INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP
8-K, 1997-12-15
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):    December 12, 1997

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

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

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

   Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 914-499-1900

<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. 333-40669 on Form S-3, which registration
statement was declared effective on December 10, 1997, the document included as
Exhibit 1 hereto, relating to the offering of up to $4,300,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of Medium-Term debt securities of the Registrant.

      The following exhibit is hereby filed with this report:

  Exhibit
  Number              Description

(1)   Agency Agreement dated December 12, 1997, among International Business
      Machines Corporation, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Goldman,
      Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan
      Stanley & Co. Incorporated, and Salomon Brothers Inc.

                                   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 E. Andersen
                                   Name:  Janet E. Andersen
                                   Title: Assistant Treasurer

Date: December 15, 1997.
<PAGE>

                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number          Description

(1)   Agency Agreement dated December 12, 1997, among International Business
      Machines Corporation, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Goldman,
      Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan
      Stanley & Co. Incorporated, and Salomon Brothers Inc.


                                  $4,300,000,000

                    International Business Machines Corporation

                             U.S. Medium-Term Notes

                                AGENCY AGREEMENT

                                December 12, 1997

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
11 Madison Avenue
5th Floor
New York, New York  10010

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

Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York  10281-1315

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

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

Dear Sirs:

      1. Introduction. International Business Machines Corporation, a New York
corporation (the "Issuer"), confirms its agreement with each of you
(individually an "Agent" and collectively the "Agents") with respect to the
issue and sale from time to time by the Issuer on or after the date hereof of up
to $4,300,000,000 in aggregate initial offering price of its Medium-Term
Securities (or for Medium-Term Securities denominated in currencies or currency
units other than U.S. dollars, the equivalent thereof based on the prevailing
exchange rates at the respective times such Medium-Term Securities are first
offered) (the "Securities") issued under Article Three of the Indenture, dated
as of October 1, 1993 (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental
Indenture thereto dated as of 


                                   - Page 1 -
<PAGE>

December 15, 1995 (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as trustee. The Securities will be issued, and the terms thereof
established, from time to time by the Issuer in accordance with the Indenture
and the Procedures (as defined in Section 3(d) hereof).

      2. Representations and Warranties of the Issuer. The Issuer represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, each Agent as follows:

            (a) Registration statements of the Issuer (Nos.333-40669 and
      333-21073, relating to securities of the Issuer (collectively the
      "Registered Securities"), including the Securities, have been filed with
      the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and have become
      effective (such registration statements, as amended as of the Closing Date
      (as defined in Section 3(e) hereof), including all material incorporated
      by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the
      "Registration Statement," and the prospectus dated December 10, 1997, a
      form of which is included in Registration Statement No. 333-40669, as
      supplemented as of the Closing Date, including all material incorporated
      by reference therein, being hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus").
      Any reference in this Agreement to amending or supplementing the
      Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of materials incorporated
      by reference in the Prospectus after the Closing Date and any reference in
      this Agreement to any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall be
      deemed to include any such materials incorporated by reference in the
      Prospectus after the Closing Date.

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

      3. Appointment as Agent; Solicitations as Agent.

            (a) Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, the Issuer
      hereby appoints each of the Agents an agent of the Issuer for the purpose
      of soliciting or receiving offers to purchase the Securities from the
      Issuer by others. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed
      to prevent the Issuer from selling at any time to any person any
      Registered Securities, including the Securities, directly on its own
      behalf or in a firm commitment underwriting pursuant to an underwriting


                                   - Page 2 -
<PAGE>

      agreement that does not provide for a continuous offering of such
      Securities. Each Agent agrees to use its reasonable efforts to solicit
      purchases of the Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set
      forth herein and in the Procedures (as defined below).

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

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

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

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

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

            (c) At the time of delivery of, and payment for, any Securities sold
      by the Issuer as a result of a solicitation made by, or offer to purchase
      received by, an Agent, the 


                                   - Page 3 -
<PAGE>

      Issuer agrees to pay such Agent a commission in accordance with the
      schedule set forth in Exhibit A hereto, unless otherwise agreed.

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

            (e) The documents required to be delivered by Section 5 hereof shall
      be delivered at the offices of the Issuer in Armonk, New York, or counsel
      for the Issuer in New York City, not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City
      time, on the date of this Agreement or at such other place, and at such
      later time and date as may be mutually agreed by the Issuer and the
      Agents, such time and date being herein called the "Closing Date."

      4. Certain Agreements of the Issuer. The Issuer agrees with the Agents
that, in connection with each offering of Securities,

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

            (b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is
      required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of
      which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an
      untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
      necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
      circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is
      delivered, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the
      Registration Statement or the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the
      Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations (other than as contemplated in
      the parenthetical clause of Section 4(a) hereof), the Issuer will promptly
      notify each Agent to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the
      Securities; and if the Issuer shall decide so to amend or supplement the


                                   - Page 4 -
<PAGE>

      Registration Statement or the Prospectus, it will promptly advise each
      Agent by telephone (with confirmation in writing) and will promptly
      prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement which will
      correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such
      compliance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, at the time of any
      notification to suspend solicitations, any Agent shall own any of the
      Securities with the intention of reselling them as contemplated by Section
      11 hereof, or the Issuer has accepted an offer to purchase Securities but
      the related settlement has not occurred, the Issuer, subject to the
      provisions of subsection (a) of this Section, will promptly prepare and
      file with the Commission an amendment or supplement which will correct
      such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such
      compliance.

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

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

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

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


                                   - Page 5 -
<PAGE>

      time to time, such other information concerning the issuer as the Agents
      may reasonably request.

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

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

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

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

            (c) There shall not have occurred between each trade and settlement
      date (i) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in
      or affecting particularly the business or properties of the Issuer or its
      subsidiaries which, in the judgment of such Agent, materially impairs the
      investment quality of the Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating
      of the Issuer's debt securities or public announcement that such debt
      securities are under surveillance or review, with possible negative
      implications, by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
      organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act);
      (iii) any suspension or limitation of trading in securities generally on
      the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading
      on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of


                                   - Page 6 -
<PAGE>

      the Issuer on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (iv) any
      banking moratorium declared by Federal or New York authorities; or (v) any
      outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States is
      involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial
      national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of
      such Agent, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration,
      calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
      solicitations of purchases of, or sales of, Securities.

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

                  (i) the opinion of the General Counsel of the Issuer (or any
            Assistant General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, or other
            Counsel of the Issuer having knowledge of and responsibility for
            securities or financial matters, the "Issuer Counsel"), or the
            opinion of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Issuer, dated
            the Closing Date, to the effect that:

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

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

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


                                   - Page 7 -
<PAGE>

               to the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of any court,
               regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or
               arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its
               subsidiaries.

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

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

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

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

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


                                   - Page 8 -
<PAGE>

                  (ii) such counsel shall also furnish a letter, dated the
            Closing Date, that shall state that such counsel has no reason to
            believe that: (A) the Registration Statement or any amendment
            thereof at the time it became effective contained an untrue
            statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
            required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
            therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as amended or
            supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
            omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
            statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
            they were made, not misleading (in each case, except for the
            financial statements and other information of an accounting or
            financial nature included therein, and the Statement of Eligibility
            (Form T-1), included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as
            to which such counsel need express no view); and (B) the
            Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
            (except the financial statements and other information of an
            accounting or financial nature included therein, and the Statement
            of Eligibility (Form T-1), included as an exhibit to the
            Registration Statement, as to which such counsel need express no
            view), were not appropriately responsive in all material respects to
            the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
            applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

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

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

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


                                   - Page 9 -
<PAGE>

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

                  (ii) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited financial
            statements included or incorporated in the Registration Statement
            and Prospectus and of the latest unaudited financial statements made
            available by the Issuer and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain
            specified procedures (but not an 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 Board of
            Directors of the Issuer and the Pricing Committee appointed by the
            Board of Directors of the Issuer, if any; and inquiries of certain
            officials of the Issuer who have responsibility for financial and
            accounting matters as to transactions and events subsequent to the
            date of the most recent financial statements included or
            incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
            nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

                        (A) any unaudited financial statements included or
               incorporated in the Registration Statement and 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; or said unaudited financial
               statements are not fairly presented (except as permitted by Form
               10-Q) in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
               applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the
               audited financial statements included or incorporated in the
               Registration Statement and Prospectus; or

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

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


                                  - Page 10 -
<PAGE>

            Issuer's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated therein, agrees
            with the accounting records of the Issuer and its subsidiaries,
            excluding any questions of legal interpretation.

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

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

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

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

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

      6. Additional Covenants of the Issuer. The Issuer agrees that:


                                  - Page 11 -
<PAGE>

            (a) Each acceptance by the Issuer of an offer for the purchase of
      Securities solicited by any Agent pursuant hereto shall be deemed to be an
      affirmation that its representations and warranties contained in this
      Agreement are true and correct at the time of such acceptance and a
      covenant that such representations and warranties will be true and correct
      at the time of delivery to the purchaser of the Securities relating to
      such acceptance as though made at and as of each such time, it being
      understood that such representations and warranties shall relate to the
      Prospectus as amended or supplemented at each such time. Each such
      acceptance by the Issuer of an offer for the purchase of Securities shall
      be deemed to constitute an additional representation, warranty and
      agreement by the Issuer that, as of the settlement date for the sale of
      such securities, after giving effect to the issuance of such Securities,
      of any other Securities to be issued on or prior to such settlement date
      and of any other Registered Securities to be issued and sold by the Issuer
      on or prior to such settlement date, the aggregate amount of Registered
      Securities (including any Securities) which have been issued and sold by
      the Issuer will not exceed the amount of Registered Securities registered
      pursuant to the Registration Statement.

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

            (c) At each Representation Date, the Issuer shall, if reasonably
      requested by the Agents, concurrently furnish the Agents with a written
      opinion or opinions, dated the date of such Representation Date, of Issuer
      Counsel or Cravath, Swaine & 


                                  - Page 12 -
<PAGE>

      Moore, in form satisfactory to the Agents, to the effect set forth in
      Section 5(d) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at
      such Representation Date; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinion
      or opinions, counsel may furnish the Agents with a letter or letters to
      the effect that the Agents may rely on a prior opinion delivered under
      Section 5(d) or this Section 6(c) to the same extent as if it were dated
      the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion
      shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
      as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

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

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

      7. Indemnification and Contribution.

            (a) The Issuer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and
      each person who controls such Agent within the meaning of either the Act
      or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
      liabilities, joint or several, to which 


                                  - Page 13 -
<PAGE>

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

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

            (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
      Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
      party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
      indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in
      writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the
      indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may
      have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. In case
      any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies
      the indemnifying party of the 


                                  - Page 14 -
<PAGE>

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

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


                                  - Page 15 -
<PAGE>

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

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

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


                                  - Page 16 -
<PAGE>

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

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

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

To the Issuer:

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

To the Agents:


                                  - Page 17 -
<PAGE>

      Notices to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation shall be directed to it
at 11 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, New York 10010, Attention: Short and
Medium-Term Note Department (Fax: 212-325-8183).

      Notices to Goldman, Sachs & Co. shall be directed to it at 85 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Credit Department, Credit Control
- -- Medium Term Notes (Fax: 212-357-8680).

      Notices to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated shall be
directed to it at North Tower, 10th Floor, World Financial Center, New York, New
York 10281, Attention: MTN Product Management (Fax: 212-449-2234).

      Notices to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated shall be directed to it at
1585 Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Manager -
Continuously Offered Products (Fax: 212-761-0780), with a copy directed to it at
1585 Broadway, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Peter Cooper -
Investment Banking Information Center (Fax: 212-761-0260).

      Notices to Salomon Brothers Inc shall be directed to it at Seven World
Trade Center, 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10048, Attention: Medium-Term Note
Department (Fax: 212-783-2274).

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

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

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

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


                                  - Page 18 -
<PAGE>

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

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
                                                 MACHINES CORPORATION


                                                   By /s/ Janet E. Andersen
                                                      --------------------------
                                                      Title: Assistant Treasurer

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


CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION


By /s/ Helena M. Willner
   ------------------------------------
   Title: Vice President

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


By /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
   ------------------------------------


MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED


By /s/ Richard Doyle
   ------------------------------------
   Title: Authorized Signatory

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED


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

SALOMON BROTHERS INC


By /s/ Martha D. Bailey
   ------------------------------------
   Title: Vice President


                                  - Page 19 -
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

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

                                       Commission Rate
                                       (as a percentage
                  Term                 of principal amount)
                  ----                 --------------------

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


                                  - Page 20 -
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                           Administrative Procedures

            The Medium-Term Notes due one year or more from their issue date
(the "Notes") are to be offered on a continuing basis by International Business
Machines Corporation (the "Issuer"). Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
and Salomon Brothers Inc, as agents (each individually an "Agent" and
collectively the "Agents"), have agreed to use reasonable efforts to solicit
purchases of the Notes pursuant to an Agency Agreement dated December 12, 1997
(the "Agency Agreement"), among the Issuer and the Agents. No Agent will be
obligated to purchase Notes for its own account. The Notes will be issued
pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1993 (the "Indenture"), between
the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as trustee (the
"Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as
of December 15, 1995. The Notes will rank equally with all other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer and have been registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

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

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


                                  - Page 21 -
<PAGE>

I.  CERTIFICATE NOTES AND GENERAL TERMS

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

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

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

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

  Price to Public:          Each Note will be issued at 100% of principal
                            amount, unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer
                            and the relevant Agent.

  Denominations:            Unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer and 


                                  - Page 22 -
<PAGE>

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

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

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


                                  - Page 23 -
<PAGE>

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

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

  Settlement:               All offers accepted by the Issuer will be settled on
                            the third Business Day next succeeding the date of
                            acceptance unless otherwise agreed by any purchaser
                            and the Issuer. Prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City
                            time, on the Business Day next 


                                  - Page 24 -
<PAGE>

                            preceding the settlement date, the Issuer will
                            instruct the Trustee to authenticate and deliver the
                            Notes no later than 2:15 p.m., New York City time,
                            on the settlement date.

  Details for Settlement:   For each offer solicited by an Agent that is
                            accepted by the Issuer, the Agent who presented the
                            offer (the "Presenting Agent") shall communicate to
                            the Issuer's Treasury Department by telephone,
                            facsimile transmission or other acceptable means the
                            following information (the "Purchase Information"):

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

                                  2. Exact address of registered owner.

                                  3. Taxpayer identification number of
                            registered owner.

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

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

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

                                  7. Maturity date of Notes.

                                  8. Initial redemption date of Notes, if any.

                                  9. Optional redemption price (including the


                                  - Page 25 -
<PAGE>

                            fixed percentage by which the premium, if any,
                            annually declines) of Notes, if any.

                                  10. Original issue date of Notes.

                                  11. Settlement date for Notes.

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

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

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

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

  Note Deliveries           Upon the receipt of appropriate documentation and   
  and Cash Payment:         instructions, which may be by telephone to be       
                            confirmed in writing from the 


                                  - Page 26 -
<PAGE>

                            Issuer, and verification thereof, the Trustee will
                            cause the Notes to be prepared and authenticated and
                            hold the Notes for delivery against payment.

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

                            Agents' addresses for delivery of Certificate Notes:

                            Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
                            MTN Department
                            5 World Trade Center, 7th Floor
                            New York, NY  10048
                            Attention:  Paul Riley/Bill Ahearn
                            (tel:  212-322-1606)

                            Goldman, Sachs & Co.
                            Medium-Term Notes Desk
                            85 Broad Street, 26th Floor
                            New York, NY  10004
                            Attention:  Karen Robertson
                            (fax:  212-902-0658)

                            Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                            Incorporated
                            Money Markets Clearance
                            55 Water Street
                            3rd Floor
                            N.S.C.C. Window
                            New York, NY  10041
                            Attention:  Al Mitchell
                            (tel:  212-558-2405)
                            (fax:  212-558-2457)

                            The Bank of New York
                            Dealer Clearance Department
                            1 Wall Street-3rd Floor-Window 3B
                            New York, NY  10005
                            Attention:  For the account of Morgan Stanley & 
                            Co. Incorporated


                                  - Page 27 -
<PAGE>

                            Salomon Brothers Inc, in care of:
                            The Bank of New York
                            1 Wall Street-3rd Floor
                            New York, NY  10005
                            Attention: Dealer Clearance


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

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


                                  - Page 28 -
<PAGE>

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

  Procedure for             The Issuer and the Agents will discuss from time to 
  Rate Changes:             time the rates to be borne by the Notes that may be 
                            sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by   
                            the Agents. Once any Agent has recorded any         
                            indication of interest in Notes upon certain terms, 
                            and communicated with the Issuer, if the Issuer     
                            plans to accept an offer to purchase Notes upon such
                            terms, it will prepare a pricing sticker reflecting 
                            the terms of such Notes and, after approval from the
                            Agents, will arrange to have the required number of 
                            copies of the sticker filed with the Commission     
                            within two Business Days following such acceptance  
                            and will supply at least five copies of such sticker
                            to the Presenting Agent. No settlements with respect
                            to Notes upon such terms may occur prior to such    
                            filing and the Agents will not, prior to such       
                            filing, mail confirmations to customers who have    
                            offered to purchase Notes upon such terms. After    
                            such filing, sales, mailing of confirmations and    
                            settlements may occur with respect to Notes upon    
                            such terms, subject to the provisions of "Delivery  
                            of Prospectus" below.                               

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


                                  - Page 29 -
<PAGE>

                            may resume, subject to the provisions of "Delivery
                            of Prospectus" below.

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

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

                            If the Agents receive the notice from the Issuer
                            contemplated by Section 4(b) of the Agency
                            Agreement, they will promptly suspend solicitation
                            and will only resume solicitation as provided in the
                            Agency Agreement. If the Issuer decides to amend or
                            supplement the Registration Statement or the
                            Prospectus relating to the Notes (other than by an
                            amendment or supplement that (i) only specifies the
                            terms of the Securities or (ii) relates to an
                            offering by the Issuer of Registered Securities
                            other than the Securities), it will promptly advise
                            each Agent and will furnish each Agent with the
                            proposed amendment or supplement in accordance with
                            the terms of the Agency Agreement. The Issuer will
                            promptly file or mail to the Commission for filing
                            such amendment or supplement, provide the Agents
                            with copies of any such amendment or supplement,
                            confirm to the Agents that such amendment or
                            supplement has been filed with the Commission and
                            advise the Agents that solicitation may be resumed.

                            Any such suspension shall not affect the Issuer's
                            obligations under the Agency Agreement; and in the
                            event that at the time the Issuer suspends
                            solicitation of offers to purchase Notes there shall
                            be any offers already accepted by the Issuer
                            outstanding for settlement, the Issuer will have the
                            sole responsibility for fulfilling such 


                                  - Page 30 -
<PAGE>

                            obligations. The Issuer will in addition promptly
                            advise the Agents and the Trustee if such offers are
                            not to be settled and if copies of the Prospectus as
                            in effect at the time of the suspension may not be
                            delivered in connection with the settlement of such
                            offers.

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

                            Agents' addresses for delivery of Pricing


                                  - Page 31 -
<PAGE>

                            Supplements:

                            Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
                            Prospectus Department
                            5 World Trade Center, 7th Floor
                            New York, NY  10048
                            Attention:  Joan Bryan
                            (tel:  212-322-5105)
                            (fax:  212-803-4096)

                            with a copy to:
                            Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
                            11 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor
                            New York, NY  10010
                            Attention:  Short and Medium-Term Finance
                            Department
                            (tel:  212-325-7198)
                            (fax:  212-325-8183)

                            Goldman, Sachs & Co.
                            Medium-Term Notes Desk
                            85 Broad Street, 26th Floor
                            New York, NY  10004
                            Attention:  Karen Robertson
                            (fax:  212-902-0658)

                            for Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith
                            Incorporated, for overnight, express, or
                            special delivery packages, only:
                            Tritech Services
                            44B Colonial Drive
                            Piscataway, NJ  08854
                            Attention:  Prospectus Operations/Nachman
                            Kimerling
                            (tel:  908-885-2768)
                            (fax:  908-885-2774/2775/2776)

                            For other types of deliveries, use address:
                            Tritech Services
                            #4 Corporate Place
                            Corporate Park 287
                            Piscataway, NJ 08854

                            For all deliveries, with a copy to:


                                  - Page 32 -
<PAGE>

                            Merrill Lynch & Co.
                            Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                            Incorporated
                            World Financial Center, North Tower
                            10th Floor
                            New York, NY  10281-1310
                            Attention:  MTN Product Management
                            (tel:  212-449-7476)
                            (fax:  212-449-2234)

                            Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
                            1585 Broadway, 2nd Floor
                            New York, NY  10036
                            Attention:  Medium-Term Note Trading Desk,
                            Carlos Cabrera
                            (tel: 212-761-4000)
                            (fax: 212-761-0780

                            Salomon Brothers Inc
                            8800 Hidden River Parkway
                            Tampa FL  33637
                            Attention:  Enrique Castro
                            (tel:  813-558-7165)
                            (fax:  813-558-4123)

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

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


                                  - Page 33 -
<PAGE>

II.  BOOK-ENTRY NOTES

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

Issuance:                   On any date of settlement (as defined under
                            "Settlement" below) for one or more Book-Entry
                            Notes, the Issuer will issue a single global
                            security in fully registered form without coupons (a
                            "Global Security") representing up to $200,000,000
                            principal amount of all such Notes that have the
                            same maturity date, redemption provisions, if any,
                            repayment provisions, if any, Interest Payment
                            Dates, interest rate basis, spread or spread
                            multiplier, maximum or minimum interest rates, index
                            maturity, Interest Determination Dates, Interest
                            Reset Dates (as such terms are defined in the
                            applicable Prospectus Supplement), interest reset
                            period, original issue date and original issue
                            discount provisions, in each case, to the extent
                            applicable (collectively, the "Terms"). Each Global
                            Security 


                                  - Page 34 -
<PAGE>

                            will be dated and issued as of the date of its
                            authentication by the Trustee. Each Global Security
                            will bear an "Issue Date", which will be (i) with
                            respect to an original Global Security (or any
                            portion thereof), its original issue date, and (ii)
                            following a consolidation of Global Securities, the
                            most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest
                            has been paid or duly provided for on the
                            predecessor Global Securities, regardless of the
                            date of authentication of such subsequently issued
                            Global Security. No Global Security will represent
                            any Certificated Note.

  Identification Numbers:   The Issuer will arrange with the CUSIP Service
                            Bureau of Standard & Poor's Corporation (the "CUSIP
                            Service Bureau") for the reservation of a series of
                            CUSIP numbers, consisting of approximately 900 CUSIP
                            numbers relating to Global Securities representing
                            Book-Entry Notes. The Issuer will obtain from the
                            CUSIP Service Bureau a written list of such series
                            of reserved CUSIP numbers and will deliver to the
                            Trustee and DTC a written list of CUSIP numbers of
                            such series. The Trustee will assign CUSIP numbers
                            to Global Securities as described below under
                            Settlement Procedure "C". DTC will notify the CUSIP
                            Service Bureau periodically of the CUSIP numbers
                            that the Trustee has assigned to Global Securities.
                            The Trustee will notify the Issuer at any time when
                            fewer than 100 of the reserved CUSIP numbers remain
                            unassigned to Global Securities, and if it deems
                            necessary, the Issuer will reserve additional CUSIP
                            numbers for assignment to Global Securities
                            representing Book-Entry Notes. Upon obtaining such
                            additional CUSIP numbers, the Issuer shall deliver a
                            list of such additional CUSIP numbers to the Trustee
                            and DTC.

  Registration:             Each Global Security will be registered in the name
                            of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, on the Securities
                            Register maintained under the Indenture. The
                            beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Note (or one or
                            more indirect participants in DTC designated by such
                            owner) will designate one or 


                                  - Page 35 -
<PAGE>

                            more participants in DTC (with respect to such Note,
                            the "Participants") to act as agent or agents for
                            such owner in connection with the book-entry system
                            maintained by DTC, and DTC will record in book-entry
                            form, in accordance with instructions provided by
                            such Participants, a credit balance with respect to
                            such Note in the account of such Participants. The
                            ownership interest of such beneficial owner in such
                            Note will be recorded through the records of such
                            Participants or through the separate records of such
                            Participants and one or more indirect participants
                            in DTC.

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

  Exchanges:                The Trustee may deliver to DTC and the CUSIP Service
                            Bureau at any time a written notice of consolidation
                            (a copy of which shall be attached to the Global
                            Security resulting from such consolidation)
                            specifying (i) the CUSIP numbers of two or more
                            Outstanding Global Securities that represent
                            Book-Entry Notes having the same Terms (other than
                            original issue date) and for which interest has been
                            paid to the same date, (ii) a date, occurring at
                            least 30 days after such written notice is delivered
                            and at least 30 days before the next Interest
                            Payment Date for such Book-Entry Notes, on which
                            such Global Securities shall be exchanged for a
                            single replacement Global Security and (iii) a new
                            CUSIP number to be assigned to such replacement
                            Global Security. Upon receipt of such a notice, DTC
                            will send to its Participants (including the
                            Trustee) a written reorganization notice to the
                            effect that such exchange will occur on such date.
                            Prior to the specified exchange date, the Trustee
                            will deliver to the CUSIP Service Bureau a written
                            notice setting forth such exchange date and the new
                            CUSIP number and 


                                  - Page 36 -
<PAGE>

                            stating that, as of such exchange date, the CUSIP
                            numbers of the Global Securities to be exchanged
                            will no longer be valid. On the specified exchange
                            date, the Trustee will exchange such Global
                            Securities for a single Global Security bearing the
                            new CUSIP number and a new original issue date and
                            the CUSIP numbers of the exchanged Global Securities
                            will, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau
                            procedures, be canceled and not immediately
                            reassigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
                            Global Securities to be exchanged exceed
                            $200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, one
                            Global Security will be authenticated and issued to
                            represent each $200,000,000 of principal amount of
                            the exchanged Global Securities and an additional
                            Global Security will be authenticated and issued to
                            represent any remaining principal amount of such
                            Global Securities (see "Denominations" below).

  Notice of Repayment       With respect to each Book-Entry Note that is        
  Terms:                    repayable at the option of the Holder, the Trustee  
                            will furnish DTC on or not more than 60 days prior  
                            to the settlement date pertaining to such Book-Entry
                            Note a notice setting forth the terms of such       
                            repayment option. Such terms shall include the start
                            date and end dates of the first exercise period, the
                            purchase date following such first exercise period, 
                            the frequency that such exercise periods occur      
                            (i.e., quarterly, semiannually, annually, etc.) and,
                            if the repayment option expires before maturity, the
                            same information (except frequency) concerning the  
                            last exercise period. It is understood that the     
                            exercise period shall be at least 15 calendar days  
                            long and that the purchase date shall be at least 7 
                            calendar days, after the last day of the exercise   
                            period.                                             

  Redemption and            The Trustee will comply with the terms of the Letter
  Repayment:                with regard to redemptions and repayments of the    
                            Notes. If a Global Security is to be redeemed or    
                            repaid in part, the Trustee will exchange such      
                            Global Security for two Global 


                                  - Page 37 -
<PAGE>

                            Securities, one of which shall represent the portion
                            of the Global Security being redeemed or repaid and
                            shall be canceled immediately after issuance and the
                            other of which shall represent the remaining portion
                            of such Global Security and shall bear the CUSIP
                            number of the surrendered Global Security.

  Denominations:            Unless otherwise agreed between the Issuer and the
                            relevant Agent, Book-Entry Notes will be issued in
                            principal amounts of $1,000 or any multiple thereof.
                            Global Securities will be denominated in principal
                            amounts not in excess of $200,000,000. If one or
                            more Book-Entry Notes having an aggregate principal
                            amount in excess of $200,000,000 would, but for the
                            preceding sentence, be represented by a single
                            Global Security, then one Global Security will be
                            issued to represent each $200,000,000 principal
                            amount of such Book-Entry Note or Notes and an
                            additional Global Security will be issued to
                            represent any remaining principal amount of such
                            Book-Entry Note or Notes. In such a case, each of
                            the Global Securities representing such Book-Entry
                            Note or Notes shall be assigned the same CUSIP
                            number.

  Interest:                 Publication. Standard & Poor's Corporation will use
                            the information received in the pending deposit
                            message described under the Settlement Procedure "C"
                            below in order to include the amount of any interest
                            payable and certain other information regarding the
                            related Global Security in the appropriate weekly
                            bond report published by Standard & Poor's
                            Corporation.

  Notice of Interest        On the first Business Day of January, April, July   
  Payment and Regular       and October of each year, the Trustee will deliver  
  Record Dates:             to the Issuer and DTC a written list of Regular     
                            Record Dates and Interest Payment Dates that will   
                            occur with respect to Book-Entry Notes during the   
                            six-month period beginning on such first Business   
                            Day. Promptly after each Interest Determination Date
                            or Calculation Date, as applicable (as defined in   
                            the applicable Note) for 


                                  - Page 38 -
<PAGE>

                            Floating Rate Notes, the Company, upon receiving
                            notice thereof, will notify Standard & Poor's
                            Corporation of the interest rate determined on such
                            Interest Determination Date or Calculation Date, as
                            applicable.

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

                            Payments at Maturity. On or about the first Business
                            Day of each month, the Trustee will deliver to the
                            Issuer and DTC a written list of principal and
                            interest to be paid on each Global Security maturing
                            either at stated maturity or on a redemption or
                            repayment date in the following month. The Issuer,
                            the Trustee and DTC will confirm the amounts of such
                            principal and interest payments with respect to each
                            such Global Security on or about the fifth Business
                            Day preceding the maturity of such


                                  - Page 39 -
<PAGE>

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

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


                                  - Page 40 -
<PAGE>

                            in whose names the Book-Entry Notes represented by
                            such Global Securities are recorded in the
                            book-entry system maintained by DTC. Neither of the
                            Issuer or the Trustee shall have any direct
                            responsibility or liability for the payment by DTC
                            to such Participants of the principal of and
                            interest on the Book-Entry Notes.

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

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

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

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

                            B. After receiving the details for each offer from
                            the Presenting Agent, the Issuer will, after
                            recording the details and any necessary
                            calculations, communicate the Purchase Information
                            by telephone, facsimile transmission or other
                            acceptable means, to the Trustee.


                                  - Page 41 -
<PAGE>

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

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

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

                                  3. Interest payment period.

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

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

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

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

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


                                  - Page 42 -
<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

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


                                  - Page 43 -
<PAGE>

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

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

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

                            Settlement
                            Procedure               Time
                            ----------              ----

                                A       11:00 a.m. on the sale date
                                B       12:00 noon on the sale date
                                C       2:00 p.m. on the sale date
                                D       3:00 p.m. on the sale date
                                E       9:00 a.m. on settlement date
                                F       10:00 a.m. on settlement date
                               G-H      2:00 p.m. on settlement date
                                I       4:45 p.m. on settlement date
                               J-K      5:00 p.m. on settlement date

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


                                  - Page 44 -
<PAGE>

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

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

  Failure to Settle:        If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order
                            with respect to a Book-Entry Note pursuant to
                            Settlement Procedure "G", the Trustee may deliver to
                            DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, as
                            soon as practicable, a withdrawal message
                            instructing DTC to debit such Note to the Trustee's
                            participant account. DTC will process the withdrawal
                            message, provided that the Trustee's participant
                            account contains a principal amount of the Global
                            Security representing such Note that is at least
                            equal to the principal amount to be debited. If a
                            withdrawal message is processed with respect to all
                            the Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global
                            Security, the Trustee will mark such Global Security
                            "canceled", make appropriate entries in


                                  - Page 45 -
<PAGE>

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

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

                            Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to
                            settle with respect to a Book-Entry Note, DTC may
                            take any actions in accordance with its SDFS
                            operating procedures then in effect. In the event of
                            a failure to settle with respect to one or more, but
                            not all, the Book-Entry Notes to have been


                                  - Page 46 -
<PAGE>

                            represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will
                            provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedure
                            "E", for the authentication and issuance of a Global
                            Security representing the other Book-Entry Notes to
                            have been represented by such Global Security and
                            will make appropriate entries in its records.


                                  - Page 47 -
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                                                         , 19

International Business Machines Corporation
Armonk, NY 10504

Attention:  Treasurer

            The undersigned agrees to purchase the following principal amount of
the Securities described in the Agency Agreement dated December 12, 1997 (the
"Agency Agreement"):

            Principal Amount  $______________________
            Interest Rate     ______________________
            Maturity Date     _______________, 19___
            Discount          ________% of Principal Amount
            Price to be paid
            to Issuer
            (in immediately
            available funds)  $______________________
            Settlement Date   ______________________

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

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

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


                                  - Page 48 -
<PAGE>

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

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

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

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


                                  - Page 49 -
<PAGE>

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

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

                                    [Insert Name of Purchaser]


                                      By_________________________


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

International Business Machines Corporation


By:_________________________

Title:________________________


                                   - Page 50 -



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