INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP
8-K, 1999-01-29
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) January 27, 1999.

              INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

        (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                        1-2360                  13-0871985
           New York                (Commission File          (I.R.S. Employer
   (State of Incorporation)            Number)              Identification No.)
       Armonk, New York                10504
    (Address of principal            (Zip Code)
      executive offices)

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


<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, effective December 10, 1997, the documents included as
Exhibits 1 and 2 hereto, relating to $3,000,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of debt securities of the Registrant.

          The following exhibits are hereby filed with this report:


Exhibit
Number                                     Description

(1)            Underwriting Agreement dated January 27, 1999,
               among International Business Machines Corporation,
               Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,  Bear, Stearns &
               Co. Inc., Chase Securities Inc., Credit Suisse First
               Boston Corporation, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman
               Brothers Inc.,  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
               Incorporated and Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

(2)            Form of 5.375% Note due 2009.


<PAGE>


                              SIGNATURES

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


                           INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
                                         (Registrant)


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


Date:  January 29, 1999.


<PAGE>


                             Exhibit Index


Exhibit
Number                                    Description

(1)                      Underwriting Agreement dated January 27,
                         1999, among International Business Machines
                         Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co.
                         Incorporated, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Chase
                         Securities Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston
                         Corporation, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman
                         Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
                         & Smith Incorporated and Salomon Smith Barney
                         Inc.

(2)                      Form of 5.375% Note due 2009.





                INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

                              Debt Securities

                     $600,000,000 5.375% Notes due 2009


                           UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                         New York, New York

To the Representatives named in Schedule I hereto          January 27, 1999
   of the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

Dear Sirs:

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

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

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

      The terms which follow,  when used in this Agreement,  shall have the
   meanings  indicated.  The term the "Effective Date" shall mean each date
   that


<PAGE>


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

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


<PAGE>


   connection  with the  preparation of the  Registration  Statement or the
   Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

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

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

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


<PAGE>


   4. Agreements.

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

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

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

            (A) the  Company  has been  duly  incorporated  and is  validly
         existing as a corporation  in good standing  under the laws of the
         State of New


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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

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

         (iii) in the event  that the  statements  in  paragraph  (H)(1) of
      subsection  5(b)(i) are omitted from the opinion provided pursuant to
      such  subsection,  a letter  of  Cravath,  Swaine & Moore  dated  the
      Closing Date to the effect that,  having  participated in conferences
      with certain  officers of, and with the accountants  for, the Company
      and having made certain  inquiries and  investigations  in connection
      with the preparation of the


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold  harmless  each  Underwriter  and each  person  who  controls  any
Underwriter  within  the  meaning  of either  the Act or the  Exchange  Act
against  any and all  losses,  claims,  damages  or  liabilities,  joint or
several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the
Exchange Act or other  Federal or state  statutory  law or  regulation,  at
common  law or  otherwise,  insofar  as such  losses,  claims,  damages  or
liabilities (or actions in respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any  untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact
contained  in  the  Registration  Statement  for  the  registration  of the
Securities  as  originally  filed or in any  amendment  thereof,  or in any
Preliminary  Prospectus or the Prospectus,  or in any amendment  thereof or
supplement  thereto,  or arise out of or are  based  upon the  omission  or
alleged  omission to state  therein a material  fact  required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the


<PAGE>


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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

   8. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail
to purchase  and pay for any of the  Securities  agreed to be  purchased by
such  Underwriter  or  Underwriters  hereunder and such failure to purchase
shall  constitute a default in the performance of its or their  obligations
under  this  Agreement,  the  remaining  Underwriters  shall  be  obligated
severally to take up and pay for (in the respective  proportions  which the
amount of Securities  set forth  opposite their names in Schedule II hereto
bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of
all  the  remaining  Underwriters)  the  Securities  which  the  defaulting
Underwriter  or  Underwriters  agreed  but  failed to  purchase;  provided,
however,  that in the event that the aggregate  amount of Securities  which
the defaulting  Underwriter or  Underwriters  agreed but failed to purchase
shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
                                  CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/ James H. Hodge
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Name: James H. Hodge
                                        Title: Assistant Treasurer

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


Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Chase Securities Inc. 
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Lehman Brothers Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
  Incorporated 
Salomon Smith Barney Inc.



By: Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated


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


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


<PAGE>


                                 Schedule I

Underwriting Agreement dated January 27, 1999.

Registration No. 333-40669.

Representatives:

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

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

   Chase Securities Inc.
   270 Park Avenue
   New York, New York 10017-2020

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

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

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

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

   Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
   Seven World Trade Center
   New York, New York 10048

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

   Title: 5.375% Notes due 2009.

   Principal amount: $600,000,000.

   Purchase price:  99.273% of the  principal  amount of Notes plus accrued
      interest from February 1, 1999.

   Offering price:  99.923% of the  principal  amount of Notes plus accrued
      interest from February 1, 1999.

   Interest: Payable on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing on
      August 1, 1999.

   Sinking fund provisions: None.

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

Closing Date,  Time and  Location:  February 1, 1999,  10:00  A.M.,  at the
   offices of Cravath,  Swaine & Moore, Worldwide Plaza, 825 Eighth Avenue,
   New York, New York.

Delayed Delivery Arrangements: None.

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


<PAGE>


                                Schedule II


                International Business Machines Corporation
                     $600,000,000 5.375% Notes Due 2009


          Underwriters                              Principal Amount of
                                                    Notes to be Purchased

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.........               $418,000,000

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc...................                 26,000,000

Chase Securities Inc......................                 26,000,000

Credit Suisse First Boston
 Corporation  ............................                 26,000,000

Goldman, Sachs & Co.......................                 26,000,000

Lehman Brothers Inc.......................                 26,000,000

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
        Incorporated......................                 26,000,000

Salomon Smith Barney Inc..................                 26,000,000
                                                           ----------


  Total...................................               $600,000,000
                                                         ============


<PAGE>


                                Schedule III

                         Delayed Delivery Contract


[Insert name and address
 of lead Representative]                                          ,199

Dear Sirs:

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

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

                                  Very truly yours,



                                        (Name of Purchaser)

                                  By
                                        (Signature and Title)


                                        (Address)

Accepted:

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
  CORPORATION

By




     Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative
of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the
issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and
any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such
other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any
payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an
authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF
FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


                INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

                            5.375% Note due 2009

                                                           CUSIP 459200 AT8

No.: R-                                                       $

     INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein
called the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under
the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received,
hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of
Dollars ($ ), at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City and State of New York, on February 1, 2009, in such
coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to
pay interest, semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, on
said principal sum at said office or agency, in like coin or currency, at
the rate of 5.375% per annum, from the February 1 or August 1, as the case
may be, next preceding the date of this Note to which interest has been
paid, unless the date hereof is a date to which interest has been paid, in
which case from the date of this Note, or unless no interest has been paid
on the Notes (as defined on the reverse hereof), in which case from
February 1, 1999, until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly
provided for. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after
January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, and before the following
February 1 or August 1, this Note shall bear interest from such February 1
or August 1; provided, however, that if the Company shall default in the
payment of interest due on such February 1 or August 1, then this Note
shall bear interest from the next preceding February 1 or August 1 to which
interest has been paid, or, if no interest has been paid on the Notes, from
February 1,


<PAGE>


1999. The interest so payable on any February 1 or August 1 will, subject
to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse
hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the
close of business on such January 15 or July 15, as the case may be, next
preceding such February 1 or August 1, unless the Company shall default in
the payment of interest due on such interest payment date, in which case
such defaulted interest, at the option of the Company, may be paid to the
person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a
special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest established
by notice to the registered holders of Notes not less than ten days
preceding such special record date or may be paid in any other lawful
manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on
which the Notes may be listed. Payment of interest may, at the option of
the Company, be made by check mailed to the registered address of the
person entitled thereto.

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

Dated: February 1, 1999           INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
                                  CORPORATION

                                    [SEAL]

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICATION                 by
                                    ------------------------------
     This is one of the
Securities of the Series
designated herein issued
under the within-
mentioned Indenture.              by
                                    ------------------------------
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Trustee


   by 
      ------------------------------
          Authorized Signatory

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


<PAGE>


designated as the 5.375% Notes due 2009 of the Company (hereinafter called
the "Notes") issued under the Indenture.

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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

     "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date,(i) the
yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately
preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical
release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is
published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury
securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption "Treasury
Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable
Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the
maturity date for the Notes, yields for the two published maturities most
closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined
and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such
yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if
such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week
preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate
per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to
the Comparable


<PAGE>


Treasury Price for such redemption date. The Treasury Rate shall be
calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

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

     "Comparable Treasury Price" means with respect to any redemption date,
(i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such
redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four
such Reference Treasury Deal Quotations, the average of all such
Quotations. "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to
each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as
determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expected in each case as a percentage of its principal
amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer
at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

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

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


<PAGE>


the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will
be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption
date.


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

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

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


<PAGE>


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

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



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