;

 

   

impair any right that a holder of an indexed or any other senior debt security may have to convert the senior debt security for or into securities;

 

   

change the currency of any payment on a senior debt security;

 

   

change the place of payment on a senior debt security;

 

   

impair a holder’s right to sue for payment of any amount due on its senior debt security;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the senior debt securities of any one or more affected series, taken separately or together, as applicable, and whether comprising the same or different series or less than all of the senior debt securities of a series, the approval of whose holders is needed to change the senior debt indenture or those senior debt securities;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the senior debt securities of any one or more affected series, taken separately or together, as applicable, and whether comprising the same or different series or less than all of the senior debt securities of a series, the consent of whose holders is needed to waive our compliance with the applicable senior debt indenture or to waive defaults; and

 

   

change the provisions of the applicable senior debt indenture dealing with modification and waiver in any other respect, except to increase any required percentage referred to above or to add to the provisions that cannot be changed or waived without approval of the holder of each affected senior debt security.

 

Changes Not Requiring Holders’ Approval

 

Changes to the senior debt indenture that are limited to clarifications and changes that would not adversely affect any senior debt securities of any series in any material respect do not require the approval of the holders of the affected senior debt securities. Holders’ approval is similarly not necessary to make changes that affect only senior debt securities to be issued under the applicable senior debt indenture after the changes take effect.

 

We may also make changes or obtain waivers that do not adversely affect a particular senior debt security, even if they affect other senior debt securities. In those cases, we do not need to obtain the approval of the holder of the unaffected senior debt security; we need only obtain any required approvals from the holders of the affected senior debt securities.

 

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

 

Any other change to the senior debt indenture and the senior debt securities issued under that senior debt indenture would require the following approval:

 

   

If the change affects only particular senior debt securities within a series, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of such particular senior debt securities.

 

   

If the change affects multiple senior debt securities of one or more series, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all senior debt securities affected by the change, with all such affected senior debt securities voting together as one class for this purpose (and by the holders of a majority in principal amount of any affected senior debt securities that by their terms are entitled to vote separately as described below).

 

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In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent.

 

The modification of terms with respect to certain securities of a series issued under the senior debt indenture could be effectuated without obtaining the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of other securities of such series that are not affected by such modification.

 

The same majority approval would be required for us to obtain a waiver of any of our covenants in any senior debt indenture. Our covenants include the promises we make about merging and putting liens on certain of our interests, which we describe above under “—Mergers and Similar Transactions” and “—Restrictions on Certain Liens”. If the holders approve a waiver of a covenant, we will not have to comply with it. The holders, however, cannot approve a waiver of any provision in a particular senior debt security, or in the applicable senior debt indenture as it affects that senior debt security, that we cannot change without the approval of the holder of that senior debt security as described above in “—Changes Requiring Holders’ Approval”, unless that holder approves the waiver.

 

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change a senior debt indenture or any senior debt securities or request a waiver.

 

Special Rules for Action by Holders

 

When holders take any action under our senior debt indenture, such as giving a notice of default, declaring an acceleration, approving any change or waiver or giving the trustee an instruction, we will apply the following rules.

 

Only Outstanding Senior Debt Securities Are Eligible

 

Only holders of outstanding senior debt securities or the outstanding senior debt securities of the applicable series, as applicable, will be eligible to participate in any action by holders of such senior debt securities or the senior debt securities of that series. Also, we will count only outstanding senior debt securities in determining whether the various percentage requirements for taking action have been met. For these purposes, a senior debt security will not be “outstanding” if:

 

   

it has been cancelled or surrendered for cancellation;

 

   

we have deposited or set aside, in trust for its holder, money for its payment or redemption;

 

   

we have fully defeased it as described above under “—Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance—Full Defeasance”;

 

   

it has been issued as a replacement for a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen senior debt security; or

 

   

we or one of our affiliates, such as Nomura Securities International, Inc., is the owner.

 

Special Class Voting Rights

 

We may issue particular senior debt securities or a particular series of senior debt securities, as applicable, that are entitled, by their terms, to vote separately on matters (for example, modification or waiver of provisions in the applicable senior debt indenture) that would otherwise require a vote of all affected senior debt securities or all affected series voting together as a single class. Any such senior debt securities or series of senior debt securities would be entitled to vote together with all other affected senior debt securities or affected series voting together as one class, and would also be entitled to vote separately as a class only. In some cases, other parties may be entitled to exercise these special voting rights on behalf of the holders of the relevant senior debt securities or the relevant series. For other senior debt securities or series of senior debt securities that have these

 

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rights, the rights will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. For senior debt securities or series of senior debt securities that do not have these special rights, voting will occur as described in the preceding section, but subject to any separate voting rights of any other senior debt securities or series of senior debt securities having special rights.

 

We may issue series having these or other special voting rights without obtaining the consent of or giving notice to holders of outstanding senior debt securities or series.

 

Eligible Principal Amount of Some Senior Debt Securities

 

In some situations, we may follow special rules in calculating the principal amount of senior debt securities that are to be treated as outstanding for the purposes described above. This may happen, for example, if the principal amount is payable in a non-U.S. dollar currency, increases over time or is not to be fixed until maturity.

 

For any senior debt security of the kind described below, we will decide how much principal amount to attribute to the senior debt security as follows:

 

   

For an original issue discount senior debt security, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the date of the holders’ action if the maturity of the senior debt security were accelerated to that date because of a default;

 

   

For a senior debt security whose principal amount is not known, we will use any amount that we indicate in the prospectus supplement for that senior debt security. The principal amount of a senior debt security may not be known, for example, because it is based on an index that changes from time to time and the principal amount is not to be determined until a later date; or

 

   

For senior debt securities with a principal amount denominated in one or more non-U.S. dollar currencies or currency units, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent, which we will determine as of the date of the holders’ action in the manner provided in the prospectus supplement for that senior debt security.

 

Determining Record Dates for Action by Holders

 

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders that are entitled to take action under the senior debt indenture. In certain limited circumstances, only the trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by holders. If we or the trustee set a record date for an approval or other action to be taken by holders, that vote or action may be taken only by persons or entities who are holders on the record date and must be taken during the period that we specify for this purpose, or that the trustee specifies if it sets the record date. We or the trustee, as applicable, may shorten or lengthen this period from time to time. This period, however, may not extend beyond the 180th day after the record date for the action. In addition, record dates for any global senior debt security may be set in accordance with procedures established by the depositary from time to time. Accordingly, record dates for global senior debt securities may differ from those for other senior debt securities.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer of Senior Debt Securities

 

If any senior debt securities cease to be issued in registered global form, they will be issued:

 

   

only in fully registered form;

 

   

without interest coupons; and

 

   

unless we indicate otherwise in your prospectus supplement, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

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Holders may exchange their senior debt securities for senior debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer senior debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. You may not exchange your senior debt securities for securities of a different series or having different terms, unless your prospectus supplement says you may.

 

Holders may exchange or transfer their senior debt securities at the office of the trustee. They may also replace lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated senior debt securities at that office. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering senior debt securities in the names of holders and transferring and replacing senior debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

 

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their senior debt securities, but they may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange, and any replacement, will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership. The transfer agent may require an indemnity before replacing any senior debt securities.

 

If we have designated additional transfer agents for your senior debt security, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

 

If the senior debt securities of any series are redeemable and we redeem less than all of those senior debt securities, we may block the transfer or exchange of those senior debt securities during the period beginning 15 calendar days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers of or exchange any senior debt security selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any senior debt security being partially redeemed.

 

If a senior debt security is issued as a global senior debt security, only the depositary, DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, will be entitled to transfer and exchange the senior debt security as described in this subsection, since the depositary will be the sole holder of the senior debt security.

 

The rules for exchange described above apply to exchange of senior debt securities for other senior debt securities of the same series and kind. If a senior debt security is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into or for a different kind of security, such as one that we have not issued, or for other property, the rules governing that type of conversion, exercise or exchange will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Payment Mechanics for Senior Debt Securities

 

Payment and Record Dates for Interest

 

The dates on which interest will be payable and the regular record date relating to an interest payment date for any fixed rate debt security, floating rate debt security or indexed debt security will be specified in your prospectus supplement. The record dates will apply regardless of whether a particular record date is a “business day”, as defined below. For the purpose of determining the holder at the close of business on a regular record date when business is not being conducted, the close of business will mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on that day. Unless we specify otherwise in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement, the term “days” refers to calendar days.

 

Receipt of Payment

 

If interest is due on a senior debt security on an interest payment date, we will pay the interest to the person in whose name the senior debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date relating to

 

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the interest payment date as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If interest is due at maturity but on a day that is not an interest payment date, we will pay the interest to the person entitled to receive the principal of the senior debt security. If principal or another amount besides interest is due on a senior debt security at maturity, we will pay the amount to the holder of the senior debt security against surrender of the senior debt security at a proper place of payment or, in the case of a global senior debt security, in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary, DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable.

 

Business Days

 

One or more of the following business day definitions shall apply to any senior debt security:

 

Euro business day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System, or any successor system, is open for business.

 

London business day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in London generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close and, in the case of a senior debt security for which LIBOR is an interest rate basis, is also a day on which dealings in the applicable index currency are transacted in the London interbank market.

 

New York business day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Additional business days not defined above may apply to any senior debt security and will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Business Day Conventions

 

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, one of the following business day conventions may apply to any senior debt security with regard to any relevant date other than one that falls on the maturity:

 

Following business day convention ” means, for any interest payment date, other than the maturity, if such date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a business day, then such date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day.

 

Modified following business day convention ” means, for any interest payment date, other than the maturity, if such date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a business day, then such date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day, except that, if the next business day falls in the next calendar month, then such date will be advanced to the immediately preceding day that is a business day.

 

Following unadjusted business day convention ” means, for any interest payment date, other than the maturity, that falls on a day that is not a business day, any payment due on such interest payment date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day; provided that interest due with respect to such interest payment date shall not accrue from and including such interest payment date to and including the date of payment of such interest as so postponed.

 

Modified following unadjusted business day convention ” means, for any interest payment date, other than the maturity, that falls on a day that is not a business day, any payment due on such interest payment date will be postponed to the next day that is a business day; provided that interest due with respect to such interest payment date shall not accrue from and including such interest payment date to and including the date of payment of such interest as so postponed, and provided further that, if such day would fall in the next calendar month, the date of payment with respect to such interest payment date will be advanced to the business day immediately preceding such interest payment date.

 

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In all cases, if the stated maturity or any earlier redemption date or repayment date with respect to a senior debt security falls on a day that is not a business day, any payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest otherwise due on such day will be made on the next succeeding business day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after such stated maturity, redemption date or repayment date, as the case may be.

 

Payments Due in U.S. Dollars

 

We will follow the practice described in this subsection when paying amounts due in U.S. dollars. Payments of amounts due in other currencies will be made as described in the next subsection.

 

Payments on Global Senior Debt Securities . We will make payments on a global senior debt security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary, which will be DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will pay directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect owners who own beneficial interests in the global senior debt security. An indirect owner’s right to receive those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants, as described below in the section entitled “Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance—Global Security”.

 

Payments on Non-Global Senior Debt Securities . We will make payments on a senior debt security in non-global, registered form as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all other payments by check or via wire transfer at the paying agent described below, against surrender of the senior debt security. All payments by check will be made in next-day funds— i.e. , funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed or wire transfer is completed.

 

Alternatively, if a non-global senior debt security has a principal amount of at least $1,000,000 (and the equivalent in another currency) and the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the senior debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in New York City, on the due date. To request wire payment, the holder must give the paying agent appropriate wire transfer instructions at least five business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person or entity who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. In the case of any other payment, payment will be made only after the senior debt security is surrendered to the paying agent. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

 

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their senior debt securities.

 

Payments Due in non-U.S. Currencies

 

We will follow the practice described in this subsection when paying amounts that are due in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars.

 

Payments on Global Senior Debt Securities . We will make payments on a global senior debt security in the applicable specified currency in accordance with the applicable policies as in effect from time to time of the depositary, which will be DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC will be the depositary for all senior debt securities in global form.

 

Indirect owners of a global senior debt security denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to request payment in the specified currency in cases where holders have a right to do so.

 

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Payments on Non-Global Senior Debt Securities . Except as described in the third paragraph under this heading, we will make payments on a senior debt security in non-global form in the applicable specified currency. We will make these payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to any account that is maintained in the applicable specified currency at a bank designated by the holder and is acceptable to us and the trustee. To designate an account for wire payment, the holder must give the paying agent appropriate wire instructions at least five business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person or entity who is the holder on the regular record date. In the case of any other payment, the payment will be made only after the senior debt security is surrendered to the paying agent. Any instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are properly given in the manner described above.

 

If a holder fails to give instructions as described above, we will notify the holder at the address in the trustee’s records and will make the payment within five business days after the holder provides appropriate instructions. Any late payment made in these circumstances will be treated under the applicable senior debt indenture as if made on the due date, and no interest will accrue on the late payment from the due date to the date paid.

 

Although a payment on a senior debt security in non-global form may be due in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars, we will make the payment in U.S. dollars if your prospectus supplement specifies that holders may ask us to do so and you make such a request. To request U.S. dollar payment in these circumstances, the holder must provide appropriate written notice to the trustee at least five business days before the next due date for which payment in U.S. dollars is requested. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the request must be made by the person or entity who is the holder on the regular record date. Any request, once properly made, will remain in effect unless and until revoked by notice properly given in the manner described above.

 

Book-entry and other indirect owners of a senior debt security with a specified currency other than U.S. dollars should contact their banks or brokers for information about how to receive payments in the specified currency or in U.S. dollars.

 

Conversion to U.S. dollars.  Unless otherwise indicated in your prospectus supplement, holders are not entitled to receive payments in U.S. dollars of an amount due in another currency, either on a global senior debt security or a non-global senior debt security.

 

If your prospectus supplement specifies that holders may request that we make payments in U.S. dollars of an amount due in another currency, the exchange rate agent described below will calculate the U.S. dollar amount the holder receives in the exchange rate agent’s discretion. A holder that requests payment in U.S. dollars will bear all associated currency exchange costs, which will be deducted from the payment.

 

When the Specified Currency Is Not Available.  If we are obligated to make any payment in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars, and the specified currency or any successor currency is not available to us due to circumstances beyond our control—such as the imposition of exchange controls or a disruption in the currency markets—we will be entitled to satisfy our obligation to make the payment in that specified currency by making the payment in U.S. dollars, on the basis of the exchange rate determined by the exchange rate agent described below, in its discretion.

 

The foregoing will apply to any senior debt security, whether in global or non-global form, and to any payment, including a payment at maturity. Any payment made under the circumstances and in a manner described above will not result in a default under any senior debt security or the applicable senior debt indenture.

 

Exchange Rate Agent.  If we issue a senior debt security in a specified currency other than dollars, we will appoint a financial institution to act as the exchange rate agent and will name the institution initially appointed

 

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when the senior debt security is originally issued in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may select one of our affiliates to perform this role. We may change the exchange rate agent from time to time after the original issue date of the senior debt security without your consent and without notifying you of the change.

 

All determinations made by the exchange rate agent will be in its sole discretion unless we state in the applicable prospectus supplement that any determination requires our approval. In the absence of manifest error, those determinations will be conclusive for all purposes and binding on you and us, without any liability on the part of the exchange rate agent.

 

Payment When Offices Are Closed

 

Unless specified otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, if any payment is due on a senior debt security on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next business day. Payments postponed to the next business day in this situation will be treated under the applicable senior debt indenture as if they were made on the original due date. Postponement of this kind will not result in a default under any senior debt security or the applicable senior debt indenture, and, unless otherwise specified on the applicable prospectus supplement, no interest will accrue on the postponed amount from the original due date to the next business day.

 

Paying Agent

 

We may appoint one or more financial institutions to act as our paying agents, at whose designated offices senior debt securities in non-global entry form may be surrendered for payment at their maturity. We call each of those offices a paying agent. We may add, replace or terminate paying agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. Initially, we have appointed the trustee, at its corporate trust office in New York City, as the paying agent. We must notify the trustee of changes in the paying agents.

 

Unclaimed Payments

 

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to a holder will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, the holder may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else.

 

Notices

 

Notices to be given to holders of a global senior debt security will be given only to the depositary, in accordance with its applicable policies as in effect from time to time. Notices to be given to holders of senior debt securities not in global form will be sent by mail to the respective addresses of the holders as they appear in the trustee’s records, and will be deemed given when mailed. Neither the failure to give any notice to a particular holder, nor any defect in a notice given to a particular holder, will affect the sufficiency of any notice given to another holder.

 

Book-entry and other indirect owners should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive notices.

 

Concerning the Trustee

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, whose offices are located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, is initially serving as the trustee for the senior debt securities. Under the senior debt indenture, we are required to file with the trustee any information, documents and other reports, or summaries thereof, as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act, at the times and in the manner provided under the Trust Indenture Act. However, in case of documents filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, any such filing with the trustee need not be made until the 15th day after such filing is actually made with the SEC.

 

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Indemnification of Trustee for Actions Taken on Your Behalf

 

The senior debt indenture provides that we will indemnify the trustee for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, claim, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts under the senior debt indenture, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under the senior debt indenture. Subject to these provisions and specified other limitations, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of outstanding senior debt securities of each affected series, voting as one class, may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee.

 

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LEGAL OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

 

The following section describes the special considerations that will apply to registered securities issued in global, or book-entry, form.

 

Legal Owner of a Registered Security

 

Each senior debt security in registered form will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. We refer to those who have securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee or other agent maintain for this purpose, as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names as indirect owners of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect owners are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect owners.

 

Book-Entry Owners

 

We intend to initially issue each security in book-entry form only. This means securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

 

Under the senior debt indenture, only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities and we will make all payments on the securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

 

As a result, investors will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect owners, and not holders, of the securities.

 

Street Name Owners

 

In the future we may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in street name. Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

 

For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities and we will make all payments on those securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect owners, not holders, of those securities.

 

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Legal Holders

 

Our obligations and the obligations of the trustee under the senior debt indenture and the obligations, if any, of any other third parties employed by us, the trustee or any of those agents, run only to the holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect owner of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

 

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect owners but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose— e.g. , to amend the senior debt indenture for a series of senior debt securities or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture—we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect owners, of the relevant securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect owners is up to the holders.

 

Special Considerations for Indirect Owners

 

If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

   

how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;

 

   

whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;

 

   

how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and

 

   

if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

 

Global Security

 

We intend to initially issue each security in book-entry form only. Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by one or more global securities that we deposit with and register in the name of one or more financial institutions or clearing systems, or their nominees, which we select. A financial institution or clearing system that we select for any security for this purpose is called the “depositary” for that security. A security will usually have only one depositary but it may have more.

 

Each series of securities will have one or more of the following as the depositaries:

 

   

DTC;

 

   

a financial institution holding the securities on behalf of Euroclear;

 

   

a financial institution holding the securities on behalf of Clearstream; and

 

   

any other clearing system or financial institution named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The depositaries named above may also be participants in one another’s clearing systems. Thus, for example, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, investors may hold beneficial interests in that security through Euroclear or Clearstream, as DTC participants. The depositary or depositaries for your securities will be named in your prospectus supplement; if none is named, the depositary will be DTC.

 

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A global security may represent one or any other number of individual securities. Generally, all securities represented by the same global security will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple securities of the same kind, such as senior debt securities, that have different terms and are issued at different times. We call this kind of global security a master global security. Your prospectus supplement will not indicate whether your securities are represented by a master global security.

 

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “—Holder’s Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only indirect interests in a global security. Indirect interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect owner of an interest in the global security.

 

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by one or more global securities at all times unless and until the global securities are terminated. We describe the situations in which this can occur below under “—Holder’s Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

 

Special Considerations for Global Securities

 

As an indirect owner, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the depositary and those of the investor’s financial institution or other intermediary through which it holds its interest ( e.g. , Euroclear or Clearstream, if DTC is the depositary), as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor or any intermediary as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

 

If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

   

An investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her own name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;

 

   

An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above under “—Legal Owner of a Registered Security”;

 

   

An investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

 

   

An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

 

   

The depositary’s policies will govern payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security, and those policies may change from time to time. We, and the trustee will have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s policies, actions or records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way;

 

   

The depositary will require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and

 

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Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system and through which an investor holds its interest in the global securities, directly or indirectly, may also have their own policies affecting payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities, and those policies may change from time to time. For example, if you hold an interest in a global security through Euroclear or Clearstream, when DTC is the depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, will require those who purchase and sell interests in that security through them to use immediately available funds and comply with other policies and procedures, including deadlines for giving instructions as to transactions that are to be effected on a particular day. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the policies or actions or records of ownership interests of any of those intermediaries.

 

Holder’s Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

 

If we issue any series of securities in book-entry form but we choose to give the beneficial owners of that series the right to obtain non-global securities, any beneficial owner entitled to obtain non-global securities may do so by following the applicable procedures of the depositary, any transfer agent or registrar for that series and that owner’s bank, broker or other financial institution through which that owner holds its beneficial interest in the securities. For example, in the case of a global security representing preferred stock or depositary shares, a beneficial owner will be entitled to obtain a non-global security representing its interest by making a written request to the transfer agent or other agent designated by us. If you are entitled to request a non-global certificate and wish to do so, you will need to allow sufficient lead time to enable us or our agent to prepare the requested certificate.

 

In addition, in a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the securities it represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under “—Legal Owner of a Registered Security”.

 

The special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:

 

   

if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 60 days;

 

   

if we notify the trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or

 

   

in the case of a global security representing senior debt securities issued under a senior debt indenture, if an event of default has occurred with regard to these senior debt securities or warrants and has not been cured or waived.

 

If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those securities.

 

Considerations Relating to Euroclear and Clearstream

 

Euroclear and Clearstream are securities clearing systems in Europe. Both systems clear and settle securities transactions between their participants through electronic, book-entry delivery of securities against payment.

 

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Euroclear and Clearstream may be depositaries for a global security. In addition, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the global security as participants in DTC.

 

As long as any global security is held by Euroclear or Clearstream, as depositary, you may hold an interest in the global security only through an organization that participates, directly or indirectly, in Euroclear or Clearstream. If Euroclear or Clearstream is the depositary for a global security and there is no depositary in the United States, you will not be able to hold interests in that global security through any securities clearance system in the United States.

 

Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities made through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Those clearing systems could change their rules and procedures at any time. We do not have control over those systems or their participants, and we do not take responsibility for their activities. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and participants in DTC, on the other hand, when DTC is the depositary, would also be subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.

 

Special Timing Considerations for Transactions in Euroclear and Clearstream

 

Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other transactions involving any securities held through those clearing systems only on days when those systems are open for business. These clearing systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

 

In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these clearing systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date. In addition, investors who hold their interests through both DTC and Euroclear or Clearstream may need to make special arrangements to finance any purchases or sales of their interests between the U.S. and European clearing systems, and those transactions may settle later than would be the case for transactions within one clearing system.

 

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TAXATION

 

The prospectus supplement may contain a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences, if any, to persons investing in the senior debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement. In addition, if the tax laws of any foreign country are material to a particular series of senior debt securities, a prospectus supplement may describe the principal income tax consequences under such laws of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of such series of senior debt securities. The summary of tax consequences contained in the applicable prospectus supplement will be presented for informational purposes only, however, and will not be intended as legal or tax advice to prospective purchasers. You should consult your own tax advisor prior to any acquisition of senior debt securities.

 

Japanese Taxation

 

The following description is a summary of Japanese tax consequences (limited to national taxes) to holders of the debt securities, principally relating to such holders that are individual non-residents of Japan or non-Japanese corporations, having no permanent establishment in Japan, and applicable to interest and profit from redemption (as defined below) with respect to debt securities that have been or will be issued by Nomura outside Japan on or after April 1, 2010 and interest on which will be payable outside Japan, as well as to certain aspects of capital gains, inheritance and gift taxes. For information about the tax consequences to debt securities issued before that date, see “Japanese Tax Consequences with respect to Debt Securities Issued on or before March 31, 2010” below in this section.

 

The statements regarding Japanese tax laws set out below are based on the laws in force and as interpreted by the Japanese taxation authorities as at the date hereof and are subject to changes in the applicable Japanese laws or tax treaties, conventions or agreements or in the interpretation thereof after that date. Prospective investors should note that the following description of Japanese taxation is not exhaustive.

 

Special Additional Tax for Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

 

Due to the imposition of a special additional income tax to secure funds for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the withholding tax rate in respect of interest on the debt securities has been increased for the period through and including December 31, 2037, as more fully described below.

 

Interest and profit from redemption

 

Interest payments on the debt securities will be subject to Japanese withholding tax unless the holder establishes that the debt security is held by or for the account of a holder that is (i) for Japanese tax purposes, neither (x) an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor (y) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a person having a special relationship with us as described in Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (a “specially-related person of ours”), (ii) a Japanese designated financial institution as described in Article 6, paragraph 9 of the Special Taxation Measures Act which complies with the requirement for tax exemption under that paragraph or (iii) a public corporation, a financial institution, a financial instruments business operator or certain other entity which has received such payments through a Japanese payment handling agent, as provided in Article 3-3, paragraph 6 of the Special Taxation Measures Act, in compliance with the requirement for tax exemption under that paragraph.

 

Interest payments on the debt securities to an individual resident of Japan, to a Japanese corporation, or to an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a specially-related person of ours (except for the Japanese designated financial institution and the public corporation, the financial institution, the financial instruments business operator and certain other entity described in the preceding paragraph) will be subject to deduction in respect of Japanese income tax at a rate of 15% (for the period through and including December 31, 2037, such income tax at the rate of 15% and special additional income tax at the rate of 0.135%, together being at the rate of 15.315%) of the amount of such interest.

 

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A legend containing a statement to the same effect as set forth in the preceding paragraphs will be printed on the relevant debt securities or global debt security, as applicable, in compliance with the requirements of the Special Taxation Measures Act and regulations thereunder.

 

If the recipient of interest on the debt securities is a holder that is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation, having no permanent establishment in Japan, that in either case is not a specially-related person of ours, no Japanese income tax or corporation tax will be payable with respect to such interest whether by way of withholding or otherwise, if such recipient complies with certain requirements, inter alia:

 

  (a) if the relevant debt securities are held through a participant in an international clearing organization, such as DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, or through a financial intermediary, in each case, as prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act (each such participant or financial intermediary being referred to as a “Participant”), the requirement to provide certain information prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act to enable the Participant to establish that the recipient is exempt from the requirement for Japanese tax to be withheld or deducted; and

 

  (b) if the relevant debt securities are held not through a Participant, the requirement to submit to the relevant paying agent that makes payment of interest on the debt securities a claim for exemption from withholding tax ( hikazei tekiyo shinkokusho ), together with certain documentary evidence, at or prior to each time of receiving interest.

 

The above-described exemption from Japanese income tax or corporation tax with respect to interest on the debt securities will not be applicable to any debt securities on which interest is calculated based on any of certain indices, including the amount of profits or assets of ours or a specially-related person of ours, as described in Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act and the cabinet order relating to the said paragraph 4 (“Taxable Linked Securities”).

 

If a recipient of interest on the debt securities is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation, having no permanent establishment in Japan, which is subject to Japanese withholding tax due to its status as a specially-related person of ours or for any other reason, (i) the rate of withholding tax may be reduced, generally to 10%, under applicable tax treaty, convention or agreement, and (ii) if such recipient is not subject to Japanese tax under applicable tax treaty, convention or agreement due to its status as a registered securities dealer in the relevant country, or for any other reason, no Japanese income tax or corporation tax will be payable with respect to such interest whether by way of withholding or otherwise; provided that, in either case (i) or (ii) above, such recipient shall submit required documents and information (if any) to the relevant tax authority.

 

If the recipient of any difference between the acquisition price of the debt securities and the amount which the holder receives upon redemption thereof (the “profit from redemption”), is a holder that is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation, having no permanent establishment in Japan, that in either case is not a specially-related person of ours, no income tax or corporation tax will be payable with respect to such profit from redemption.

 

Capital Gains, Inheritance and Gift Taxes

 

Gains derived from the sale of the debt securities, whether within or outside Japan, by a holder that is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation, having no permanent establishment in Japan, will be, in general, not subject to Japanese income or corporation tax.

 

Japanese inheritance and gift taxes at progressive rates may be payable by an individual who has acquired the debt securities as a legatee, heir or donee, even if the individual is not a Japanese resident.

 

No stamp, issue, registration or similar taxes or duties will, under present Japanese law, be payable by holders of the debt securities in connection with the issue of the debt securities outside Japan.

 

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Japanese Tax Consequences with respect to Debt Securities Issued on or before March 31, 2010

 

Japanese tax consequences applicable to debt securities issued on or before March 31, 2010 are substantially similar to those as summarized above in this section, except that the references to specially-related persons of ours do not apply.

 

United States Taxation

 

This section describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of certain of the debt securities we may offer. The material United States federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of securities that contain any material term not described in this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This section is the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, United States tax counsel to Nomura. It applies to you only if you acquire debt securities in an initial offering governed by this prospectus and you hold your debt securities as capital assets for tax purposes. This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

   

a dealer in securities or currencies,

 

   

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings,

 

   

a bank,

 

   

a life insurance company,

 

   

a tax-exempt organization,

 

   

a person liable for the alternative minimum tax,

 

   

a person that owns debt securities that are a hedge or that are hedged against interest rate or currency risks,

 

   

a person that owns debt securities as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for tax purposes,

 

   

a person that purchases or sells notes as part of a wash sale for tax purposes, or

 

   

a United States holder (as defined below) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar.

 

This section deals only with debt securities that are due to mature 30 years or less from the date on which they are issued. The United States federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of debt securities that are due to mature more than 30 years from their date of issue will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

This section is based on the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the Internal Revenue Code, published rulings and court decisions, as well as the Convention between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

 

If a partnership holds the debt securities, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the debt securities should consult its tax advisor with regard to the United States federal income tax treatment of an investment in the debt securities.

 

You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state and local and other tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of debt securities in your particular circumstances.

 

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United States Holders

 

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States holder of acquiring, owning, and disposing of debt securities that we may issue. You are a United States holder if you are a beneficial owner of a debt security and you are:

 

   

a citizen or individual resident of the United States,

 

   

a domestic corporation,

 

   

an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source, or

 

   

a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or a trust that has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

If you are not a United States holder this subsection does not apply to you and you should refer to “—Non-United States Holders” below.

 

Payments of Interest

 

Except as described below in the case of interest on an original issue discount debt security that is not qualified stated interest, each as defined below under “—United States Holders—Original Issue Discount—General”, you will be taxed on any interest on your debt security, whether payable in U.S. dollars or a non-U.S. dollar currency, including a composite currency or basket of currencies other than U.S. dollars, as ordinary income at the time you receive the interest or when it accrues, depending on your method of accounting for tax purposes.

 

You must include any tax withheld from the interest payment as ordinary income even though you do not in fact receive the amount withheld. You will also be required to include in income as interest any additional amounts paid with respect to withholding tax on the debt securities, including tax withheld from the payment of such additional amounts. You may be entitled to deduct or credit the withholding tax, subject to applicable limits. Interest paid by us on your debt security and the original issue discount, if any, accrued with respect to your debt security (as described below under “—United States Holders—Original Issue Discount”) and any amounts paid with respect to withholding tax on the debt security, including tax withheld on such additional amounts are generally income from sources outside the United States, and will, depending on your circumstances, generally be “passive” income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to a United States holder. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex and you should consult your tax advisor regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit in your situation.

 

Cash Basis Taxpayers . If you are a taxpayer that uses the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting for tax purposes and you receive an interest payment that is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a non-U.S. dollar currency, you must recognize income equal to the U.S. dollar value of the interest payment, based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether you actually convert the payment into U.S. dollars.

 

Accrual Basis Taxpayers . If you are a taxpayer that uses an accrual method of accounting for tax purposes, you may determine the amount of income that you recognize with respect to an interest payment denominated in, or determined by reference to, a non-U.S. dollar currency by using one of two methods. Under the first method, you will determine the amount of income accrued based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period or, with respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable years, that part of the period within the taxable year.

 

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If you elect the second method, you will determine the amount of income accrued on the basis of the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the accrual period, or, in the case of an accrual period that spans two taxable years, the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the part of the period within the taxable year. Additionally, under this second method, if you receive a payment of interest within five business days of the last day of your accrual period or taxable year, you may instead translate the interest accrued into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the day that you actually receive the interest payment. If you elect the second method, it will apply to all debt instruments that you hold at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies and to all debt instruments that you subsequently acquire. You may not revoke this election without the consent of the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

When you actually receive an interest payment, including a payment attributable to accrued but unpaid interest upon the sale or retirement of your debt security, denominated in, or determined by reference to, a non-U.S. dollar currency for which you accrued an amount of income, you will recognize ordinary income or loss measured by the difference, if any, between the exchange rate that you used to accrue interest income and the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether you actually convert the payment into U.S. dollars.

 

Original Issue Discount

 

General . If you own a debt security, other than a short-term debt security with a term of one year or less, it will be treated as an original issue discount debt security if the amount by which the debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity exceeds its issue price is equal to or more than a de minimis amount. Generally, a debt security’s issue price will be the first price at which a substantial amount of debt securities included in the issue of which the debt security is a part is sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers. A debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity is the total of all payments provided by the debt security that are not payments of qualified stated interest. Generally, an interest payment on a debt security is qualified stated interest if it is one of a series of stated interest payments on a debt security that are unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed rate, with certain exceptions for lower rates paid during some periods, applied to the outstanding principal amount of the debt security. There are special rules for variable rate debt securities that are discussed below under “—Variable Rate Debt Securities”. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement if we determine that a particular debt security will be an original issue discount debt security.

 

In general, your debt security is not an original issue discount debt security if the amount by which its stated redemption price at maturity exceeds its issue price is less than the de minimis amount of 0.25 percent of its stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to its maturity. Your debt security will have de minimis original issue discount if the amount of the excess is less than the de minimis amount. If your debt security has de minimis original issue discount, you must include the de minimis amount in income as stated principal payments are made on the debt security, unless you make the election described below under “—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount”. You can determine the includible amount with respect to each such payment by multiplying the total amount of your debt security’s de minimis original issue discount by a fraction equal to:

 

   

the amount of the principal payment made

 

divided by:

 

   

the stated principal amount of the debt security.

 

Any amount of de minimis original issue discount includable in income will be treated as capital gain.

 

Generally, if your original issue discount debt security matures more than one year from its date of issue, you must include original issue discount in income before you receive cash attributable to that income. The

 

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amount of original issue discount that you must include in income is calculated using a constant-yield method, and generally you will include increasingly greater amounts of original issue discount in income over the life of your debt security. More specifically, you can calculate the amount of original issue discount that you must include in income by adding the daily portions of original issue discount with respect to your original issue discount debt security for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year that you hold your original issue discount debt security. You can determine the daily portion by allocating to each day in any accrual period a pro rata portion of the original issue discount allocable to that accrual period. You may select an accrual period of any length with respect to your original issue discount debt security and you may vary the length of each accrual period over the term of your original issue discount debt security. However, no accrual period may be longer than one year and each scheduled payment of interest or principal on the original issue discount debt security must occur on either the first or final day of an accrual period.

 

You can determine the amount of original issue discount allocable to an accrual period by:

 

   

multiplying your original issue discount debt security’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of the accrual period by your debt security’s yield to maturity; and then

 

   

subtracting from this figure the sum of the payments of qualified stated interest on your debt security allocable to the accrual period.

 

You must determine the original issue discount debt security’s yield to maturity on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and adjusting for the length of each accrual period. Further, you determine your original issue discount debt security’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of any accrual period by:

 

   

adding your original issue discount debt security’s issue price and any accrued original issue discount for each prior accrual period (determined without regard to the amortization of any acquisition or bond premium, as described below); and then

 

   

subtracting any payments previously made on your original issue discount debt security that were not qualified stated interest payments.

 

If an interval between payments of qualified stated interest on your original issue discount debt security contains more than one accrual period, then, when you determine the amount of original issue discount allocable to an accrual period, you must allocate the amount of qualified stated interest payable at the end of the interval, including any qualified stated interest that is payable on the first day of the accrual period immediately following the interval, pro rata to each accrual period in the interval based on their relative lengths. In addition, you must increase the adjusted issue price at the beginning of each accrual period in the interval by the amount of any qualified stated interest that has accrued prior to the first day of the accrual period but that is not payable until the end of the interval. You may compute the amount of original issue discount allocable to an initial short accrual period by using any reasonable method if all other accrual periods, other than a final short accrual period, are of equal length.

 

The amount of original issue discount allocable to the final accrual period is equal to the difference between:

 

   

the amount payable at the maturity of your debt security, other than any payment of qualified stated interest; and

 

   

your debt security’s adjusted issue price as of the beginning of the final accrual period.

 

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Acquisition Premium

 

If you purchase your debt security for an amount that is less than or equal to the sum of all amounts, other than qualified stated interest, payable on your debt security after the purchase date but is greater than the amount of your debt security’s adjusted issue price, as determined above under “—General”, the excess is acquisition premium. If you do not make the election described below under “—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount”, then you must reduce the daily portions of original issue discount by a fraction equal to:

 

   

the excess of your adjusted basis in the debt security immediately after purchase over the adjusted issue price of the debt security

 

divided by:

 

   

the excess of the sum of all amounts payable, other than qualified stated interest, on the debt security after the purchase date over the adjusted issue price of the debt security.

 

Pre-Issuance Accrued Interest

 

An election may be made to decrease the issue price of your debt security by the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest if:

 

   

a portion of the initial purchase price of your debt security is attributable to pre-issuance accrued interest;

 

   

the first stated interest payment on your debt security is to be made within one year of your debt security’s issue date; and

 

   

the payment will equal or exceed the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest.

 

If this election is made, a portion of the first stated interest payment will be treated as a return of the excluded pre-issuance accrued interest and not as an amount payable on your debt security.

 

Debt Securities Subject to Contingencies Including Optional Redemption

 

Your debt security is subject to a contingency if it provides for an alternative payment schedule or schedules applicable upon the occurrence of a contingency or contingencies, other than a remote or incidental contingency, whether such contingency relates to payments of interest or of principal. In such a case, you must determine the yield and maturity of your debt security by assuming that the payments will be made according to the payment schedule most likely to occur if:

 

   

the timing and amounts of the payments that comprise each payment schedule are known as of the issue date; and

 

   

one of such schedules is significantly more likely than not to occur.

 

If there is no single payment schedule that is significantly more likely than not to occur, other than because of a mandatory sinking fund, you must include income on your debt security in accordance with the general rules that govern contingent payment obligations. These rules will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Notwithstanding the general rules for determining yield and maturity, if your debt security is subject to contingencies, and either you or we have an unconditional option or options that, if exercised, would require payments to be made on the debt security under an alternative payment schedule or schedules, then:

 

   

in the case of an option or options that we may exercise, we will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that minimizes the yield on your debt security; and

 

   

in the case of an option or options that you may exercise, you will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that maximizes the yield on your debt security.

 

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If both you and we hold options described in the preceding sentence, those rules will apply to each option in the order in which they may be exercised. You may determine the yield on your debt security for the purposes of those calculations by using any date on which your debt security may be redeemed or repurchased as the maturity date and the amount payable on the date that you chose in accordance with the terms of your debt security as the principal amount payable at maturity.

 

If a contingency, including the exercise of an option, actually occurs or does not occur contrary to an assumption made according to the above rules then, except to the extent that a portion of your debt security is repaid as a result of this change in circumstances and solely to determine the amount and accrual of original issue discount, you must redetermine the yield and maturity of your debt security by treating your debt security as having been retired and reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an amount equal to your debt security’s adjusted issue price on that date.

 

Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount

 

You may elect to include in gross income all interest that accrues on your debt security using the constant-yield method described above under “—General”, with the modifications described below. For purposes of this election, interest will include stated interest, original issue discount, de minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium, described below under “—Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium”, or acquisition premium.

 

If you make this election for your debt security, then, when you apply the constant-yield method:

 

   

the issue price of your debt security will equal your adjusted basis immediately after the acquisition;

 

   

the issue date of your debt security will be the date you acquired it; and

 

   

no payments on your debt security will be treated as payments of qualified stated interest.

 

Generally, this election will apply only to the debt security for which you make it; however, if the debt security has amortizable bond premium, you will be deemed to have made an election to apply amortizable bond premium against interest for all debt instruments with amortizable bond premium, other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income, that you hold as of the beginning of the taxable year to which the election applies or any taxable year thereafter. Additionally, if you make this election for a market discount debt security, you will be treated as having made the election discussed below under “—Market Discount” to include market discount in income currently over the life of all debt instruments that you acquire on or after the first day of the taxable year to which the election applies. You may not revoke any election to apply the constant-yield method to all interest on a debt security or the deemed elections with respect to amortizable bond premium or market discount debt securities without the consent of the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Variable Rate Debt Securities

 

Your debt security will be a variable rate debt security if:

 

   

your debt security’s issue price does not exceed the total non-contingent principal payments by more than the lesser of:

 

  (1) 0.015 multiplied by the product of the total non-contingent principal payments and the number of complete years to maturity from the issue date; or

 

  (2) 15 percent of the total non-contingent principal payments; and

 

   

your debt security provides for stated interest, compounded or paid at least annually, only at:

 

  (1) one or more qualified floating rates;

 

  (2) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates;

 

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  (3) a single objective rate; or

 

  (4) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a qualified inverse floating rate; and

 

   

the value of the rate on any date during the term of your debt security is set no earlier than three months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than one year following that first day.

 

Your debt security will have a variable rate that is a qualified floating rate if:

 

   

variations in the value of the rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which your debt security is denominated; or

 

   

the rate is equal to such a rate either:

 

  (1) multiplied by a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35; or

 

  (2) multiplied by a fixed multiple greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35, and then increased or decreased by a fixed rate.

 

If your debt security provides for two or more qualified floating rates that are within 0.25 percentage points of each other on the issue date or can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the debt security, the qualified floating rates together constitute a single qualified floating rate.

 

Your debt security will not have a qualified floating rate, however, if the rate is subject to certain restrictions (including caps, floors, governors or other similar restrictions) unless such restrictions are fixed throughout the term of the debt security or are not reasonably expected to significantly affect the yield on the debt security.

 

Your debt security will have a variable rate that is a single objective rate if:

 

   

the rate is not a qualified floating rate; and

 

   

the rate is determined using a single, fixed formula that is based on objective financial or economic information that is not within the control of or unique to the circumstances of the issuer or a related party; and

 

Your debt security will not have a variable rate that is an objective rate, however, if it is reasonably expected that the average value of the rate during the first half of your debt security’s term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the average value of the rate during the final half of your debt security’s term.

 

An objective rate as described above is a qualified inverse floating rate if:

 

   

the rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate; and

 

   

the variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds.

 

Your debt security will also have a single qualified floating rate or an objective rate if interest on your debt security is stated at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate for a subsequent period, and either:

 

   

the fixed rate and the qualified floating rate or objective rate have values on the issue date of the debt security that do not differ by more than 0.25 percentage points; or

 

   

the value of the qualified floating rate or objective rate is intended to approximate the fixed rate.

 

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In general, if your variable rate debt security provides for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, or one of those rates after a single fixed rate for an initial period, all stated interest on your debt security is qualified stated interest. In this case, the amount of original issue discount, if any, is determined by using, in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate or, for any other objective rate, a fixed rate that reflects the yield reasonably expected for your debt security.

 

If your variable rate debt security does not provide for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate, and also does not provide for interest payable at a fixed rate other than a single fixed rate for an initial period, you generally must determine the interest and original issue discount accruals on your debt security by:

 

   

determining a fixed rate substitute for each variable rate provided under your variable rate debt security;

 

   

constructing the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, using the fixed rate substitute described above;

 

   

determining the amount of qualified stated interest and original issue discount with respect to the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument; and

 

   

adjusting for actual variable rates during the applicable accrual period.

 

When you determine the fixed rate substitute for each variable rate provided under the variable rate debt security, you generally will use the value of each variable rate as of the issue date or, for an objective rate that is not a qualified inverse floating rate, a rate that reflects the reasonably expected yield on your debt security.

 

If your variable rate debt security provides for stated interest either at one or more qualified floating rates or at a qualified inverse floating rate, and also provides for stated interest at a single fixed rate other than at a single fixed rate for an initial period, you generally must determine interest and original issue discount accruals by using the method described in the previous paragraph. However, your variable rate debt security will be treated, for purposes of the first three steps of the determination, as if your debt security had provided for a qualified floating rate, or a qualified inverse floating rate, rather than the fixed rate. The qualified floating rate, or qualified inverse floating rate, that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of your variable rate debt security as of the issue date approximates the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for the qualified floating rate, or qualified inverse floating rate, rather than the fixed rate.

 

Short-Term Debt Securities

 

In general, if you are an individual or other cash basis United States holder of a short-term debt security, you are not required to accrue original issue discount, as specially defined below for the purposes of this paragraph, for United States federal income tax purposes unless you elect to do so (although it is possible that you may be required to include any stated interest in income as you receive it). If you are an accrual basis taxpayer, a taxpayer in a special class, including, but not limited to, a regulated investment company, common trust fund or a certain type of pass-through entity, or a cash basis taxpayer who so elects, you will be required to accrue original issue discount on short-term debt securities on either a straight-line basis or under the constant-yield method, based on daily compounding. If you are not required and do not elect to include original issue discount in income currently, any gain you realize on the sale or retirement of your short-term debt security will be ordinary income to the extent of the accrued original issue discount, which will be determined on a straight- line basis unless you make an election to accrue the original issue discount under the constant-yield method, through the date of sale or retirement. However, if you are not required and do not elect to accrue original issue discount on your short-term debt securities, you will be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to your short-term debt securities in an amount not exceeding the deferred income until the deferred income is realized.

 

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When you determine the amount of original issue discount subject to these rules, you must include all interest payments on your short-term debt security, including stated interest, in your short-term debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity.

 

Non-U.S. Dollar Debt Securities

 

If your original issue discount debt security is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a non-U.S. dollar currency, you must determine original issue discount for any accrual period on your original issue discount debt security in the non-U.S. dollar currency and then translate the amount of original issue discount into U.S. dollars in the same manner as stated interest accrued by an accrual basis United States holder, as described above under “—United States Holders—Payments of Interest”. You may recognize ordinary income or loss when you receive an amount attributable to original issue discount in connection with a payment of interest or the sale or retirement of your debt security.

 

Market Discount

 

You will be treated as if you purchased your debt security, other than a short-term debt security, at a market discount, and your debt security will be a market discount debt security if:

 

   

you purchase your debt security for less than its issue price as determined above under “—Original Issue Discount—General”; and

 

   

the difference between the debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of an original issue discount debt security, the debt security’s revised issue price, and the price you paid for your debt security is equal to or greater than 0.25 percent of your debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or revised issue price, respectively, multiplied by the number of complete years to the debt security’s maturity. To determine the revised issue price of your debt security for these purposes, you generally add any original issue discount that has accrued on your debt security to its issue price.

 

If your debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of an original issue discount debt security, its revised issue price, exceeds the price you paid for the debt security by less than 0.25 percent multiplied by the number of complete years to the debt security’s maturity, the excess constitutes de minimis market discount, and the rules discussed below are not applicable to you.

 

You must treat any partial principal payment on, or gain you recognize on the maturity or disposition of, your market discount debt security as ordinary income to the extent of the accrued market discount on your debt security. Alternatively, you may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues over the life of your debt security. If you make this election, it will apply to all debt instruments with market discount that you acquire on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. You may not revoke this election without the consent of the United States Internal Revenue Service. If you own a market discount debt security and do not make this election, you will generally be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to your debt security in an amount not exceeding the accrued market discount on your debt security until the maturity or disposition of your debt security.

 

If you own a market discount debt security, the market discount will accrue on a straight-line basis unless you elect to accrue market discount using a constant-yield method. If you make this election, it will apply only to the debt security with respect to which it is made and you may not revoke it. You would, however, not include accrued market discount in income until you elect to do so as described above.

 

Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium

 

If you purchase your debt security for an amount in excess of its principal amount (or, in the case of an original issue discount debt security, in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the debt security after the

 

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acquisition date (other than payments of qualified stated interest)), you may elect to treat the excess as amortizable bond premium. If you make this election, you will reduce the amount required to be included in your income each year with respect to interest on your debt security by the amount of amortizable bond premium allocable to that year, based on your debt security’s yield to maturity. If your debt security is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a non-U.S. dollar currency, you will compute your amortizable bond premium in units of the non-U.S. dollar currency and your amortizable bond premium will reduce your interest income in units of the non-U.S. dollar currency. Gain or loss recognized that is attributable to changes in exchange rates between the time your amortized bond premium offsets interest income and the time of the acquisition of your debt security is generally taxable as ordinary income or loss. If you make an election to amortize bond premium, it will apply to all debt instruments, other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income, that you hold at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies or that you thereafter acquire, and you may not revoke it without the consent of the United States Internal Revenue Service. If you do not elect to amortize bond premium, that premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss you would otherwise recognize on sale or disposition of your debt security. See also “—United States Holders—Original Issue Discount—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount”.

 

Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Debt Securities

 

Your tax basis in your debt security will generally be the U.S. dollar cost, as defined below, of your debt security, adjusted by:

 

   

adding any original issue discount or market discount previously included in income with respect to your debt security, and then

 

   

subtracting any payments on your debt security that are not qualified stated interest payments and any amortizable bond premium applied to reduce interest on your debt security.

 

If you purchase your debt security with non-U.S. dollar currency, the U.S. dollar cost of your debt security will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price on the date of purchase. However, if you are a cash basis taxpayer or an electing accrual basis taxpayer and the debt securities are traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations, the U.S. dollar cost of your debt security will be the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price on the settlement date of your purchase.

 

You will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or retirement of your debt security equal to the difference between the amount you realize on the sale or retirement, excluding any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest (which will be treated as interest income to the extent not previously included in income), and your tax basis in your debt security. If your debt security is sold or retired for an amount in non-U.S. dollar currency, the amount you realize will be the U.S. dollar value of such amount on the date the debt security is disposed of or retired, except that in the case of a debt security that is traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations, a cash basis taxpayer, or an accrual basis taxpayer that so elects, will determine the amount realized based on the U.S. dollar value of the non-U.S. dollar currency on the settlement date of the sale.

 

You will recognize capital gain or loss when you sell or retire your debt securities, except to the extent:

 

   

described above under “—Short-Term Debt Securities” or “—Market Discount”, or

 

   

attributable to changes in exchange rates as described below.

 

Capital gain of a noncorporate United States holder is generally taxed at preferential rates where the property is held for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

You must treat any portion of the gain or loss that you recognize on the sale or retirement of a debt security as United States source ordinary income or loss to the extent attributable to changes in exchange rates. However, you take exchange gain or loss into account only to the extent of the total gain or loss you realize on the transaction.

 

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Exchange of Amounts in Other Than U.S. Dollars

 

If you receive non-U.S. dollar currency as interest on your debt securities or on the sale or retirement of your debt securities, your tax basis in the non-U.S. dollar currency will equal its U.S. dollar value when the interest is received or at the time of the sale or retirement. If you purchase non-U.S. dollar currency, you generally will have a tax basis equal to the U.S. dollar value of the non-U.S. dollar currency on the date of your purchase. If you sell or dispose of a non-U.S. dollar currency, including if you use it to purchase debt securities or exchange it for U.S. dollars, any gain or loss recognized generally will be United States source ordinary income or loss.

 

Medicare Tax

 

A United States holder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) the United States holder’s “net investment income” (or “undistributed net investment income” in the case of an estate or trust) for the relevant taxable year or (2) the excess of the United States holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals will be between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the individual’s circumstances). A holder’s net investment income will generally include its interest income and its net gains from the disposition of debt securities, unless such interest income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). If you are a United States holder that is an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in the debt securities.

 

Indexed Debt Securities and Renewable, Extendible and Amortizing Debt Securities

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will discuss any special United States federal income tax rules with respect to (1) debt securities the payments on which are determined by reference to any index, (2) debt securities that are subject to the rules governing contingent payment obligations, (3) any renewable or extendible debt securities, and (4) any debt securities providing for the periodic payment of principal over the life of the debt security.

 

Treasury Regulations Requiring Disclosure of Reportable Transactions

 

Treasury regulations require United States taxpayers to report certain transactions that give rise to a loss in excess of certain thresholds, or a Reportable Transaction. Under these regulations, if the debt securities are denominated in a foreign currency, a United States holder (or a Non-United States Holder that holds the debt securities in connection with a U.S. trade or business) that recognizes a loss with respect to the debt securities that is characterized as an ordinary loss due to changes in currency exchange rates (under any of the rules discussed above) would be required to report the loss on Internal Revenue Service Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Statement) if the loss exceeds the thresholds set forth in the regulations. For individuals and trusts, this loss threshold is $50,000 in any single taxable year. For other types of taxpayers and other types of losses, the thresholds are higher. You should consult with your tax advisor regarding any tax filing and reporting obligations that may apply in connection with acquiring, owning and disposing of the debt securities.

 

Non-United States Holders

 

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, interest on the debt securities is currently exempt from United States federal income tax if paid to:

 

   

an individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States, whether or not such individual is engaged in trade or business in the United States; or

 

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a corporation organized under the laws of a country other than the United States or an estate or trust that in either case is not subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of a debt security, whether or not such corporation, estate or trust is engaged in trade or business in the United States,

 

unless:

 

   

the corporation is an insurance company carrying on a United States insurance business to which the interest is attributable, within the meaning of the United States Internal Revenue Code;

 

   

the corporation has an office or other fixed place of business in the United States to which the interest is attributable and the corporation has a principal business of trading in stocks and securities for its own account; or

 

   

the individual, corporation, estate or trust has an office or other fixed place of business in the United States to which the interest is attributable and the interest is derived in the active conduct of a banking, financing or similar business within the United States.

 

A beneficial owner of a debt security will not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain realized on the sale or retirement of a debt security if the beneficial owner is:

 

   

a nonresident alien individual; or

 

   

a foreign corporation or an estate or trust that in either case is not subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis in respect of a debt security,

 

unless:

 

   

such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the holder of a United States trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment); or

 

   

in the case of an individual, the holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which such gain is realized and either the holder has a “tax home” in the United States or the gain is attributable to an office or other fixed place of business maintained by the holder in the United States.

 

The debt securities are not includible in the gross estate for purposes of the United States estate tax in the case of a nonresident of the United States who was not a citizen of the United States at the time of death.

 

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Withholding

 

A 30% withholding tax will be imposed on certain payments to certain non-U.S. financial institutions that fail to comply with information reporting requirements or certification requirements in respect of their direct and indirect United States shareholders and/or United States accountholders. United States accountholders subject to such information reporting or certification requirements may include holders of the debt securities. To avoid becoming subject to the 30% withholding tax on payments to them, the issuer and other non-U.S. financial institutions may be required to report information to the Internal Revenue Service regarding the holders of debt securities and, in the case of holders who (i) fail to provide the relevant information, (ii) are non-U.S. financial institutions that have not agreed to comply with these information reporting requirements, or (iii) hold debt securities directly or indirectly through such non-compliant non-U.S. financial institutions, withhold on a portion of payments under the debt securities. However, such withholding would generally not apply to payments made before January 1, 2019. Moreover, such withholding would only apply to debt securities issued at least six months after the date on which final regulations implementing such rule are enacted. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors and any banks or brokers through which they will hold debt securities as to the consequences (if any) of these rules to them.

 

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Information with Respect to Foreign Financial Assets

 

Owners of “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 (and in some circumstances, a higher threshold) may be required to file an information report with respect to such assets with their tax returns. “Specified foreign financial assets” include any financial accounts maintained by foreign financial institutions, as well as any of the following, but only if they are held for investment and not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions: (i) stocks and securities issued by non-United States persons, (ii) financial instruments and contracts that have non-United States issuers or counterparties, and (iii) interests in foreign entities. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of this reporting requirement to their ownership of the debt securities.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

If you are a noncorporate United States holder, information reporting requirements, on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099, generally will apply to payments of principal and interest on a debt security within the United States, and the payment of the proceeds to you from the sale of a debt security effected at a United States office of a broker.

 

Additionally, backup withholding may apply to such payments if you fail to comply with applicable certification requirements or are notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns.

 

If you are a Non-United States holder, you are generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements with respect to payments of principal and interest made to you outside the United States by us or another non-United States payor. You are also generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements in respect of payments of principal and interest made within the United States and the payment of the proceeds from the sale of a debt security effected at a United State office of a broker, as long as either (i) the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and you have furnished a valid Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or other documentation upon which the payor or broker may rely to treat the payments as made to a non-United States person, or (ii) you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Payment of the proceeds from the sale of a debt security effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale of a debt security that is effected at a foreign office of a broker could be subject to information reporting and backup withholding in the same manner as a sale within the United States (and in certain cases may be subject to backup withholding as well) if (i) the broker has certain connections to the United States, (ii) the proceeds or the confirmation is sent to the United States, or the sale has certain other specified connections with the United States.

 

You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

 

General

 

We may sell senior debt securities:

 

   

to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters;

 

   

through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to offer and sell to the public;

 

   

through the issuance of subscription rights to our existing securityholders;

 

   

through dealers or agents; and

 

   

to investors directly in negotiated sales or in competitively bid transactions.

 

Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of any series of the senior debt securities will be named in the prospectus supplement. Nomura Securities International, Inc., or other of our subsidiaries, may act as an underwriter or agent.

 

The prospectus supplement for each series of senior debt securities will describe:

 

   

the terms of the offering of these senior debt securities, including the name or names of any agent or agents or the name or names of any underwriters;

 

   

the public offering or purchase price;

 

   

any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to any agents or underwriters and all other items constituting underwriting compensation;

 

   

any securities exchanges on which the senior debt securities may be listed;

 

   

any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

other specific terms of the particular offering or sale.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, we will execute an underwriting agreement with those underwriters relating to the senior debt securities that we will offer. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase these senior debt securities will be subject to conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of these senior debt securities if any are purchased.

 

The senior debt securities subject to the underwriting agreement will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold by them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from the purchasers of these senior debt securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell these senior debt securities to or through dealers. These dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

We also may sell the senior debt securities in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in connection with a redemption or repayment, by a remarketing firm acting as principal for its own account or as our agent. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the senior debt securities that they remarket.

 

We may authorize underwriters to solicit offers by institutions to purchase the senior debt securities subject to the underwriting agreement from us, at the public offering price stated in the prospectus supplement under

 

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delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. If we sell senior debt securities under these delayed delivery contracts, the prospectus supplement will state that as well as the conditions to which these delayed delivery contracts will be subject and the commissions payable for that solicitation.

 

In connection with underwritten offerings of the senior debt securities offered by this prospectus and in accordance with applicable law and industry practice, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the senior debt securities offered by this prospectus at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids, each of which is described below.

 

   

A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a security.

 

   

A syndicate covering transaction means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering.

 

   

A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the managing underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the offering when offered senior debt securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions.

 

These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the senior debt securities are listed on that exchange or admitted for trading on that automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. Underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities or to continue these activities if commenced.

 

Senior debt securities may be sold directly by us to one or more institutional purchasers, or through agents designated by us from time to time, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the senior debt securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to the agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements with us, to indemnification by us relating to material misstatements or omissions. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

 

Each series of senior debt securities offered by this prospectus will be a new issue of senior debt securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom offered senior debt securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in the offered senior debt securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The senior debt securities offered by this prospectus may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given that there will be a market for any senior debt securities offered by this prospectus.

 

Market-Making Resales by Affiliates

 

This prospectus may be used by Nomura Securities International, Inc. in connection with offers and sales of the senior debt securities in market-making transactions. In a market-making transaction, Nomura Securities International, Inc. may resell a security it acquires from other holders, after the original offering and sale of the senior debt security. Resales of this kind may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated, at prevailing market prices at the time of resale or at related or negotiated prices. In these transactions, Nomura Securities International, Inc. may act as principal or agent, including as agent for the counterparty in a transaction in which Nomura Securities International, Inc. acts as principal, or as agent for both counterparties in a

 

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transaction in which Nomura Securities International, Inc. does not act as principal. Nomura Securities International, Inc. may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including from both counterparties in some cases. Other of our affiliates may also engage in transactions of this kind and may use this prospectus for this purpose.

 

We do not expect to receive any proceeds from market-making transactions. We do not expect that Nomura Securities International, Inc. or any other affiliate that engages in these transactions will pay any proceeds from its market-making resales to us.

 

Information about the trade and settlement dates, as well as the purchase price, for a market-making transaction will be provided to the purchaser in a separate confirmation of sale. Unless we or an agent inform you in your confirmation of sale that your senior debt security is being purchased in its original offering and sale, you may assume that you are purchasing your senior debt security in a market-making transaction.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

To the extent an initial offering of the senior debt securities will be distributed by one of our affiliates, each such offering of senior debt securities will be conducted in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121 of FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. No underwriter, selling agent or dealer utilized in the initial offering of senior debt securities who is one of our affiliates will confirm sales to accounts over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of its customer.

 

Following the initial distribution of any of the senior debt securities, our affiliates may offer and sell these senior debt securities in the course of their businesses. Such affiliates may act as principals or agents in these transactions and may make any sales at varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale or otherwise. Such affiliates may also use this prospectus in connection with these transactions. None of our affiliates is obligated to make a market in any of these senior debt securities and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice.

 

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VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

 

In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of those securities may be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as to matters of New York law and by Anderson Mori & Tomotsune as to matters of Japanese law, and for any underwriters or agents by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP or other counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

EXPERTS

 

Our consolidated financial statements appearing in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2015, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2015, have been audited by Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

With respect to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the six-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such financial statements. However, their separate report dated December 18, 2015, included in our current report on Form 6-K submitted to the SEC on December 18, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on the interim consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such financial statements should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act for their report on the interim consolidated financial statements because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.

 

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We are a joint stock company incorporated in Japan. Most or all of our directors and executive officers are residents of countries other than the United States. Although some of our affiliates have substantial assets in the United States, substantially all of our assets and the assets of our directors and executive officers (and certain experts named herein) are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors and executive officers or to enforce against us or these persons judgments obtained in the United States courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of United States securities laws. We have been advised by our Japanese counsel, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Japan, in original actions or in actions to enforce judgments of United States courts, of civil liabilities based solely on United States securities laws.

 

Our agent for service of process is Nomura Holding America Inc.

 

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CLEARANCE AND SETTLEMENT

 

General

 

The principal clearing systems we will use are the book-entry systems operated by DTC in the United States, Clearstream in Luxembourg and Euroclear in Belgium. These systems have established electronic securities and payment, transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or indirectly through custodians and depositaries. These links allow securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates.

 

Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market. Where payments for senior debt securities we issue in global form will be made in U.S. dollars, these procedures can be used for cross-market transfers and the senior debt securities will be cleared and settled on a delivery against payment basis.

 

If we issue senior debt securities to you outside of the United States, its territories and possessions, you must initially hold your interests through Euroclear, Clearstream or the clearance system that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Cross-market transfers of securities that are not in global form may be cleared and settled in accordance with other procedures that may be established among the clearing systems for these securities.

 

Clearstream and Euroclear hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear on the books of their respective depositories, which, in the case of securities for which a global security in registered form is deposited with DTC, in turn hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositories’ names on the books of DTC.

 

The policies of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to your interest in securities held by them. This is also true for any other clearance system that may be named in a prospectus supplement. We have no responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. We have no responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. We also do not supervise these systems in any way. This is also true for any other clearing system indicated in a prospectus supplement.

 

DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their participants perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time. The description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.

 

DTC

 

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities deposited with it by its participants and facilitates the settlement of transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is partially owned by these participants or their representatives. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant of DTC, either directly or indirectly. According to DTC, the foregoing information with respect to

 

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DTC has been provided to the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind. The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC.

 

If the senior debt securities are issued in the form of registered global securities, such senior debt security will be deposited with DTC on the closing date. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder. If we issue one global note with respect to each series of senior debt securities to DTC, DTC will keep a computerized record of its participants whose clients have purchased the senior debt securities. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who purchased the securities. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated senior debt security, a global security may not be transferred; except that DTC, its nominees, and their successors may transfer a global security as a whole to one another.

 

Beneficial interests in the global securities will be shown on, and transfers of the global securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. We will wire principal and interest payments to DTC’s nominee. We and the trustee will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global securities for all purposes. Accordingly, we, the trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global securities to owners of beneficial interests in the global security.

 

It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest, to credit direct participants’ accounts on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interest in the global security as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting right to direct participants whose accounts are credited with securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interest in the global security, and voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and owners of beneficial interest, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name”. However, payments will be the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the trustee or us.

 

Clearstream

 

Clearstream was incorporated as a limited liability company under Luxembourg law. Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream customers through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream customers, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities, securities lending and borrowing and collateral management. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in a number of countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., the operator of the Euroclear System, to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.

 

As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream customers are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. In the United States, Clearstream customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks, and may include the underwriters for the senior debt securities offered under any prospectus supplement. Other institutions that maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream customer may obtain indirect access to Clearstream. Clearstream is an indirect participant in DTC.

 

Distributions with respect to the senior debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by Clearstream.

 

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Euroclear

 

Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Transactions may now be settled in many currencies, including United States dollars and Japanese yen. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for cross-market transfers with DTC described below.

 

Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the Euroclear Operator, under contract with Euroclear Clearance System plc, a U.K. corporation, or the Euroclear Clearance System. The Euroclear Operator conducts all operations, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Euroclear Clearance System. The Euroclear Clearance System establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters for the senior debt securities offered under any prospectus supplement. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect participant in DTC.

 

Distributions with respect to the securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Euroclear terms and conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Operator and by Euroclear.

 

Settlement

 

You will be required to make your initial payment for the senior debt securities in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream participants and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

 

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream participants or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (based on European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving senior debt securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.

 

Because of time-zone differences, credits of securities received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream participants or Euroclear participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of securities by or through a Clearstream customer or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

 

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Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. The securities have been accepted for clearance through DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear.

 

Other Clearing Systems

 

We may choose any other clearing system for a particular series of senior debt securities. The clearance and settlement procedures for the clearing system we choose will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS

 

A fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, (each an “ERISA Plan”) should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the ERISA Plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the senior debt securities. Among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the ERISA Plan, and whether the investment would involve a prohibited transaction under Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code.

 

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans, as well as individual retirement accounts, Keogh plans and other plans that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code (together with ERISA Plans, “Plans”), and entities whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in such entity (referred to herein as a Plan Asset Entity), from engaging in certain transactions involving “plan assets” with persons who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Code with respect to the Plan or Plan Asset Entity. A violation of these prohibited transaction rules may result in excise tax or other liabilities under Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code for those persons, unless exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption.

 

Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans (as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and non-U.S. plans (as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) (“Non-ERISA Arrangements”), are not subject to the prohibited transaction restrictions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code but may be subject to similar provisions under applicable federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws (“Similar Laws”).

 

The acquisition or holding of the senior debt securities by a Plan or a Plan Asset Entity with respect to which we or certain of our affiliates is or becomes a party in interest or disqualified person may result in a prohibited transaction under Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the senior debt securities are acquired and held pursuant to an applicable exemption. The U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, or PTCEs, that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions that may arise from the acquisition or holding of the senior debt securities. These exemptions include PTCE 84-14 (for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTCE 90-1 (for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTCE 91-38 (for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds), PTCE 95-60 (for transactions involving certain insurance company general accounts), and PTCE 96-23 (for transactions managed by in-house asset managers). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Code Section 4975(d)(20) provide an exemption (the “service provider exemption”) for the acquisition and disposition of securities, provided that neither the issuer of securities nor any of its affiliates have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of any Plan involved in the transaction, and provided further that the Plan pays no more and receives no less than “adequate consideration” (within the meaning of the service provider exemption) in connection with the transaction. There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied.

 

Because of the foregoing, the senior debt securities should not be acquired or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement, unless such acquisition and holding will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or a similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

 

Any acquiror or holder of the senior debt securities or any interest therein will be deemed to have represented by its acquisition and holding of the senior debt securities that it either (1) is not a Plan, a Plan Asset Entity or a Non-ERISA Arrangement and is not acquiring the senior debt securities on behalf of or with the assets

 

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of any Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement or (2) the acquisition and holding of the senior debt securities will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a similar violation under any applicable Similar Laws.

 

The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive. Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the senior debt securities on behalf of or with the assets of any Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement consult with their counsel regarding the availability of exemptive relief under ERISA, the Code or Similar Laws, as applicable. Purchasers of the senior debt securities have exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase and holding of the senior debt securities do not violate the fiduciary responsibility or prohibited transaction rules of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable Similar Laws. The sale of any senior debt securities to a Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any such Plans, Plan Asset Entities or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement or that such investment is appropriate for such Plans, Plan Asset Entities or Non-ERISA Arrangements generally or any particular Plan, Plan Asset Entity or Non-ERISA Arrangement.

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Article 330 and Article 402, paragraph 3 of the Companies Act of Japan, or the Companies Act, make the provisions of Section 10, Chapter 2, Book III of the Civil Code of Japan, or the Civil Code, applicable to the relationship between Nomura and its directors and executive officers, respectively. Section 10 of the Civil Code, among other things, provides in effect that:

 

(1) Any director or executive officer of a company may demand advance payment of expenses which are considered necessary for the management of the affairs of such company entrusted to him or her;

 

(2) If a director or an executive officer of a company has defrayed any expenses which are considered necessary for the management of the affairs of such company entrusted to him or her, he or she may demand reimbursement therefor and interest thereon after the date of payment from such company;

 

(3) If a director or an executive officer has assumed an obligation necessary for the management of the affairs of a company entrusted to him or her, he or she may require such company to perform it in his or her place or, if it is not due, to furnish adequate security; and

 

(4) If a director or an executive officer, without any fault on his or her part, sustains damage through the management of the affairs of a company entrusted to him or her, he or she may demand compensation therefor from such company.

 

In accordance with Article 427, Paragraph 1 of the Companies Act and Nomura’s Articles of Incorporation, Nomura has entered into an agreement with each of its directors who does not serve as an executive director (other than the chairman of the board of directors) that limits such director’s liabilities to Nomura for damages suffered by Nomura if such director acted in good faith and without gross negligence. Liability under each such agreement is limited to either ¥20 million or the amounts prescribed by applicable laws and regulations, whichever is greater. Such limitation is generally enforceable as between Nomura and such directors under Japanese law. Such agreements may not be available for certain violations of U.S. federal securities law and may be determined by courts of the United States to be unenforceable in such circumstances.

 

Further, pursuant to Article 426, paragraph 1 of the Companies Act and our Articles of Incorporation, Nomura may, by a resolution adopted by Nomura’s board of directors, release the liabilities of any directors or executive officers to Nomura for damages suffered by Nomura due to acts of such directors or executive officers taken in good faith and without gross negligence, to the extent permitted by the Companies Act and Nomura’s Articles of Incorporation.

 

Nomura anticipates that any underwriting agreements and distribution agreements it will enter into in connection with the issuance of its securities will provide for indemnification of Nomura and its controlling persons against certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Nomura has in place a directors and officers liability insurance policy, which indemnifies its directors and officers against liability arising from certain acts performed or omission thereof in their respective capacities.

 

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Item 9. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description


  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement for senior debt securities.
  1.2    Form of Distribution Agreement for Medium-Term Notes, Series A.
  4.1    Form of Senior Debt Indenture between Nomura Holdings, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-165049) filed on February 24, 2010).
  4.2    Form of Amended and Restated Senior Debt Indenture between Nomura Holdings, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to the Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-165049) filed on September 8, 2010).
  4.3    Form of senior debt security issued under the Senior Debt Indenture (included in Exhibit 4.1).
  4.4    Form of senior debt security issued under the Amended and Restated Senior Debt Indenture (included in Exhibit 4.2).
  4.5    Form of senior debt security.
  4.6    Form of Specimen Master Medium-Term Note, Series A.
  5.1    Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
  5.2    Opinion of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune.
  8.1    Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as to certain matters of United States taxation.
  8.2    Opinion of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune as to certain matters of Japanese taxation (included in Exhibit 5.2).
12    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
15    Acknowledgment of Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
23.2    Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 and 8.1).
23.3    Consent of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).
25    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee.

 

Item 10. 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:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

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(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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

(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;

 

provided , however , that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of 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) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided , that the Registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

(i) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of the registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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Provided , however , that no statement made in the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

(7) 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 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement 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.

 

(8) 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 foregoing provisions, 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 Securities Act of 1933 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 of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer 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 whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 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 the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Tokyo, Japan, on February 19, 2016.

 

NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

(Registrant)

By:

 

/s/ KOJI NAGAI


Name:

  Koji Nagai

Title:

  Representative Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Registrant and in the capacities indicated as of February 19, 2016.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned directors and officers of the Registrant, do hereby severally constitute and appoint Shigesuke Kashiwagi, Executive Managing Director of the Registrant, Hajime Ikeda, Senior Managing Director of the Registrant, and Takumi Kitamura, Managing Director of the Registrant, (with full power to each of them to act alone) as our true and lawful attorneys and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as directors and officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents or any of them may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with the Registration Statement of the Company on Form F-3, including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) hereto; and we do each hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Signature


  

Title


/s/ NOBUYUKI KOGA


Nobuyuki Koga

  

Director

Chairman of the Board of Directors

/s/ KOJI NAGAI


Koji Nagai

  

Director

Representative Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ ATSUSHI YOSHIKAWA


Atsushi Yoshikawa

  

Director

Representative Executive Officer

/s/ HIROYUKI SUZUKI


Hiroyuki Suzuki

  

Director

/s/ DAVID BENSON


David Benson

  

Director

 

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Signature


  

Title


/s/ MASAHIRO SAKANE


Masahiro Sakane

  

Director

/s/ TAKAO KUSAKARI


Takao Kusakari

  

Director

/s/ TSUGUOKI FUJINUMA


Tsuguoki Fujinuma

  

Director

/s/ TOSHINORI KANEMOTO


Toshinori Kanemoto

  

Director

/s/ HIROSHI KIMURA


Hiroshi Kimura

  

Director

/s/ DAME CLARA FURSE


Dame Clara Furse

  

Director

/s/ MICHAEL LIM CHOO SAN


Michael Lim Choo San

  

Director

/s/ SHIGESUKE KASHIWAGI


Shigesuke Kashiwagi

  

Executive Managing Director

(Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ DAVID FINDLAY


David Findlay

  

Senior Managing Director

(Authorized Representative in the United States)

 

II-6


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description


  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement for senior debt securities.
  1.2    Form of Distribution Agreement for Medium-Term Notes, Series A.
  4.1    Form of Senior Debt Indenture between Nomura Holdings, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-165049) filed on February 24, 2010).
  4.2    Form of Amended and Restated Senior Debt Indenture between Nomura Holdings, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to the Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-165049) filed on September 8, 2010).
  4.3    Form of senior debt security issued under the Senior Debt Indenture (included in Exhibit 4.1).
  4.4    Form of senior debt security issued under the Amended and Restated Senior Debt Indenture (included in Exhibit 4.2).
  4.5    Form of senior debt security.
  4.6    Form of Specimen Master Medium-Term Note, Series A.
  5.1    Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
  5.2    Opinion of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune.
  8.1    Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as to certain matters of United States taxation.
  8.2    Opinion of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune as to certain matters of Japanese taxation (included in Exhibit 5.2).
12    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
15    Acknowledgment of Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
23.2    Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).
23.3    Consent of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24    Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).
25    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee.

 

II-7

Exhibit 1.1

 

NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

(a joint stock corporation organized under the laws of Japan)

 

$[    ]

[    ]% Senior Notes due 20[    ]

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

[            ], 2016

 

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

as Representative of the several Underwriters

 

c/o Nomura Securities International, Inc.

Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street

New York, New York 10019-7316

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc., a joint stock corporation with limited liability organized under the laws of Japan (the “ Company ”), confirms its agreement with each of the Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Nomura Securities International, Inc. is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “ Representative ”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters outside Japan, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective principal amounts set forth in said Schedule A of $[    ] aggregate principal amount of the Company’s [    ]% Senior Notes due 20[    ] (the “ Securities ”). The Securities are to be issued pursuant to an indenture to be dated on or around [                    ] (the “ Indenture ”) between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”). The Securities will be issued in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”). The term “Indenture” as used herein includes any Officers’ Certificate (as defined in the Indenture) delivered, and any Board Resolution (as defined in the Indenture) adopted, in each case pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture, to establish the form and terms of the Securities. The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities outside Japan as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

 

The Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) an automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-[            ]), including the related preliminary prospectus, which registration statement became effective upon filing with the Commission under Rule 462(e) (“ Rule 462(e) ”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission (the “ 1933 Act Regulations ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”). Such registration statement covers the registration of the Securities under the 1933 Act. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus supplement in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) (“ Rule 424(b) ”) of the 1933 Act Regulations. Any information included in such prospectus supplement that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of and included in such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the 1933 Act is referred to as “ Rule 430 Information .” Each prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Securities that omitted Rule 430 Information is herein called a “ preliminary prospectus .” Such registration statement, at any given time, including the amendments thereto to such time, the exhibits (excluding the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 (“ Form T-1 ”) under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ 1939 Act ”)), and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the 1933 Act at such time and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by the 1933 Act Regulations, is herein called the “ Registration Statement .” The Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective is herein called the “ Original Registration Statement .” The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use or made available upon request of purchasers


pursuant to Rule 173 under the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the 1933 Act at the time of the execution of this Agreement and any preliminary prospectuses (in each case including any amendments or supplements to any such preliminary prospectuses) that form a part thereof, is herein called the “ Prospectus .” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copies filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”).

 

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document, including any annual reports on Form 20-F, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties .

 

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company .    The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time referred to in Section 1(a)(ii) hereof and the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

 

(i) Status as a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the time of filing the Original Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the 1933 Act Regulations (“ Rule 163(c) ”)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“ Rule 163 ”) and (D) at the date hereof, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“ Rule 405 ”). The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, and the Securities, since their registration on the Registration Statement, have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on a Rule 405 “automatic shelf registration statement.” The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations (“ Rule 401(g)(2) ”) objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement form.

 

At the time of filing the Original Registration Statement, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

 

(ii) Registration Statement, Prospectus and Disclosure at Time of Sale . The Original Registration Statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) on [            ], and any post-effective amendment thereto also became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e). No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information in connection with the Registration Statement has been complied with.

 

Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Securities made prior to the filing of the Original Registration Statement by the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for

 

2


this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c)) has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163 and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163, including without limitation the legending requirement, to qualify such offer for the exemption from Section 5(c) of the 1933 Act provided by Rule 163.

 

At the respective times the Original Registration Statement and each amendment thereto became effective, at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations and at the Closing Time, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the “1939 Act Regulations” ), and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to (i) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein or (ii) the Form T-1.

 

Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was filed with the Commission and at the Closing Time, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will 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 this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein.

 

The Prospectus (including the prospectus or prospectuses filed with the Commission as part of the Original Registration Statement or as part of any amendment thereto) complied when filed with the Commission in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was or will be (as the case may be) identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued as of or prior to the Applicable Time and the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below), all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any 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 this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein.

 

As of the time of the filing of the Final Term Sheet (as defined in Section 3(c) hereof), the General Disclosure Package, when considered together with the Final Term Sheet, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

 

Applicable Time ” means [            ] P.M. (New York City time) on [            ] or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representative.

 

Statutory Prospectus ” as of any time means the prospectus relating to the Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“ Rule 433 ”), relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the

 

3


Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

 

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B hereto.

 

Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

 

Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representative as described in Section 3(f) hereof, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.

 

(iii) Incorporated Documents . The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “ 1934 Act Regulations ”), and, when read together with the other information in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) at the time the Original Registration Statement became effective, (b) at the earlier of the time the Prospectus was first used by the Underwriters and the date and time of the first contract of sale of the Securities in this offering and (c) at the Closing Time, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein.

 

(iv) Independent Accountants . Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC (“ E&Y ”), the accountants who (i) audited the consolidated annual financial statements (together with the related notes) of the Company prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“ U.S. GAAP ”), included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) reviewed, in accordance with Statement of Accounting Standards 100 of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the unaudited consolidated quarterly U.S. GAAP financial statements (together with the related notes) of the Company as of and for the six months ended September 30, 2015 included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (iii) reviewed, in accordance with the review standards for quarterly financial statements generally accepted in Japan, the Japanese language unaudited consolidated quarterly U.S. GAAP financial statements (together with the related notes) of the Company as of and for the nine months ended December 31, 2015 included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are (x) an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the applicable rules and regulations adopted thereunder by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and (y) independent auditors with respect to the Company under Article 193-2, Section 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (the “ FIEA ”), the Certified Public Accountants Law of Japan and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(v) Financial Statements . The consolidated annual financial statements, together with the related notes, of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income and cash flows of

 

4


the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; and said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

 

The unaudited consolidated quarterly financial statements, together with the related notes, of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified, and said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

 

The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, except as described therein. All other financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the 1934 Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act Regulations, to the extent applicable.

 

(vi) No Material Adverse Change in Business . Since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change (nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change of which the Company is aware) in of affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, results of operations or general affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (C) there has been no change in the long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (D) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

 

(vii) Incorporation of the Company . The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a joint stock corporation with limited liability under the laws of Japan and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture; no steps have been made for the winding up of the Company under the laws of Japan; and the Company is not required to be qualified as a foreign corporation in any foreign jurisdiction, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property, the conduct of business or otherwise, except where the failure so to qualify would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(viii) Incorporation of Subsidiaries . Each of the Company’s Significant Subsidiaries (as defined below) has been duly incorporated or organized, is validly existing as a corporation and, where such concept is applicable, is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Significant Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Significant Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Significant Subsidiary. As used herein, the term “ Significant Subsidiaries

 

5


means Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd., The Nomura Trust and Banking Co., Ltd., Nomura Securities International, Inc., Nomura International plc and Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited.

 

(ix) Capitalization of the Company . The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization and Indebtedness” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (x) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, rank pari passu among themselves in all respects, (y) were not issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company and (z) are listed and admitted to trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Nagoya Stock Exchange.

 

(x) Authorization of Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(xi) Authorization of the Indenture . The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the 1939 Act and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

(xii) Authorization of the Securities . The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture.

 

(xiii) Description of the Securities and the Indenture . The Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and will be in substantially the respective forms filed or incorporated by reference, as the case may be, as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

 

(xiv) Withholding Tax . Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, payments made by the Company to the holders of the Securities who are non-resident individuals or non-Japanese corporations, having no permanent establishment in Japan, will not be subject to any withholdings or similar charges for or on account of taxation under the current laws of Japan or any political subdivision of Japan.

 

(xv) Transfer Taxes. No stamp, issue, registration, documentary or transfer tax or duty or other similar tax or duty (collectively, “ Transfer Taxes ”) and no capital gains, income or withholding tax or other tax is payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters to any Japanese taxing or other Japanese governmental authority in connection with (a) the creation, issuance, sale or delivery by the Company of the Securities to the Underwriter in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, (b) assuming that none of the Underwriters

 

6


has any permanent establishment in Japan for Japanese tax purposes, the sale by the Underwriters of the Securities in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus, (c) assuming that none of the Underwriters has a permanent establishment in Japan for Japanese tax purposes, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or (d) the execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated therein.

 

(xvi) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation, Regulations of the Board of Directors, Regulations of the Executive Management Board, Share Handling Regulations or similar organizational documents, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, Japanese or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary or any of their respective assets, properties or operations, or (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (collectively, “ Agreements and Instruments ”) except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) above, for such violations or defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Regulations of the Board of Directors, Regulations of the Executive Management Board, Share Handling Regulations or similar organizational documents of the Company or any subsidiary or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, Japanese or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary or any of their respective assets, properties or operations or of any Agreements and Instruments. As used herein, a “ Repayment Event ” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary.

 

(xvii) Absence of Labor Dispute . No labor dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best knowledge of the Company, is threatened, pending or contemplated which would, if determined adversely to the Company or the relevant subsidiary (as applicable), singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xviii) Absence of Proceedings . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body or third party, Japanese or foreign, now pending, or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the Indenture or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company and its subsidiaries are a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, including

 

7


ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not, singly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company and its subsidiaries, result in a Material Adverse Effect. (xix)  Enforceability in Japan. Each of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities is in proper form under the laws of Japan to be enforced against the Company, and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence in Japan of this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities, as the case may be, it is not necessary that this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities or any other documents be filed or recorded with any court or other authority in Japan or that any Japanese stamp or similar tax be paid by the Underwriters or purchasers therefrom on or in respect of this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities or any other document to be furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

(xx) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them, except where the failure to own or possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxi) Accuracy of Exhibits . There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.

 

(xxii) Description of Taxation . The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Taxation,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and regulations of Japan and the United States, as the case may be, or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly summarize such provisions or conclusions and are accurate in all material respects.

 

(xxiii) Absence of Manipulation . None of the Company, any of its affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the 1933 Act (each, an “ Affiliate ”), or any person acting on behalf of any of them has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization in violation of applicable laws or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(xxiv) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, Japanese or foreign, is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder and under the Indenture or for the due execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture by the Company, except (A) such as have already been obtained and are in full force and effect, (B) such as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or securities laws of any state of the United States or under the laws of any jurisdiction outside Japan and the United States, and (C) qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act.

 

(xxv) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “ Governmental Licenses ”) issued by the appropriate Japanese national or local or any foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not,

 

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singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxvi) Title to Property . The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (a) are described in the Registration Statement or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, except where the failure of the lease or sublease to be in full force and effect or such claim could not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxvii) Investment Company Act . The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(xxviii) Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls . The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation by the Company of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles or any other criteria applicable to such financial statements and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, all within the meaning of Section 13(b)(2) of the 1934 Act.

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 1934 Act. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries employ disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act and the FIEA is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations under the 1934 Act, the FIEA and the rules and forms of the Commission, as the case may be, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

 

(xxix) Payment of Taxes . There are no pending investigations by any tax authorities, Japanese or foreign, relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which would, if determined adversely to the Company or the relevant subsidiary (as applicable), singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. All Japanese income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise required to be paid, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided, except for the failure to file returns or to pay taxes that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Japanese income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries through the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015 have been settled and no assessment in connection therewith has been made, or could

 

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reasonably be expected to be made, against the Company and its subsidiaries, except where the failure to settle the returns or the making of the assessment would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable Japanese, foreign or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not result in a Material Adverse Effect and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or otherwise required to be paid, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its subsidiaries, in respect of any income and corporation tax liability of the Company and its subsidiaries for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxx) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

(xxxi) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any Japanese or foreign government official or employee from corporate funds, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or equivalent laws and regulations of other jurisdictions (to the extent applicable) in which the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries operate, or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

(xxxii) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the U.S. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions in which the Company or its subsidiaries operate, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, in each case with such exception as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxxiii) OFAC . None of the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or, to the best knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers or employees or any Affiliate of the Company is a person with whom transactions are currently prohibited under any United States sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds from the offering of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any United States sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(xxxiv) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, made any contribution, payment or gift to any candidate for public office where either such contribution, payment or gift or the purpose of such contribution, payment or gift was or is prohibited under any applicable law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction.

 

(xxxv) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material

 

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respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including, without limitation, Section 402 thereof related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 thereof related to certifications.

 

(xxxvi) Anti-social Forces. The Company is not or does not intend to be involved in supporting or operating any “anti-social forces” (as defined under the regulation of Japan Securities Dealers Association) (the “ Anti-social Forces ”) such as, but not limited to, organized crime groups ( bouryokudan ), through financing or otherwise. The Company does not have or does not intend to have, directly or indirectly, financial or capital association with any Anti-social Forces. The Company does not have a person belonging to the Anti-social Forces and serving as an officer of the Company. The Company is not aware of any facts that the Company employs such person as an employee, and the Company does not intend to appoint or employ such person as an officer or an employee of the Company. Further, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances where its management has been materially influenced by the Anti-social Forces, either directly or indirectly.

 

(xxxvii) Pending Proceedings and Examinations . The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

(xxxviii) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the 1933 Act and Section 21E of the 1934 Act) contained in the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

(xxxix) Personal Information Protection Law . The Company and its subsidiaries are and have been in compliance with the Personal Information Protection Law of Japan, except where such non-compliance would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xl) Receivership / Winding-up . No receiver or liquidator (or similar person) has been appointed in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or in respect of any part of the assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; no resolution, order of any court, regulatory or governmental body or otherwise, or petition or application for an order has been passed, made or presented for the winding up of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for the protection of them from their creditors; and neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is otherwise insolvent.

 

(xli) Listing of the Securities . The Company has obtained approval-in-principle for the Securities to be listed on the [Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the “ SGX-ST ”)] [Professional Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange (the “ LSE ”)], and such approval-in-principle has not been revoked.

 

(b) Officer’s Certificates .    Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing .

 

(a) Securities .    On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price of $[    ] per Security, the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

 

(b) Payment .    Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, the Securities shall be made at [                ] (New York City time) on [                    ] (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than [    ] Business Days (as defined below) after such date as shall be

 

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agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “ Closing Time ”). “ Business Day ” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is a day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in New York City and Tokyo.

 

Payment of the purchase price for the Securities shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representative, for the respective accounts of the Underwriters, of the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase. The Representative, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

 

(c) Transfer Taxes .    The Company will bear and pay any Transfer Taxes, including any interest and penalties, on the creation, issuance and sale of the Securities and their initial resale to subsequent purchasers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and on the execution and delivery of this Agreement and any value-added tax payable in connection with the expense reimbursement payable by the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(d) Denominations; Registration .    The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more global Securities in book-entry form which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with DTC. Certificates representing the Securities shall be issued in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, delivered to the Trustee as custodian, and issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The documents to be delivered at the Closing Time by or on behalf of the parties hereto, including the cross-receipt for the Securities and the certificates representing the Securities, will be made available for examination by the Representative at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Ark Hills Sengokuyama Mori Tower 41st Floor, 9-10, Roppongi 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan (the “ Closing Location ”). A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at [    ]:00 P.M. (Tokyo time) on the Business Day prior to the Closing Time, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof will be available for review by the parties hereto.

 

(e) Japanese Selling Restrictions .    The Underwriters agree that the Securities have not been and will not be registered under the FIEA and will be subject to the Act on Special Measures Concerning Taxation of Japan, as amended (the “Special Taxation Measures Act”). Accordingly, each of the Underwriters has represented and agreed that (i) it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Securities in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used in this item (i) means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and governmental guidelines of Japan; and (ii) it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, as part of its initial distribution, directly or indirectly offer or sell the Securities to, or for the benefit of, any person other than, or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, any person other than (i) a beneficial owner that is, for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a person having a special relationship with us as described in Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (such person is hereinafter referred to as a “specially-related person of the Company”) (excluding an Underwriter designated in Article 6, paragraph 10, item 1 of the Special Taxation Measures Act which purchases unsubscribed portions of the Securities from other Underwriters), (ii) a Japanese financial institution, designated in Article 3-2-2, paragraph 29 (all references to which shall be to paragraph 28 with effect from April 1, 2016) of the Cabinet Order (Cabinet Order No. 43 of

 

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1957, as amended) (the “ Cabinet Order ”) relating to the Special Taxation Measures Act that will hold the Securities for its own proprietary account or (iii) any other excluded category of persons, corporations or other entities under the Special Taxation Measures Act.

 

SECTION 3. Covenants . The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a) Automatic Shelf Registration Statement .    If, at any time during the period when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with the distribution of the Securities, the Registration Statement shall cease to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act with respect to eligibility for the use of Form F-3, on which the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission, the Registration Statement shall cease to be an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405) or the Company shall have received a notice from the Commission pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2), the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representative, (ii) promptly file with the Commission a new registration statement under the 1933 Act relating to the Securities or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, which new registration statement or post-effective amendment shall comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act and shall be in a form satisfactory to the Representative, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such new registration statement or post-effective amendment to become effective under the 1933 Act as soon as practicable, (iv) promptly notify the Representative of such effectiveness and (v) take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the distribution of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus; all references herein to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include each such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, if any.

 

(b) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests; Payment of Filing Fees.     The Company, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, 430B or 430C and will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or any new registration statement relating to the Securities, shall become effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement, or the filing of a new registration statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or for additional information, in each case in connection with the Securities, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or such new registration statement, or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will effect the filings required under Rule 424(b) in connection with the offering of the Securities, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) in connection with the offering of the Securities was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the 1933 Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the 1933 Act Regulations (including, if applicable, by updating the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)).

 

(c) Filing of Amendments and 1934 Act Documents; Preparation of Final Term Sheet .    The Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement or

 

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any new registration statement relating to the Securities or any amendment, supplement or revision to either any preliminary prospectus (including any prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective) or to the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, and the Company will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company will prepare a final term sheet (the “Final Term Sheet” ) reflecting the final terms of the Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, and shall file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business two business days after the date hereof; provided that the Company shall furnish the Representative with copies of any such Final Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document to which the Representative or counsel to the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

 

(d) Delivery of Registration Statements.     The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Original Registration Statement and of any amendment to the Original Registration Statement (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a conformed copy of the Original Registration Statement, and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Original Registration Statement and any amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(e) Delivery of Prospectuses.     The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(f) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.     The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or to file a new registration statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, such amendment, supplement or new registration statement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to comply with such requirements, the Company will use its best efforts to have such amendment,

 

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supplement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable (if it is not an automatic shelf registration statement with respect to the Securities), and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment, supplement or new registration statement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement (or any other registration statement relating to the Securities), the Statutory Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus relating to the Securities (including any document incorporated by reference therein) or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

(g) Blue Sky Qualifications.     The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not less than one year from the date hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. The Company will also supply the Underwriters with such information as is necessary for the determination of the legality of the Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

 

(h) Rule 158.     The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

 

(i) Use of Proceeds .    The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(j) Listing of the Securities .    The Company will use its best efforts to have the Securities approved for listing on the [SGX-ST by the Closing Time] [LSE by 8:00 A.M. (London time) on the business day following the Closing Time] or as soon as practicable thereafter and will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain such listing while any of the Securities remain outstanding; provided, that in the event that the Company’s obligations in connection with maintaining such listing become unduly burdensome, the Company may decide to delist the Securities from the [SGX-ST] [LSE] and seek an alternative listing for the Securities on another stock exchange.

 

(k) Restriction on Sale of Securities .    During a period beginning the date of this Agreement and ending the date of the Closing Time, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer or contract to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any other U.S. dollar-denominated senior debt securities of the Company with a maturity greater than one year or any securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, the Securities or such other U.S. dollar-denominated senior debt securities.

 

(l) Reporting Requirements.     The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

 

(m) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.     The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representative, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior

 

15


consent of the Company and the Representative, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission; provided, however, that prior to the preparation of the Final Term Sheet in accordance with Section 3(c), the Underwriters are authorized to use the information with respect to the preliminary and final terms of the Securities in communications conveying information relating to the offering to investors. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.

 

(n) Ratings .    The Company shall take all reasonable action necessary to enable Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“ S&P ”) and Moody’s Investors Service Inc. (“ Moody’s ”) to provide their respective credit ratings of the Securities.

 

(o) DTC.     The Company will cooperate with the Representative and use its best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

(p) No Stabilization.     None of the Company, any of its Affiliates or any person acting on any of their behalf will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that will constitute or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(q) Public Announcements.     The Company agrees that (i) between the date hereof and the date of the Closing Time (both dates inclusive), it will not, and will cause its subsidiaries and all other parties acting on its or their behalf not to, without prior consultation with the Representative, issue any announcements in Japan or elsewhere which could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the offering of the Securities or contradict any information contained in the Prospectus, except for any announcement that is required to be made by the Company or its subsidiaries in accordance with applicable law or in accordance with the rules of any applicable stock exchange after providing notice thereof to the Representative, (ii) between the date hereof and the date of the Closing Time (both dates inclusive), it will, and will cause its subsidiaries and all other parties acting on its or their behalf to, notify the Representative, if practicable, prior to and in any event simultaneously with the issue of any announcement concerning the offering of the Securities which could have a material adverse effect on the price of the Securities or contradict any information contained in the Prospectus and (iii) between the date immediately following the date of the Closing Time and the date three months following the date of the Closing Time (both dates inclusive), it will, and will cause its subsidiaries and all other parties acting on its or their behalf to, notify the Representative, if practicable, prior to and in any event simultaneously with the issue of any announcement concerning the offering of the Securities that could have a material adverse effect on the price of the Securities or contradict any information contained in the Prospectus.

 

(r) Notice to the Minister of Finance.     Following the sale and delivery of the Securities under this Agreement, the Company will submit in a timely manner the reports required to be submitted to the Minister of Finance of Japan through the Bank of Japan under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law of Japan.

 

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses .

 

(a) Expenses .    The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and any amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters, the Indenture and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to the

 

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Underwriters, including any Transfer Taxes and any stamp or other similar duties payable upon the issuance, sale or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters and any charges of clearing agencies in connection therewith, (iv) the fees and disbursements of counsel, accountants and other advisors or agents (including transfer agents or registrars) to the Company, (v) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (vi) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(g) hereof, including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with investigations into the necessity of filings pursuant to rules or regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) all costs of advertising and legal notices, (ix) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, (x) any fees payable in connection with the ratings of the Securities, (xi) any fees and expenses of the Authorized Agent (as defined in Section 13 hereof), (xii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the [SGX-ST] [LSE] (including the fees and expenses of [Singapore] [English] legal counsel), (xiii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations arranged by the Company on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show presentations, (xiv) the costs and expenses (including without limitation any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the sixth paragraph of Section 1(a)(ii) hereof, and (xv) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company’s obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this section.

 

(b) Termination of Agreement .    If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses incurred, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

 

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations .    The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

 

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Filing of Prospectus; Payment of Filing Fee .    The Registration Statement has become effective and at the Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430 Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) (or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and become effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430B). The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the 1933 Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the 1933 Act Regulations and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).

 

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(b) Opinions and Letters of Counsel for Company .    At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinions and letters, each dated as of the Closing Time, of (i) Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP, United States counsel for the Company and (ii) Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Japanese counsel for the Company, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinions and letters for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibits A and B hereto, respectively, and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

 

(c) Opinion and Letter of Counsel for Underwriters.     At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received an opinion and a letter, each dated as of the Closing Time, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, United States counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such opinion and letter for each of the other Underwriters. Such counsel may state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

 

(d) Officers’ Certificate .    At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change (nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change of which the Company is aware) in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, results of operations or general affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received a certificate signed by an authorized officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to his or her knowledge, contemplated by the Commission.

 

(e) Certificate of Chief Financial Officer.     At the time of the execution of this Agreement and at the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company, dated as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of the Closing Time, respectively, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters with respect to certain financial information contained in the Prospectus.

 

(f) Accountant’s Comfort Letter .    At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from E&Y a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter .    At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from E&Y a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three Business Days prior to the Closing Time.

 

(h) No Legal Impediment to Issuance.     No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any Japanese, U.S. federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Time, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any Japanese court, U.S. federal or state court or any other foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Time, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.

 

(i) Ratings .    At the Closing Time, the Securities shall be rated at least [    ] by S&P and rated at least [    ] by Moody’s and the Company shall have delivered to the Representative a letter dated the Closing Time, from

 

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each such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory to the Representative, confirming that the Securities have such ratings; and since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a downgrading in the rating assigned to the Securities or any debt securities of the Company by Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd., Rating and Investment Information, Inc. or any “nationally recognized statistical rating agency,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, and no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review its rating of the Securities or any debt securities of the Company.

 

(j) DTC.     At the Closing Time, the Securities shall have been designated eligible for clearing and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

(k) Approval of Listing .    The [listing of the Securities on the SGX-ST will become effective by the Closing Time] [final terms of the Securities will have been submitted to the LSE by the Closing Time].

 

(l) Additional Documents .    At the Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.

 

(m) Termination of Agreement .    If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 4(b), 6 through 8, 11 through 19, 22 and 23 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 6. Indemnification .

 

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters .    The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its Affiliates, its selling agents, its and their directors, officers, agents, Affiliates and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

 

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430 Information or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;

 

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representative), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

 

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provided , however , that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430 Information, or any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers .    Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company, its directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430 Information or any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein.

 

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification .    Each indemnified party shall give notice in writing as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representative, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided , however , that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances . No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse .    If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) hereof effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

SECTION 7. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in

 

20


such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

 

The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

 

The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities to the public exceeds the amount of any damages such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 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, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

 

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive . All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

 

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SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement .

 

(a) Termination; General .    The Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), any material adverse change (or any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change of which the Company is aware) in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, results of operations or general affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States or other international financial markets, any act of terrorism, outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company on any exchanges on which such securities are listed has been suspended or materially limited by the relevant governmental authorities or self-regulatory organizations, or if trading generally on the London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or the Tokyo Stock Exchange has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the United States, the Financial Services Agency of Japan, the U.K. Listing Authority or any other governmental authority other than daily limits or ranges imposed in the ordinary course by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, or (iv) if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in Japan or the United States, or with respect to the Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (v) if there occurs any change or development involving a prospective change in Japanese or United States taxation that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Securities or the transfer thereof, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by any relevant authority in Japan, the United Kingdom or the United States.

 

(b) Liabilities .    If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 4(b), 6 through 8, 11 through 19, 22 and 23 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters . If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “ Defaulted Securities ”), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

 

(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

 

(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder and arrangements satisfactory to the Underwriters and the Company for the purchase of such Defaulted Securities are not made within 36 hours of such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

 

No action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

 

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In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “ Underwriter ” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

 

SECTION 11. Notices . 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. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representative c/o Nomura Securities International, Inc. at Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street, New York, New York 10019-7316, Attention: Head of Debt Capital Markets; and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 9-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645, Attention: Treasury and Capital Management Department.

 

SECTION 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or any of its securityholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

 

SECTION 13. Consent to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a) The Company irrevocably consents and agrees for the benefit of the Underwriters that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the federal courts of the United States located in the County of New York and any appellate court from any thereof and hereby irrevocably consents and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive personal jurisdiction of each such court in person and generally and unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself and in respect of its properties, assets and revenues.

 

(b) The Company hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers Nomura Holding America Inc., with offices currently at Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street, New York, New York 10019-7316 (Attention: Legal Department), as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and its properties, assets and revenues, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any action, suit or proceeding brought against it in any such United States or state court located in the County of New York with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and that may be made on such designee, appointee and agent in accordance with legal procedures prescribed for such courts, it being understood and agreed that the designation, appointment and empowerment of Nomura Holding America Inc. as such authorized agent (the “ Authorized Agent ”) shall become effective immediately upon the execution of this Agreement without any further action on the part of the Company or any other person or entity. The Company represents to each Underwriter that it has notified Nomura Holding America Inc. of such designation, appointment and empowerment and that Nomura Holding America Inc. has accepted the same. If for any reason such designee,

 

23


appointee and agent hereunder shall cease to be available to act as such, the Company agrees to designate a new designee, appointee and agent in the County of New York on the terms and for the purposes of this Section 13 satisfactory to the Underwriters. The Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any such action, suit or proceeding against it by serving a copy thereof upon the relevant agent for service of process referred to in this Section 13 (whether or not the appointment of such agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or such agent shall accept or acknowledge such service) or by mailing copies thereof by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to it, at its address specified in this Agreement. The Company agrees that the failure of any such designee, appointee and agent to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon. Nothing herein shall in any way be deemed to limit the ability of the Underwriters to serve any such legal process, summons, notices and documents in any other manner permitted by applicable law or to obtain jurisdiction over the Company or bring actions, suits or proceedings against it in such other jurisdictions, and in such manner, as may be permitted by applicable law. The Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby brought in the United States federal courts located in the County of New York or the courts of the State of New York located in the County of New York and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The provisions of this Section 13 shall survive any termination of this Agreement, in whole or in part.

 

(c) The Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

SECTION 14. Waiver of Immunities . To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to them, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from set-off or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, or from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to their obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives and agrees not to plead or claim any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.

 

SECTION 15. Foreign Taxes . All payments by the Company to each of the Underwriters hereunder shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any and all present and future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereinafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the Company has an office from which payment is made or deemed to be made, excluding (i) any such tax imposed by reason of such Underwriter having some connection with any such jurisdiction other than its participation as Underwriter hereunder, and (ii) any income or franchise tax on the overall net income of such Underwriter imposed by the United States or any political subdivision of the United States (all such non-excluded taxes, “ Foreign Taxes ”). If the Company is prevented by operation of law or otherwise from paying, causing to be paid or remitting that portion of amounts payable hereunder represented by Foreign Taxes withheld or deducted, then amounts payable under this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by law, be increased to such amount as is necessary to yield and remit to each Underwriter an amount which, after deduction of all Foreign Taxes (including all Foreign Taxes payable on such increased payments) equals the amount that would have been payable if no Foreign Taxes applied.

 

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SECTION 16. Judgment Currency . If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder into any currency other than United States dollars, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Underwriters could purchase United States dollars with such other currency in The City of New York on the business day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Company with respect to any sum due from it to any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or any Affiliate of any Underwriter shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day following receipt by such Underwriter or controlling person or Affiliate of any sum in such other currency, and only to the extent that such Underwriter or controlling person or Affiliate may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency. If the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person or Affiliate hereunder, the Company agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Underwriter or controlling person or Affiliate against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person or Affiliate hereunder, such Underwriter or controlling person or Affiliate agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person or Affiliate hereunder.

 

SECTION 17. Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

SECTION 18. Parties . This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and directors, officers, agents, Affiliates and employees referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and directors, officers, agents, Affiliates and employees and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

 

SECTION 19. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

SECTION 20. TIME . TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

 

SECTION 21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

SECTION 22. Amendments or Waivers . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

SECTION 23. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

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Very truly yours,
NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.
By:     
    Name:
    Title:

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

 

NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:     
    Name:
    Title:

 

For itself and as representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Name of Underwriter  


  

Principal Amount

of [    ]% Senior Notes

due [    ], 20[    ]


Nomura Securities International, Inc.

   $[            ]

[                ]

   $[            ]
    

Total

   $[            ]
    

 

Sch. A-1


SCHEDULE B

 

Final Pricing Term Sheet of Nomura Holdings, Inc., filed with the Commission on [                    ]

 

Sch. B-1


Exhibit A

 

FORM OF OPINION AND LETTER OF COMPANY’S U.S. COUNSEL

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

 

Ex. A-1


Exhibit B

 

FORM OF OPINION AND LETTER OF COMPANY’S JAPANESE COUNSEL

TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

 

Ex. B-1

Exhibit 1.2

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

Medium-Term Notes, Series A

 

Distribution Agreement

 

[            ], 2016

 

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street

New York, New York 10019-7316

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc., a joint stock corporation with limited liability organized under the laws of Japan (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell from time to time its Medium-Term Notes, Series A (the “Securities”) and agrees with each Agent as set forth in this Distribution Agreement (this “Agreement”) between the Company and Nomura Securities International Inc. Each of the terms “the Agents”, “such Agent”, “any Agent”, “an Agent”, “each Agent”, “the Purchasing Agent” and “the Selling Agent”, when used in this Agreement or in any Terms Agreement (as defined below) or in the Annexes hereto, shall mean Nomura Securities International, Inc. except at any time when more than one Agent is acting as such hereunder, as contemplated in Section 11 hereof.

 

The Company acknowledges and agrees that Nomura Securities International, Inc. may use the Prospectus (as defined below) in connection with offers and sales of the Securities as contemplated in the Prospectus under the caption “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest) — Market-Making Resales by Affiliates” (“Secondary Market Transactions”). The Company further acknowledges and agrees that Nomura Securities International, Inc. is under no obligation to effect any Secondary Market Transactions and, if it does so, it may discontinue effecting such transactions at any time without providing any notice to the Company. The term “Agent”, whenever used in this Agreement, shall include Nomura Securities International, Inc., whether acting in its capacity as an Agent or acting in connection with a Secondary Market Transaction, except as may be specifically provided otherwise herein.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and to the reservation by the Company of the right to sell Securities directly on its own behalf, the Company hereby (i) appoints each Agent as an agent of the Company for the purpose of soliciting and receiving offers to purchase Securities from the Company when and as instructed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof and (ii) agrees that, except as otherwise contemplated herein, whenever it determines to sell Securities directly to any Agent as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each a “Terms Agreement”), substantially in the form of Annex I hereto or in such other form as may be agreed by the parties to that particular agreement, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof. This Agreement shall not be construed to create either an obligation on the part of the Company to sell any Securities or an obligation of any of the Agents to purchase Securities as principal.

 

The Securities will be issued under the Amended and Restated Senior Debt Indenture, dated January 12, 2011 (as it may be further amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (including any successor trustee thereunder, the “Trustee”). The Securities shall have the maturity ranges, interest rates, if any, redemption provisions and other terms set forth in the Prospectus referred to below as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time. The Securities will be issued, and the terms and rights thereof established, from time to time by the Company in accordance with the Indenture.

 

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

 

(a) An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) on Form F-3 (File No. 333-[            ]) in respect of the Securities has been filed with the


Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, became effective on filing; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company (the base prospectus filed as part of such registration statement, in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the “Base Prospectus”; any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”; the various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto but excluding all Forms T-1 and including any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission and deemed by virtue of Rule 430B to be part of such registration statement, each as amended at the time such part of the registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated February 19, 2016 relating to the Securities, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any reference herein to the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Act, as of the date of such prospectus; any supplement to the Prospectus that sets forth only the terms of a particular issue of the Securities is hereinafter called a “Pricing Supplement”; any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and any documents filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and incorporated therein, in each case after the date of the Base Prospectus, such Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; any reference to the “Prospectus as amended or supplemented”, other than in Section 1(c)(i) hereof, shall be deemed to refer to and include the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including by the applicable Pricing Supplement filed in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof and any other prospectus supplement specifically referred to in such Pricing Supplement) in relation to the Securities to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, in the form filed or transmitted for filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such filing);

 

(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act relating to the Securities (an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Agent through Nomura Securities International, Inc. expressly for use therein;

 

(c)(i) With respect to any issue of Securities to be sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the “Applicable Time” will be such time on the date of such Terms Agreement as is specified therein as the Applicable Time, and the “Pricing Disclosure Package” will be the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at the Applicable Time together with (A) the information referenced in Schedule II(b) to such Terms Agreement and (B) such other documents, if any, as may be listed in Schedule II(a) to such Terms Agreement, taken together; (ii) with respect to each such issue of Securities, the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements

 

2


therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and (iii) with respect to each such issue of Securities, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule II(a) to the applicable Terms Agreement, if any, will not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and, taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 1(c) shall not apply to statements or omissions made in any Pricing Disclosure Package or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Agent expressly for use therein;

 

(d) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Agent expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to a particular issuance of Securities; and no such documents will be filed with the Commission after the Commission’s close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of the applicable Terms Agreement and prior to the date of execution of such Terms Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule II(c) to such Terms Agreement;

 

(e) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Agent expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to relate to a particular issuance of Securities;

 

(f)(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries (as defined below) has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there has not been any material adverse change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any material adverse change (or any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change of which the Company is aware) in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, results of operations or general affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), otherwise, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), than as set forth or

 

3


contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented. As used herein, the term “Significant Subsidiaries” means Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., Nomura Asset Management Co., Ltd., The Nomura Trust and Banking Co., Ltd., Nomura Securities International, Inc., Nomura International plc and Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited;

 

(g) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a joint stock corporation with limited liability under the laws of Japan, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

 

(h) Each of the Company’s Significant Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized, is validly existing as a corporation and, where such concept is applicable, is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Significant Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Significant Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Significant Subsidiary;

 

(i) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;

 

(j) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor pursuant to the Indenture, this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and the Indenture conforms, and the Securities of any particular issuance of Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to relate to such issuance of Securities;

 

(k) The issue and sale of the Securities, the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and any Terms Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject (except for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of its Articles of Incorporation, Regulations of the Board of Directors, Regulations of the Executive Management Board, Share Handling Regulations or similar organizational documents or any law, statute or any order, rule or

 

4


regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities, the issue and sale of the Securities by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Commencement Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof), obtained under the Act or the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the solicitation by such Agent of offers to purchase Securities from the Company and with purchases of Securities by such Agent as principal, as the case may be, in each case in the manner contemplated hereby;

 

(l) The statements set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented under the captions “Description of Senior Debt Securities”, “Description of Notes” and “Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption “Taxation”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair;

 

(m) The Company is not and, after giving effect to each offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

 

(n)(i)(A) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus) and (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act, the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act; and (ii) at the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Securities, and at the time of signing of the Terms Agreement, the Company was not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act;

 

(o) Except as described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, payments made by the Company to the holders of the Securities who are non-resident individuals or non-Japanese corporations, having no permanent establishment in Japan, will not be subject to any withholdings or similar charges for or on account of taxation under the current laws of Japan or any political subdivision of Japan;

 

(p) Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC, the accountants who certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, are (i) an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the applicable rules and regulations adopted thereunder by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and (ii) independent auditors with respect to the Company under Article 193-2, Section 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan, as amended (the “FIEA”), the Certified Public Accountants Law of Japan and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder;

 

(q) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation by the Company of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles or any other criteria applicable to such financial statements and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any

 

5


differences, all within the meaning of Section 13(b)(2) of the Exchange Act; (r) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries employ disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act and the FIEA is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, the FIEA and the rules and forms of the Commission, as the case may be, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure;

 

(s) The consolidated annual financial statements (and, if applicable, the unaudited consolidated quarterly financial statements), in each case together with the related notes, of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statements of income, changes in equity, comprehensive income and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified, and said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented; all other financial information included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby; all disclosures contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Act, to the extent applicable;

 

(t) No stamp, issue, registration, documentary or transfer tax or duty or other similar tax or duty (collectively, “Transfer Taxes”) and no capital gains, income or withholding tax or other tax is payable by or on behalf of the Agents to any Japanese taxing or other Japanese governmental authority in connection with (a) the creation, issuance, sale or delivery by the Company of the Securities to the Agents in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, (b) assuming that none of the Agents has any permanent establishment in Japan for Japanese tax purposes, the sale by the Agents of the Securities in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus, (c) assuming that none of the Agents has a permanent establishment in Japan for Japanese tax purposes, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement or (d) the execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated therein;

 

(u) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body or third party, Japanese or foreign, now pending, or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the Indenture or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company and its subsidiaries are a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not, singly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company and its subsidiaries, result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(v) Each of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities is in proper form under the laws of Japan to be enforced against the Company, and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or

 

6


admissibility into evidence in Japan of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities, as the case may be, it is not necessary that this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities or any other documents be filed or recorded with any court or other authority in Japan or that any Japanese stamp or similar tax be paid by the Agents or purchasers therefrom on or in respect of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities or any other document to be furnished hereunder or thereunder;

 

(w) None of the Company, any of its affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Act, or any person acting on behalf of any of them has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization in violation of applicable laws or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities;

 

(x) The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Japanese national or local or any foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(y) There are no pending investigations by any tax authorities, Japanese or foreign, relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which would, if determined adversely to the Company or the relevant subsidiary (as applicable), singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. All Japanese income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise required to be paid have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided, except for the failure to file returns or to pay taxes that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Japanese income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries through the latest fiscal year have been settled and no assessment in connection therewith has been made, or could reasonably be expected to be made, against the Company and its subsidiaries, except where the failure to settle the returns or the making of the assessment would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable Japanese, foreign or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or otherwise required to be paid, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its subsidiaries, in respect of any income and corporation tax liability of the Company and its subsidiaries for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(z) Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects;

 

(aa) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation, Regulations of the Board of Directors, Regulations of the Executive Management Board, Share Handling Regulations or similar organizational documents, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, Japanese or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary or any of their respective assets, properties or operations, and (iii) neither the

 

7


Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) above, for such violations or defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(bb) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any Japanese or foreign government official or employee from corporate funds, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or equivalent laws and regulations of other jurisdictions (to the extent applicable) in which the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries operate, or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment;

 

(cc) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the U.S. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions in which the Company or its subsidiaries operate, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, in each case with such exception as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(dd) None of the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or, to the best knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers or employees or any affiliate of the Company is a person with whom transactions are currently prohibited under any United States sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds from the offering of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any United States sanctions administered by OFAC;

 

(ee) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, made any contribution, payment or gift to any candidate for public office where either such contribution, payment or gift or the purpose of such contribution, payment or gift was or is prohibited under any applicable law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction;

 

(ff) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including, without limitation, Section 402 thereof related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 thereof related to certifications;

 

(gg) The Company is not or does not intend to be involved in supporting or operating any “anti-social forces” (as defined under the regulations of the Japan Securities Dealers Association) (the “Anti-social Forces”) such as, but not limited to, organized crime groups ( bouryokudan ), through financing or otherwise. The Company does not have or does not intend to have, directly or indirectly, financial or capital association with any Anti-social Forces. The Company does not have a person belonging to the Anti-social Forces and serving as an officer of the Company. The Company is not aware of any facts that the Company employs such person as an employee,

 

8


and the Company does not intend to appoint or employ such person as an officer or an employee of the Company. Further, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances where its management has been materially influenced by the Anti-social Forces, either directly or indirectly;

 

(hh) The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Securities;

 

(ii) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith; and

 

(jj) Upon issuance, the Securities will be admitted to trading on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited.

 

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters .

 

(a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each of the Agents hereby severally and not jointly agrees, upon receipt of instructions from the Company, to act as agent of the Company and to use its reasonable efforts to solicit and receive offers to purchase a particular Security or Securities from the Company upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented from time to time. Each Agent shall solicit offers to purchase only Securities having such terms, and shall solicit such offers only during such periods, as the Company shall instruct such Agent. However, the Company reserves the right to sell, and may solicit and accept offers to purchase, Securities directly on its own behalf in transactions with persons other than broker-dealers, and, in the case of any such sale not resulting from a solicitation made by any Agent, no commission will be payable with respect to such sale. These provisions shall not limit Section 4(i) hereof or any similar provision included in any Terms Agreement.

 

Procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of Securities, the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities and the payment in each case therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative Procedure attached hereto as Annex II as it may be amended from time to time by written agreement between the Agents and the Company (the “Administrative Procedure”). The provisions of the Administrative Procedure shall apply to all transactions contemplated hereunder other than those made pursuant to a Terms Agreement. Each Agent and the Company agree to perform the respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by each of them in the Administrative Procedure. The Company will furnish to the Trustee a copy of the Administrative Procedure as from time to time in effect.

 

The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time when the Company has instructed any Agent to solicit offers to purchase the Securities, to instruct such Agent to suspend, for any period of time or permanently, the solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities. As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than one business day in New York City after receipt of notice from the Company, such Agent will suspend solicitation of offers to purchase Securities from the Company until such time as the Company has instructed such Agent to resume such solicitation. During such period, the Company shall not be required to comply with the provisions of Sections 4(h), 4(i) and 4(j) with regard to such Agent. Upon advising such Agent that such solicitation may be resumed, however, the Company shall simultaneously provide the documents (if any) required to be delivered by Sections 4(h), 4(i) and 4(j), and such Agent shall have no obligation to solicit offers to purchase the Securities until such documents have been received by such Agent. In addition, any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations hereunder, including its obligations to deliver the documents required by Sections 4(h), 4(i) and 4(j), with regard to any Agent shall automatically terminate such Agent’s obligations hereunder, including its obligations to solicit offers to purchase the Securities hereunder as agent or to purchase Securities hereunder as principal.

 

9


The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission, at the time of settlement of any sale of a Security by the Company as a result of a solicitation made by such Agent, in an amount equal to the following applicable percentage of the principal amount of such Security sold or in an amount as agreed between the Agent and the Company:

 

Range of Maturities


   Commission
(percentage of
aggregate
principal amount
of Securities  sold)


 

Less than 1 year

     .[    ]%   

From 1 year to less than 1 1 / 2 years

     .[    ]%   

From 1 1 / 2 years to less than 2 years

     .[    ]%   

From 2 years to less than 3 years

     .[    ]%   

From 3 years to less than 4 years

     .[    ]%   

From 4 years to less than 5 years

     .[    ]%   

From 5 years to less than 6 years

     .[    ]%   

From 6 years to less than 7 years

     .[    ]%   

From 7 years to less than 10 years

     .[    ]%   

From 10 years to less than 12 years

     .[    ]%   

From 12 years to less than 15 years

     .[    ]%   

From 15 years to less than 20 years

     .[    ]%   

From 20 years to less than 30 years

     .[    ]%   

From 30 years to less than 40 years

     .[    ]%   

40 years and more

     .[    ]%   

 

(b) Each sale of Securities by the Company to any Agent as principal shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (unless the Company and such Agent shall otherwise agree) a Terms Agreement which will provide for the sale of such Securities by the Company to, and the purchase thereof by, such Agent; a Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Securities by such Agent; the commitment of any Agent to purchase Securities as principal, whether pursuant to any Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth; each Terms Agreement shall specify the principal amount of Securities to be purchased by any Agent pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Securities, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with such Agent in the reoffering of the Securities and the time and date and place of delivery of and payment for such Securities; such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 4 hereof and such Terms Agreement may also include such other provisions (including provisions that modify this Agreement insofar as it sets forth the agreement between the Company and such Agent) as the Company and such Agent may agree upon. Unless otherwise specified in a Terms Agreement, each Agent proposes to offer Securities purchased by it as principal from the Company for sale at prevailing market prices or prices related thereto at the time of sale, which may be equal to, greater than or less than the price at which such Securities are purchased by such Agent from the Company.

 

For each sale of Securities by the Company to an Agent as principal that is not made pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of such Securities and payment therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative Procedure. For each such sale of Securities by the Company to an Agent as principal that is not made pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company agrees to pay such Agent a commission (or grant an equivalent discount) as provided in Section 2(a) hereof and in accordance with the schedule set forth therein (or in such amount as may be agreed between such Agent and the Company).

 

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Each time and date of delivery of and payment for Securities to be purchased from the Company by an Agent as principal, whether set forth in a Terms Agreement or in accordance with the Administrative Procedure, is referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”.

 

(c) Each Agent agrees, with respect to any Security denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, and whether acting as agent, as principal under any Terms Agreement or otherwise (including, in the case of Nomura Securities International, Inc., in any Secondary Market Transaction), not to solicit offers to purchase or otherwise offer, sell or deliver such Security, directly or indirectly, in, or to residents of, the country issuing such currency, except as permitted by applicable law.

 

(d) The Agents agree that the Securities have not been and will not be registered under the FIEA and will be subject to the Act on Special Measures Concerning Taxation of Japan, as amended (the “Special Taxation Measures Act”). Accordingly, each of the Agents has represented and agreed that (i) it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Securities in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used in this item (i) means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and governmental guidelines of Japan; and (ii) it has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not, as part of its initial distribution, directly or indirectly offer or sell the Securities to, or for the benefit of, any person other than, or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly to, or for the benefit of, any person other than (i) a beneficial owner that is, for Japanese tax purposes, neither an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation, nor an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation that in either case is a person having a special relationship with the Company as described in Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (such person is hereinafter referred to as a “specially-related person of the Company”) (excluding an Agent designated in Article 6, paragraph 10, item 1 of the Special Taxation Measures Act which purchases unsubscribed portions of the Securities from other Agents), (ii) a Japanese financial institution, designated in Article 3-2-2, paragraph 29 (all references to which shall be to paragraph 28 with effect from April 1, 2016) of the Cabinet Order (Cabinet Order No. 43 of 1957, as amended) (the “Cabinet Order”) relating to the Special Taxation Measures Act that will hold the Security for its own proprietary account or (iii) any other excluded category of persons, corporations or other entities under the Special Taxation Measures Act.

 

SECTION 3. Closing . The documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7 hereof on the Commencement Date (as defined below) shall be delivered to the Agents at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Ave., New York, New York 10017, at 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on the date of this Agreement, which date and time of such delivery may be postponed by agreement between the Agents and the Company but in no event shall be later than the day prior to the date on which solicitation of offers to purchase Securities is commenced or on which any Terms Agreement is executed (such time and date being referred to herein as the “Commencement Date”).

 

SECTION 4. Covenants . The Company covenants and agrees with each Agent:

 

(a)(i) To make no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (A) prior to the Commencement Date which shall be disapproved by any Agent promptly after reasonable notice thereof, (B) after the date of any Terms Agreement or other agreement by an Agent to purchase Securities as principal and prior to the related Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by any Agent party to such Terms Agreement or so purchasing as principal promptly after reasonable notice thereof or (C) during the period beginning on the Commencement Date and continuing for as long as may be required under applicable law, in the reasonable judgment of Nomura Securities International, Inc. after consultation with the Company, in order to offer and sell any Securities in Secondary Market Transactions as contemplated by the Prospectus (the “Secondary Transactions Period”) which shall be disapproved by Nomura Securities International, Inc. promptly after reasonable notice thereof;

 

11


(ii) to prepare, with respect to any Securities to be sold by the Company through or to such Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Pricing Supplement with respect to such Securities in a form previously approved by such Agent and to file such Pricing Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) under the Act not later than the close of business of the Commission on the second business day after the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first used;

 

(iii) to make no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than any Pricing Supplement, at any time prior to having afforded each Agent a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon;

 

(iv) with respect to any issue of Securities to be sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement, but only if requested by the Agents party to such Terms Agreement prior to the Applicable Time, to prepare a final term sheet relating to such Securities in the form set forth in Schedule III to such terms Agreement and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time required by such rule;

 

(v) to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act;

 

(vi) to file promptly all reports required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities (including, in the case of Nomura Securities International, Inc. in any Secondary Market Transactions during the Secondary Transactions Period), and during such same period to advise such Agent, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or has become effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus (other than any Pricing Supplement that relates to Securities not purchased through or by such Agent) has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Securities, of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(vii) in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus or suspending any qualification, in each case as described immediately preceding clause (vi), to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

 

(b) If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form approved by Nomura Securities International, Inc. and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act; and to make no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus which shall be disapproved by Nomura Securities International, Inc. promptly after reasonable notice thereof;

 

(c) If by the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Securities remain unsold by such Agent, the Company will file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to such Agent; provided that, if at the Renewal Deadline the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to such Agent and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be;

 

12


(d) Promptly from time to time to take such action as such Agent may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as such Agent may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution or sale by such Agent of the Securities (including, in the case of Nomura Securities International, Inc., in any Secondary Market Transactions during the Secondary Transactions Period);

 

(e)(i) To furnish such Agent with copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and with copies of the Prospectus as each time amended or supplemented, other than any Pricing Supplement (except as provided in the Administrative Procedure), in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and with copies of the documents incorporated by reference therein, all in such quantities as such Agent may reasonably request from time to time;

 

(ii) if the delivery of a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the applicable Pricing Supplement in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities (including Securities purchased from the Company by such Agent as principal and including, in the case of Nomura Securities International, Inc., in any Secondary Market Transactions during the Secondary Transactions Period, whether before or after such expiration) and if at such time any event shall have occurred 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 in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify such Agent and request such Agent, in its capacity as agent of the Company, to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase Securities from the Company (and, if so notified, such Agent shall cease such solicitations as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than one business day in New York City later); and if the Company shall decide to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented, to so advise such Agent promptly by telephone (with confirmation in writing) and to prepare and cause to be filed promptly with the Commission an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

(iii) notwithstanding paragraph (ii) above, if during the period specified in such paragraph such Agent continues to own Securities purchased from the Company by such Agent as principal or such Agent is otherwise required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in respect of transactions in the Securities (including, in the case of Nomura Securities International, Inc., in any Secondary Market Transactions during the Secondary Transactions Period), to promptly prepare and file with the Commission such an amendment or supplement and furnish without charge to such Agent as many copies as it may from time to time during such period reasonably request of such amendment or supplement; provided , however , that the Company may elect, upon notice to Nomura Securities International, Inc., not to comply with this paragraph (iii) with respect to any Secondary Market Transaction, but only for a period or periods that the Company reasonably determines are necessary in order to avoid premature disclosure of material, non-public information, unless, notwithstanding such election, such disclosure would otherwise be required under this Agreement; and provided , further , that no such period or periods described in the preceding proviso shall exceed 90 days in the aggregate during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months. Upon receipt of any such notice, Nomura Securities International, Inc. shall cease using the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in connection with Secondary Market Transactions until it receives notice from the Company that it may resume using such document (or such document as it may be amended or supplemented);

 

(f) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an

 

13


earnings statement of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 under the Act); (g) To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Act;

 

(h) So long as any Securities are outstanding, to furnish or make available to such Agent (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission by the Company electronically; and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as such Agent may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to the Commission);

 

(i) That, from the date of any Terms Agreement with such Agent or other agreement by such Agent to purchase Securities as principal and continuing to and including the later of (i) the termination of the trading restrictions for the Securities purchased thereunder, as notified to the Company by such Agent, and (ii) the related Time of Delivery, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of such Agent, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company which are substantially similar to the Securities except pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, or except in an offering of Securities that are not, and are not required to be, registered under the Act or except in connection with a firm commitment underwriting pursuant to an underwriting agreement that does not provide for a continuous offering of medium-term debt securities (other than in Secondary Market Transactions);

 

(j) That each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase Securities hereunder (including any purchase from the Company by such Agent as principal not pursuant to a Terms Agreement), and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement with such Agent, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to such Agent that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the settlement date for the Securities relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Securities);

 

(k) That reasonably in advance of each time any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and each time the Company sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant to a Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of (i) an opinion and letter by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, as United States counsel to the Company, (ii) an opinion and letter by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, as United States counsel to the Agent, and (iii) an opinion of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, as Japanese counsel to the Company, in each case as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to each such Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish to such counsel such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable each of them to furnish to such Agent the opinion or opinions referred to in Section 7(b) and Section 7(c) hereof;

 

(l) That reasonably promptly after each time any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, and each time the Company sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant to a Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of a letter under this Section 4(l) as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Company shall cause the independent registered public accounting firm who audited the financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement forthwith to furnish such Agent a letter, dated the date of such amendment, supplement or incorporation or the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, in form

 

14


satisfactory to such Agent, of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 7(d) hereof but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the date of such letter, with such changes as may be necessary to reflect changes in the financial statements and other information derived from the accounting records of the Company, to the extent such financial statements and other information are available as of a date not more than three business days prior to the date of such letter; provided , however , that, with respect to any financial information or other matter, such letter may reconfirm as true and correct at such date as though made at and as of such date, rather than repeat, statements with respect to such financial information or other matter made in the letter referred to in Section 7(d) hereof which was last furnished to such Agent;

 

(m) That reasonably promptly after each time any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and each time the Company sells Securities to such Agent as principal and the applicable Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of a certificate under this Section 4(m) as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to such Agent a certificate, dated the date of such supplement, amendment or incorporation or the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, in such form and executed by such officers of the Company as shall be satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 7(i) hereof which was last furnished to such Agent are true and correct at such date as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date), or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 7(i) but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date;

 

(n) That reasonably promptly after each time any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, and each time the Company sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant to a Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of a certificate under this Section 4(n) as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to such Agent a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company, dated the date of such amendment, supplement or incorporation or the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to such Agent, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 7(j) hereof, but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the date of such certificate, with such changes as may be necessary to reflect changes in the information derived from the accounting records of the Company;

 

(o) To offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Securities from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by such Agent the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Securities if, on the related settlement date fixed pursuant to the Administrative Procedure, any condition set forth in Section 7(a), 7(e), 7(f), 7(g) or 7(h) hereof shall not have been satisfied (it being understood that the judgment of such person with respect to the impracticability or inadvisability of such purchase of Securities shall be substituted, for purposes of this Section 4(o), for the respective judgments of an Agent with respect to certain matters referred to in Sections 7(e) and 7(g) hereof, and that such Agent shall have no duty or obligation whatsoever to exercise the judgment permitted under such Sections 7(e) and 7(g) on behalf of any such person);

 

(p) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented under the caption “Use of Proceeds”; and

 

(q) If such Agent shows the Company a list of investors to whom such Agent intends to sell any Securities in the initial distribution thereof, to promptly inform such Agent of the specially-related persons of the Company (other than those acting as an Agent or as an agent acting as a securities broker on behalf of and for the account of customers in the ordinary course of business) contained in such list, if any.

 

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SECTION 5. Free Writing Prospectuses .

 

(a)(i) The Company and each Agent agree that the Agents may prepare and use one or more preliminary or final term sheets relating to the Securities containing customary information;

 

(ii) Each Agent represents that, other than as permitted under subparagraph (a)(i) above, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act without the prior consent of the Company and Nomura Securities International, Inc. and that, with respect to any issue of Securities to be sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement, Schedule II(a) to such Terms Agreement will be a complete list of any free writing prospectuses for which the Agents have received such consent; and

 

(iii) The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior consent of Nomura Securities International, Inc. and that, with respect to any issue of Securities to be sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement, Schedule II(a) to such Terms Agreement will be a complete list of any free writing prospectuses for which the Company has received such consent;

 

(b) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; and

 

(c) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or the Pricing Supplement or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to Nomura Securities International, Inc. and, if requested by Nomura Securities International, Inc., will prepare and furnish without charge to each Agent an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however , that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Agent through Nomura Securities International, Inc. expressly for use therein.

 

SECTION 6. Payment of Expenses . The Company covenants and agrees with each Agent that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any Pricing Supplements and all other amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to such Agent; (ii) the cost of printing, producing or reproducing this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, any indenture, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 4(d) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents in connection with, any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities (other than, in the case of Nomura Securities International, Inc., in any Secondary Market Transactions); (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and any transfer or paying agent of the Company and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee or such agent in connection with the Indenture and the Securities; (viii) any advertising expenses connected with the solicitation of offers to purchase and the sale of Securities so long as such advertising

 

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expenses have been approved by the Company; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 6. Except as provided in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, each Agent shall pay all other expenses it incurs.

 

SECTION 7. Conditions of the Agents’ Obligations . The obligation of any Agent, as agent of the Company, at any time (“Solicitation Time”) to solicit offers to purchase the Securities from the Company and the obligation of any Agent to purchase Securities from the Company as principal, pursuant to any Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall in each case be subject, in such Agent’s discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company herein (and, in the case of an obligation of an Agent under a Terms Agreement, in or incorporated by reference in such Terms Agreement) are true and correct at and as of the Commencement Date and any applicable date referred to in Section 4(j) hereof that is prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, and at and as of such Solicitation Time or at and as of both such Time of Delivery and Time of Sale, as the case may be (“Time of Sale” shall mean, with respect to any obligation of an Agent to purchase Securities as principal, the time when the related Terms Agreement becomes effective or if there is no Terms Agreement, the time when the Agent otherwise becomes committed to purchase the Securities); the condition that prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed; and the following additional conditions:

 

(a) With respect to any Securities sold at or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, (i) the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the Pricing Supplement) with respect to such Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; (ii) the final term sheet contemplated by Section 4(a)(iv) hereof and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; (iii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act shall have been received; (iv) no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and (v) all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of such Agent;

 

(b)(i)(A) Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, acting as United States counsel to the Company, shall have furnished to such Agent an opinion and a letter, dated the Commencement Date, to the effect set forth in Annex III hereto and (B) if and to the extent requested by such Agent, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, acting as United States counsel to the Company, shall have furnished to such Agent, with respect to each applicable filing date and each applicable sale date relating to such Agent referred to in Section 4(k) hereof that is after the Commencement Date but is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, a letter or letters, dated such applicable filing date or the Time of Delivery relating to such applicable sale date, as the case may be, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the opinion and letter which were last furnished to such Agent pursuant to Section 7(b)(i)(A) to the same extent as though they were dated the date of such letter or letters authorizing reliance (except that the statements in such last opinion and letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in any case, in lieu of such an opinion and letter, an opinion and letter of the same tenor as the opinion and letter referred to in the preceding clause (A) but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date; (ii) (A) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, acting as United States counsel to the Agent, shall have furnished to such Agent an opinion and a letter, dated the Commencement Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and (B) if and to the extent requested by such Agent, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, acting as United States counsel to the Agent, shall have furnished to such Agent, with respect to each applicable filing date and each applicable sale date relating to such Agent referred to in Section 4(k) hereof that is after the

 

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Commencement Date but is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, a letter or letters, dated such applicable filing date or the Time of Delivery relating to such applicable sale date, as the case may be, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the opinion and letter which were last furnished to such Agent pursuant to Section 7(b)(ii)(A) to the same extent as though they were dated the date of such letter or letters authorizing reliance (except that the statements in such last opinion and letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in any case, in lieu of such an opinion and letter, an opinion and letter of the same tenor as the opinion and letter referred to in the preceding clause (b)(ii)(A) but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date; and in each case described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, each such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

 

(c)(i) Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, acting as Japanese counsel to the Company, shall have furnished to such Agent such counsel’s opinion and letter, dated the Commencement Date, to the effect set forth in Annex IV hereto and (ii) if and to the extent requested by such Agent, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, acting as Japanese counsel to the Company, shall have furnished to such Agent, with respect to each applicable filing date and each applicable sale date relating to such Agent referred to in Section 4(k) hereof that is after the Commencement Date but is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, a letter or letters, dated such applicable filing date or the Time of Delivery relating to such applicable sale date, as the case may be, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the opinion and letter which were last furnished to such Agent pursuant to Section 7(c)(i) to the same extent as though they were dated the date of such letter or letters authorizing reliance (except that the statements in such last opinion and letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in any case, in lieu of such an opinion and letter, an opinion and letter of the same tenor as the opinion and letter referred to in the preceding clause (c)(i) but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date; and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

 

(d)(i) Not later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Commencement Date and on each applicable date referred to in Section 4(l) hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the independent registered public accounting firm who have audited the consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall have furnished to such Agent a letter, dated the Commencement Date or such applicable date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to such Agent and (ii) to the extent requested by such Agent, such independent registered public accounting firm, shall have furnished to such Agent, with respect to each applicable filing date and each applicable sale date relating to such Agent referred to in Section 4(l) hereof that is after the Commencement Date but is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, a letter or letters, dated such applicable filing date or the Time of Delivery relating to such applicable sale date, as the case may be, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the letter which was last furnished to such Agent pursuant to Section 7(d)(i) to the same extent as though they were dated the date of such letter or letters reaffirming the statements made in the letter or letters furnished pursuant to Section 7(d)(i).

 

(e)(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Supplement relating to the Securities to be delivered at the relevant Time of Delivery there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any material adverse change (or any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change of which the Company is aware) in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, results of operations or general

 

18


affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of such Agent so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such Agent of offers to purchase Securities from the Company or the purchase by such Agent of Securities from the Company as principal, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the Securities to be delivered at the relevant Time of Delivery;

 

(f) On or after the Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined on Section 3 under the Exchange Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

 

(g) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in any securities of the Company on any exchanges on which such securities are listed has been suspended or materially limited by the relevant governmental authorities or self-regulatory organizations, or trading generally on the London Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or the Tokyo Stock Exchange has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the United States, the Financial Services Agency of Japan, the U.K. Listing Authority or any other governmental authority other than daily limits or ranges imposed in the ordinary course by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or otherwise in the United Kingdom or Japan or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Japan, (iii) there occurs any change or development involving a prospective change in Japanese or United States taxation that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Securities or the transfer thereof, (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States, the United Kingdom or Japan or the declaration by the United States, the United Kingdom or Japan of a national emergency or war, or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in the judgment of such Agent makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities or the purchase of the Securities from the Company as principal pursuant to the applicable Terms Agreement or otherwise, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the Securities to be delivered at the relevant Time of Delivery;

 

(h)(i) 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, on or after the date hereof or of any applicable Terms Agreement 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; and (ii) with respect to any Security linked to the capital stock of an issuer other than the Company, additional conditions comparable to those set forth in Sections 7(e) and (g) shall have been satisfied with respect to such issuer (with such additional conditions being identical to those in Sections 7(e), (f) and (g), except that, for this purpose, all references to the Company in such sections shall be deemed to mean such other issuer and, if the principal trading market for such other issuer’s capital stock is not the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq

 

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Stock Market, the London Stock Exchange or the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the reference to the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, the London Stock Exchange or the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Section 7(g)(i) shall be deemed to mean either the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, the London Stock Exchange or the Tokyo Stock Exchange or such principal trading market and in Section 7(g)(ii) shall be deemed to mean only such principal trading market), it being understood that nothing in this clause (ii) shall limit or otherwise affect conditions in Sections 7(e) and (g), which shall apply in addition to any conditions applicable pursuant to this clause (ii);

 

(i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to such Agent certificates of officers of the Company dated the Commencement Date and each applicable date referred to in Section 4(k) hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, in such form and executed by such officers of the Company as shall be satisfactory to such Agent, as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of the Commencement Date or such applicable date, as the case may be (and in the case of any certificates provided at a Time of Delivery, also at and as of the applicable Time of Sale), as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to the Commencement Date or such applicable date, as the case may be, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a), (e) and (f) of this Section 7, and as to such other matters as such Agent may reasonably request, together with all such documents as counsel for such Agent and counsel for the Company may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to deliver the opinions and letters required to be delivered by them under this Agreement; and

 

(j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to such Agent certificates of the chief financial officer of the Company dated the Commencement Date and each applicable date referred to in Section 4(n) hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to such Agent at and as of the Commencement Date or such applicable date, as the case may be (and in the case of any certificates provided at a Time of Delivery, also at and as of the applicable Time of Sale), with respect to certain financial information contained in the Prospectus.

 

It is understood and agreed that the opinions, letters and certificates to be furnished on the Commencement Date pursuant to Sections 7(b)(i)(A), (b)(ii)(A), (c)(i), (d)(i), (i) and (j) above may, if Nomura Securities International, Inc. requests a later date in writing, instead be furnished on such later date, and the furnishing of such documents shall not be a condition to any obligations of the Agents hereunder or under any Terms Agreement as of any time prior to such later date.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled or waived in writing by the Agent, when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Agent by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Time of Delivery.

 

SECTION 8. Indemnification and Contribution .

 

(a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Agent, its affiliates, its selling agents, its and their directors, officers, agents, affiliates and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, (1) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such parties may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, 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 will reimburse each such party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred and (2) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, to which such parties may become subject to the extent

 

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of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 8(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; provided , however , that the Company shall 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 Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Agent expressly for use therein.

 

(b) Each Agent will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such parties may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing 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, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Agent expressly for use therein; and will reimburse such parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from its own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought under this Section 8 (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

21


(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 8(a)(2) hereof effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 8 in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the other from the offering of the Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) of this Section 8, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total commissions or discounts received by such Agent from the Company in respect thereof. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or by any Agent on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and each Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (e) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if all Agents were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (e). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), an Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total public offering price at which the Securities purchased by or through it were sold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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 8(e), each person, if any, who controls an Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each Agent’s affiliates shall have the same rights to contribution as such Agent, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The obligations of each of the Agents under this subsection (e) to contribute are several in proportion to the respective purchases made by or through it to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates and are not joint.

 

(f) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the meaning of the Act and each broker-dealer affiliate of any Agent; and the

 

22


obligations of each Agent under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which such Agent may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

 

SECTION 9. Agents . Each Agent, in soliciting offers to purchase Securities from the Company and in performing the other obligations of such Agent hereunder (other than in respect of any purchase by an Agent as principal, pursuant to a Terms Agreement or otherwise), is acting solely as agent for the Company and not as principal. Each Agent will make reasonable efforts to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Securities from the Company was solicited by such Agent and has been accepted by the Company, but such Agent shall not have any liability to the Company in the event such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Company shall default on its obligation to deliver Securities to a purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the Company shall (i) hold each Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (ii) notwithstanding such default, pay to the Agent that solicited such offer any commission to which it would be entitled in connection with such sale.

 

SECTION 10. Indemnities, Agreements, Representations and Warranties to Survive . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements by any Agent and the Company set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Agent or any controlling person of any Agent, or the Company, or any officer or director or any controlling person of the Company, and shall survive each delivery of and payment for any of the Securities.

 

SECTION 11. Termination of Agreement .

 

(a) The provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities from the Company may be suspended or terminated at any time by the Company as to any Agent or by any Agent as to such Agent upon the giving of written notice of such suspension or termination to such Agent or the Company, as the case may be. In the event of such suspension or termination with respect to any Agent, (i) this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with respect to any Agent as to which such suspension or termination has not occurred, (ii) this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the rights and obligations of any party which have previously accrued or which relate to Securities which are already issued, agreed to be issued or the subject of a pending offer at the time of such suspension or termination (including all Securities that may be the subject of a Secondary Market Transaction at any time during the Secondary Transactions Period) and (iii) in any event, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect insofar as the fourth paragraph of Section 2(a) and Sections 4(d), 4(e), 6, 8, 9 and 10 hereof are concerned.

 

(b) The Company, in its sole discretion, may appoint one or more additional parties to act as Agents hereunder from time to time. Any such appointment shall be made in a writing signed by the Company and the party so appointed. Such appointment shall become effective in accordance with its terms after the execution and delivery of such writing by the Company and such other party. When such appointment is effective, such other party shall be deemed to be one of the Agents referred to in, and to have the rights and obligations of an Agent under, this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of such appointment. The Company shall deliver a copy of such appointment to each other Agent promptly after it becomes effective.

 

(c) The Company, in its sole discretion, may increase the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities from time to time without consent of, or notice to, any Agent.

 

(d) The Company and any Agent may amend any provision of this Agreement with respect to such Agent without consent of, or notice to, any other Agent. Any such amendment shall be made in a writing signed by the Company and each Agent that is a party to such amendment. In the event of such amendment, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with respect to any Agent that is not a party to such amendment (without giving effect to such amendment with respect to such Agent) unless suspended or terminated with respect to such Agent pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 11.

 

23


SECTION 12. Default by One or More of the Agents . The following terms shall apply to any Terms Agreement if provided for therein:

 

(a) If any Agent shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Representatives named in such Terms Agreement may in their discretion arrange for the Representatives or another party or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms provided by such Terms Agreement. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Agent the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the Representatives’ opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Agent” as used with respect to such Terms Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 12 (if applicable) with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to such Terms Agreement.

 

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Agent or Agents by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) of this Section 12, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities covered by such Terms Agreement, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Agent to purchase the principal amount of Securities which such Agent agreed to purchase pursuant to such Terms Agreement and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Agent to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities which such Agent agreed to purchase pursuant to such Terms Agreement) of the Securities of such defaulting Agent or Agents for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Agent from liability for its default.

 

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Agent or Agents by the Agents and the Company as provided in subsection (a) of this Section 12, the aggregate principal amount of Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities under such Terms Agreement, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) of this Section 12 to require non-defaulting Agents to purchase Securities of a defaulting Agent or Agents, then such Terms Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Agent or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Agents as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreement in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Agent from liability for its default.

 

SECTION 13. Notices . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in the Administrative Procedure, all statements, requests, notices and advices hereunder shall be in writing, or by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, and if to Nomura Securities International, Inc., shall be sufficient in all respects when delivered or sent by facsimile transmission, personal delivery or registered mail to Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street, New York, New York 10019-7316, Facsimile No. 1-646-587-9394, Attention: Head of Debt Capital Markets; if to any Agent other than Nomura Securities International, Inc., shall be sufficient in all respects when delivered or sent by facsimile transmission, personal delivery or registered mail to the facsimile number or address provided by such Agent to the Company in the document appointing such Agent as an Agent under this Agreement; and if to the Company, shall be sufficient in all respects when delivered or sent by facsimile transmission, personal delivery or registered mail to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Facsimile No. 81-3-6746-7851, Attention: Treasury and Capital Management Department. Any such statements, requests, notices or advices shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

 

24


SECTION 14. Parties . This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, each Agent and the Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8, 9 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and any person who controls any Agent or the Company, and their respective personal representatives, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities through or from any Agent hereunder shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

SECTION 15. Time . Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is a day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open for general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in New York City and Tokyo.

 

SECTION 16. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Agents, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Agent is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Agent has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Agent has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Agent, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

SECTION 17. Integration . This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Agents, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

SECTION 18. Governing Law . This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 19. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process .

 

(a) The Company irrevocably consents and agrees for the benefit of the Agents that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the federal courts of the United States located in the County of New York and any appellate court from any thereof and hereby irrevocably consents and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive personal jurisdiction of each such court in person and generally and unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself and in respect of its properties, assets and revenues.

 

(b) The Company and each of the Agents hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(c) The Company hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers Nomura Holding America Inc., with offices currently at Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street, New York, New York 10019-7316 (Attention: Legal Department), as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and its properties, assets and revenues, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any action, suit or proceeding brought against it in any such United States or state court located in the County of New York with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and that may be made on such designee,

 

25


appointee and agent in accordance with legal procedures prescribed for such courts, it being understood and agreed that the designation, appointment and empowerment of Nomura Holding America Inc. as such authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) shall become effective immediately upon the execution of this Agreement without any further action on the part of the Company or any other person or entity. The Company represents to each Agent that it has notified Nomura Holding America Inc. of such designation, appointment and empowerment and that Nomura Holding America Inc. has accepted the same. If for any reason such designee, appointee and agent hereunder shall cease to be available to act as such, the Company agrees to designate a new designee, appointee and agent in the County of New York on the terms and for the purposes of this Section 19 satisfactory to the Agents. The Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents in any such action, suit or proceeding against it by serving a copy thereof upon the relevant agent for service of process referred to in this Section 19 (whether or not the appointment of such agent shall for any reason prove to be ineffective or such agent shall accept or acknowledge such service) or by mailing copies thereof by registered or certified air mail, postage prepaid, to it, at its address specified in this Agreement. The Company agrees that the failure of any such designee, appointee and agent to give any notice of such service to it shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any judgment rendered in any action or proceeding based thereon. Nothing herein shall in any way be deemed to limit the ability of the Agents to serve any such legal process, summons, notices and documents in any other manner permitted by applicable law or to obtain jurisdiction over the Company or bring actions, suits or proceedings against it in such other jurisdictions, and in such manner, as may be permitted by applicable law. The Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby brought in the United States federal courts located in the County of New York or the courts of the State of New York located in the County of New York and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The provisions of this Section 19 shall survive any termination of this Agreement, in whole or in part.

 

SECTION 20. Waiver of Immunities . To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to them, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from set-off or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, or from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to their obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives and agrees not to plead or claim any such immunity and consents to such relief and enforcement.

 

SECTION 21. Judgment Currency . If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder into any currency other than United States dollars, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Agents could purchase United States dollars with such other currency in The City of New York on the business day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Company with respect to any sum due from it to any Agent or any person controlling any Agent or any affiliate of any Agent shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day following receipt by such Agent or controlling person or affiliate of any sum in such other currency, and only to the extent that such Agent or controlling person or affiliate may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency. If the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to such Agent or controlling person or affiliate hereunder, the Company agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Agent or controlling person or affiliate against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to such Agent or controlling person or affiliate hereunder, such

 

26


Agent or controlling person or affiliate agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to such Agent or controlling person or affiliate hereunder.

 

SECTION 22. Foreign Taxes . All payments by the Company to each Agent hereunder shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any and all present and future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereinafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the Company has an office from which payment is made or deemed to be made, excluding (i) any such tax imposed by reason of such Agent having some connection with any such jurisdiction other than its participation as Agent hereunder, and (ii) any income or franchise tax on the overall net income of such Agent imposed by the United States or any political subdivision of the United States (all such non-excluded taxes, “Foreign Taxes”). If the Company is prevented by operation of law or otherwise from paying, causing to be paid or remitting that portion of amounts payable hereunder represented by Foreign Taxes withheld or deducted, then amounts payable under this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by law, be increased to such amount as is necessary to yield and remit to each Agent an amount which, after deduction of all Foreign Taxes (including all Foreign Taxes payable on such increased payments) equals the amount that would have been payable if no Foreign Taxes applied.

 

SECTION 23. Counterparts. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 24. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof, whereupon this letter and the acceptance by you thereof shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and you in accordance with its terms.

 

27


Very truly yours,
NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.
By:     
    Name:
    Title:

 

Accepted in New York, New York,

as of the date hereof:

 

NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:     
    Name:
    Title:

 

28


ANNEX I

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

Medium-Term Notes, Series A

 

Terms Agreement

 

[            ], 2016

 

Nomura Securities International, Inc.

Worldwide Plaza, 309 West 49th Street

New York, New York 10019-7316

[As Representatives of the several Agents listed on Schedule I hereto]

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Distribution Agreement, dated [    ], 2016 (the “Distribution Agreement”) between the Company on the one hand and Nomura Securities International, Inc. and any other party acting as Agent thereunder on the other, to issue and sell to you the securities specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Purchased Securities”). Each of the provisions of the Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Agents, as agents of the Company, of offers to purchase Securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Nothing contained herein or in the Distribution Agreement shall make any party hereto an agent of the Company or make such party subject to the provisions therein relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities from the Company, solely by virtue of its execution of this Terms Agreement. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement, except that each representation and warranty in Section 1 of the Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.

 

[Notwithstanding the foregoing, insofar as it is deemed to be incorporated in and made a part of this Terms Agreement, the Distribution Agreement shall be subject to, and to the extent necessary amended by, the Letter of Appointment pursuant to which we appointed each of you (other than Nomura Securities International, Inc.) to act as an Agent under the Distribution Agreement on certain terms and conditions specified in such letter. For all purposes of this Terms Agreement, references to the “Agents” shall mean the Purchasing Agents listed in Schedule I hereto, for which Nomura Securities International, Inc. is acting as Representative. Each of you agrees that all determinations to be made by the Purchasing Agents under this Terms Agreement, including the determination whether or not the conditions in Section 7 of the Distribution Agreement have been satisfied and, if not, whether or not any such conditions shall be waived, shall be made solely by Nomura Securities International, Inc., on behalf of the Purchasing Agents.]

 

An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities, in the form hereafter delivered to you will be filed with the Commission.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to [each of] you, and [each of] you agree[s, severally and not jointly,] to purchase from the Company at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto, the principal amount of Purchased Securities set forth [opposite your respective name] in Schedule I hereto. You further agree that any Purchased Securities offered and sold by you to initial purchasers will be offered and sold at the price to public, and in accordance with the provisions relating to commissions and fees, if

 

I-1


any, set forth in the Schedule hereto, unless you and the Company otherwise agree. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us [            ] counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you [,on behalf of each of the Agents,] this letter and such acceptance hereof, including those provisions of the Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between [you] [each of the Agents] and the Company. [It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Agents is or will be pursuant to authority granted to you by such Agent.]

 

Very truly yours,
NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.
By:     
    Name:
    Title:

 

Accepted in New York, New York,

as of the date hereof:

 

NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:     
    Name:
    Title:

 

I-2


Schedule I to Annex I

 

Title of Purchased Securities:

 

Medium-Term Notes, Series A

 

[    ] [%] [Floating Rate] Notes due [    ]

 

Aggregate Principal Amount:

 

[$              or units of other Specified Currency]

 

[Price to Public:]

 

Purchase Price Payable by [            ] [Name(s) of other Purchasing Agents]:

 

    % of the principal amount of the Purchased Securities [, plus accrued interest from                     to                      ]

 

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

 

[By certified or official bank check or checks, payable to the order of the Company, in [[New York] Clearing House] [immediately available] funds]

 

[By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in [next day] [immediately available] funds]

 

Indenture:

 

Amended and Restated Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of January 12, 2011, between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee

 

Applicable Time:

 

Time of Delivery:

 

Closing Location for Delivery of Securities:

 

Maturity Date:

 

Interest Rate:

 

[     %] [Zero Coupon] [Describe applicable floating rate provisions]

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

[months and dates]

 

Documents to be Delivered:

 

The following documents referred to in the Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the Closing:

 

[None]

 

[(1) The opinions and letters of counsel referred to in Sections [4(k)(i)] [4(k)(ii)] and [4(k) (iii)].]

 

I-3


[(2) The accountants’ letter referred to in Section 4(l).]

 

[(3) The officers’ certificate referred to in Section 4(m).]

 

[(4) The chief financial officer’s certificate referred to in Section 4(n)]

 

Other Provisions (including Syndicate Provisions, if applicable):

 

[The provisions of Section 12 of the Distribution Agreement shall apply with respect to this Terms Agreement, and the Representatives referred to in Section 12 shall be Nomura Securities International, Inc.]

 

[expense reimbursement upon termination]

 

[With regard to the offering and sale of the Securities, all determinations and actions required or permitted to be made pursuant to the Distribution Agreement or the Terms Agreement by the Agent(s) or the Representatives (including determinations as to whether or not any closing condition has been satisfied and whether or not any unsatisfied conditions shall be waived) shall instead be made [solely] by [Nomura Securities International, Inc.] on behalf of all of the Agent(s) or Representatives.]

 

I-4


Schedule II to Annex I

 

(a) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses:

 

   

Final term sheet in the form set forth in Schedule III hereto, but only if the Company is obligated to prepare and file such term sheet pursuant to Section 4(a)(iv) of the Distribution Agreement.

 

(b) Additional Information in Pricing Disclosure Package:

 

In addition to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at the Applicable Time, the Pricing Disclosure Package consists of the following information:

 

   

The statements under the caption [“Specific Terms of the Notes”] in, and the information [in the table] on the front cover of, the Pricing Supplement.

 

(c) Additional Documents Incorporated by Reference:

 

I-5


Schedule III to Annex I

 

[To be modified as appropriate and completed prior to execution of this Terms Agreement]

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

Issuer:

Issue:

Type of Securities:

Principal Amount:

Original Issue Date:

Settlement Date:

Trade Date:

Maturity Date:

Interest Rate:

Interest Payment Dates:

Price to Public:

Day Count Convention:

Listing:

Denominations:

CUSIP:

ISIN:

Common Code:

Program:

Program Ratings*:

Underwriters:

 

*Note: A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision, suspension or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agencies. Each rating agency has its own methodology for assigning ratings, and, accordingly, each rating should be considered independently of all other ratings.

 

The issuer has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus relating to the registration statement, the prospectus supplement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to the securities offered in this offering may be obtained by contacting [    ].

 

I-6


ANNEX II

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

Administrative Procedure

 

This Administrative Procedure relates to the Securities defined in the Distribution Agreement for the Medium-Term Notes, Series A, dated [            ], 2016 (the “Distribution Agreement”), between Nomura Holdings, Inc., a joint stock corporation with limited liability organized under the laws of Japan (the “Company”) on the one hand and Nomura Securities International, Inc. and any other party acting as Agent thereunder, on the other, to which this Administrative Procedure is attached as Annex II. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Distribution Agreement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, the Indenture or the Securities. To the extent the procedures set forth below conflict with the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture or the Distribution Agreement, the relevant provisions of the Securities, the Indenture and the Distribution Agreement shall control.

 

The procedures to be followed with respect to the settlement of sales of Securities directly by the Company to purchasers solicited by an Agent, as agent, are set forth below. The terms and settlement details related to a purchase of Securities by an Agent, as principal, from the Company will be set forth in a Terms Agreement pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, unless the Company and such Agent otherwise agree as provided in Section 2(b) of the Distribution Agreement, in which case the procedures to be followed in respect of the settlement of such sale will be as set forth below. An Agent, in relation to a purchase of a Security by a purchaser solicited by such Agent, is referred to herein as the “Selling Agent” and, in relation to a purchase of a Security by such Agent as principal other than pursuant to a Terms Agreement, as the “Purchasing Agent”.

 

The Company will advise each Agent in writing of those persons with whom such Agent is to communicate regarding offers to purchase Securities and the related settlement details.

 

Each Security will be issued only in fully registered form and will be represented by either a global security (a “Global Security”) delivered to the Trustee, as agent for The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (a “Book-Entry Security”), or a certificate issued in definitive form (a “Certificated Security”) delivered to a person designated by an Agent, as set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement. An owner of a Book-Entry Security will not be entitled to receive a certificate representing such a Security, except as provided in the Indenture.

 

Book-Entry Securities will be issued in accordance with the Administrative Procedure set forth in Part I hereof, and Certificated Securities will be issued in accordance with the Administrative Procedure set forth in Part II hereof.

 

PART I: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES

 

In connection with the qualification of the Book-Entry Securities for eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary, the Trustee will perform the custodial, document control and administrative functions described below, in accordance with its obligations as a participant in the Depositary, including the Depositary’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System (“SDFS”).

 

Posting Rates by the Company:

 

The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the rates of interest per annum to be borne by and the maturity of Book-Entry Securities that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by an Agent. The Company may establish a fixed set of interest rates and maturities for an offering period (“posting”). If the Company decides to change already posted rates, it will promptly advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of offers until the new posted rates have been established with the Agents.

 

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Acceptance of Offers by the Company:

 

Each Agent will promptly advise the Company by telephone or other appropriate means of all reasonable offers to purchase Book-Entry Securities, other than those rejected by such Agent. Each Agent may, in its discretion reasonably exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or in part. Each Agent also may make offers to the Company to purchase Book-Entry Securities as a Purchasing Agent. The Company will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Book-Entry Securities and may reject any such offer in whole or in part.

 

The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of its acceptance or rejection of an offer to purchase Book-Entry Securities. If the Company accepts an offer to purchase Book-Entry Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in writing to the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the Trustee.

 

Communication of Sale Information to the Company by Agent and Settlement Procedures:

 

A. After the acceptance of an offer by the Company, the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, will communicate promptly, but in no event later than the time set forth under “Settlement Procedure Timetable” below, the following details of the terms of such offer (the “Sale Information”) to the Company by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means:

 

  (1) Principal Amount of Book-Entry Securities to be purchased;

 

  (2) If a Fixed Rate Book-Entry Security, the interest rate and initial interest payment date;

 

  (3) Trade Date;

 

  (4) Settlement Date;

 

  (5) Maturity Date;

 

  (6) Specified Currency and, if the Specified Currency is other than U.S. dollars, the applicable Exchange Rate for such Specified Currency (it being understood that currently the Depositary accepts deposits of Global Securities denominated in U.S. dollars only);

 

  (7) The Exchange Rate Agent and the Exchange Rate Determination Date, if applicable;

 

  (8) Issue Price;

 

  (9) Selling Agent’s commission or Purchasing Agent’s discount, as the case may be;

 

  (10) Net Proceeds to the Company;

 

  (11) If a redeemable or repayable Book-Entry Security, such of the following as are applicable:

 

  (i) Redemption Commencement Date,

 

  (ii) Initial Redemption Price (% of par),

 

  (iii) Amount (% of par) that the Redemption Price shall decline (but not below par) on each anniversary of the Redemption Commencement Date,

 

  (iv) Repayment date, and

 

  (v) Repayment price;

 

  (12) If an Original Issue Discount Book-Entry Security, the total amount of Original Issue Discount, the yield to Maturity and the initial accrual period of Original Issue Discount;

 

  (13) If a Floating Rate Book-Entry Security, such of the following as are applicable:

 

  (i) Interest Rate Basis,

 

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  (ii) Index Maturity and Index Currency,

 

  (iii) Spread or Spread Multiplier,

 

  (iv) Maximum Rate,

 

  (v) Minimum Rate,

 

  (vi) Initial Base Rate,

 

  (vii) Initial Interest Rate,

 

  (viii) Interest Reset Dates,

 

  (ix) Calculation Dates,

 

  (x) Interest Determination Dates,

 

  (xi) Interest Payment Dates,

 

  (xii) Regular Record Dates, and

 

  (xiii) Calculation Agent; and

 

  (14) Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent.

 

B. After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, the Company will communicate such Sale Information to the Trustee by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means. The Trustee will assign a CUSIP number to the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security from a list of CUSIP numbers previously delivered to the Trustee by the Company and then advise the Company and the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of such CUSIP number.

 

C. The Trustee will enter a pending deposit message through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System, providing the following settlement information to the Depositary, and the Depositary shall forward such information to such Agent and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (or such other entity that assigns CUSIP numbers or any other identification designations being used for the relevant Securities):

 

  (1) The applicable Sale Information;

 

  (2) CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security;

 

  (3) Whether such Global Security will represent any other Book-Entry Security (to the extent known at such time);

 

  (4) Number of the participant account maintained by the Depositary on behalf of the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be;

 

  (5) The interest payment period; and

 

  (6) Initial Interest Payment Date for such Book-Entry Security, number of days by which such date succeeds the record date for the Depositary’s purposes (which in the case of Floating Rate Securities that reset daily or weekly shall be the date five calendar days immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date and in the case of all other Book-Entry Securities shall be the Regular Record Date, as defined in the Security) and, if calculable at that time, the amount of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date.

 

D. The Trustee will complete and authenticate the Global Security previously delivered by the Company representing such Book-Entry Security.

 

E. The Depositary will credit such Book-Entry Security to the Agent’s participant account at the Depositary.

 

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F. Such Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System instructing the Depositary (i) to debit such Book-Entry Security to such Agent’s participant account and credit such Book-Entry Security to the participant accounts of the participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts of such participants and credit the settlement account of such Agent for an amount equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security.

 

G. Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders described in Settlement Procedure “F” will be settled in accordance with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the settlement date.

 

H. Upon confirmation of receipt of funds, the Trustee will transfer to the account of the Company maintained at [    ], [New York, New York], or such other account as the Company may have previously specified to the Trustee, funds available for immediate use in the amount transferred to the Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure “F”.

 

I. Upon request, the Trustee will send to the Company a statement setting forth the principal amount of Book-Entry Securities outstanding as of that date under the Indenture.

 

J. Such Agent will confirm the purchase of such Book-Entry Security to the purchasers either by transmitting to the participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security a confirmation order or orders through the Depositary’s institutional delivery system or by mailing a written confirmation to such purchasers.

 

K. The Depositary will, at any time, upon request of the Company or the Trustee, promptly furnish to the Company or the Trustee a list of the names and addresses of the participants for whom the Depositary has credited Book-Entry Securities.

 

Preparation of Pricing Supplement:

 

If the Company accepts an offer to purchase a Book-Entry Security, it will prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such Book-Entry Security and arrange to have delivered to the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, at least ten copies of such Pricing Supplement, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day following the Trade Date (as defined below), or if the Company and the purchaser(s) agree to settlement on the business day following the date of acceptance of such offer, not later than noon, New York City time, on such date. The Company will arrange to have the Pricing Supplement filed with the Commission not later than the close of business of the Commission on the fifth business day following the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first used.

 

Delivery of Confirmation and Prospectus to Purchasers by Selling Agent:

 

The Selling Agent will deliver to each purchaser of a Book-Entry Security a written confirmation of the sale and delivery and payment instructions. In addition, the Selling Agent will deliver to such purchaser or its agent the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the Pricing Supplement) in relation to such Book-Entry Security prior to or together with the earlier of the delivery to such purchaser or its agent of (a) the confirmation of sale or (b) the Book-Entry Security.

 

Date of Settlement:

 

The receipt by the Company of immediately available funds in payment for a Book-Entry Security and the authentication and issuance of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security shall constitute “settlement” with respect to such Book-Entry Security. All orders of Book-Entry Securities solicited by a Selling Agent or made by a Purchasing Agent and accepted by the Company on a particular date (the “Trade Date”) will be settled on a date (the “Settlement Date”) which is the third business day after the Trade Date pursuant to the “Settlement Procedure Timetable” set forth below, unless the Company and the purchaser(s) agree to settlement on another business day which shall be no earlier than the next business day after the Trade Date.

 

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Settlement Procedure Timetable:

 

For orders of Book-Entry Securities solicited by a Selling Agent and accepted by the Company for settlement on the third business day after the Trade Date, Settlement Procedures “A” through “H” 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

   5:00 p.m.    on the business day following the Trade Date or 10:00 a.m. on the business day prior to the Settlement Date, whichever is earlier

B

   12:00 noon    on the second business day immediately preceding the Settlement Date

C

   2:00 p.m.    on the second business day immediately preceding the Settlement Date

D

   9:00 a.m.    on the Settlement Date

E

   10:00 a.m.    on the Settlement Date

F-G

   2:00 p.m.    on the Settlement Date

H

   4:45 p.m.    on the Settlement Date

I

   5:00 p.m.    on the Settlement Date

 

If the initial interest rate for a Floating Rate Book-Entry Security 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 2:00 p.m. on the second business day immediately preceding the Settlement Date. Settlement Procedure “G” 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 Security is rescheduled or canceled, the Trustee, upon obtaining knowledge thereof, will deliver to the Depositary, through the Depositary’s Participation 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 Security pursuant to Settlement Procedure “F”, the Trustee may deliver to the Depositary, through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System, as soon as practicable a withdrawal message instructing the Depositary to debit such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee’s participant account, provided that the Trustee’s participant account contains a principal amount of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security 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 Securities represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will mark such Global Security “canceled”, make appropriate entries in the Trustee’s records and send such canceled Global Security to the Company. 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, of the Book-Entry Securities represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will exchange such Global Security for two Global Securities, one of which shall represent such Book-Entry Security or Securities and shall be canceled immediately after issuance and the other of which shall represent the remaining Book-Entry Securities previously represented by the surrendered Global Security and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Security.

 

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If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Security is not timely paid to the participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security by the beneficial purchaser(s) thereof (or a person or persons, including an indirect participant in the Depositary, acting on behalf of such purchaser(s)), such participants and, in turn the Agent for such Book-Entry Security may enter deliver orders through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System debiting such Book-Entry Security to such participants’ accounts and crediting such Book-Entry Security to such Agent’s account and then debiting such Book-Entry Security to such Agent’s participant account and crediting such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee’s participant account and shall notify the Company and the Trustee thereof. Thereafter, the Trustee will (i) immediately notify the Company of such order and the Company shall transfer to such Agent funds available for immediate use in an amount equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security which was credited to the account of the Company maintained at the Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure I, and (ii) deliver the withdrawal message and take the related actions described in the preceding paragraph. If such failure shall have occurred for any reason other than default by the applicable Agent to perform its obligations hereunder or under the Distribution Agreement, the Company will reimburse such Agent on an equitable basis for its loss of the use of funds during the period when the funds were credited to the account of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with respect to a Book-Entry Security, the Depositary may take any actions in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then in effect. In the event of a failure to settle with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry Securities to have been represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedure “D”, for the authentication and issuance of a Global Security representing the other Book-Entry Securities to have been represented by such Global Security and will make appropriate entries in its records. The Company will, from time to time, furnish the Trustee with a sufficient quantity of Securities.

 

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PART II: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR CERTIFICATED SECURITIES

 

Posting Rates by Company:

 

The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the rates of interest per annum to be borne by and the maturity of Certificated Securities that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by an Agent. The Company may establish a fixed set of interest rates and maturities for an offering period (“posting”). If the Company decides to change already posted rates, it will promptly advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of offers until the new posted rates have been established with the Agents.

 

Acceptance of Offers by Company:

 

Each Agent will promptly advise the Company by telephone or other appropriate means of all reasonable offers to purchase Certificated Securities, other than those rejected by such Agent. Each Agent may, in its discretion reasonably exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or in part. Each Agent also may make offers to the Company to purchase Certificated Securities as a Purchasing Agent. The Company will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Certificated Securities and may reject any such offer in whole or in part.

 

The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of its acceptance or rejection of an offer to purchase Certificated Securities. If the Company accepts an offer to purchase Certificated Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in writing to the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the Trustee.

 

Communication of Sale Information to Company by Agent:

 

After the acceptance of an offer by the Company, the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, will communicate the following details of the terms of such offer (the “Sale Information”) to the Company by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means:

 

  (1) Principal Amount of Certificated Securities to be purchased;

 

  (2) If a Fixed Rate Certificated Security, the interest rate and initial interest payment date;

 

  (3) Trade Date;

 

  (4) Settlement Date;

 

  (5) Maturity Date;

 

  (6) Specified Currency and, if the Specified Currency is other than U.S. dollars, the applicable Exchange Rate for such Specified Currency;

 

  (7) The Exchange Rate Agent and the Exchange Rate Determination Date, if applicable;

 

  (8) Issue Price;

 

  (9) Selling Agent’s commission or Purchasing Agent’s discount, as the case may be;

 

  (10) Net Proceeds to the Company;

 

  (11) If a redeemable or repayable Certificated Security, such of the following as are applicable:

 

  (i) Redemption Commencement Date,

 

  (ii) Initial Redemption Price (% of par),

 

  (iii) Amount (% of par) that the Redemption Price shall decline (but not below par) on each anniversary of the Redemption Commencement Date,

 

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  (iv) Repayment date, and

 

  (v) Repayment price;

 

  (12) If an Original Issue Discount Certificated Security, the total amount of Original Issue Discount, the yield to Maturity and the initial accrual period of Original Issue Discount;

 

  (13) If a Floating Rate Certificated Security, such of the following as are applicable:

 

  (i) Interest Rate Basis,

 

  (ii) Index Maturity and Index Currency,

 

  (iii) Spread or Spread Multiplier,

 

  (iv) Maximum Rate,

 

  (v) Minimum Rate,

 

  (vi) Initial Base Rate,

 

  (vii) Initial Interest Rate,

 

  (viii) Interest Reset Dates,

 

  (ix) Calculation Dates,

 

  (x) Interest Determination Dates,

 

  (xi) Interest Payment Dates,

 

  (xii) Regular Record Dates, and

 

  (xiii) Calculation Agent;

 

  (14) Name, address and taxpayer identification number of the registered owner(s);

 

  (15) Denomination of certificates to be delivered at settlement; and

 

  (16) Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent.

 

Preparation of Pricing Supplement by Company:

 

If the Company accepts an offer to purchase a Certificated Security, it will prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such Certificated Security and arrange to have delivered to the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, at least ten copies of such Pricing Supplement, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day following the Trade Date, or if the Company and the purchaser(s) agree to settlement on the date of acceptance of such offer, not later than noon, New York City time, on such date. The Company will arrange to have the Pricing Supplement filed with the Commission not later than the close of business of the Commission on the fifth business day following the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first used.

 

Delivery of Confirmation and Prospectus to Purchaser by Selling Agent:

 

The Selling Agent will deliver to each purchaser of a Certificated Security a written confirmation of the sale and delivery and payment instructions. In addition, the Selling Agent will deliver to such purchaser or its agent the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the Pricing Supplement, as applicable) in relation to such Certificated Security prior to or together with the earlier of the delivery to such purchaser or its agent of (a) the confirmation of sale or (b) the Certificated Security.

 

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Date of Settlement:

 

All offers of Certificated Securities solicited by a Selling Agent or made by a Purchasing Agent and accepted by the Company will be settled on a date (the “Settlement Date”) which is the third business day after the date of acceptance of such offer, unless the Company and the purchaser(s) agree to settlement (a) on another business day after the acceptance of such offer or (b) with respect to an offer accepted by the Company prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of such acceptance.

 

Instruction from Company to Trustee for Preparation of Certificated Securities:

 

After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, the Company will communicate such Sale Information to the Trustee by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means.

 

The Company will instruct the Trustee by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means to authenticate and deliver the Certificated Securities no later than 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date. Such instruction will be given by the Company prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the Settlement Date unless the Settlement Date is the date of acceptance by the Company of the offer to purchase Certificated Securities, in which case such instruction will be given by the Company by 11:00 a.m., New York City time.

 

Preparation and Delivery of Certificated Securities by Trustee and Receipt of Payment Therefor:

 

The Trustee will prepare each Certificated Security and appropriate receipts that will serve as the documentary control of the transaction.

 

In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a purchaser solicited by a Selling Agent, the Trustee will, by 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, deliver the Certificated Securities to the Selling Agent for the benefit of the purchaser(s) of such Certificated Securities against delivery by the Selling Agent of a receipt therefor. On the Settlement Date the Selling Agent will deliver payment for such Certificated Securities in immediately available funds to the Company in an amount equal to the issue price of the Certificated Securities less the Selling Agent’s commission; provided that the Selling Agent reserves the right to withhold any payment for which it has not received funds from the purchaser(s). The Company shall not use any proceeds advanced by a Selling Agent to acquire securities.

 

In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a Purchasing Agent, the Trustee will, by 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, deliver the Certificated Securities to the Purchasing Agent against delivery of payment for such Certificated Securities in immediately available funds to the Company in an amount equal to the issue price of the Certificated Securities less the Purchasing Agent’s discount.

 

Failure of Purchaser to Pay Selling Agent:

 

If a purchaser (other than a Purchasing Agent) fails to make payment to the Selling Agent for a Certificated Security, the Selling Agent will promptly notify the Trustee and the Company thereof by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means. The Selling Agent will immediately return the Certificated Security to the Trustee. Immediately upon receipt of such Certificated Security by the Trustee, the Company will return to the Selling Agent an amount equal to the amount previously paid to the Company in respect of such Certificated Security. The Company will reimburse the Selling Agent on an equitable basis for its loss of the use of funds during the period when the funds were credited to the account of the Company.

 

The Trustee will cancel the Certificated Security in respect of which the failure occurred, make appropriate entries in its records and, unless otherwise instructed by the Company, destroy the Certificated Security.

 

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ANNEX III-1

 

[Form of Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]

 

III-1


ANNEX III-2

 

[Form of Letter of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]

 

III-2


ANNEX IV-1

 

[Form of Opinion of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune]

 

IV-1


ANNEX IV-2

 

[Form of Letter of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune]

 

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Exhibit 4.5

[FORM OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITY]

 

(Face of Security)

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THIS SECURITY WILL BE SUBJECT TO JAPANESE WITHHOLDING TAX UNLESS THE HOLDER ESTABLISHES THAT THIS SECURITY IS HELD BY OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A HOLDER THAT IS (I) FOR JAPANESE TAX PURPOSES, NEITHER (X) AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT OF JAPAN OR A JAPANESE CORPORATION, NOR (Y) AN INDIVIDUAL NON-RESIDENT OF JAPAN OR A NON-JAPANESE CORPORATION THAT IN EITHER CASE IS A PERSON HAVING A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 6, PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE ACT ON SPECIAL MEASURES CONCERNING TAXATION OF JAPAN (THE “SPECIAL TAXATION MEASURES ACT”) (SUCH PERSON BEING HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS A “SPECIALLY-RELATED PERSON OF THE COMPANY”), (II) A JAPANESE DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 6, PARAGRAPH 9 OF THE SPECIAL TAXATION MEASURES ACT WHICH COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR TAX EXEMPTION UNDER THAT PARAGRAPH OR (III) A PUBLIC CORPORATION, A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BUSINESS OPERATOR OR CERTAIN OTHER ENTITY WHICH HAS RECEIVED SUCH PAYMENTS THROUGH A JAPANESE PAYMENT HANDLING AGENT, AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE 3-3, PARAGRAPH 6 OF THE SPECIAL TAXATION MEASURES ACT, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR TAX EXEMPTION UNDER THAT PARAGRAPH.

 

INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THIS SECURITY TO AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT OF JAPAN, TO A JAPANESE CORPORATION, OR TO AN INDIVIDUAL NON-RESIDENT OF JAPAN OR A NON-JAPANESE CORPORATION THAT IN EITHER CASE IS A SPECIALLY-RELATED PERSON OF THE COMPANY (EXCEPT FOR THE JAPANESE DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND THE PUBLIC CORPORATION, THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BUSINESS OPERATOR AND CERTAIN OTHER ENTITY DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH) WILL BE SUBJECT TO DEDUCTION IN RESPECT OF JAPANESE INCOME TAX AT A RATE OF 15% (FOR THE PERIOD THROUGH AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2037, SUCH INCOME TAX AT THE RATE OF 15% AND SPECIAL ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX AT THE RATE OF 0.135%, TOGETHER BEING AT THE RATE OF 15.315%) OF THE AMOUNT OF SUCH INTEREST.


NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

[INSERT TITLE OF SECURITIES]

 

CUSIP No                 

        

No.                

           $             

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Japan (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                                                     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of                                           dollars on                                           [ if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert —, and to pay interest thereon from                   or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or made available for payment, semi-annually on          and          in each year, commencing          , at the rate of      % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [ if applicable, insert —, provided that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of      % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such overdue amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the              or             (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest so payable, but not so punctually paid or made available for payment on any Interest Payment Date will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

 

[ If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of         % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand.]

 

[ If applicable, insert — The Company will pay an additional amount to the Holder hereof with respect to withholding or deduction for or on account of taxes, duties, assessment or governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Japan or any political subdivision thereof having power to tax as are provided for, and subject to the conditions stated, on the reverse of this Security.]

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [ if applicable, insert — any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in                , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [ if applicable, insert — ; provided , however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; and provided , further , that if this Security is a Global Security, payment may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary as permitted in said Indenture].

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place. Unless the certificate of

 

2


authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

By

   

Name:

Title:

 

3


(Reverse of Security)

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of                               (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [ if applicable, insert — , [initially] limited in aggregate principal amount to $                      ].                                                                                                  

 

[ If applicable, insert — The Company will pay to the Holder such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received by or on behalf of the Holder or beneficial owner of this Security after any withholding or deduction for or on account of taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Japan, or any authority thereof or therein having power to tax (the “Japanese Taxes”), will equal the respective amounts of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest which would otherwise have been receivable in respect of this Security in the absence of such withholding or deduction. However, no such additional amounts shall be payable with respect to this Security (a) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder who is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation and is liable for such Japanese Taxes in respect of this Security by reason of its (i) having some connection with Japan other than the mere holding of this Security or (ii) being a person having a special relationship with the Company as described in Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Taxation of Japan (the “Special Taxation Measures Act”) (such person being hereinafter referred to as a “specially-related person of the Company”); or (b) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder who would otherwise be exempt from any such withholding or deduction but who fails to comply with any applicable requirement to provide Interest Recipient Information (as defined below) or to submit a Written Application for Tax Exemption (as defined below) to the Paying Agent to whom this Security is presented (where presentation is required), or whose Interest Recipient Information is not duly communicated through the Participant (as defined below) and the relevant Depositary to such Paying Agent; or (c) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder who is for Japanese tax purposes treated as an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation (except for (A) a Designated Financial Institution (as defined below) which complies with the requirement to provide Interest Recipient Information or to submit a Written Application for Tax Exemption and (B) an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation who duly notifies (directly or through the Participant or otherwise) the relevant Paying Agent of its status as exempt from Japanese Taxes to be withheld or deducted by the Company by reason of such individual resident of Japan or Japanese corporation receiving interest on this Security through a payment handling agent in Japan appointed by it); or (d) where this Security is presented for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the date on which such payment first becomes due or after the date on which the full amount payable is duly provided for, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder of this Security would have been entitled to such additional amounts on presenting the same for payment on the last day of such 30-day period; or (e) where such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual Holder and is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or (f) to, or to a third party on behalf of a Holder who would be able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting (if presentation is required) this Security to another Paying Agent; or (g) where the amount of interest on this Security is to be calculated by reference to certain indices (as prescribed by the cabinet order under Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act) relating to the Company or any specially-related person of the Company, except where the recipient of interest is a Designated Financial Institution which complies with the requirement to provide Interest Recipient Information or to submit a Written Application for Tax Exemption; or (h) any combination of (a) through (g). No additional amounts will be paid with respect to any payment on this Security to or on behalf of a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of Japan to be included in the income,

 

4


for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who, in each case, would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of this Security. The obligation to pay additional amounts with respect to any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges shall not apply to (A) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or any similar tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge or (B) any tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on this Security. Where this Security is held through a participant of a Depositary or a financial intermediary, in each case, as prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act (each such participant or financial intermediary being hereinafter referred to as a “Participant”), in order to receive payments free of withholding or deduction by the Company for, or on account of Japanese Taxes, if the relevant beneficial owner is (A) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation (other than a specially-related person of the Company) or (B) a Japanese financial institution or financial instruments business operator falling under certain categories prescribed by the cabinet order under Article 6, paragraph 9 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (a “Designated Financial Institution”), such beneficial owner shall, at the time of entrusting a Participant with the custody of this Security, provide certain information prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act and the cabinet order and other regulations thereunder to enable the Participant to establish that such beneficial owner is exempted from the requirement for Japanese Taxes to be withheld or deducted (the “Interest Recipient Information”) and advise the Participant if the beneficial owner ceases to be so exempted (including where the beneficial owner who is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation becomes a specially-related person of the Company). Where this Security is not held by a Participant, in order to receive payments free of withholding or deduction by the Company for, or on account of, Japanese Taxes, if the relevant beneficial owner is (A) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation (other than a specially-related person of the Company) or (B) a Designated Financial Institution, such beneficial owner shall, prior to each time at which it receives interest, submit to the relevant Paying Agent a written application for tax exemption ( hikazei tekiyo shinkokusho ) (a “Written Application for Tax Exemption”) in a form obtainable from the Paying Agent stating, inter alia, the name and address of the beneficial owner, the title of this Security, the relevant Interest Payment Date, the amount of interest and the fact that the beneficial owner is qualified to submit the Written Application for Tax Exemption, together with documentary evidence regarding its identity and residence.]

 

All payments of principal and interest in respect of the Security by the Company shall be made in all cases subject to any withholding or deduction required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, official interpretations thereof, or law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto. Any such amounts withheld or deducted will be treated as paid for all purposes under the Security, and no additional amounts will be paid on the Security with respect to any such withholding or deduction.

 

[ If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, [ if applicable, insert — (1) on                 in any year commencing with the year                 and ending with the year                       through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [ if applicable, insert — on or after         ,         ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [ if applicable, insert — on or before       ,       %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning        of the years indicated,                                                                                                                               

 

Year


  

Redemption Price


  

Year


  

Redemption Price


                
                
                
                

 

5


and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to                   % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [ if applicable, insert — (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[ If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on             in any year commencing with the year             and ending with the year             through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [ if applicable, insert — on or after           ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning             of the years indicated,

 

Year


  

Redemption Price For Redemption
Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund


  

Redemption Price For Redemption
Otherwise Than Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund


           
           
           
           

 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to                   % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[ If applicable, insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to                , redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [ if applicable, insert — Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than                 % per annum.]

 

[ If applicable, insert — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on                 in each year beginning with the year                          and ending with the year                          of [ if applicable, insert — not less than $                       (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $                      aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [ if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [ if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [ if applicable, insert — , in the inverse order in which they become due].]

 

[ If the Security is not subject to redemption, — This Security is not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity [except as provided in the next succeeding paragraph].

 

[ If applicable, insert — This Security may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Securities plus any accrued but unpaid interest through but not including the date fixed for redemption and any related additional amounts as a result of withholding or deduction for or on account of taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges imposed or levied by or on behalf of Japan or any political subdivision thereof having power to tax, all as provided in the Indenture].

 

6


[ If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

[ If applicable, insert — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

 

[ If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[ If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount . Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all Securities at the time Outstanding to be affected (considered together as one class for this purpose) (such Securities to be affected may be Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any series, may comprise fewer than all the Securities of such series). The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding to be affected under the Indenture (considered together as one class for this purpose) (such Securities to be affected may be Securities of the same or different series and, with respect to any series, may comprise fewer than all the Securities of such series), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities so affected, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of any series to be affected under the Indenture (with each such series considered separately for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

7


If so provided pursuant to the terms of any specific Securities, the above-referenced provisions of the Indenture regarding the ability of Holders to waive certain defaults, or to request the Trustee to institute proceedings (or to give the Trustee other directions) in respect thereof, may be applied differently with regard to such Securities.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

[ If this Security is a Global Security, insert — This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 305 thereof on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.]

 

This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

8


Certificate of Authentication

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

As Trustee

By    
    Authorized Officer

 

9

Exhibit 4.6

 

[FORM OF SPECIMEN MASTER MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES A]

 

(Face of Security)

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THIS SECURITY WILL BE SUBJECT TO JAPANESE WITHHOLDING TAX UNLESS THE HOLDER ESTABLISHES THAT THIS SECURITY IS HELD BY OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A HOLDER THAT IS (I) FOR JAPANESE TAX PURPOSES, NEITHER (X) AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT OF JAPAN OR A JAPANESE CORPORATION, NOR (Y) AN INDIVIDUAL NON-RESIDENT OF JAPAN OR A NON-JAPANESE CORPORATION THAT IN EITHER CASE IS A PERSON HAVING A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 6, PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE ACT ON SPECIAL MEASURES CONCERNING TAXATION OF JAPAN (THE “SPECIAL TAXATION MEASURES ACT”) (SUCH PERSON BEING HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS A “SPECIALLY-RELATED PERSON OF THE COMPANY”), (II) A JAPANESE DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AS DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 6, PARAGRAPH 9 OF THE SPECIAL TAXATION MEASURES ACT WHICH COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR TAX EXEMPTION UNDER THAT PARAGRAPH OR (III) A PUBLIC CORPORATION, A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, A FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BUSINESS OPERATOR OR CERTAIN OTHER ENTITY WHICH HAS RECEIVED SUCH PAYMENTS THROUGH A JAPANESE PAYMENT HANDLING AGENT, AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE 3-3, PARAGRAPH 6 OF THE SPECIAL TAXATION MEASURES ACT, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR TAX EXEMPTION UNDER THAT PARAGRAPH.

 

INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THIS SECURITY TO AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENT OF JAPAN, TO A JAPANESE CORPORATION, OR TO AN INDIVIDUAL NON-RESIDENT OF JAPAN OR A NON-JAPANESE CORPORATION THAT IN EITHER CASE IS A SPECIALLY-RELATED PERSON OF THE COMPANY (EXCEPT FOR THE JAPANESE DESIGNATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AND THE PUBLIC CORPORATION, THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BUSINESS OPERATOR AND CERTAIN OTHER ENTITY DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH) WILL BE SUBJECT TO DEDUCTION IN RESPECT OF JAPANESE INCOME TAX AT A RATE OF 15% (FOR THE PERIOD THROUGH AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2037, SUCH INCOME TAX AT THE RATE OF 15% AND SPECIAL ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX AT THE RATE OF 0.135%, TOGETHER BEING AT THE RATE OF 15.315%) OF THE AMOUNT OF SUCH INTEREST.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC., OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

THIS SECURITY IS A MASTER NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING SPECIFIED HEREIN.

 

1


THE PERSON MAKING THE DECISION TO ACQUIRE THIS SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND THE HOLDER, BY ACQUIRING AND HOLDING THIS SECURITY, OR EXERCISING ANY RIGHTS RELATED THERETO, TO REPRESENT THAT:

 

EITHER (1) IT (I) IS NOT (A) A PENSION, PROFIT-SHARING OR OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN SUBJECT TO THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”) OR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, KEOGH PLAN OR ANY OTHER PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, THE (“CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), (B) AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN SUCH ENTITY (REFERRED TO HEREIN AS A “PLAN ASSET ENTITY”) OR (C) AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS A GOVERNMENTAL PLAN (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(32) OF ERISA), A CHURCH PLAN (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(33) OF ERISA) OR A NON-U.S. PLAN (AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 4(B)(4) OF ERISA) (EACH REFERRED TO HEREIN AS A “NON-ERISA ARRANGEMENT”), AND (II) IS NOT IS NOT PURCHASING THIS SECURITY ON BEHALF OF OR WITH THE ASSETS OF ANY PLAN, PLAN ASSET ENTITY OR NON-ERISA ARRANGEMENT OR (2) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY AND ANY INTEREST HEREIN WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION OF PROVISIONS UNDER APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS WHICH ARE SIMILAR TO THE PROHIBITED TRANSACTION RESTRICTIONS OF SECTION 406 OF ERISA AND/OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE.

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, NOR IS IT AN OBLIGATION OF, OR GUARANTEED BY, A BANK.

 

2


NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, SERIES A

 

(Master Note)

 

This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture (as defined in Section 1 on the reverse hereof) and represents one or more obligations of Nomura Holdings, Inc., a joint stock corporation with limited liability duly organized and existing under the laws of Japan (hereinafter called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) (each such obligation, a “Supplemental Obligation”). The terms of each Supplemental Obligation are and will be reflected in this Security and in the applicable pricing supplement to the Company’s prospectus, dated February 19, 2016 (as supplemented by the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated February 19, 2016, relating to the Company’s Medium-Term Notes, Series A program), relating to such Supplemental Obligation, which supplement and prospectus, as so supplemented, are on file with the Trustee hereinafter referred to and which supplement is identified on Schedule A hereto (each such pricing supplement, together with such prospectus, as so supplemented, a “Pricing Supplement”); provided, however, that from time to time the Company may deliver to the Trustee any other replacement or successor prospectus or prospectus supplement relating to the Company’s Medium-Term Notes, Series A program, in each case identified as relating to Supplemental Obligations issued after the date of such delivery to the Trustee and certified by the President, the Deputy President, the Chief Financial Officer or other executive officer ( shikkou-yaku ) of the Company as may be authorized to act under the Indenture, in which case any applicable pricing supplement to such replacement or successor prospectus supplement, together with such replacement or successor prospectus, as so supplemented, will be deemed to be a “Pricing Supplement”. With respect to each Supplemental Obligation, the provisions of the applicable Pricing Supplement are hereby incorporated by reference herein and are deemed to be a part of this Security as of the Original Issue Date specified on Schedule A. Each reference to “this Security” includes and shall be deemed to refer to each Supplemental Obligation.

 

With respect to each Supplemental Obligation, every term of this Security is subject to modification, amendment or elimination (to the extent permitted by the Indenture) through the incorporation of the applicable Pricing Supplement by reference, whether or not the phrase “unless otherwise provided in the Pricing Supplement” or language of similar import precedes the term of this Security so modified, amended or eliminated. It is the intent of the parties hereto that, in the case of any conflict between the terms of a Pricing Supplement and the terms herein, the terms of the Pricing Supplement (to the extent permitted by the Indenture) shall control over the terms herein with respect to the relevant Supplemental Obligation. Without limiting the foregoing, in the case of each Supplemental Obligation, the Holder of this Security is directed to the applicable Pricing Supplement for a description of certain terms of such Supplemental Obligation.

 

Terms that are used and not defined in this Security but that are defined in the Indenture are used herein as defined therein.

 

This Security is a “Master Note”, which term means a Global Security that provides for incorporation therein of the terms of Supplemental Obligations by reference to the applicable Pricing Supplements, substantially as contemplated herein.

 

The Company, for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or registered assigns: (i) on each principal payment date, including each redemption date, repayment date or maturity date, as applicable, of each Supplemental Obligation, the principal amount and any premium then due and payable for each such Supplemental Obligation, and (ii) on each interest payment date and at maturity, the interest then due and payable, if any, with respect to each Supplemental Obligation.

 

With respect to each Supplemental Obligation, the Company shall pay the principal amount and any premium specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement on the Stated Maturity shown therein, and shall pay interest on such principal, from the date specified therein as the “Original Issue Date” (or in a comparable

 

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manner) (the “Original Issue Date” for such Supplemental Obligation) or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on the Interest Payment Date(s) in each year, commencing on the first such date that is at least 15 calendar days after the Original Issue Date, and at the Maturity of such principal, as follows:

 

(i) in the case of a Supplemental Obligation for which the interest rate is designated as fixed in the applicable Pricing Supplement (a “Fixed Rate Note”), at a rate per annum equal to a rate specified in such Pricing Supplement until the principal of such Supplemental Obligation is paid or made available for payment and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate per annum equal to the rate at which the principal then bears interest on any overdue premium or installment of interest from the date any such overdue amount first becomes due until it is paid or made available for payment, provided that interest on any premium or installment of interest that is overdue shall be payable on demand; and

 

(ii) in the case of a Supplemental Obligation for which the interest rate is designated as floating in the applicable Pricing Supplement (a “Floating Rate Note”), at a rate per annum determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 3A on the reverse hereof, with such rate being dependent in part upon whether the rate specified as the “base rate” (or in a comparable manner) in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the “Base Rate” for such Supplemental Obligation) is the CD Rate, the CMS Rate, the CMT Rate, the commercial paper rate, EURIBOR, the federal funds rate, LIBOR, the prime rate, the treasury rate or the 11th district rate, until the principal of such Supplemental Obligation is paid or made available for payment and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate at which the principal then bears interest on any overdue premium or installment of interest from the date any such overdue amount first becomes due until it is paid or made available for payment, provided that interest on any premium or installment of interest that is overdue shall be payable on demand.

 

With respect to each Supplemental Obligation that is a Fixed Rate Note and unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest (other than interest on overdue amounts) shall be payable by the Company, on the applicable Interest Payment Dates.

 

With respect to each Supplemental Obligation that is a Floating Rate Note and unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest (other than interest on overdue amounts) shall be payable:

 

   

if the interest reset period specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the “Interest Reset Period” for such Supplemental Obligation) is daily, weekly or monthly, on the third Wednesday of each month or on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement;

 

   

if the Interest Reset Period is quarterly, on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and December of each year;

 

   

if the Interest Reset Period is semi-annual, on the third Wednesday of the two months specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement;

 

   

and if the Interest Reset Period is annual, on the third Wednesday of the month specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement;

 

provided that, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the following sentence shall apply with respect to any such day on which interest would otherwise be payable, other than any such day on which the Maturity of the principal of such Floating Rate Note falls: If any such day is not a Business Day (as defined in Section 3B(b) on the reverse hereof) the day on which interest should be payable shall be deferred to the next succeeding Business Day, provided that, if the Base Rate is LIBOR or EURIBOR and such next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, the day on which interest should be payable shall be advanced to the next preceding Business Day.

 

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Each date so determined or provided for in the preceding three paragraphs (or the applicable Pricing Supplement) is hereinafter referred to as an “Interest Payment Date”.

 

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture and unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the 15th calendar day (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date (a “Regular Record Date”). Any interest so payable, but not punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and such Defaulted Interest may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Security not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which this Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. For the purpose of determining the Holder at the close of business on any relevant record date when business is not being conducted, the close of business will mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on that day. With respect to any Supplemental Obligation, references herein to the “Holder” mean the Holder of this Security.

 

Currency of Payment

 

Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Supplemental Obligation will be made in the currency designated as the “specified currency” for such payment (or in a comparable manner) in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the “Specified Currency” for any payment on such Supplemental Obligation), except as provided in this and the next three paragraphs. For each Supplemental Obligation, any payment shall be made in the Specified Currency for such payment unless, at the time of such payment, such currency is not legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the country issuing such currency on the Original Issue Date, in which case the Specified Currency for such payment shall be such coin or currency as at the time of such payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in such country, except as provided in the next sentence. If the euro is the Specified Currency for any payment, the Specified Currency for such payment shall be such coin or currency as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in all EMU Countries (as defined in Section 3B(b) on the reverse hereof), provided that, if on any day there are not at least two EMU Countries, or if on any day there are at least two EMU Countries but no coin or currency is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in all EMU Countries, then the Specified Currency for such payment shall be deemed not to be available to the Company on such day.

 

If provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement and except as provided in the next paragraph, any payment to be made on a Supplemental Obligation in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars will be made in U.S. dollars if the Person entitled to receive such payment transmits a written request for such payment to be made in U.S. dollars to the Trustee at its office located at 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Manager Corporate Team — Nomura Holdings, Inc., on or before the fifth Business Day before the payment is to be made. Such written request may be mailed, hand delivered, telecopied or delivered in any other manner approved by the Trustee. Any such request made with respect to any payment on a Supplemental Obligation payable to a particular Holder will remain in effect for all later payments on such Supplemental Obligation payable to such Holder, unless such request is revoked on or before the fifth Business Day before a payment is to be made, in which case such revocation shall be effective for such and all later payments. In the case of any payment of interest payable on an Interest Payment Date, such written request must be made by the Person who is the registered Holder of this Security on the relevant Regular Record Date.

 

The U.S. dollar amount of any payment made pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph will be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent (as defined in Section 3B(a) on the reverse hereof) based upon the highest bid quotation received by the Exchange Rate Agent as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second

 

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Business Day next preceding the applicable payment date, from three (or, if three are not available, then two) recognized foreign exchange dealers selected by the Exchange Rate Agent in The City of New York, in each case for the purchase by the quoting dealer, for U.S. dollars and for settlement on such payment date of an amount of such Specified Currency for such payment equal to the aggregate amount of such Specified Currency payable on such payment date to all Holders of this Security who elect to receive U.S. dollar payments on such payment date, and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. If the Exchange Rate Agent determines that two such bid quotations are not available on such second Business Day, such payment will be made in the Specified Currency for such payment. All currency exchange costs associated with any payment in U.S. dollars on this Security will be borne by the Holder entitled to receive such payment, by deduction from such payment.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any amount payable on a Supplemental Obligation is payable on any day (including at Maturity) in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars, and if such Specified Currency is not available to the Company on the two Business Days before such day, due to the imposition of exchange controls, a disruption in the currency markets or any other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligation to pay such amount in such Specified Currency by making such payment in U.S. dollars. The amount of such payment in U.S. dollars shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent on the basis of the noon buying rate in The City of New York, as quoted by The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for cable transfers for such Specified Currency (the “Exchange Rate”) as of the latest day before the day on which such payment is to be made. Any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. dollars where the required payment is in other than U.S. dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture or this Security.

 

Manner of Payment—U.S. Dollars

 

Except as provided in the next paragraph, payment of any amount payable on any Supplemental Obligation in U.S. dollars will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York (or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, against surrender (in the manner provided below) of such Supplemental Obligation in the case of any payment due at Maturity of the principal of such Supplemental Obligation (other than any payment of interest that first becomes due on an Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that, at the option of the Company and subject to the next paragraph, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

Payment of any amount payable on any Supplemental Obligation in U.S. dollars will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if (i) the principal of such Supplemental Obligation is at least $1,000,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) and (ii) the Holder entitled to receive such payment transmits a written request for such payment to be made in such manner to the Trustee at its office located at 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, New York, 10005, Attention: Manager Corporate Team — Nomura Holdings, Inc., on or before the fifth Business Day before the day on which such payment is to be made; provided that, in the case of any such payment due at the Maturity of the principal of such Supplemental Obligation (other than any payment of interest that first becomes due on an Interest Payment Date), this Security must be surrendered (in the manner provided below) at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York (or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose) in time for the Paying Agent to make such payment in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Any such request made with respect to any payment on such Supplemental Obligation payable to a particular Holder will remain in effect for all later payments on such Supplemental Obligation payable to such Holder, unless such request is revoked on or before the fifth Business Day before a payment is to be made, in which case such revocation shall be effective for such and all later payments. In the case of any payment of interest payable on a Supplemental Obligation on an Interest Payment Date, such written request must be made by the Person who is the registered Holder of this Security on the relevant Regular Record Date. The Company will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks

 

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in connection with making payments by wire transfer with respect to this Security, but any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon any payment will be borne by the Holder of this Security and may be deducted from the payment by the Company or the Paying Agent.

 

Manner of Payment—Other Specified Currencies

 

Payment of any amount payable on any Supplemental Obligation in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account as is maintained in such Specified Currency at a bank or other financial institution acceptable to the Company and the Trustee and as shall have been designated at least five Business Days prior to the applicable payment date by the Person entitled to receive such payment; provided that, in the case of any such payment due at the Maturity of the principal of such Supplemental Obligation (other than any payment of interest that first becomes due on an Interest Payment Date), this Security must be surrendered (in the manner provided below) at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York (or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose) in time for the Paying Agent to make such payment in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Such account designation shall be made by transmitting the appropriate information to the Trustee at its office located at 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, New York, 10005, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, by mail, hand delivery, telecopier or in any other manner approved by the Trustee. Unless revoked, any such account designation made with respect to any Supplemental Obligation by the Holder hereof will remain in effect with respect to any further payments with respect to such Supplemental Obligation payable to such Holder. If a payment in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars with respect to any Supplemental Obligation cannot be made by wire transfer because the required account designation has not been received by the Trustee on or before the requisite date or for any other reason, the Company will cause a notice to be given to the Holder of this Security at its registered address requesting an account designation pursuant to which such wire transfer can be made and such payment will be made within five Business Days after the Trustee’s receipt of such a designation meeting the requirements specified above, with the same force and effect as if made on the due date. The Company will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks in connection with making payments by wire transfer with respect to this Security, but any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon any payment will be borne by the Holder of this Security and may be deducted from the payment by the Company or the Paying Agent.

 

Manner of Payment—Payments Pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary; Surrender of this Security

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Security or the Indenture, the Company may make any and all payments of principal, premium and interest on this Security pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for this Security as permitted in the Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the provisions hereof require that this Security be surrendered against payment of the principal of a Supplemental Obligation, such surrender may be effected by means of an appropriate adjustment to Schedule A hereto to reflect the discharge of such Supplemental Obligation, with such adjustment to be made by the Trustee in a manner not inconsistent with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for this Security, and in such circumstances this Security need not actually be surrendered. This paragraph shall apply only to a Master Note.

 

Payments Due on a Business Day

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Security or the Indenture, if the Maturity of the principal of any Supplemental Obligation occurs on a day that is not a Business Day, any amount of principal, premium or interest that would otherwise be due on such Supplemental Obligation on such day (the “Specified Day”) may be paid or made available for payment on the Business Day that is next succeeding the Specified Day with the same force and effect as if such amount were paid on the Specified Day, and no interest will accrue on the amount so

 

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payable for the period from the Specified Day to such next succeeding Business Day. As specified for each Supplemental Obligation, one of the following Business Day Conventions shall apply to any relevant date other than one that falls on the date of Maturity of the principal of such Supplemental Obligation. If any such date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day:

 

   

if the Business Day Convention is “Following”, then such date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day;

 

   

if the Business Day Convention is “Modified Following”, then such date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day; provided that, if such next succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar month, then such date will be advanced to the immediately preceding Business Day;

 

   

if the Business Day Convention is “Following Unadjusted”, any payment due on such date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day; provided that interest due with respect to such Interest Payment Date shall not accrue from and including such Interest Payment Date to and including such next succeeding Business Day; and

 

   

if the Business Day Convention is “Modified Following Unadjusted”, any payment due on such date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day; provided that interest due with respect to such Interest Payment Date shall not accrue from and including such Interest Payment Date to and including such next succeeding Business Day, and provided further that, if such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next succeeding calendar month, the date of payment with respect to such Interest Payment Date will instead be advanced to the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated: [            ], 2016

 

NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

By: 

 

 


    Name: [                    ]
    Title:   [                    ]

 

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This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the Indenture.

 

Dated: [            ], 2016

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee

By:

 

 


    Authorized Signatory

 

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(Reverse of Security)

 

1. Securities and Indenture

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”) issued and to be issued in one or more series under the Amended and Restated Senior Debt Indenture, dated as of January 12, 2011 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

 

In the case of the acquisition of all or a portion of a Supplemental Obligation by the Company or any Affiliate thereof, the Company or such Affiliate may submit to the Trustee such evidence of such acquisition as is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, whereupon the Trustee, at the Company’s direction, shall reduce the principal amount of such Supplemental Obligation in Schedule A hereto by such acquired amount, and the principal amount of such Supplemental Obligation shall be reduced accordingly for all purposes of this Security.

 

2. Series and Denominations

 

This Security is one of the series of Securities designated on the face hereof, limited to an aggregate principal amount (or the equivalent thereof in any other currency or currencies or currency units) as shall be determined and may be increased from time to time by the Company. References herein to “this series” mean the series of Securities designated as Medium-Term Notes, Series A.

 

This Security and each Supplemental Obligation are issuable only in registered form without coupons in “Authorized Denominations”, which term shall have the following meaning. For each Supplemental Obligation having a principal amount payable in U.S. dollars, the Authorized Denominations shall be $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement. For each Supplemental Obligation having a principal amount payable in a Specified Currency other than U.S. dollars, the Authorized Denominations shall be the amount of such Specified Currency equivalent, at the Exchange Rate on the first Business Day preceding the date on which the Company accepts the offer to purchase such Security, to $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement.

 

3. Determination of Interest Rate

 

3A. Interest Rate on Floating Rate Notes

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the provisions of this Section 3A shall apply with respect to each Supplemental Obligation that is a Floating Rate Note.

 

(a) Interest Rate Reset. The interest rate on such Supplemental Obligation will be reset from time to time, as provided in this Section 3A, and each date upon which such rate is reset as so provided is hereinafter called an “Interest Reset Date” for such Supplemental Obligation. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Interest Reset Dates with respect to such Supplemental Obligation will be as follows:

 

(i) if the Interest Reset Period is daily, each Business Day;

 

(ii) if the Interest Reset Period is weekly and the Base Rate is not the treasury rate, the Wednesday of each week;

 

(iii) if the Interest Reset Period is weekly and the Base Rate is the treasury rate, except as otherwise provided in the definition of “Treasury Interest Determination Date” in Section 3A(n) below, the Tuesday of each week;

 

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(iv) if the Interest Reset Period is monthly, the third Wednesday of each month;

 

(v) if the Interest Reset Period is quarterly, the third Wednesday of each March, June, September and December;

 

(vi) if the Interest Reset Period is semi-annual, the third Wednesday of each of two months in each year specified under “interest reset period” (or in a comparable manner) in the applicable Pricing Supplement; and

 

(vii) if the Interest Reset Period is annual, the third Wednesday of the month in each year specified under “interest reset period” (or in a comparable manner) in the applicable Pricing Supplement;

 

provided, however, that (x) the Base Rate in effect from and including the Original Issue Date to but excluding the initial Interest Reset Date will be the rate specified as the “initial base rate” (or in a comparable manner) in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the “Initial Base Rate” for such Supplemental Obligation) and (y) if the Interest Reset Period is daily or weekly, the Base Rate in effect for each day following the second Business Day immediately prior to an Interest Payment Date to but excluding such Interest Payment Date, and for each day following the second Business Day immediately prior to the day of Maturity of the principal of such Supplemental Obligation to but excluding such day of Maturity, will be the Base Rate in effect on such applicable second Business Day; and provided, further, if so specified, that any Interest Reset Date shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the second paragraph under the heading “Payments Due on a Business Day” on the face of this Security.

 

Subject to applicable provisions of law and except as otherwise specified herein or in the applicable Pricing Supplement, on each Interest Reset Date the interest rate on a Supplemental Obligation shall be the rate determined in accordance with such of the following Sections 3A(b) through 3A(k) as provide for determination of the Base Rate for such Supplemental Obligation. The Calculation Agent (as defined in Section 3B(a) below) shall determine the interest rate on such Supplemental Obligation in accordance with the applicable Section below.

 

Unless the Base Rate is LIBOR or EURIBOR, the Calculation Agent will determine the interest rate on such Supplemental Obligation that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date on a day no later than the Calculation Date (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) corresponding to such Interest Reset Date. However, the Calculation Agent need not wait until the Calculation Date to determine such interest rate if the rate information it needs to make such determination in the manner specified in the applicable provisions of Sections 3A(b) through 3A(k) hereof is available from the relevant sources specified in such applicable provisions.

 

Upon request of the Holder to the Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent will provide the interest rate then in effect on such Supplemental Obligation and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective on the next Interest Reset Date.

 

(b) Determination of CD Rate . If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the CD rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the rate, on the second Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date (the “CD Interest Determination Date”), for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity as published in H.15(519) (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) opposite the heading “CDs (secondary market)”. If the CD rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the CD rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above does not appear in H.15(519) at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date corresponding to such CD Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the CD rate shall be the rate described above as published in H.15 Daily Update, or another recognized electronic source used for displaying that rate, under the heading “CDs (secondary market)”.

 

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(ii) If the rate described in clause (i) above does not appear in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from one of those sources at that time), then the CD rate shall be the arithmetic mean of the following secondary market offered rates for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit of major U.S. money center banks having a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified for such Supplemental Obligation and in a Representative Amount: the rates offered as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such CD Interest Determination Date, by three leading nonbank dealers in negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in New York City, as selected by the Calculation Agent.

 

(iii) If fewer than three dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (ii) above, the CD rate will be the CD rate in effect on such CD Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Base Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(c) Determination of CMS Rate . If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the CMS Rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the rate, on the second Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date (the “CMS Interest Determination Date”), appearing on the Reuters Screen ICESWAP2 Page under the heading “EURIBOR Basis-EUR” or “LIBOR Basis-EUR”, for the Index Maturity, at 10:00 A.M., London time. If the CMS Rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the CMS Rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above does not appear on Reuters ICESWAP2 page under the appropriate heading for the Index Maturity at 10:00 A.M., London time, on the Calculation Date corresponding to such CMS Interest Determination Date, unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time, then the CMS rate will be determined on the basis of the mid-market semi-annual swap rate quotations provided by five leading swap dealers in the London interbank market at approximately 10:00 A.M., London time, on the CMS Interest Determination Date. For this purpose, the semi-annual swap rate means the mean of the bid and offered rates for the semi-annual fixed leg, calculated on a 30/360 day count basis, of a fixed-for-floating euro interest rate swap transaction with a term equal to the specified Index Maturity commencing on the CMS Interest Determination Date with an acknowledged dealer of good credit in the swap market, where the floating leg, calculated on an actual /360 day count basis, is equivalent to EURIBOR (in the case of EURIBOR Basis-EUR) or LIBOR (in the case of LIBOR Basis-EUR) with a maturity of three months, as such rate may be determined as provided in Section 3A(f). The Calculation Agent will select the five swap dealers in its sole discretion and will request the principal London office of each of those dealers to provide a quotation of its rate.

 

(ii) If at least three quotations are provided, the CMS Rate for the CMS Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the quotations, eliminating the highest and lowest quotations or, in the event of equality, one of the highest and one of the lowest quotations.

 

(iii) If fewer than three quotations are provided, the Calculation Agent will determine the CMS Rate in its sole discretion.

 

(d) Determination of CMT Rate . If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the CMT rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the CMT rate on the second Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date (the “CMT Interest Determination Date”). “CMT rate” means the following rate as published in H.15(519) opposite the heading “Treasury constant maturities”, as the yield is displayed on the Designated CMT Reuters Screen Page (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) under the heading “Treasury Constant Maturities”, under the column for the Designated CMT Index Maturity (as defined in Section 3A(n) below):

 

(x) if the Designated CMT Reuters Screen Page is the Reuters Screen FRBCMT Page, the rate for such CMT Interest Determination Date; or

 

12


(y) if the Designated CMT Reuters Screen Page is the Reuters Screen FEDCMT Page, the weekly or monthly average, as specified on the face hereof, for the week that ends immediately before the week in which such CMT Interest Determination Date falls, or for the month that ends immediately before the month in which such CMT Interest Determination Date falls, as applicable.

 

If the CMT rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the CMT rate:

 

(i) If the applicable rate described above is not displayed on the relevant Designated CMT Reuters Screen Page at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date corresponding to such CMT Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the CMT rate will be the applicable Treasury constant maturity rate described above— i.e. , for the Designated CMT Index Maturity and for either such CMT Interest Determination Date or the weekly or monthly average, as applicable—as published in H.15(519).

 

(ii) If the applicable rate described in clause (i) above does not appear in H.15(519) at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the CMT rate will be the Treasury constant maturity rate, or other U.S. treasury rate, for the Designated CMT Index Maturity and with reference to such CMT Interest Determination Date, that:

 

(a) is published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and

 

(b) is determined by the Calculation Agent to be comparable to the applicable rate formerly displayed on the Designated CMT Reuters Screen Page and published in H.15(519).

 

(iii) If the rate described in clause (ii) above does not appear in H.15(519) at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the CMT rate will be the yield to maturity of the arithmetic mean of the following secondary market offered rates for the most recently issued Treasury Notes (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) having an original maturity of approximately the Designated CMT Index Maturity, having a remaining term to maturity of not less than the Designated CMT Index Maturity minus one year and in a Representative Amount: the offered rates, as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Interest Determination Date, of three primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent. In selecting such offered rates, the Calculation Agent will request quotations from five such primary dealers and will disregard the highest quotation—or, if there is equality, one of the highest—and the lowest quotation—or, if there is equality, one of the lowest.

 

(iv) If the Calculation Agent is unable to obtain three quotations of the kind described in clause (iii) above, the CMT rate will be the yield to maturity of the arithmetic mean of the following secondary market offered rates for Treasury Notes having an original maturity longer than the Designated CMT Index Maturity, having a remaining term to maturity closest to the Designated CMT Index Maturity and in a Representative Amount: the offered rates, as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such CMT Interest Determination Date, of three primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent. In selecting such offered rates, the Calculation Agent will request quotations from five such primary dealers and will disregard the highest quotation—or, if there is equality, one of the highest—and the lowest quotation—or, if there is equality, one of the lowest. If two Treasury Notes with an original maturity longer than the CMT Designated Index Maturity have remaining terms to maturity that are equally close to the Designated CMT Index Maturity, the Calculation Agent will obtain quotations for the Treasury Notes with the shorter original term to maturity.

 

(v) If fewer than five but more than two such primary dealers are quoting as described in clause (iv) above, then the CMT rate for such CMT Interest Determination Date will be based on the arithmetic mean of the offered rates so obtained, and neither the highest nor the lowest of such quotations will be disregarded.

 

13


(vi) If two or fewer primary dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (v) above, the CMT rate shall be the CMT rate in effect on such CMT Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(e) Determination of Commercial Paper Rate . If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the commercial paper rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the Money Market Yield (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) of the rate, for the second Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date (the “Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date”), for commercial paper having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, as published in H.15(519) opposite the heading “Commercial Paper—Nonfinancial”. If the commercial paper rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the commercial paper rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above does not appear in H.15(519) at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date corresponding to such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the commercial paper rate will be the rate, for such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date, for commercial paper having the Index Maturity for such Supplemental Obligation, as published in H.15 Daily Update (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) or any other recognized electronic source used for displaying that rate, opposite the heading “Commercial Paper—Nonfinancial”.

 

(ii) If the rate described in clause (i) above does not appear in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from one of those sources at that time), the commercial paper rate will be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of the following offered rates for U.S. dollar commercial paper that has the Index Maturity and is placed for an industrial issuer whose long-term bond rating is “AA”, or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized rating agency: the rates offered as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date by three leading U.S. dollar commercial paper dealers in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent.

 

(iii) If fewer than three dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (ii) above, the commercial paper rate shall be the commercial paper rate in effect on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(f) Determination of EURIBOR . If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is EURIBOR, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the interest rate for deposits in euros designated as “EURIBOR” and sponsored jointly by the European Banking Federation and ACI—The Financial Markets Association (or any company established by the joint sponsors for purposes of compiling and publishing that rate) on the second Euro Business Day (as defined in Section 3B(b) below) before such Interest Reset Date (a “EURIBOR Interest Determination Date”), and will be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i) EURIBOR will be the offered rate for deposits in euros having the Index Maturity beginning on such Interest Reset Date, as that rate appears on the Reuters Screen EURIBOR01 Page as of 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on such EURIBOR Interest Determination Date.

 

(ii) If the rate described in clause (i) above does not so appear on the Reuters Screen EURIBOR01 Page, EURIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates, at approximately 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on such EURIBOR Interest Determination Date, at which deposits of the following kind are offered to prime banks in the Euro-Zone (as defined in Section 3B(b) below) interbank market by the principal Euro-Zone office of each of four major banks in that market selected by the Calculation Agent: euro deposits having the specified Index Maturity beginning on such Interest Reset Date and in a Representative Amount. The Calculation Agent will request the principal Euro-Zone office of each of these banks to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two quotations are provided, EURIBOR for such EURIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations.

 

14


(iii) If fewer than two quotations are provided as described in clause (ii) above, EURIBOR for such EURIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for loans of the following kind to leading Euro-Zone banks quoted, at approximately 11:00 A.M., Brussels time, on such EURIBOR

 

Interest Determination Date, by three major banks in the Euro-Zone selected by the Calculation Agent: loans of euros having the specified Index Maturity beginning on such Interest Reset Date and in a Representative Amount.

 

(iv) If fewer than three banks selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (iii) above, EURIBOR shall be the EURIBOR in effect on such EURIBOR Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(g) Determination of Federal Funds Rate . If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the Federal Funds (Effective) Rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the rate, on the second Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date (the “Federal Funds Interest Determination Date”), as published in H.15(519) opposite the heading “Federal funds (effective)”, as that rate is displayed on the Reuters Screen FEDFUNDS1 Page under the heading “EFFECT”. If the Federal Funds (Effective) Rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the Federal Funds (Effective) Rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above is not displayed on the Reuters Screen FEDFUNDS1 Page at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date corresponding to such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the Federal Funds (Effective) Rate will be the rate described above as published in H.15 Daily Update, or another recognized electronic source used for displaying that rate, opposite the heading “Federal funds (effective)”.

 

(ii) If the rate described in clause (i) above is not displayed on the Reuters Screen FEDFUNDS1 Page and does not appear in H.15 (519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from one of those sources at that time), the Federal Funds (Effective) Rate will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight, U.S. dollar federal funds arranged, before 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date, by three leading brokers of U.S. dollar federal funds transactions in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent.

 

(iii) If fewer than three brokers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (ii) above, the Federal Funds (Effective) Rate will be the Federal Funds (Effective) Rate in effect on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the Federal Funds Open Rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the rate, on the Federal Funds Interest Determination Date, as published in H.15(519) under the heading “Federal funds” and opposite the caption “Open”, as that rate is displayed on the Reuters Screen Page 5. If the Federal Funds Open Rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the Federal Funds Open Rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above is not displayed on the Reuters Screen Page 5 at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the Federal Funds Open Rate will be the rate for such day displayed on the FFPREBON Index page on Bloomberg (which is the Fed Funds Opening Rate as reported by Prebon Yamane (or a successor) on Bloomberg).

 

(ii) If the rate described in clause (i) above is not displayed on the Reuters Screen Page 5 and does not appear on the FFPREBON Index on Bloomberg at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from one of

 

15


those sources at that time), the Federal Funds Open Rate will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight, U.S. dollar federal funds arranged, before 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date, quoted by three leading brokers of U.S. dollar federal funds transactions in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent.

 

(iii) If fewer than three brokers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (ii) above, the Federal Funds Open Rate will be the Federal Funds Open Rate in effect on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(h) Determination of LIBOR . If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is LIBOR, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall be LIBOR on the corresponding LIBOR Interest Determination Date (as defined in Section 3A(n) below). LIBOR will be the offered rate appearing on the Reuters Screen LIBOR Page (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date for deposits of the Index Currency having the Index Maturity beginning on such Interest Reset Date:

 

(i) If LIBOR does not so appear on the Reuters Screen LIBOR Page, then LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates, at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, at which deposits of the following kind are offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four major banks in that market selected by the Calculation Agent: deposits of the Index Currency having the specified Index Maturity beginning on the relevant Interest Reset Date and in a Representative Amount (as defined in Section 3A(n) below). The Calculation Agent will request the principal London office of each such bank to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two quotations are provided, LIBOR for such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the quotations.

 

(ii) If fewer than two quotations are provided as described in clause (i) above, LIBOR for such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic mean of the rates for loans of the following kind to leading European banks quoted, at approximately 11:00 A.M. in the principal financial center for the country issuing the Index Currency, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, by three major banks in that principal financial center selected by the Calculation Agent: loans of the Index Currency having the specified Index Maturity beginning on such Interest Reset Date and in a Representative Amount.

 

(iii) If fewer than three banks selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (ii) above, LIBOR will be the LIBOR in effect on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(i) Determination of Prime Rate. If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the prime rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the rate, for the second Business Day immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date (the “Prime Interest Determination Date”), published in H.15(519) opposite the heading “Bank prime loan”. If the prime rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the prime rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above does not appear in H.15(519) at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date corresponding to such Prime Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), then the prime rate will be the rate, for such Prime Interest Determination Date, as published in H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying that rate, opposite the heading “Bank prime loan”.

 

(ii) If the rate described in clause (i) above does not appear in H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from one of those sources at that time), then the prime rate will be the arithmetic mean of the following rates as they appear on the Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page (as defined in Section 3A(n) below): the rate of interest publicly announced by each bank appearing on that page as that bank’s prime rate or base lending rate, as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Prime Interest Determination Date.

 

16


(iii) If fewer than four of the rates referred to in clause (ii) above appear on the Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page, the prime rate will be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates or base lending rates, as of the close of business on such Prime Interest Determination Date, of three major banks in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent. For this purpose, the Calculation Agent will use rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a 360-day year.

 

(iv) If fewer than three banks selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (iii) above, the prime rate shall be the prime rate in effect on such Prime Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(j) Determination of Treasury Rate. If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the treasury rate, the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the rate for the auction on the corresponding Treasury Interest Determination Date (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) of direct obligations of the United States (“Treasury Bills”) having the Index Maturity specified for such Supplemental Obligation, as that rate appears on the Reuters Screen USAUCTION10 Page or the Reuters Screen USAUCTION11 Page under the heading “INVEST RATE”. If the treasury rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the treasury rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above does not appear on either the Reuters Screen USAUCTION10 or USAUCTION11 Page at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date corresponding to such Treasury Interest Determination Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from that source at that time), the treasury rate will be the Bond Equivalent Yield (as defined in Section 3A(n) below) of the rate, for such Treasury Interest Determination Date and for Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity, specified for such Supplemental Obligation, as announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

(ii) If the auction rate described in clause (i) above is not so announced by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date, or if no such auction is held for the relevant week, then the treasury rate will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the rate, for such Treasury Interest Determination Date and for Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity specified for such Supplemental Obligation, as published in H.15(519) under the heading “U.S. government securities/Treasury bills (secondary market)”.

 

(iii) If the rate described in clause (ii) above does not appear in H.15(519) at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from one of those sources at that time), then the treasury rate will be the rate, for such Treasury Interest Determination Date and for Treasury Bills having the Index Maturity specified for such Supplemental Obligation, as published in H.15 Daily Update, or another recognized electronic source used for displaying that rate, under the heading “U.S. government securities/ Treasury bills (secondary market)”.

 

(iv) If the rate described in clause (iii) above does not appear in H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source at 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date (unless the calculation is made earlier and the rate is available from one of those sources at that time), the treasury rate will be the Bond Equivalent Yield of the arithmetic mean of the following secondary market bid rates for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the Index Maturity specified for such Supplemental Obligation: the rates bid as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City time, on such Treasury Interest Determination Date, by three primary U.S. government securities dealers in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent.

 

(v) If fewer than three dealers selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting as described in clause (iv) above, the treasury rate shall be the treasury rate in effect on such Treasury Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

(k) Determination of 11th District Rate. If the Base Rate specified for such Supplemental Obligation is the 11th district rate (which term refers to the Eleventh District Cost of Funds Rate), the Base Rate that takes effect on any Interest Reset Date shall equal the 11th district rate on the 11th District Interest Determination Date (as

 

17


defined in Section 3A(n) below) corresponding to such Interest Reset Date. The 11th district rate on any 11th District Interest Determination Date shall be the rate equal to the monthly weighted average cost of funds for the calendar month immediately before such date, as displayed on the Reuters Screen COFI/ARMS Page opposite the heading “11TH Dist COFI:” as of 11:00 A.M., San Francisco time, on such date. If the 11th district rate cannot be determined as described above, the following procedures will apply in determining the 11th district rate:

 

(i) If the rate described above does not appear on the Reuters Screen COFI/ARMS Page on such 11th District Interest Determination Date, then the 11th district rate on such date will be the monthly weighted average cost of funds paid by institutions that are members of the Eleventh Federal Home Loan Bank District for the calendar month immediately preceding such date, as most recently announced by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco as such monthly weighted average cost of funds.

 

(ii) If the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco fails to announce the cost of funds described in clause (i) above on or before such 11th District Interest Determination Date, the 11th district rate that takes effect on such Interest Reset Date will be the 11th district rate in effect on such 11th District Interest Determination Date (or, in the case of the first Interest Reset Date, the Initial Base Rate).

 

Any of the interest rates determined in accordance with Sections 3A(b)—(k) will be adjusted by the addition or subtraction of the Spread, if any, specified for such Supplemental Obligation or by multiplying such Base Rate by the Spread Multiplier, if any, specified for such Supplemental Obligation.

 

(l) Minimum and Maximum Limits . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rate at which interest accrues on such Supplemental Obligation (i) shall not at any time be higher than the maximum rate, if any, or less than the minimum rate, if any, specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, in each case on an accrual basis, and (ii) shall not at any time be higher than the maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general application.

 

(m) Calculation of Interest . Payments of interest on such Supplemental Obligation with respect to any Interest Payment Date or at the Maturity of the principal thereof will include interest accrued to but excluding such Interest Payment Date or the date of such Maturity, as the case may be. Accrued interest from the date of issue or from the last date to which interest has been paid or made available for payment shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent by multiplying the principal amount of such Supplemental Obligation by an accrued interest factor for the Interest Period specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Such accrued interest factor shall be expressed as a decimal and computed by multiplying the interest rate (also expressed as a decimal) in effect on the applicable period by the Day Count Convention specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement for such Interest Period.

 

All percentages resulting from any calculation with respect to such Supplemental Obligation will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the next higher or lower one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point ( e.g. , 9.876541% (or .09876541) being rounded down to 9.87654% (or .0987654) and 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded up to 9.87655% (or .0987655) ). All amounts used in or resulting from any calculation with respect to such Supplemental Obligation will be rounded upward or downward, as appropriate, to the nearest cent, in the case of U.S. dollars, or to the nearest corresponding hundredth of a unit, in the case of a currency other than U.S. dollars, with one-half cent or one-half of a corresponding hundredth of a unit or more being rounded upward.

 

(n) Definitions of Calculation Terms . As used with respect to such Supplemental Obligation, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

 

Bond Equivalent Yield ” means a yield expressed as a percentage and calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

    Bond Equivalent Yield       =      

D × N


      ×    100,     
      360 – (D × M)     

 

18


where

 

   

“D” equals the annual rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal;

 

   

“N” equals 365 or 366, as the case may be; and

 

   

“M” equals the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period.

 

The “Calculation Date” corresponding to any Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date, Prime Interest Determination Date, LIBOR Interest Determination Date, EURIBOR Interest Determination Date, Treasury Interest Determination Date, CMT Interest Determination Date, CD Interest Determination Date, CMS Interest Determination Date, Federal Funds Interest Determination Date or 11th District Interest Determination Date, as the case may be, means the earlier of:

 

(i) the tenth day after such Interest Determination Date or, if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day; and

 

(ii) the Business Day immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date or the date of Maturity of the principal of such Supplemental Obligation, whichever is the day on which the next payment of interest will be due.

 

The Calculation Date corresponding to any Interest Reset Date means the Calculation Date corresponding to the relevant interest determination date immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date.

 

“Designated CMT Index Maturity” means, if the Base Rate is the CMT Rate, the Index Maturity for such Supplemental Obligation and will be the original period to maturity of a U.S. Treasury security — either 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20 or 30 years — specified on the face hereof, provided that, if no such original maturity period is so specified, the Designated CMT Index Maturity will be 2 years.

 

“Designated CMT Reuters Screen Page” means, if the Base Rate is the CMT Rate, the Reuters Screen Page specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement that displays Treasury constant maturities as reported in H.15(519), provided that, if no Reuters Screen Page is so specified, then the applicable page will be the Reuters Screen FEDCMT Page and provided, further, that if the Reuters Screen FEDCMT Page applies but it is not specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement whether the weekly or monthly average applies, the weekly average will apply.

 

“H.15(519)” means the weekly statistical release designated as such published by the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors, or its successor, available through the website of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/update/h15upd.htm, or any successor site or publication.

 

“H.15 Daily Update” means the daily update of H.15(519), available through the website of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, at http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/update/h15upd.htm, or any successor site or publication.

 

“Interest Period” means the period from and including an Interest Payment Date (or, with respect to the initial Interest Period, the Original Issue Date) to but excluding the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

The “LIBOR Interest Determination Date” corresponding to any Interest Reset Date means the second London Business Day preceding such Interest Reset Date, unless the Index Currency is pounds sterling, in which case the LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the Interest Reset Date.

 

19


“Money Market Yield” means a yield expressed as a percentage and calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

   

Money Market Yield

      =      

D × 360


      ×       100,     
      360 – (D × M)       

 

where

 

   

“D” equals the per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal; and

 

   

“M” equals the actual number of days in the applicable Interest Reset Period.

 

“Representative Amount” means an amount that, in the Calculation Agent’s judgment, is representative of a single transaction in the relevant market at the relevant time.

 

“Reuters Screen” means the display on the Reuters 3000 Xtra service or any successor or replacement service, on the page or pages, or any successor or replacement page or pages on that service.

 

“Reuters Screen LIBOR Page” means the display on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page or Reuters Screen LIBOR02 Page, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, or any successor or replacement service, on which London interbank rates of major banks for the Index Currency are displayed.

 

“Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page” means the display on the Reuters Screen page titled “USPRIME1”, for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major U.S. banks.

 

“Spread” means the number of basis points (each being one one-hundredth of a percentage point) specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement to be added to or subtracted from the Base Rate for a Floating Rate Note to determine the applicable interest rate.

 

“Spread Multiplier” is the percentage specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement by which the Base Rate for a Floating Rate Note will be multiplied to determine the applicable interest rate.

 

The “Treasury Interest Determination Date” corresponding to any Interest Reset Date means the day of the week in which such Interest Reset Date falls on which Treasury bills would normally be auctioned. If, as the result of a legal holiday, an auction is so held on the Friday in the week immediately preceding the week in which such Interest Reset Day falls, such Friday will be the corresponding Treasury Interest Determination Date. If an auction date shall fall on a day that would otherwise be an Interest Reset Date, then such Interest Reset Date shall instead be the first Business Day immediately following such auction date.

 

“Treasury Notes” means direct, noncallable, fixed rate obligations of the U.S. government.

 

The “11th District Interest Determination Date” corresponding to a particular Interest Reset Date will be the last working day, in the first calendar month immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date, on which the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco publishes the monthly average cost of funds paid by member institutions of the Eleventh Federal Home Loan Bank District for the second calendar month immediately preceding such Interest Reset Date.

 

References in this Security to a particular heading or headings on any of Designated CMT Reuters Screen Page, H.15(519), H.15 Daily Update, Reuters Screen LIBOR Page, Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page, Reuters Screen USAUCTION10 Page, Reuters Screen USAUCTION11 Page, Reuters Screen ICESWAP2 Page, Reuters Screen COFI/ARMS Page, Reuters Screen Page 5 or Reuters Screen include any successor or replacement heading or headings as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

20


3B. Payments-Other Terms

 

The provisions of this Section 3B apply to all Supplemental Obligations.

 

(a) Calculation Agent and Exchange Rate Agent . With respect to any Supplemental Obligation, the “Calculation Agent” or the “Exchange Rate Agent” shall initially mean the Person (if any) named as such agent in the applicable Pricing Supplement, provided that the Company may, in its sole discretion, appoint any other institution (including any Affiliate of the Company) to serve as any such agent for such Supplemental Obligation from time to time. The Company will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any change in any such appointment. Insofar as this Security or the applicable Pricing Supplement provides for any such agent to obtain rates, quotes or other data from a bank, dealer or other institution for use in making any determination hereunder, such agent may do so from any institution or institutions of the kind contemplated hereby notwithstanding that any one or more of such institutions are any such agent, Affiliates of any such agent or Affiliates of the Company.

 

All determinations made by the Calculation Agent or the Exchange Rate Agent with regard to a Supplemental Obligation may be made by such agent in its sole discretion and, absent manifest error, shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Holder of this Security and the Company. Neither the Calculation Agent nor the Exchange Rate Agent shall have any liability therefor.

 

(b) Other Definitions . “Business Day” means, for any Supplemental Obligation, a day that meets the requirements set forth in each of clauses (i) through (v) below, in each case to the extent such requirements apply to such Supplemental Obligation as specified below:

 

(i) is a New York Business Day;

 

(ii) if the Base Rate is LIBOR, is also a London Business Day;

 

(iii) if the Specified Currency for payment of principal of or interest on such Supplemental Obligation is other than U.S. dollars or euros, is also a day on which banking institutions are not authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in the principal financial center of the country issuing the Specified Currency;

 

(iv) if the Base Rate is EURIBOR or if the Specified Currency for payment of principal of or interest on such Supplemental Obligation is euros, or the Base Rate is LIBOR for which the Index Currency is euros, is also a Euro Business Day; and

 

(v) solely with respect to any payment or other action to be made or taken at any Place of Payment outside The City of New York, is a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in such Place of Payment generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Solely when used in the third paragraph under the heading “Currency of Payment” on the face of the relevant Supplemental Obligation, the meaning of the term “Business Day” shall be determined as if the Base Rate for such Supplemental Obligation is neither LIBOR nor EURIBOR.

 

“Day Count Convention” means:

 

(i) if “1/1 (ISDA)”, 1;

 

(ii) if “Actual/Actual (ISDA)” or “Act/Act (ISDA)”, the number of days in the Interest Period divided by 365 (or, if any portion of that Interest Period falls in a leap year, the sum of (1) the number of days in that portion of the Interest Period falling in a leap year divided by 366 and (2) the number of days in that portion of the Interest Period falling in a non-leap year divided by 365);

 

21


(iii) if “Actual/Actual (ICMA)”, the number of days in the Interest Period, including February 29 in a leap year, divided by the product of (1) the actual number of days in such Interest Period and (2) the number of Interest Periods in the calendar year;

 

(iv) if “Actual/Actual (Bond)”, the number of calendar days in the Interest Period, divided by the number of calendar days in the Interest Period multiplied by the number of Interest Periods in the calendar year;

 

(v) if “Actual/Actual (Euro)”, the number of calendar days in the Interest Period divided by 365 or, if the Interest Period includes February 29, 366;

 

(vi) if “Actual/365 (Fixed)”, “Act/365 (Fixed)”, “A/365 (Fixed)” or “A365F”, the actual number of days in the Interest Period divided by 365;

 

(vii) if “Actual/360 (ISDA)”, “Act/360 (ISDA)” or “A/360 (ISDA)”, the number of days in the Interest Period divided by 360;

 

(viii) if “Actual/360 (ICMA)”, the number of calendar days in the period, including February 29 in a leap year, divided by 360 days;

 

(ix) if “30/360 (ISDA)”, “360/360 (ISDA)” or “Bond Basis (ISDA)”, the number of days in the Interest Period in respect of which payment is being made divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as follows:

 

   

Day Count Fraction

 

 

  =  

 

 

[360 × (Y2 -  Y1)] + [30 × (M2 - M1)] + (D2 - D1)


    
      360   

 

where

 

   

“Y1” is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;

 

   

“Y2” is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period falls;

 

   

“M1” is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;

 

   

“M2” is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period falls;

 

   

“D1” is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and

 

   

“D2” is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31 and D1 is greater than 29, in which case D2 will be 30; and

 

(x) if “30E/360”, “30E/360 (ISDA)” or “Eurobond Basis”, the number of days in the Interest Period in respect of which payment is being made divided by 360, calculated on a formula basis as follows:

 

   

Day Count Fraction

 

 

  =  

 

 

[360 × (Y2 - Y1)] + [30 × (M2 - M1)] + (D2 -  D1)


    
      360     

 

where

 

   

“Y1” is the year, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;

 

   

“Y2” is the year, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period falls;

 

   

“M1” is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the first day of the Interest Period falls;

 

22


   

“M2” is the calendar month, expressed as a number, in which the day immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period falls;

 

   

“D1” is the first calendar day, expressed as a number, of the Interest Period, unless such number would be 31, in which case D1 will be 30; and

 

   

“D2” is the calendar day, expressed as a number, immediately following the last day included in the Interest Period, unless (1) such number would be 31, and (2), if “30E/360 (ISDA)” is specified, that day is also the last day of February, in which case D2 will be 30.

 

“EMU Countries” means, at any time, the countries (if any) then participating in the European Economic and Monetary Union (or any successor union) pursuant to the Treaty on European Union of February 1992 (or any successor treaty), as it may be amended from time to time.

 

“Euro Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System, or any successor system, is open for business.

 

“Euro-Zone” means, at any time, the region comprised of the EMU Countries.

 

“Index Currency” means, with respect to a Supplemental Obligation that has a LIBOR base rate, the currency specified as such in the applicable pricing supplement.

 

“Index Maturity” means, with respect to a Supplemental Obligation, the period to maturity of the instrument or obligation on which the interest rate formula is based, as specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement.

 

“London Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in London generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close and, if the Base Rate for such Supplemental Obligation is LIBOR, is also a day on which dealings in the Index Currency are transacted in the London interbank market.

 

“New York Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

References in this Security to U.S. dollars shall mean, as of any time, the coin or currency that is then legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the United States of America.

 

References in this Security to the euro shall mean, as of any time, the coin or currency (if any) that is then legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in all EMU Countries.

 

With respect to any Supplemental Obligation, references in this Security to a particular currency other than U.S. dollars and euros shall mean, as of any time, the coin or currency that is then legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the country issuing such currency on the Original Issue Date for such Supplemental Obligation.

 

4. Additional Amounts

 

The Company will pay to the Holder such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received by or on behalf of the Holder or beneficial owner of this Security after any withholding or deduction for or on account of taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed or levied by or on behalf of Japan, or any authority thereof or therein having power to tax (the “Japanese Taxes”),

 

23


will equal the respective amounts of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest which would otherwise have been receivable in respect of this Security in the absence of such withholding or deduction. However, no such additional amounts shall be payable with respect to this Security (a) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder who is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation and is liable for such Japanese Taxes in respect of this Security by reason of its (i) having some connection with Japan other than the mere holding of this Security or (ii) being a person having a special relationship with the Company as described in Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Taxation of Japan (the “Special Taxation Measures Act”) (such person being hereinafter referred to as a “specially-related person of the Company”); or (b) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder who would otherwise be exempt from any such withholding or deduction but who fails to comply with any applicable requirement to provide Interest Recipient Information (as defined below) or to submit a Written Application for Tax Exemption (as defined below) to the Paying Agent to whom this Security is presented (where presentation is required), or whose Interest Recipient Information is not duly communicated through the Participant (as defined below) and the relevant Depositary to such Paying Agent; or (c) to, or to a third party on behalf of, a Holder who is for Japanese tax purposes treated as an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation (except for (A) a Designated Financial Institution (as defined below) which complies with the requirement to provide Interest Recipient Information or to submit a Written Application for Tax Exemption and (B) an individual resident of Japan or a Japanese corporation who duly notifies (directly or through the Participant or otherwise) the relevant Paying Agent of its status as exempt from Japanese Taxes to be withheld or deducted by the Company by reason of such individual resident of Japan or Japanese corporation receiving interest on this Security through a payment handling agent in Japan appointed by it); or (d) where this Security is presented for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the date on which such payment first becomes due or after the date on which the full amount payable is duly provided for, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder of this Security would have been entitled to such additional amounts on presenting the same for payment on the last day of such 30-day period; or (e) where such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual Holder and is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or (f) to, or to a third party on behalf of a Holder who would be able to avoid such withholding or deduction by presenting (if presentation is required) this Security to another Paying Agent; or (g) where the amount of interest on this Security is to be calculated by reference to certain indices (as prescribed by the cabinet order under Article 6, paragraph 4 of the Special Taxation Measures Act) relating to the Company or any specially-related person of the Company, except where the recipient of interest is a Designated Financial Institution which complies with the requirement to provide Interest Recipient Information or to submit a Written Application for Tax Exemption; or (h) any combination of (a) through (g). No additional amounts will be paid with respect to any payment on this Security to or on behalf of a Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of Japan to be included in the income, for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who, in each case, would not have been entitled to the additional amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of this Security. The obligation to pay additional amounts with respect to any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges shall not apply to (A) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or any similar tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge or (B) any tax, duty, assessment or governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on this Security. Where this Security is held through a participant of a Depositary or a financial intermediary, in each case, as prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act (each such participant or financial intermediary being hereinafter referred to as a “Participant”), in order to receive payments free of withholding or deduction by the Company for, or on account of Japanese Taxes, if the relevant beneficial owner is (A) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation (other than a specially-related person of the Company) or (B) a Japanese financial institution or financial instruments business operator falling under certain categories prescribed by the cabinet order under Article 6, paragraph 9 of the Special Taxation Measures Act (a “Designated Financial Institution”), such beneficial owner shall, at the time of entrusting a Participant with the custody of this Security, provide certain information prescribed by the Special Taxation Measures Act and the cabinet order and other regulations thereunder to enable the Participant to

 

24


establish that such beneficial owner is exempted from the requirement for Japanese Taxes to be withheld or deducted (the “Interest Recipient Information”) and advise the Participant if the beneficial owner ceases to be so exempted (including where the beneficial owner who is an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation becomes a specially-related person of the Company). Where this Security is not held by a Participant, in order to receive payments free of withholding or deduction by the Company for, or on account of, Japanese Taxes, if the relevant beneficial owner is (A) an individual non-resident of Japan or a non-Japanese corporation (other than a specially-related person of the Company) or (B) a Designated Financial Institution, such beneficial owner shall, prior to each time at which it receives interest, submit to the relevant Paying Agent a written application for tax exemption ( hikazei tekiyo shinkokusho ) (a “Written Application for Tax Exemption”) in a form obtainable from the Paying Agent stating, inter alia, the name and address of the beneficial owner, the title of this Security, the relevant Interest Payment Date, the amount of interest and the fact that the beneficial owner is qualified to submit the Written Application for Tax Exemption, together with documentary evidence regarding its identity and residence.

 

All payments of principal and interest in respect of the Security by the Company shall be made in all cases subject to any withholding or deduction required pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the Code or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any regulations or agreements thereunder, official interpretations thereof, or law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto. Any such amounts withheld or deducted will be treated as paid for all purposes under the Security, and no additional amounts will be paid on the Security with respect to any such withholding or deduction.

 

5. Redemption at the Company’s Option

 

Unless a redemption commencement date is specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, a Supplemental Obligation shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company before the Stated Maturity of the principal thereof. If a redemption commencement date is so specified, and unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, such Supplemental Obligation is subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice at any time and from time to time on or after the redemption commencement date, as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company and at the redemption price specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of such Supplemental Obligation to be redeemed), together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments due on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holder of this Security, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant record dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.

 

6. Repayment at the Holder’s Option

 

Except as otherwise may be provided in the applicable Pricing Supplement, if one or more repayment dates are specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the principal of a Supplemental Obligation will be repayable in whole or in part in an amount equal to any Authorized Denomination (provided that the remaining principal amount of any Supplemental Obligation surrendered for partial repayment shall at least equal an Authorized Denomination), on any such repayment date, in each case at the option of the Holder and at the applicable repayment price specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount to be repaid), together with accrued interest to the applicable repayment date (but interest installments due on or prior to such repayment date will be payable to the Holder of this Security, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date as provided in the Indenture). With respect to any Supplemental Obligation, if the applicable Pricing Supplement provides for more than one repayment date and the Holder exercises its option to elect repayment, the Holder shall be deemed to have elected repayment on the earliest repayment date after all conditions to such exercise have been satisfied, and references herein to the applicable repayment date shall mean such earliest repayment date.

 

25


In order for the exercise of such option to be effective and the principal amount of a Supplemental Obligation to be repaid, the Company must receive at the applicable address of the Trustee set forth below (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holder of this Security), on any Business Day not later than the 15th, and not earlier than the 25th, calendar day prior to the applicable repayment date (or, if either such calendar day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), either (i) the form below entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” duly completed and signed, or (ii) a facsimile transmission or letter from a member of a national securities exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., a commercial bank or a trust company in the United States of America setting forth (a) the name, address and telephone number of the Holder of this Security, (b) the principal amount of such Supplemental Obligation and the portion thereof to be repaid, (c) a statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised thereby and (d) a guarantee stating that the Company will receive the form below entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” duly completed and signed, not later than five Business Days after the date of such facsimile transmission or letter (provided that such form duly completed and signed is received by the Company by such fifth Business Day). Any such election shall be irrevocable. The address to which such deliveries are to be made is Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Trust & Securities Services, 100 Plaza One, 6th Floor — MS JCY03-0699, Jersey City, New Jersey 07311-3901; Fax: 732-578-4635, Attention: Manager Corporate Team — Nomura Holdings, Inc. (or at such other places as the Company or the Trustee shall notify the Holder of this Security). All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of any Supplemental Obligation for repayment will be determined by the Company, whose determination will be final and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the option of the Holder to elect repayment may be exercised in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for this Security at least 15 calendar days prior to the applicable repayment date and the option of the Holder to elect repayment may be exercised in any such manner as the Company may approve.

 

7. Transfer and Exchange

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of Authorized Denominations, and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor, of a different Authorized Denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 305 thereof on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.

 

This Security is a Master Note and may be exchanged at any time, solely upon the request of the Company to the Trustee, for one or more Global Securities in the same aggregate principal amount, each of which may or may not be a Master Note, as requested by the Company. Each such replacement Global Security that is a Master Note shall reflect such of the Supplemental Obligations as the Company shall request. Each such replacement

 

26


Global Security that is not a Master Note shall represent one (and only one) Supplemental Obligation as requested by the Company, and such Global Security shall be appropriately modified so as to reflect the terms of such Supplemental Obligation.

 

8. Defeasance

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. If so specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, either or both of such provisions are applicable to a Supplemental Obligation, as so specified.

 

9. Remedies

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

10. Modification and Waiver

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected (considered together as one class for this purpose). The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected under the Indenture (considered together as one class for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of any series to be affected under the Indenture (with each such series considered separately for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

11. Governing Law

 

This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

27


MASTER NOTE CUSIP NO.

 

 


SUPPLEMENTAL OBLIGATION:

 

 


Pricing Supplement No. and Date:

 

 


Original Issue Date:

 

 


 

NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

 

MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES A

 

(Master Note)

 

OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT

 

TO BE COMPLETED ONLY IF THE SUPPLEMENTAL OBLIGATION

 

REFERENCED IN THIS NOTICE

 

IS REPAYABLE AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER AND

 

THE HOLDER ELECTS TO EXERCISE SUCH RIGHT

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the Company to repay the Supplemental Obligation referred to in this notice (or the portion thereof specified below) at the applicable repayment price, together with interest to the repayment date, all as provided for in such Supplemental Obligation, to the undersigned, whose name, address and telephone number are as follows:

 

(please print name of the undersigned)

 

(please print address of the undersigned)

 

(please print telephone number of the undersigned)

 

If such Supplemental Obligation provides for more than one repayment date, the undersigned requests repayment on the earliest repayment date after the requirements for exercising this option have been satisfied, and references in this notice to the repayment date mean such earliest repayment date. Terms used in this notice tuthat are defined in the Security specified above are used herein as defined therein.

 

For such Supplemental Obligation to be repaid the Company must receive at the applicable address of the Trustee set forth below or at such other place or places of which the Company or the Trustee shall from time to time notify the Holder of such Security, any Business Day not later than the 15th or earlier than the 25th calendar day prior to the repayment date (or, if either such calendar day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), (i) this “Option to Elect Repayment” form duly completed and signed, or (ii) a facsimile transmission or letter from a member of a national securities exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., a commercial bank or a trust company in the United States of America setting forth (a) the name, address and telephone number of the Holder of such Security, (b) the principal amount of such Supplemental Obligation and the amount of such Supplemental Obligation to be repaid, (c) a statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised thereby and (d) a guarantee stating that the form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the addendum to such Security duly completed and signed will be received by the Company not later than five Business Days after the date of such facsimile transmission or letter (provided that such form duly completed and signed is received by the Company by such fifth Business Day). The address to which such deliveries are to be made is:

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Trust & Securities Services

100 Plaza One, 6th Floor—MS JCY03-0699

Jersey City, New Jersey 07311-3901

 

28


or at such other places as the Company or the Trustee shall notify the Holder of such Security.

 

If less than the entire principal amount of such Supplemental Obligation is to be repaid, specify the portion thereof (which shall equal any Authorized Denomination) that the Holder elects to have repaid:

 

Date:  
     
            Notice: The signature to this Option to Elect Repayment must correspond with the name of the Holder as written on the face of such Security in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any other change whatsoever.

 

29


ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Security, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

 

TEN COM

    -     as tenants in common

TEN ENT

    -     as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN

    -     as joint tenants with the right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT

    -    

 


   Custodian   

 


       

(Cust)

        (Minor)

 

under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 


 

(State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used

though not in the above list.

 


 

30


ASSIGNMENT

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                     

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

(Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address

Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

the attached Security and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints                                to

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

 

Dated:                                                                                                   

   

 

Signature Guaranteed

       
         

NOTICE: Signature must be guaranteed.

      NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name of the Holder as written upon the face of the attached Security in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

31


SCHEDULE A

 

Pricing

Supplement

No.                


   Principal Amount of
Supplemental
Obligation


   Original
Issue Date


   Decrease
in Principal
Amount


   Increase
in Principal
Amount


   Effective Date of
Increase or
Decrease


   Trustee
Notation


 

32

Exhibit 5.1

 

February 19, 2016

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.,

9-1 Nihonbashi 1-chome,

Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645,

Japan.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) of an unspecified initial principal amount or number of senior debt securities (the “Securities”) of Nomura Holdings, Inc., a Japanese corporation (the “Company”), we, as your special counsel, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

 

Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our opinion, when the registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the Securities has become effective under the Act, the terms of the Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture relating to the Securities so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and the Securities have been duly authorized, executed and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

We note that, as of the date of this opinion, a judgment for money in an action based on a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit in a Federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in United States dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the foreign currency or currency unit in which a particular Security is denominated into United States dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment. In the case of a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit, a state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment on a Security would be required under Section 27 of the New York Judiciary Law to render such judgment in the foreign currency or currency unit in which the Security is denominated, and such judgment would be converted into United States dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment.

 

The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New York, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction. With respect to all matters of Japanese law, we have relied upon the opinion, dated February 19, 2016, of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, and our opinion is subject to the same assumptions, qualifications and limitations with respect to such matters as are contained in such opinion of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune.

 

Also, we have relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have assumed that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee thereunder, an assumption which we have not independently verified.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “Validity of the Securities” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO

 

AKASAKA K-TOWER, 2-7, MOTOAKASAKA 1-CHOME

MINATO-KU, TOKYO 107-0051, JAPAN

 

February 19, 2016

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

9-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome

Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645

Japan

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

Registration Statement on Form F-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as Japanese counsel to Nomura Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with its registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2016 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of the senior debt securities (the “Securities”) of the Company.

 

For the purpose of this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary, including the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, the Registration Statement and the prospectus dated February 19, 2016 (the “Base Prospectus”) included in the Registration Statement. In such examination, without independent investigation, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and seal impressions, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic, reproduced or conformed copies, the authenticity of the originals of such documents and that the statements regarding matters of fact in the certificates, records, agreements, instruments and documents that we have examined are accurate and complete.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and limitations stated herein, we are, as of the date hereof, of the opinion that:

 

(1) The Company is validly existing as a joint stock corporation under the laws of Japan and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and conduct its business as described in the Base Prospectus;

 

(2) The Securities, upon due authorization by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and when the entire amount of the purchase price for the Securities has been paid in full and the certificates for the Securities have been duly signed manually or in facsimile, authenticated and delivered, and other necessary procedures have been completed, each in accordance with and in the manner contemplated in the related agreements, Japanese law and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, and assuming that the Securities will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company under their governing law, will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, civil rehabilitation, reorganization, or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally; and

 

(3) The statements in the Base Prospectus under the caption “Taxation—Japanese Taxation” are accurate in all material respects, subject to the limitations set forth therein.

 

The foregoing opinion is limited to matters of the laws of Japan, and we express no opinion herein as to any matter of law other than the laws of Japan.


We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the captions “Validity of the Securities” and “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities” in the Base Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Yours faithfully,

/s/ ANDERSON MORI & TOMOTSUNE


Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

 

- 2 -

Exhibit 8.1

 

February 19, 2016

 

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

9-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome

Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645,

Japan.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as United States federal income tax counsel to Nomura Holdings, Inc. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof. We hereby confirm to you that our opinion as to United States federal income tax matters is as set forth under the heading “United States Taxation” in the prospectus, dated February 19, 2016 (the “Prospectus”) included in the Registration Statement, subject to the limitations set forth therein.

 

We hereby consent to the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference under the heading “United States Taxation” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP

Exhibit 12

 

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2015 and the nine months ended December 31, 2015, in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

     Fiscal year ended March 31      Nine months
ended
December 31,
2015
 
     2011      2012      2013      2014      2015     
     (Millions of yen)  

Earnings:

  

Pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees

   ¥ 81,653       ¥ 79,242       ¥ 219,133       ¥ 323,808       ¥ 303,730         ¥  148,871   

Add: Fixed charges

     254,794         315,901         266,313         274,774         326,412         245,346   

Distributed income of equity investees

     4,802         4,508         5,568         8,306         8,256         11,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings as defined

   ¥ 341,249       ¥ 399,651       ¥ 491,014       ¥ 606,888       ¥ 638,398         ¥  405,248   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fixed Charges

   ¥ 254,794       ¥ 315,901       ¥ 266,313       ¥ 274,774       ¥ 326,412         ¥  245,346   

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)

     1.3         1.3         1.8         2.2         2.0         1.7   

 

 

(1) For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of pre-tax income before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees, plus (i) fixed charges and (ii) distributed income of equity investees. Fixed charges consist of interest expense. Fixed charges exclude premium and discount amortization as well as interest expense, which are included in Net gain (loss) on trading. Fixed charges also exclude interest within rent expense, which is insignificant.

Exhibit 15

 

February 19, 2016

The Board of Directors

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

 

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement (Form F-3) of Nomura Holdings, Inc. for the registration of senior debt securities of our report dated December 18, 2015 relating to the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Nomura Holdings, Inc. as of September 30, 2015, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the three-month and six-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, and the unaudited consolidated statements of changes in equity and cash flows for the six-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 that is included in its Form 6-K dated December 18, 2015.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of Nomura Holdings, Inc. for the registration of senior debt securities and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated June 25, 2015, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Nomura Holdings, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Nomura Holdings, Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended March 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

 

Tokyo, Japan

February 19, 2016

Exhibit 25

 


 

UNITED STATES

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)

 


 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 


 

NEW YORK   13-4941247

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or

organization if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification no.)

60 WALL STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK   10005
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

Attention: Catherine Wang

Legal Department

60 Wall Street, 36th Floor

New York, New York 10005

(212) 250 – 7544

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 


 

NOMURA HORUDINGUSU KABUSHIKI KAISHA

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 


 

NOMURA HOLDINGS, INC.

(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)

 


 

Japan   None

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

9-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Japan

  103-8645
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 


 

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture securities)

 



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.

 

Name


  

Address


Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District)

   New York, NY

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

   Washington, D.C.

New York State Banking Department

   Albany, NY

 

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

 

Yes.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

 

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

 

None.

 

Item 3. -15. Not Applicable

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 1 -    Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated August 31, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 25, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated December 18, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 3, 1999; and Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated March 14, 2002, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.
Exhibit 2 -    Certificate of Authority to commence business, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.
Exhibit 3 -    Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.
Exhibit 4 -    Existing By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, dated July 24, 2014, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.
Exhibit 5 -    Not applicable.
Exhibit 6 -    Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of the Act, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810.
Exhibit 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.
Exhibit 8 -    Not Applicable.
Exhibit 9 -    Not Applicable.

 

2


SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, 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 this 9th day of February, 2016.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

By:

 

/s/ CAROL NG        

   

    CAROL NG

    VICE PRESIDENT

 

3


    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System    OMB Number 7100-0036
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    OMB Number 3064-0052
    Office of the Comptroller of the Currency    OMB Number 1557-0081
         Approval expires March 31, 2018
         Page 1 of 84

Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council

 

LOGO

This report is required by law: 12 U.S.C. § 324 (State member banks); 12 U.S.C. §1817 (State nonmember banks); 12 U.S.C. §161 (National banks); and 12 U.S.C. §1464 (Savings associations).       Unless the context indicates otherwise, the term “bank” in this report form refers to both banks and savings associations.
   

 

This report form is to be filed by banks with branches and consolidated subsidiaries in U.S. territories and possessions, Edge or Agreement subsidiaries, foreign branches, consolidated foreign subsidiaries, or International Banking Facilities.

 

NOTE: Each bank’s board of directors and senior management are responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control, including controls over the Reports of Condition and Income. The Reports of Condition and Income are to be prepared in accordance with federal regulatory authority instructions. The Reports of Condition and Income must be signed by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the reporting bank (or by the individual performing an equivalent function) and attested to by not less than two directors (trustees) for state nonmember banks and three directors for state member banks, national banks, and savings associations.

 

I, the undersigned CFO (or equivalent) of the named bank, attest that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting

      schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
   

 

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that the Reports of Condition and Income have been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true and correct.

     
     
        Director (Trustee)
         

Signature of Chief Financial Officer (or Equivalent)

     

Director (Trustee)

         

Date of Signature

     

Director (Trustee)

         

 

Submission of Reports

       
         
Each bank must file its Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) data by either:      

To fulfill the signature and attestation requirement for the Reports of Condition and Income for this report date, attach your bank’s completed signature page (or a photocopy or a computer generated version of this page) to the hard-copy record of the data file submitted to the CDR that your bank must place in its files.

 

The appearance of your bank’s hard-copy record of the submitted data file need not match exactly the appearance of the FFIEC’s sample report forms, but should show at least the caption of each Call Report item and the reported amount.

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

(a) Using computer software to prepare its Call Report and then submitting the report data directly to the FFIEC’s Central Data Repository (CDR), an Internet-based system for data collection (https://cdr.ffiec.gov/cdr/), or

     

(b) Completing its Call Report in paper form and arranging with a software vendor or another party to convert the data into the electronic format that can be processed by the CDR. The software vendor or other party then must electronically submit the bank’s data file to the CDR.

     

 

For technical assistance with submissions to the CDR, please contact the CDR Help Desk by telephone at (888) CDR-3111, by fax at (703) 774-3946, or by e-mail at CDR.Help@ffiec.gov.

     

Legal Title of Bank (RSSD 9017)

 

New York

      City (RSSD 9130)

 

FDIC Certificate Number   623           NY       

10005

   

(RSSD 9050)

          State Abbreviation (RSSD 9200)        ZIP Code (RSSD 9220)

 


The estimated average burden associated with this information collection is 50.4 hours per respondent and is estimated to vary from 20 to 775 hours per response, depending on circumstances. Burden estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data in the required form, and completing the information collection, but exclude the time for compiling and maintaining business records in the normal course of a respondent’s activities. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an organization (or a person) is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions for reducing this burden should be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503, and to one of the following: Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551; Legislative and Regulatory Analysis Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Washington, DC 20219; Assistant Executive Secretary, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, DC 20429.


FFIEC 031

Page 16 of 84

RC-1

 

Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Banks and Savings Associations for September 30, 2015

 

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter.

 

Schedule RC-Balance Sheet

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands


    RCFD

    Tril

  Bil

  Mil

  Thou

     

Assets

                                         

1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):

                                         

a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin (1)

                            0081                    132,000      1.a.

b. Interest-bearing balances (2)

                            0071      14,934,000      1.b.

2. Securities:

                                         

a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A)

                            1754      0      2.a.

b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)

                            1773      0      2.b.

3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

                                         

a. Federal funds sold in domestic offices

                    RCON        B987      0      3.a.

b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell (3)

                    RCFD        B989      19,603,000      3.b.

4. Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC-C):

                            RCFD             

a. Loans and leases held for sale

                            5369      0      4.a.

b. Loans and leases, net of unearned income

            B528        18,105,000                    4.b.

c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

            3123        27,000                    4.c.

d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance
(item 4.b minus 4.c)

                            B529      18,078,000      4.d.

5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC-D)

                            3545      7,000      5.

6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

                            2145      16,000      6.

7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)

                            2150      0      7.

8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

                            2130      0      8.

9. Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

                            3656      0      9.

10. Intangible assets:

                                         

a. Goodwill

                            3163      0      10.a.

b. Other intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)

                            0426      32,000      10.b.

11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)

                            2160      613,000      11.

12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)

                            2170      53,415,000      12.

Liabilities

                                         

13. Deposits:

                            RCON             

a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E, Part I)

                            2200      42,294,000      13.a.

(1) Noninterest-bearing (4)

    RCON        6631        25,743,000                    13.a. (1)

(2) Interest-bearing

    RCON        6636        16,551,000                    13.a. (2)

b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, Part II)

                            RCFN             
                            2200      0      13.b.

(1) Noninterest-bearing

    RCFN        6631        0                    13.b. (1)

(2) Interest-bearing

    RCFN        6636        0                    13.b. (2)

14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

                                         

a. Federal funds purchased in domestic offices (5)

                    RCON        B993      1,305,000      14.a.

b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (6)

                    RCFD        B995      0      14.b.

15. Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC-D)

                    RCFD        3548      35,000      15.

16. Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases) (from Schedule RC-M)

                            RCFD             
                            3190      22,000      16.

17. and 18. Not applicable

                                         

1. Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
2. Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
3. Includes all securities resale agreements in domestic and foreign offices, regardless of maturity.
4. Includes noninterest-bearing demand, time, and savings deposits.
5. Report overnight Federal Home Loan Bank advances in Schedule RC, item 16, “Other borrowed money.”
6. Includes all securities repurchase agreements in domestic and foreign offices, regardless of maturity.

 

5


FFIEC 031

Page 17 of 84

RC-2

 

Schedule RC—Continued

 

Dollar Amounts in Thousands


  RCFD

    Tril

  Bil

  Mil

  Thou

     

Liabilities—Continued

                             

19. Subordinated notes and debentures (1)

                3200            0      19.

20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)

                2930            1,050,000      20.

21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)

                2948            44,706,000      21.

22. Not applicable

                             

Equity Capital

                             

Bank Equity Capital

                                   

23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

                3838      0      23.

24. Common stock

                3230                    2,127,000      24.

25. Surplus (excludes all surplus related to preferred stock)

                3839                    600,000      25.

26. a. Retained earnings

                3632                    5,984,000      26.a.

b. Accumulated other comprehensive income (2)

                B530                    (2,000   26.b.

c. Other equity capital components (3)

                A130                    0      26.c.

27. a. Total bank equity capital (sum of items 23 through 26.c)

                3210                    8,709,000      27.a.

b. Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

                3000                    0      27.b.

28. Total equity capital (sum of items 27.a and 27.b)

                G105                    8,709,000      28.

29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)

                3300      53,415,000      29.

 

Memoranda

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.

1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 2014

    
 
RCFD
6724
  
  
    
 
Number
NA
  
  
     M.1.   

 

1 =   Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank

2 =   Independent audit of the bank’s parent holding company conducted 5 in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the bank separately)

3 =   Attestation on bank management’s assertion on the effectiveness of the bank’s internal control over financial reporting by a certified public accounting firm

  

4 =   Directors’ examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state-chartering authority)

5 =   Directors’ examination of the bank performed by other external auditors (may be required by state-chartering authority)

6 =   Review of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

7 =   Compilation of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors

8 =   Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)

9 =   No external audit work

 

To be reported with the March Report of Condition.      RCON                                 MM/DD            

2. Bank’s fiscal year-end date.

     8678         NA         M.2.   

1. Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.
2. Includes, but is not limited to, net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, accumulated net gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments, and accumulated defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan adjustments.
3. Includes treasury stock and unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares.

 

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