INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP
8-K, 1997-08-01
COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT
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                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                        WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                               Form 8-K

                            CURRENT REPORT

                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event
                       reported) July 30, 1997.

              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                 1-2360               13-0871985
       New York            (Commission File       (I.R.S. Employer
(State of Incorporation         Number)          Identification No.)

   Armonk, New York             10504


(Address of principal         (Zip Code)
executive offices)

   Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 914-765-1900





<PAGE>



Item 7. Financial Information, Pro Forma Financial Information and
        Exhibits.

     This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed to incorporate by
reference into Registration Statement No. 333-21073 on Form S-3,
effective March 6, 1997, the documents included as Exhibits 1 and 2
hereto, relating to $3,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of debt
securities of the Registrant.

       The following exhibits are hereby filed with this report:


               Exhibit
               Number              Description


               (1)        Underwriting Agreement dated July 30,
                          1997, among International Business
                          Machines Corporation, Morgan Stanley &
                          Co. Incorporated, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.,
                          Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers
                          Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
                          Smith Incorporated and Salomon Brothers
                          Inc.

               (2)        Form of 6.45% Note due 2007.


               (3)        Form of 6.22% Debenture due 2027.










<PAGE>



                              SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
                                (Registrant)


              By:    /s/ Janet Andersen
                     Name:  Janet Andersen
                     Title: Assistant Treasurer


Date:  August 1, 1997.


<PAGE>


                             Exhibit Index


                                     Page in
                                   Sequentially
Exhibit                              Numbered
Number          Description            Copy


(1)       Underwriting Agreement dated
          July 30, 1997, among International
          Business Machines Corporation,
          Morgan Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated, Bear, Stearns & Co.
          Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
          Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill
          Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
          Incorporated and Salomon Brothers
          Inc.

(2)       Form of 6.45% Note due 2007.


(3)-      Form of 6.22% Debenture due 2027.






              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

                            Debt Securities

                   $500,000,000 6.45% Notes due 2007

                $500,000,000 6.22% Debentures due 2027



                        UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                    New York, New York
To the Representatives named in Schedule I hereto   July 30, 1997
    of the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

 Dear Sirs:

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

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

     (a) The Company meets the  requirements for use of Form S-3 under
   the  Securities  Act of 1933 (the  "Act")  and has  filed  with the
   Securities   and   Exchange   Commission   (the   "Commission")   a
   registration statement or statements (the file number or numbers of
   which is or are set  forth  in  Schedule  I  hereto),  including  a
   related preliminary  prospectus,  on such Form for the registration
   under  the Act of the  offering  and  sale of the  Securities.  The
   Company may have filed one or more  amendments  thereto,  including
   the related  preliminary  prospectus,  and has filed a  preliminary
   prospectus  in  accordance  with Rules 415 and  424(b)(5),  each of
   which has  previously  been furnished to you. The Company will next
   file  with  the  Commission  one of the  following:  (i)  prior  to
   effectiveness of such registration  statement,  a further amendment
   thereto,  including  the  form of  final  prospectus,  (ii) a final
   prospectus in  accordance  with Rules 430A and 424(b)(1) or (4), or
   (iii) a final prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b)(2)
   or (5). In the case of clause  (ii),  the  Company has  included in
   such  registration  statement  or  statements,  as  amended  at the
   Effective Date, all information  (other than Rule 430A Information)
   required by the Act and the rules  thereunder to be included in the
   Prospectus with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof.
   As filed,  such  amendment  and form of final  prospectus,  or such
   final  prospectus,  shall  include all Rule 430A  Information  and,
   except to the extent the Representatives  shall agree in writing to
   a modification,  shall be in all  substantive  respects in the form
   furnished to you prior to the Execution  Time or, to the extent not
   completed at the Execution  Time,  shall contain only such specific
   additional  information and other changes (beyond that contained in
   the latest Preliminary  Prospectus) as the Company has advised you,
   prior to the Execution Time,  will be included or made therein.  If
   the Registration  Statement  contains the undertaking  specified by
   Regulation  S-K Item 512(a),  the  Registration  Statement,  at the
   Execution  Time,   meets  the   requirements   set  forth  in  Rule
   415(a)(1)(x).


<PAGE>




     The terms which follow,  when used in this Agreement,  shall have
   the meanings  indicated.  The term the "Effective  Date" shall mean
   each date that the  Registration  Statement and any  post-effective
   amendment  or  amendments   thereto  became  or  become  effective.
   "Execution  Time" shall mean the date and time that this  Agreement
   is  executed  and  delivered  by the parties  hereto.  "Preliminary
   Prospectus"  shall mean any preliminary  prospectus  referred to in
   the preceding paragraph and any preliminary  prospectus included in
   the  Registration  Statement at the Effective  Date that omits Rule
   430A Information.  "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus  relating
   to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after
   the  Execution  Time or, if no filing  pursuant  to Rule  424(b) is
   required,  shall mean the form of final prospectus  included in the
   Registration   Statement  at  the  Effective  Date.   "Registration
   Statement"  shall mean the  registration  statement  or  statements
   referred  to in the  preceding  paragraph,  including  incorporated
   documents  as of the filing of the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on
   Form 10-Q for the three month period ended March 31, 1997, exhibits
   and  financial  statements,  in the form in which it or they has or
   have or shall become effective and, in the event any post-effective
   amendment  thereto becomes  effective prior to the Closing Date (as
   hereinafter defined),  shall also mean such registration  statement
   or  statements  as so amended.  Such term shall  include  Rule 430A
   Information  deemed to be included therein at the Effective Date as
   provided  by Rule 430A.  "Rule 415",  "Rule  424",  "Rule 430A" and
   "Regulation  S-K"  refer to such  rules  under the Act.  "Rule 430A
   Information"  means  information with respect to the Securities and
   the offering thereof  permitted to be omitted from the Registration
   Statement  when it becomes  effective  pursuant  to Rule 430A.  Any
   reference  herein  to the  Registration  Statement,  a  Preliminary
   Prospectus  or the  Prospectus  shall  be  deemed  to  refer to and
   include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to
   Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities  Exchange
   Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") on or before the effective date of
   the  Registration   Statement  or  the  date  of  such  Preliminary
   Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference
   herein to the  terms  "amend",  "amendment"  or  "supplement"  with
   respect to the Registration  Statement,  any Preliminary Prospectus
   or the  Prospectus  shall be  deemed  to refer to and  include  the
   filing of any document  under the Exchange Act after the  effective
   date of the Registration  Statement, or the date of any Preliminary
   Prospectus  or the  Prospectus,  as the case may be,  deemed  to be
   incorporated therein by reference.

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


<PAGE>





   behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives  specifically
   for use in  connection  with the  preparation  of the  Registration
   Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

   2. Purchase and Sale.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  and in
reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
Company  agrees  to sell to each  Underwriter,  and  each  Underwriter
agrees,  severally and not jointly,  to purchase from the Company,  at
the  purchase  price set forth in  Schedule I hereto,  the  respective
principal amounts of the Securities set forth opposite each respective
Underwriter's  name in Schedule II hereto,  except that, if Schedule I
hereto  provides  for  the  sale of  Securities  pursuant  to  delayed
delivery arrangements,  the respective principal amounts of Securities
to be purchased by the Underwriters  shall be as set forth in Schedule
II  hereto,   less  the  respective  amounts  of  Contract  Securities
determined  as  provided  below.  Securities  to be  purchased  by the
Underwriters   are  herein   sometimes   called   the   "Underwriters'
Securities"  and  Securities  to  be  purchased  pursuant  to  Delayed
Delivery Contracts as hereinafter provided are herein called "Contract
Securities".

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

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



<PAGE>





   4. Agreements.

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

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

     (b) If, at any time when a prospectus  relating to the Securities
   is required to be  delivered  under the Act,  any event occurs as a
   result of which the  Prospectus  as then  amended  or  supplemented
   would  include any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to
   state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in
   the  light of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were made not
   misleading,  or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the
   Prospectus  to  comply  with  the  Act or the  Exchange  Act or the
   respective   rules   thereunder,   the   Company   will   give  the
   Representatives  immediate  notice of the  occurrence of such event
   and promptly will prepare and file with the Commission,  subject to
   the first sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment
   or supplement  which will correct such  statement or omission or an
   amendment which will effect such compliance.

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

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

     (e)  The  Company  will  arrange  for  the  qualification  of the
   Securities  for sale  under the laws of such  jurisdictions  as the
   Representatives may designate, will maintain such qualifications in
   effect so long as required for


<PAGE>





   the  distribution  of the  Securities  and  will  arrange  for  the
   determination  of the  legality of the  Securities  for purchase by
   institutional investors.

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

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

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

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

     (c)  The  several  Underwriters  will  pay any  fees  of  Moody's
   Investors  Service,  Inc. and Standard & Poor's  Ratings  Group,  a
   division of the McGraw-Hill Companies,  Inc. relating to the rating
   of the Securities.

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

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

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

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

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

          (A) the  Company has been duly  incorporated  and is validly
        existing as a corporation  in good standing  under the laws of
        the State of New York, with full corporate power and authority
        to own its properties and conduct its business as described in
        the  Prospectus,  and is duly  qualified  to do  business as a
        foreign corporation and is in good


<PAGE>





        standing under the laws of each jurisdiction within the United
        States which requires such  qualifications  wherein it owns or
        leases material properties or conducts material business;

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

          (C) the  Indenture  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
        delivered,  has been duly qualified  under the Trust Indenture
        Act, and  constitutes  a legal,  valid and binding  obligation
        enforceable  against the Company in accordance  with its terms
        (subject  to  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent
        transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium  and other similar laws
        affecting  creditors'  rights  generally  from time to time in
        effect,  and  subject,   as  to  enforceability,   to  general
        principles    of   equity,    regardless   of   whether   such
        enforceability  is  considered in a proceeding in equity or at
        law); and the Securities  have been duly  authorized and, when
        executed and  authenticated  in accordance with the provisions
        of  the  Indenture  and  delivered  to  and  paid  for  by the
        Underwriters  pursuant to this  Agreement,  in the case of the
        Underwriters'   Securities,   or  by  the  purchasers  thereof
        pursuant  to Delayed  Delivery  Contracts,  in the case of any
        Contract Securities,  will constitute legal, valid and binding
        obligations  of the Company  entitled  to the  benefits of the
        Indenture  (subject  to  applicable  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
        fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium,  and other
        similar laws affecting  creditors'  rights generally from time
        to time in effect);

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

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

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

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

          (H) such  counsel  has no  reason  to  believe  that (1) the
        Registration   Statement  and  the   Prospectus   (except  the
        financial   statements   and  the  notes   thereto  and  other
        information of an accounting or financial


<PAGE>





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

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

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

        (ii) in the event that the statements described in one or more
     of paragraphs  (B), (C), (E), (F) or (G) of foregoing  subsection
     5(b)(i) is omitted  from the opinion  delivered  pursuant to such
     subsection,  the opinion of Cravath,  Swaine & Moore, counsel for
     the  Company,  dated  the  Closing  Date,  to the  effect  of the
     statements so omitted.

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

        (iii) in the event that the statements in paragraph  (H)(1) of
     subsection 5(b)(i) are omitted from the opinion provided pursuant
     to such subsection, a letter of Cravath, Swaine & Moore dated the
     Closing  Date  to  the  effect  that,   having   participated  in
     conferences  with certain  officers of, and with the  accountants
     for,   the  Company  and  having  made  certain   inquiries   and
     investigations   in  connection   with  the  preparation  of  the
     Registration  Statement and the  Prospectus,  such counsel has no
     reason to believe  that (i) the  Registration  Statement  and the
     Prospectus (except the financial statements and the notes thereto
     and other information of an


<PAGE>





     accounting  or  financial  nature  included   therein,   and  the
     Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) included as an exhibit to the
     Registration  Statement, as to which such counsel need express no
     view) were not appropriately  responsive in all material respects
     with  requirements  of the  Act  and  the  applicable  rules  and
     regulations   of  the   Commission   thereunder   and   (ii)  the
     Registration  Statement at the Effective Date contained an untrue
     statement of a material  fact or omitted to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein not  misleading,  or that the  Prospectus  on the Closing
     Date includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
     state a material fact  necessary in order to make the  statements
     therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under  which  they were
     made,  not  misleading  (in each case  except  for the  financial
     statements  and the notes  thereto  and other  information  of an
     accounting or financial nature included therein, as to which such
     counsel need express no view).

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

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

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

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

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

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

        (i) in their  opinion the  audited  financial  statements  and
     schedules  thereto  included or incorporated in the  Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to
     form in all material


<PAGE>





        respects with the applicable  accounting  requirements  of the
        Exchange  Act  and  the   published   rules  and   regulations
        thereunder with respect to financial  statements and financial
        statement schedules included or incorporated in annual reports
        on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act;

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

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

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

        (iii) they have performed certain other procedures as a result
     of which they  determined  that the  information  described  in a
     schedule  to be  delivered  on behalf of the  Underwriters  of an
     accounting,  financial or statistical nature (which is limited to
     accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the
     general  ledger of the  Company)  set  forth in the  Registration
     Statement,   as   amended,   the   Prospectus,   as   amended  or
     supplemented,  and in  Exhibit 12 to the  Registration  Statement
     (including   selected   accounting,   financial  or   statistical
     information  included or  incorporated  in the  Company's  Annual
     Report on Form 10-K  incorporated in the Prospectus or any of the
     Company's  Quarterly Reports on Form l0-Q incorporated  therein),
     agrees   with  the   general   ledger  of  the  Company  and  its
     subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

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



<PAGE>





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

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

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

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

   If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have
been  fulfilled in all material  respects when and as provided in this
Agreement,  or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above
or elsewhere in this Agreement  shall not be in all material  respects
reasonably  satisfactory in form and substance to the  Representatives
and  their  counsel,   this  Agreement  and  all  obligations  of  the
Underwriters  hereunder  may be cancelled at, or at any time prior to,
the Closing Date by the  Representatives.  Notice of such  cancelation
shall be given to the Company in writing or by  telephone or telegraph
confirmed in writing.

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

   7.  Indemnification  and  Contribution.  (a) The Company  agrees to
indemnify  and hold  harmless  each  Underwriter  and each  person who
controls any  Underwriter  within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange  Act  against  any  and  all  losses,   claims,   damages  or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become
subject  under the Act,  the  Exchange  Act or other  Federal or state
statutory law or  regulation,  at common law or otherwise,  insofar as
such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (or actions in respect
thereof)  arise  out of or are  based  upon any  untrue  statement  or
alleged  untrue   statement  of  a  material  fact  contained  in  the
Registration  Statement  for the  registration  of the  Securities  as
originally  filed or in any amendment  thereof,  or in any Preliminary
Prospectus  or  the  Prospectus,   or  in  any  amendment  thereof  or
supplement  thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged  omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required  to be
stated  therein  or  necessary  to make  the  statements  therein  not
misleading,  and agrees to reimburse each such  indemnified  party for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred,  as incurred, by them
in connection with  investigating  or defending any such loss,  claim,
damage,


<PAGE>





liability or action; provided,  however, that (i) the Company will not
be liable in any such case to the extent  that any such  loss,  claim,
damage or  liability  arises out of or is based  upon any such  untrue
statement or alleged untrue  statement or omission or alleged omission
made  therein  in  reliance  upon  and  in  conformity   with  written
information   furnished  to  the  Company  by  or  on  behalf  of  any
Underwriter  through  the  Representatives  specifically  for  use  in
connection with the preparation  thereof, and (ii) such indemnity with
respect to any Preliminary  Prospectus  shall not inure to the benefit
of any Underwriter (or any person  controlling such  Underwriter) from
whom the person  asserting any such loss,  claim,  damage or liability
purchased the Securities  which are the subject thereof if such person
did  not  receive  a copy of the  Prospectus  (or  the  Prospectus  as
supplemented) excluding documents incorporated therein by reference at
or prior to the  confirmation  of the sale of such  Securities to such
person in any case where such  delivery is required by the Act and the
untrue  statement  or omission of a material  fact  contained  in such
Preliminary  Prospectus  was  corrected  in  the  Prospectus  (or  the
Prospectus as  supplemented  prior to the  confirmation of the sale of
such Securities to such person).  This indemnity  agreement will be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

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

   (c)  Promptly  after  receipt by an  indemnified  party  under this
Section  7  of  notice  of  the  commencement  of  any  action,   such
indemnified  party will,  if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made
against  the  indemnifying  party  under this  Section  7,  notify the
indemnifying  party in writing of the  commencement  thereof;  but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying  party will not relieve it from
any liability  which it may have to any  indemnified  party  otherwise
than under this Section 7. In case any such action is brought  against
any indemnified  party, and it notifies the indemnifying  party of the
commencement  thereof,  the  indemnifying  party will be  entitled  to
appoint counsel  satisfactory to such  indemnified  party to represent
the  indemnified  party  in such  action;  provided,  however,  if the
defendants in any such action include both the  indemnified  party and
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably
concluded  that  there may be legal  defenses  available  to it and/or
other  indemnified  parties which are different  from or additional to
those available to the indemnifying  party,  the indemnified  party or
parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of
notice from the indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its
election so to appoint  counsel to defend such action and  approval by
the indemnified party of counsel,  the indemnifying  party will not be
liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or
other  expenses  subsequently  incurred by such  indemnified  party in
connection with the defense  thereof unless (i) the indemnified  party
shall have employed separate counsel in


<PAGE>





accordance  with the proviso to the next preceding  sentence (it being
understood,  however,  that the indemnifying party shall not be liable
for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any
local  counsel),  approved  by  the  Representatives  in the  case  of
paragraph (a) of this Section 7, representing the indemnified  parties
under such  paragraph  (a) who are parties to such  action),  (ii) the
indemnifying   party  shall  not  have  employed  counsel   reasonably
satisfactory  to the  indemnified  party to represent the  indemnified
party within a reasonable  time after  notice of  commencement  of the
action or (iii) the  indemnifying  party has authorized the employment
of  counsel  for  the   indemnified   party  at  the  expense  of  the
indemnifying  party;  and  except  that,  if  clause  (i) or  (iii) is
applicable,  such  liability  shall be only in respect of the  counsel
referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).

   (d) In order to  provide  for just and  equitable  contribution  in
circumstances in which the  indemnification  provided for in paragraph
(a) of this Section 7 is due in  accordance  with its terms but is for
any  reason  held by a court to be  unavailable  from the  Company  on
grounds of policy or otherwise, the Company and the Underwriters shall
contribute to the aggregate  losses,  claims,  damages and liabilities
(including legal or other expenses  reasonably  incurred in connection
with  investigating or defending same) to which the Company and one or
more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion so that the
Underwriters  are  responsible  for that  portion  represented  by the
percentage  that the  underwriting  discount  bears to the sum of such
discount  and the  purchase  price  of the  Securities  set  forth  on
Schedule I hereto  and the  Company is  responsible  for the  balance;
provided,  however,  that (y) in no case shall any Underwriter (except
as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the
offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of
the underwriting  discount  applicable to the Securities  purchased by
such  Underwriter  hereunder  and (z) no person  guilty of  fraudulent
misrepresentation  (within  the  meaning of Section  11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to  contribution  from any person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this Section 7,
each person who controls an  Underwriter  within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution
as such  Underwriter,  and each person who controls the Company within
the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the
Company  who shall have  signed the  Registration  Statement  and each
director of the Company shall have the same rights to  contribution as
the  Company,  subject  in each  case to  clauses  (y) and (z) of this
paragraph (d). Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after
receipt of notice of  commencement  of any action,  suit or proceeding
against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be
made against another party or parties under this paragraph (d), notify
such party or parties from whom  contribution  may be sought,  but the
omission  to so notify  such party or parties  shall not  relieve  the
party or parties from whom  contribution  may be sought from any other
obligation it or they may have  hereunder or otherwise than under this
paragraph (d).

   8. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall
fail  to  purchase  and pay for  any of the  Securities  agreed  to be
purchased  by such  Underwriter  or  Underwriters  hereunder  and such
failure to purchase shall  constitute a default in the  performance of
its  or  their  obligations   under  this  Agreement,   the  remaining
Underwriters  shall be obligated  severally to take up and pay for (in
the  respective  proportions  which the amount of Securities set forth
opposite  their  names in Schedule  II hereto  bears to the  aggregate
amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining
Underwriters)  the  Securities  which the  defaulting  Underwriter  or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in
the event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed
10% of the  aggregate  amount of  Securities  set forth in Schedule II
hereto,  the remaining  Underwriters  shall have the right to purchase
all,  but shall not be under any  obligation  to purchase  any, of the
Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all
the Securities, this


<PAGE>





Agreement  will  terminate  without  liability  to  any  nondefaulting
Underwriter  or  the  Company.  In  the  event  of a  default  by  any
Underwriter  as set forth in this Section 8, the Closing Date shall be
postponed  for  such  period,   not  exceeding   seven  days,  as  the
Representatives  shall determine in order that the required changes in
the  Registration  Statement and the Final  Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements may be effected.  Nothing  contained in this
Agreement  shall relieve any defaulting  Underwriter of its liability,
if any, to the Company and any  nondefaulting  Underwriter for damages
occasioned by its default hereunder.

   9.  Termination.  This Agreement shall be subject to termination in
the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the
Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities,  if prior
to such time (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
Exchange  shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall
have been  established  on such  Exchange,  (ii) a banking  moratorium
shall  have  been  declared  either  by  Federal  or  New  York  State
authorities  or (iii)  there  shall  have  occurred  any  outbreak  or
material  escalation of  hostilities  or other  calamity or crisis the
effect of which on the financial  markets of the United States is such
as to make it, in the judgment of the  Representatives,  impracticable
to market the Securities.

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

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

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

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



<PAGE>





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

                              Very truly yours,

                              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
                              CORPORATION

                                By:/s/ Janet Andersen
                                Name:  Janet Andersen
                                Title: Assistant Treasurer

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



Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
        Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc





By: Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated


By:/s/ Harold J. Hendershot III
  Name:  Harold J. Hendershot III
  Title: Vice President


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



<PAGE>



                              Schedule I


Underwriting Agreement dated July 30, 1997.

Registration No. 333-21073.

Representatives:

   Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
   1585 Broadway
   New York, New York 10036

   Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
   245 Park Avenue
   New York, New York 10167

   Goldman, Sachs & Co.
   85 Broad Street
   New York, New York 10004

   Lehman Brothers Inc.
   Three World Financial Center
   New York, New York 10285-2400

   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
   250 Vesey Street
   World Financial Center-North Tower
   New York, New York 10281

   Salomon Brothers Inc
   Seven World Trade Center
   New York, New York 10048


Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

A. 6.45% Notes due 2007

   Title:  6.45% Notes due 2007.

   Principal amount: $500,000,000.

   Purchase  price:  99.044%  of the  principal  amount of Notes  plus
     accrued interest from August 1, 1997.

   Offering  price:  99.694%  of the  principal  amount of Notes  plus
     accrued interest from August 1, 1997.

   Interest:  Payable  on  February  1  and  August  1 of  each  year,
     commencing on February 1, 1998.

   Sinking fund provisions: None.

   Redemption  provisions:  The  Notes are  redeemable  in whole or in
        part,  at  the  option  of  the  Company  at  any  time,  at a
        redemption  price  equal  to the  greater  of (i)  100% of the
        principal amount of such Notes and (ii) the sum of the present
        values of the Remaining  Scheduled Payments (as defined in the
        Prospectus)  thereon  discounted  at  the  Treasury  Rate  (as
        defined  in the  Prospectus)  plus 10  basis  points,  plus in
        either case accrued interest to the date of redemption.


B.  6.22% Debentures due 2027

   Title:   6.22% Debentures due 2027.

   Principal amount:  $500,000,000.

   Purchase price:  99.375% of the principal amount of Debentures plus
     accrued interest from August 1, 1997.

   Offering price: 100.000% of the principal amount of Debentures plus
     accrued interest from August 1, 1997.

   Interest:  Payable  on  February  1  and  August  1 of  each  year,
     commencing on February 1, 1998.


<PAGE>





   Sinking fund provisions:  None.

   Redemption provisions:  The Debentures are redeemable as a whole or
     in part,  at the  option of the  Company  at any time on or after
     August 2, 2004, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i)
     100% of the principal  amount of such Debentures and (ii) the sum
     of the present  values of the  Remaining  Scheduled  Payments (as
     defined in the  Prospectus)  thereon  discounted  at the Treasury
     Rate (as defined in the Prospectus) plus 10 basis points, plus in
     either  case  accrued  interest  to the date of  redemption.  The
     Debentures  are also  redeemable  at the  option  of the  holders
     thereof on August 1, 2004, at 100% of their principal amount plus
     accrued interest.

   Closing Date, Time and Location: August 4, 1997, 10:00 A.M., at the
     offices of Cravath,  Swaine & Moore,  Worldwide Plaza, 825 Eighth
     Avenue, New York, New York.

   Delayed Delivery Arrangements: None.

   Items specified  pursuant to Section 5(e)(iii) to be covered by the
     letter from Price  Waterhouse  LLP delivered  pursuant to Section
     5(e): As set forth in a schedule  delivered on the date hereof on
     behalf of the Underwriters.



<PAGE>



                              Schedule II


              International Business Machines Corporation
                   $500,000,000 6.45% Notes due 2007
                $500,000,000 6.22% Debentures Due 2027



    Underwriters           Principal Amount       Principal Amount of
                            of Notes to be           Debentures to be
                                 Purchased                   Purchased


Morgan Stanley & Co. 
  Incorporat                   $83,335,000        $83,335,000

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.        83,333,000         83,333,000


Goldman, Sachs & Co.            83,333,000         83,333,000


Lehman Brothers Inc.            83,333,000         83,333,000


Merrill Lynch, Pierce, 
Fenner & Smith Incorporated     83,333,000         83,333,000

Salomon Brothers Inc            83,333,000         83,333,000
                                --------------    --------------

    Total...................   $500,000,000       $500,000,000
                               ===============    ==============






<PAGE>



                             Schedule III

                       Delayed Delivery Contract


[Insert name and address
 of lead Representative]
                                                      ,199
Dear Sirs:

   The  undersigned  hereby  agrees  to  purchase  from  International
Business Machines Corporation (the "Company"),  and the Company agrees
to  sell  to the  undersigned,  on               , 199 , (the  
"Delivery  Date"),  $             principal  amount of the 
Company's                  (the  "Securities")  offered by the
Company's Final Prospectus dated                  , 199 , receipt of a
copy of which is hereby acknowledged,  at a purchase price of       % 
of the principal amount thereof,  plus  accrued              , if any,
thereon  from                , 19   , to the date of payment and  
delivery,  and on the further  terms and  conditions  set forth in this 
contract.

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

   The  obligation  of the  undersigned  to take  delivery of and make
payment for Securities on the Delivery Date, and the obligation of the
Company to sell and deliver  Securities on the Delivery Date, shall be
subject to the conditions (and neither party shall incur any liability
by reason of the failure  thereof) that (1) the purchase of Securities
to  be  made  by  the  undersigned,  which  purchase  the  undersigned
represents  is not  prohibited  on the date  hereof,  shall not on the
Delivery  Date be  prohibited  under the laws of the  jurisdiction  to
which the  undersigned is subject,  and (2) the Company,  on or before
the  Delivery  Date,  shall  have sold to  certain  underwriters  (the
"Underwriters")  such  principal  amount of the Securities as is to be
sold to them pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement referred to in the
Final Prospectus  mentioned  above.  Promptly after completion of such
sale to the  Underwriters,  the  Company  will mail or  deliver to the
undersigned  at its  address set forth  below  notice to such  effect,
accompanied  by a copy of the  opinion  of  counsel  for  the  Company
delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.  The obligation
of the  undersigned  to take  delivery  of and  make  payment  for the
Securities,  and the obligation of the Company to cause the Securities
to be sold and delivered,  shall not be affected by the failure of any
purchaser  to take  delivery of and make  payment  for the  Securities
pursuant to other contracts similar to this contract.

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

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


<PAGE>




   This  agreement  shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

                                  Very truly yours,



                                         (Name of Purchaser)


                                  By
                                         (Signature and Title)



                                         (Address)

Accepted:

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
  CORPORATION

By







     Unless  this   certificate   is   presented   by  an   authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation
("DTC"),  to the  issuer 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.

              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

                          6.45% Note due 2007

                                                      CUSIP 459200 AQ4

No.: R                                                $

     INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein
called the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation
under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to               , or registered 
assigns, the principal sum of                 Dollars ($          ), 
at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, 
The City and State of New York, on August 1, 2007, in such coin or 
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment 
shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, 
and to pay interest, semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of 
each year, on said principal sum at said office or agency, in like 
coin or currency, at the rate of 6.45% per annum, from the February 1 
or the August 1, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this 
Note to which interest has been paid, unless the date hereof is a 
date to which interest has been paid, in which case from
the date of this Note, or unless no interest has been paid on the
Notes (as defined on the reverse hereof), in which case from August 1,
1997, until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly
provided for. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is
after January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, and before the
following February 1 or August 1, this Note shall bear interest from
such February 1 or August 1; provided, however, that if the Company
shall default in the payment of interest due on such February 1 or
August 1, then this Note shall bear interest from the next preceding
February 1 or August 1 to which interest has been paid, or, if no
interest has been paid on the Notes, from August 1,


<PAGE>





1997. The interest so payable on any February 1 or August 1 will,
subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture referred to on
the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Note is
registered at the close of business on such January 15 or July 15, as
the case may be, next preceding such February 1 or August 1, unless
the Company shall default in the payment of interest due on such
interest payment date, in which case such defaulted interest, at the
option of the Company, may be paid to the person in whose name this
Note is registered at the close of business on a special record date
for the payment of such defaulted interest established by notice to
the registered holders of Notes not less than ten days preceding such
special record date or may be paid in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which
the Notes may be listed. Payment of interest may, at the option of the
Company, be made by check mailed to the registered address of the
person entitled thereto.

     Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set
forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all
purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

     This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication hereon








<PAGE>










shall have been signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to
on the reverse hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be
duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:                   INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
                         CORPORATION

                         [SEAL]

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICATION        by______________________________

     This is one of the
Securities of the Series
designated herein issued
under the within-
mentioned Indenture.     by______________________________

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee


   by ______________________________
       Authorized Signatory


     This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of unsecured Notes,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (hereinafter
called the "Securities"), of the series hereinafter specified, all
issued or to be issued under an indenture dated as of October 1, 1993
(hereinafter called the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered by
the Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking
corporation, as trustee (hereinafter called the "Trustee"), to which
Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a description of the respective rights and duties thereunder
of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Securities. The
Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series
may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at
different times, may bear interest at different rates, may have
different conversion prices (if any), may be subject to different
redemption provisions, may be subject to different sinking, purchase
or analogous funds, may be subject to different covenants and Events
of Default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided. This
Note is one of a


<PAGE>






series designated as the 6.45% Notes due 2007 of the Company
(hereinafter called the "Notes") issued under the Indenture, limited
in aggregate principal amount to $500,000,000.

     In case an Event of Default with respect to the Notes, as defined
in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal
hereof together with interest accrued thereon, if any, may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in
the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in
the Indenture.

     The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time
outstanding of all series to be affected (acting as one class) to
execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing
in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or
of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of
the holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other
things, (i) change the fixed maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any Security; (ii) reduce
the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any
premium payable upon the redemption thereof; (iii) impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
fixed maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
redemption date); (iv) reduce the percentage in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose holders
is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of
whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain
provisions of the Indenture or certain defaults thereunder and their
consequences) provided for in the Indenture; (v) change any obligation
of the Company, with respect to outstanding Securities of a series, to
maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes
specified in the Indenture for such series; or (vi) modify any of the
foregoing provisions or the provisions for the waiver of certain
covenants and defaults, except to increase any applicable percentage
of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities the
consent of the holders of which is required or to provide with respect
to any particular series the right to condition the effectiveness of
any supplemental indenture as to that


<PAGE>













series on the consent of the holders of a specified percentage of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities of such series or
to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be
modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Security affected thereby. It is also provided in the
Indenture that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities of a series at the time outstanding may on behalf of
the holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past
default under the Indenture with respect to such series and its
consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security of such series
or in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified
without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security of the
series affected. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note
shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future
holders and owners of this Note and any Notes which may be issued in
exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective of whether or not any
notation thereof is made upon this Note or such other Notes.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of,
if any, and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective
times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

     The Indenture permits the Company to Discharge its obligations
with respect to the Notes on the 91st day following the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in the Indenture, which include the
deposit with the Trustee of money or U.S. Government Obligations or a
combination thereof sufficient to pay and discharge each installment
of principal of (including premium, if any, on) and interest, if any,
on the outstanding Notes.

     If the Company shall, in accordance with Section 901 of the
Indenture, consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or
convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any Person, the successor shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, the Person named as the "Company" on the face of this
Note, all on the terms set forth in the Indenture.




<PAGE>




     The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. In the
manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, but
without the payment of any service charge, Notes may be exchanged for
an equal aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized
denominations at the office or agency of the Company maintained for
such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New
York.

     The Notes may be redeemed as a whole or in part, at the option of
the Company at any time, upon mailing a notice of such redemption not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for
redemption to the holders of the Notes at their last registered
addresses, all as provided in the Indenture, at a redemption price
equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes
to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining
Scheduled Payments thereon discounted to the redemption date on a
semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate plus 10 basis points, plus in either case
accrued interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of
redemption.

     "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the
rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of
the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount)
equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

     "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a
maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed
that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance
with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate
debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such
Notes. "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference
Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the
Company.

     "Comparable Treasury Price" means with respect to any redemption
date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption
date, as set forth in the


<PAGE>







daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m.
Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or
any successor release) is not published or does not contain such
prices on such business day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the
highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B)
if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Deal
Quotations, the average of all such Quotations. "Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury
Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the
Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expected in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted
in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00
p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

     "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman
Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
Salomon Brothers Inc, and their respective successors; provided,
however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S.
Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary
Treasury Dealer.

     "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect to any Note,
the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof to be
redeemed and interest thereon that would be due after the related
redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that, if
such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to
such Note, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest
payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued
thereon to such redemption date.

     Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Note
at the office or agency of the Company for such registration in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York, a new Note or
Notes of authorized denominations for an equal aggregate principal
amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor, subject
to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without charge except



<PAGE>




for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection
therewith.

     Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Note, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the
absolute owner of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be
overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on this Note, as herein provided, and
for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by any
notice of the contrary. All payments made to or upon the order of such
registered holder shall, to the extent of the sum or sums paid,
effectually satisfy and discharge liability for moneys payable on this
Note.

     No recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise
in respect hereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation,
covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or any indenture
supplemental thereto or in any Note, or because of the creation of any
indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present
or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either
directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether
by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the
enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such
liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

     Unless otherwise defined in this Note, all terms used in this
Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings
assigned to them in the Indenture.

     THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.




     Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation
("DTC"), to the issuer 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.

              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

                       6.22% Debenture due 2027
                                                      CUSIP 459200 AR2

No.: R                                                $

     INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein
called the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation
under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to                  , or registered
assigns, the principal sum of                   Dollars ($         ),
at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, 
The City and State of New York, on August 1, 2027, in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts,
and to pay interest, semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each
year, on said principal sum at said office or agency, in like coin or
currency, at the rate of 6.22% per annum, from the February 1 or the 
August 1, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this Debenture 
to which interest has been paid, unless the date hereof is a date to 
which interest has been paid, in which case from the date of this 
Debenture, or unless no interest has been paid on the Debentures 
(as defined on the reverse hereof), in which case from August 1, 1997, 
until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly provided for. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after January 15 
or July 15, as the case may be, and before the following February 1 
or August 1, this Debenture shall bear interest from such February 1 
or August 1; provided, however, that if the Company shall default in 
the payment of interest due on such February 1 or August 1, then this 
Debenture shall bear interest from the next preceding February 1 or 
August 1 to which interest has been paid, or, if no interest has been


<PAGE>





paid on the Debentures, from August 1, 1997. The interest so payable
on any February 1 or August 1 will, subject to certain exceptions
provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid
to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close
of business on such January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, next
preceding such February 1 or August 1, unless the Company shall
default in the payment of interest due on such interest payment date,
in which case such defaulted interest, at the option of the Company,
may be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered
at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of
such defaulted interest established by notice to the registered
holders of Debentures not less than ten days preceding such special
record date or may be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent
with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
Debentures may be listed. Payment of interest may, at the option of
the Company, be made by check mailed to the registered address of the
person entitled thereto.

     Reference is made to the further provisions of this Debenture set
forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all
purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

     This Debenture shall not be valid or become obligatory for any
purpose until the certificate of authentication


<PAGE>



hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee under the Indenture
referred to on the reverse hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be
duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:                          INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
                                CORPORATION

                                [SEAL]

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICATION               by______________________________

     This is one of the
Securities of the Series
designated herein issued
under the within-
mentioned Indenture.            by______________________________

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee


   by ______________________________
       Authorized Signatory


     This Debenture is one of a duly authorized issue of unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company
(hereinafter called the "Securities"), of the series hereinafter
specified, all issued or to be issued under an indenture dated as of
October 1, 1993 (hereinafter called the "Indenture"), duly executed
and delivered by the Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York
banking corporation, as trustee (hereinafter called the "Trustee"), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is
hereby made for a description of the respective rights and duties
thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the
Securities. The Securities may be issued in one or more series, which
different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts,
may mature at different times, may bear interest at different rates,
may have different conversion prices (if any), may be subject to
different redemption provisions, may be subject to different sinking,
purchase or analogous funds, may be subject to different covenants and
Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in



<PAGE>




the Indenture provided. This Debenture is one of a series designated
as the 6.22% Debentures due 2027 of the Company (hereinafter called
the "Debentures") issued under the Indenture, limited in aggregate
principal amount to $500,000,000.

     In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures, as
defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the
principal hereof together with interest accrued thereon, if any, may
be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable,
in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided
in the Indenture.

     The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time
outstanding of all series to be affected (acting as one class) to
execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing
in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or
of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of
the holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other
things, (i) change the fixed maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any Security; (ii) reduce
the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any
premium payable upon the redemption thereof; (iii) impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
fixed maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
redemption date); (iv) reduce the percentage in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose holders
is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of
whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain
provisions of the Indenture or certain defaults thereunder and their
consequences) provided for in the Indenture; (v) change any obligation
of the Company, with respect to outstanding Securities of a series, to
maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes
specified in the Indenture for such series; or (vi) modify any of the
foregoing provisions or the provisions for the waiver of certain
covenants and defaults, except to increase any applicable percentage
of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities the
consent of the holders of which is required or to provide


<PAGE>






with respect to any particular series the right to condition the
effectiveness of any supplemental indenture as to that series on the
consent of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Securities of such series or to
provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be
modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Security affected thereby. It is also provided in the
Indenture that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities of a series at the time outstanding may on behalf of
the holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past
default under the Indenture with respect to such series and its
consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security of such series
or in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified
without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security of the
series affected. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this
Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon
all future holders and owners of this Debenture and any Debentures
which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective
of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Debenture or
such other Debentures.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of
the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal
of, if any, and interest on this Debenture at the place, at the
respective times, at the rate and in the coin or currency herein
prescribed.

     The Indenture permits the Company to Discharge its obligations
with respect to the Debentures on the 91st day following the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Indenture, which
include the deposit with the Trustee of money or U.S. Government
Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient to pay and discharge
each installment of principal of (including premium, if any, on) and
interest, if any, on the outstanding Debentures.

     If the Company shall, in accordance with Section 901 of the
Indenture, consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or
convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any Person, the successor shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, the Person named


<PAGE>






as the "Company" on the face of this Debenture, all on the terms set
forth in the Indenture.

     The Debentures are issuable in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000. In the
manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, but
without the payment of any service charge, Debentures may be exchanged
for an equal aggregate principal amount of Debentures of other
authorized denominations at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and
State of New York.

     The Debentures may be redeemed as a whole or in part, at the
option of the Company at any time on or after August 2, 2004, upon
mailing a notice of such redemption not less than 30 nor more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the holders of the
Debentures at their last registered addresses, all as provided in the
Indenture, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of
the principal amount of the Debentures to be redeemed and (ii) the sum
of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments thereon
discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a
360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate
plus 10 basis points, plus in either case accrued interest on the
principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption.

     "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the
rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of
the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount)
equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

     "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a
maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Debentures to be
redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in
accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of
corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term
of such Debentures. "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the
Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation
with the Company.



<PAGE>







     "Comparable Treasury Price" means with respect to any redemption
date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption
date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor
release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and
designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government
Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not
published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (A)
the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such
redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Trustee obtains fewer than
four such Reference Treasury Deal Quotations, the average of all such
Quotations. "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect
to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the
average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for
the Comparable Treasury Issue (expected in each case as a percentage
of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such
Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day
preceding such redemption date.

     "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman
Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
Salomon Brothers Inc, and their respective successors; provided,
however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S.
Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary
Treasury Dealer.

     "Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect to any
Debenture, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof
to be redeemed and interest thereon that would be due after the
related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however,
that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date with
respect to such Debenture, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled
interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest
accrued thereon to such redemption date.

     The Debentures will be redeemable on August 1, 2004, at the
option of the holders thereof, at 100% of their principal amount,
together with interest payable to the date



<PAGE>





of redemption. Less than the entire principal amount of any Debenture
may be redeemed, provided the principal amount which is to be redeemed
is equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. The Company must
receive at the principal office of the Paying Agent, during the period
from and including June 1, 2004 to and including July 1, 2004: (i) the
Debenture with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" on the
reverse of the Debenture duly completed; or (ii)(x) a telegram,
facsimile transmission or letter form a member of a national
securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or a trust company in the United States of
America, setting forth the name of the registered holder of the
Debenture, the principal amount of the Debenture, the amount of the
Debenture to be repaid, a statement that the option to elect repayment
is being exercised thereby and a guarantee that the Debenture to be
repaid with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" on the
reverse of the Debenture duly completed, will be received by the
Company not later than five business days after the date of such
telegram, facsimile transmission or letter; and (y) such Debenture and
form duly completed are received by the Company by such fifth business
day. Any such notice received by the Company during the period from
and including June 1, 2004 to and including July 1, 2004 shall be
irrevocable. All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including
time of receipt) and the acceptance of any Debenture for repayment
will be determined by the Company, whose determination will be final
and binding. For all purposes of this paragraph, if August 1, 2004 is
not a business day, it shall be deemed to refer to the next succeeding
business day.

     Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this
Debenture at the office or agency of the Company for such registration
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York, a new
Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations for an equal
aggregate principal amount will be issued to the transferee in
exchange herefor, subject to the limitations provided in the
Indenture, without charge except for any tax or other governmental
charge imposed in connection therewith.

     Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Debenture, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or
the Trustee may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the
absolute owner of this Debenture


<PAGE>








(whether or not this Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of
receiving payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
on this Debenture, as herein provided, and for all other purposes, and
neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or
the Trustee shall be affected by any notice of the contrary. All
payments made to or upon the order of such registered holder shall, to
the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectually satisfy and discharge
liability for moneys payable on this Debenture.

     No recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon or
otherwise in respect hereof, and no recourse under or upon any
obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or
any indenture supplemental thereto or in any Debenture, or because of
the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had
against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such,
past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor
corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor
corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of
law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise,
all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

     Unless otherwise defined in this Debenture, all terms used in
this Debenture which are defined in the Indenture shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

     THIS DEBENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


<PAGE>







                       OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT

     The undersigned hereby irrevocably requests and instructs the
Company to repay this Debenture (or portion hereof specified below)
pursuant to its terms at a price equal to the principal amount
thereof, together with interest to August 1, 2004, to the undersigned
at 
- --------------------------------------------------------- 
(Name, Address and Tax I.D. Number of the undersigned)

     For this Debenture to be repaid, the Company must receive at the
office of the Paying Agent, during the period from and including June
1, 2004 to and including July 1, 2004 (i) this Debenture with this
"Option to Elect Repayment" form duly completed or (ii)(x) a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter from a member of a national
securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or a trust company in the United States of
America, setting forth the name of the registered holder of the
Debenture, the principal amount of the Debenture, the amount of the
Debenture to be repaid, a statement that the option to elect repayment
is being exercised thereby and a guarantee that the Debenture, with
this "Option to Elect Repayment" form duly completed, will be received
by the Company not later than five business days after the date of
such telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter; and (y) this
Debenture and the form duly completed are received by the Company by
such fifth business day.

     If less than the entire principal amount of this Debenture is to
be repaid, specify the portion thereof (which shall be $1,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000) which the Holder elects to have repaid
$________. One Debenture will be issued for the portion not being
repaid.


- --------------------       ----------------------------
Date                       Signature

NOTICE: The signature on this Option to Elect Repayment must
correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Debenture in
every particular without alternation or enlargement or any other
change whatsoever.




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