NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORP /DC/
8-K, 1999-06-10
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS CREDIT INSTITUTION
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<PAGE>   1
                       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)
                                  June 8, 1999



            NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


  District of Columbia                l-7102                    52-0891669
 (state or other juris-             (Commission               (I.R.S. Employer
diction of incorporation)           File Number)            (Identification No.)


Woodland Park, 2201 Cooperative Way, Herndon, VA                  20171-3025
  (Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (703) 709-6700


          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<PAGE>   2
Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial
                  Information and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  The following exhibits are filed herewith:

         1.1      The Agency Agreement dated June 8, 1999 between the Company
                  and the Agents named therein, relating to the distribution of
                  the Company's Medium-Term Notes, Series C, within the United
                  States.

         10.1     Calculation Agent Agreement dated June 8, 1999 between the
                  Company and Lehman Brothers Inc., as Calculation Agents.


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                                   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.

                               NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE
                               FINANCE CORPORATION



                               /s/ Steven L. Lilly
                               ------------------------------------
                               Steven L. Lilly
                               Senior Vice President and
                                 Chief Financial Officer
                                 (Principal Financial Officer)


Dated:  June 8, 1999


                                       3

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                             U.S. $2,143,529,000 */

                            NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                         COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

                           Medium-Term Notes, Series C



                                AGENCY AGREEMENT



                                                                    June 8, 1999


Lehman Brothers Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
c/o Lehman Brothers Inc.
3 World Financial Center
New York, New York 10285


Dear Sirs:






- ----------
*/ Or the U.S. dollar equivalent in certain specified foreign currencies or
currency units.
<PAGE>   2
                  National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, a
District of Columbia cooperative association (the "Company"), confirms its
agreement with each of you (individually, an "Agent" and, collectively, the
"Agents") with respect to the issue and sale by the Company of up to U.S.
$2,143,529,000 */ aggregate principal amount of its Medium-Term Notes, Series C
(such Medium-Term Notes, Series C, together with such additional Medium-Term
Notes of the Company as are added to this Agreement pursuant to an Amendment,
the "Securities"). The Securities are to be issued from time to time pursuant to
an Indenture, dated as of December 15, 1987 (as supplemented by a First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1990, and as it may be
supplemented or amended from time to time, the "Indenture"), between the Company
and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as successor trustee (the "Trustee").

                  Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and subject
to the reservation by the Company of the right to sell Securities directly on
its own behalf at any time, and to any person, and to designate or select
additional agents, the Company hereby appoints the Agents as the exclusive
agents of the Company for the purpose of soliciting or receiving offers to
purchase the Securities from the Company by others. This Agreement shall only
apply to sales of the Securities on original issuance and not to sales of any
other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Company and only on the
specific terms set forth herein.

                  SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties. The Company
represents and warrants to each Agent as of the date hereof, as of each Closing
Date (as defined in Section 2(f) hereof), as of each settlement date in respect
of any principal purchase (whether pursuant to a Purchase Agreement or
otherwise) and as of the times referred to in Sections 6(a) and 6(b) hereof
(each Closing Date, each settlement date and each such time being hereinafter
sometimes referred to as a "Representation Date"), as follows:

                  (a) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
Registration Statements on Form S-3 Nos. 333-53819 and 333-78931 (and any
registration statements referred to in any Amendment (as defined in Section 12
hereof)) for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") of
the Securities (including a prospectus relating to the registration statements)
and has filed and may file one or more amendments thereto (including one or more
amended or
<PAGE>   3
                                                                               3


supplemental prospectuses) and such registration statements and any such
amendments have become effective. Each such registration statement, including
financial statements and exhibits, at the time it became effective under the
Act, as amended and supplemented (including all documents incorporated therein
by reference), is hereinafter referred to as a "Registration Statement". A
prospectus supplement dated June 7, 1999, relating to the Securities and to
Registration Statement Nos. 333-53819 and 333-78931, including a prospectus, has
been prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424 of the rules and
regulations of the Commission (the "Rules and Regulations") under the Act (such
prospectus and prospectus supplement (or, in the case of any Amendment, the
prospectus and prospectus supplement referred to therein) are herein referred to
as the "Prospectus"). Any reference in this Agreement to the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented shall include, without limitation, any prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Rules and Regulations which
amends or supplements the Prospectus. Any reference herein to a Registration
Statement 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 such Registration Statement or the date of
the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms
"amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to a Registration Statement 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 such Registration
Statement, or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference.

                  (b) Accuracy of Registration Statements. Each Registration
Statement (and such Registration Statement as amended if any post-effective
amendment thereof shall have become effective) complies in all material respects
with the provisions of the Act and the Exchange Act and the Rules and
Regulations and does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and does
not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus (and the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented, if the Company shall have filed with the
Commission any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) fully complies with the
provisions of the Act and the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and
does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that none of the
<PAGE>   4
                                                                               4


representations and warranties in this paragraph (b) shall apply to (i) that
part of any Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of
Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"), of the Trustee or (ii) statements in, or omissions from,
any Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of an Agent for use in
connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus
or any such amendment or supplement.

                  (c) Accountants. The accountants who have certified or shall
certify the financial statements filed and to be filed with the Commission as
parts of any Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent with
respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

                  (d) Due Incorporation. The Company has been duly incorporated
and is a validly existing cooperative association in good standing under the
laws of the District of Columbia, duly qualified and in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the ownership or leasing of properties or the conduct of
its business requires it to be qualified (or the failure to be so qualified will
not have a material adverse effect upon the business or condition of the
Company), and the Company has the corporate power and holds all valid permits
and other required authorizations from governmental authorities necessary to
carry on its business as now conducted and as to be conducted on the Closing
Date and any Representation Date, and as contemplated by the Prospectus.

                  (e) Material Changes. Since the respective dates as of which
information is given in each Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and
except as set forth in the Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or other, or the results of operations of the
Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
business.

                  (f) Litigation. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, the
Company does not have any litigation pending of a character which in the opinion
of counsel for the Company referred to in Section 5(f) hereof could result in a
judgment or decree having a material adverse effect on the condition, financial
or other, or the results of operations of the Company.
<PAGE>   5
                                                                               5


                  (g) Legality. The Securities and the Indenture are duly and
validly authorized, and no further authorization, consent or approval of the
members and no further authorization or approval of the Board of Directors of
the Company or any committee thereof is required for the issuance and sale of
the Securities as contemplated herein; and neither such issuance or sale of
Securities nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein
contemplated will conflict with, result in the creation or imposition of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company or will result
in a breach by the Company of any terms of, or constitute a default under, any
other agreement or undertaking of the Company; and except as required by the
Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the Exchange Act and applicable state securities
laws, no consent, authorization or order of, or filing or registration with, any
court or governmental agency is required for the execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
each applicable Purchase Agreement (as defined in Section 11), if any, or the
Indenture. The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to
the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus. Each Security delivered or
sold hereunder will constitute, as of such delivery or sale, the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms
and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and the terms of such
Security will have been approved by the Governor or the Chief Financial Officer
of the Company.

                  (h) No Stop Order. The Commission has not issued and, to the
best knowledge of the Company, is not threatening to issue any order preventing
or suspending the use of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the
Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto).

                  (i) Regulation. The Company is not required to be registered
as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is not
subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

                  SECTION 2. Solicitations as Agent. (a) On the basis of the
representations and warranties contained herein, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, each Agent agrees, as an agent of the Company, to
use its reasonable best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Securities
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. No Agent shall
otherwise employ, pay or compensate any other person to solicit offers to
purchase the Securities or to perform any of its functions as Agent
<PAGE>   6
                                                                               6


without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.

                  (b) The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
suspend solicitation by the Agents in their capacities as Agents of offers to
purchase the Securities from the Company commencing at any time for any period
of time or permanently. Upon receipt of at least one business day's prior notice
from the Company, the Agents will forthwith suspend solicitation of offers to
purchase Securities from the Company until such time as the Company has advised
the Agents that such solicitation may be resumed.

                  (c) Promptly upon the closing of the sale of any Securities
sold by the Company as a result of a solicitation made by an Agent, the Company
agrees to pay such Agent a commission in accordance with the schedule set forth
in Exhibit A hereto, or such other fee as is mutually agreed upon by the Company
and such Agent.

                  (d) The Agents are authorized to solicit offers to purchase
the Securities only in denominations of U.S. $1,000 **/ or any amount in excess
thereof which is an integral multiple thereof, at a purchase price equal to 100%
of the principal amount thereof or such other amount as shall be specified by
the Company. Each Agent shall communicate to the Company, in accordance with the
Procedures (as defined below), each reasonable offer to purchase Securities
received by it as an Agent other than those rejected by such Agent. The Company
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 advising the Company, 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.

                  (e) Administrative procedures respecting the sale of
Securities (the "Procedures") shall be agreed upon from time to time by the
appropriate representatives of each Agent and the Company. The Procedures
initially shall include those procedures set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Each
Agent and the Company agree to perform the respective duties and obligations
specifically provided to be performed by each of them herein and in the
Procedures.

                  (f) The documents initially required to be delivered by
Section 5 hereof and the documents required to


- ----------
         **/ Or the equivalent in the relevant foreign currency or currency unit
(rounded down to an integral multiple of units of the denomination specified in
the relevant supplement to the Prospectus), or such larger amount in integral
multiples of such units.
<PAGE>   7
                                                                               7


be delivered by Section 5 hereof in connection with each Amendment shall be
delivered at the office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, One Chase Manhattan
Plaza, New York, New York 10005, not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time,
on the date of this Agreement, or such Amendment, or at such later time as may
be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Agents (each a "Closing Date").

                  SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and
agrees:

                  (a) to furnish promptly to each Agent and to its counsel,
without charge, a signed copy of each Registration Statement as filed with the
Commission and each amendment or supplement thereto, and a copy of each
Prospectus thereafter filed with the Commission, including all supplements
thereto and, upon request of such Agent, all documents incorporated therein by
reference and all consents and exhibits filed therewith;

                  (b) to deliver promptly to the Agents such number of the
following documents as they may request:

                  (i) conformed copies of each Registration Statement (excluding
         exhibits other than the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed
         charges, the Indenture and this Agreement);

                 (ii) each Prospectus; and

                (iii) any documents incorporated by reference in the
         Prospectus;

and the Company authorizes each Agent to use such documents during the period
referred to in (c) below (subject to the limitations set forth therein) in
connection with the sale of the Securities in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the Act and the Rules and Regulations;

                  (c) if, during any period in which, in the opinion of counsel
for the Agents (provided, if the Agents are no longer soliciting (or have been
instructed to stop soliciting) purchases of Securities, such opinion is known to
the Company), a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be
delivered under the Act, any event known to the Company occurs as a result of
which the Prospectus 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, not misleading, or if it
is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the
Rules and Regulations, to notify the Agents promptly to suspend solicitation of
purchases of the Securities (and the Agents
<PAGE>   8
                                                                               8


will do so); and if the Company shall decide to amend or supplement a
Registration Statement or the Prospectus for purposes of offering the
Securities, to promptly advise the Agents by telephone (with confirmation in
writing) and, except as otherwise provided in any relevant Purchase Agreement,
to promptly prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement,
whether by filing such documents pursuant to the Act or the Exchange Act, as may
be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission or to make such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and to
prepare and furnish to the Agents at its own expense such amendment or
supplement to such Registration Statement or the Prospectus as will correct such
Registration Statement or the Prospectus; provided, however, that the Company
shall in any event promptly prepare, file and furnish an Agent with such an
amendment or supplement if such Agent shall then hold any Securities acquired
from the Company as principal (other than such Securities as such Agent shall
have held for a period of six months or more);

                  (d) to timely file with the Commission during the period
referred to in the proviso to (c) above and during any time the Agents are
permitted to solicit offers as Agents as provided hereunder (i) any amendment or
supplement to a Registration Statement or any Prospectus that may, in the
judgment of the Company, be required by the Act or requested by the Commission
and (ii) all documents (and any amendments to previously filed documents)
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act;

                  (e) prior to filing with the Commission, during the period
referred to in the proviso to (c) above and during any time the Agents are
permitted to solicit offers as Agents as provided hereunder, (i) any amendment
or supplement to a Registration Statement, (ii) any amendment or supplement to
the Prospectus or (iii) upon request of any Agent, any document incorporated by
reference in any Registration Statement or any amendment of or supplement to any
such incorporated document, to furnish a copy thereof to the Agents and counsel
for the Agents;

                  (f) to advise the Agents immediately (i) when any
post-effective amendment to any Registration Statement relating to or covering
the Securities becomes effective and when any further amendment of or supplement
to the Prospectus shall be filed with the Commission, (ii) of any request or
proposed request by the Commission for an amendment or supplement to any
Registration Statement, to the Prospectus, to any document incorporated by
reference in any of the foregoing or for any additional information,
<PAGE>   9
                                                                               9


(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement or any order directed to the
Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or the initiation
or threat of any stop order proceeding or of any challenge to the accuracy or
adequacy of any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, (iv) of
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 threat of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the happening of any
event which makes untrue any statement of a material fact made in any
Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or which
requires the making of a change in any such Registration Statement or the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented in order to make any material statement
therein not misleading;

                  (g) if, during the period referred to in the proviso to (c)
above and during any time the Agents are permitted to solicit offers as Agents
as provided hereunder, the Commission shall issue a stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement, to make every reasonable effort to
obtain the lifting of that order at the earliest possible time;

                  (h) as soon as practicable, but not later than 18 months,
after the date of each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase
Securities hereunder, to make generally available to its security holders an
earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the
later of (i) the effective date of the most recent Registration Statement, (ii)
the effective date of the most recent post-effective amendment to the most
recent Registration Statement to become effective prior to the date of such
acceptance and (iii) the date of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the Commission prior to the date of such acceptance which will
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act (including, at the option of
the Company, Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations under the Act);

                  (i) so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, to make
available to the Agents, not later than the time the Company makes the same
available to others, copies of all public reports or releases and all reports
and financial statements furnished by the Company to any securities exchange on
which the Securities are listed pursuant to requirements of or agreements with
such exchange or to the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act or any rule or
regulation of the Commission thereunder;
<PAGE>   10
                                                                              10


                  (j) on or prior to the date on which the Company shall release
to the general public interim financial information, if any, with respect to
each of the first three quarters of any fiscal year, to make available such
information to each Agent and, except as otherwise provided in any relevant
Purchase Agreement, to cause the Prospectus to be amended or supplemented to set
forth or incorporate by reference such information, as well as such other
information and explanations as shall be necessary for an understanding of such
amounts or as shall be required by the Act or the Rules and Regulations;
provided, however, that if on the date of such release the Agents shall not be
engaged or shall have been instructed not to engage in solicitation of purchases
of the Securities as Agents of the Company, and shall not then hold any
Securities acquired from the Company as principal (other than such Securities as
shall have been held for a period of six months or more), the Company shall not
be obligated so to amend or supplement the Prospectus until such time as
solicitation of purchases of the Securities shall with the Company's consent be
resumed or the Company shall subsequently enter into a new Purchase Agreement
with one of you;

                  (k) on or prior to the date on which the Company shall release
to the general public financial information included in or derived from the
audited financial statements of the Company for the preceding fiscal year, to
make available such information to each Agent and to cause each Registration
Statement and the Prospectus to be amended or supplemented, initially to set
forth capsule financial information with respect to the results of operations of
the Company for such year and corresponding information for the prior year, as
well as such other information and explanations as shall be necessary for an
understanding of such amounts or as shall be required by the Act or the Rules
and Regulations, and, on or before the date that the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K is filed with the Commission, to cause each Registration Statement and
the Prospectus to be amended to set forth or incorporate such audited financial
statements and the report or reports of independent accountants with respect
thereto, as well as such other information and explanations as shall be
necessary for an understanding of such financial statements or as shall be
required by the Act or the Rules and Regulations; provided, however, that if on
the date of such release the Agents shall not be engaged or shall have been
instructed not to engage in solicitation of purchases of the Securities as
Agents of the Company, and shall not then hold any Securities acquired from the
Company as principal (other than such Securities as shall have been held for a
period of six months or more), the Company shall not be obligated so to amend or
supplement the Prospectus until such time as
<PAGE>   11
                                                                              11


solicitation of purchases of the Securities shall with the Company's consent be
resumed or the Company shall subsequently enter into a new Purchase Agreement
with one of you; and

                  (l) to endeavor, in cooperation with the Agents, to qualify
the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as any Agent may designate, and to maintain such qualifications in
effect for as long as may be required for the distribution of the Securities;
and to file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of each
jurisdiction in which the Securities have been qualified as above provided;
provided that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify as a
foreign corporation nor, except as to matters relating to the offer and sale of
the Securities, take any action which would subject it to service of process
generally in any jurisdiction.

                  SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay (i) the
costs incident to the authorization, issuance and delivery of the Securities and
any taxes (other than transfer taxes) payable in that connection, (ii) the costs
incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Act of each
Registration Statement and any amendments and exhibits thereto, (iii) the costs
incident to the preparation, printing and filing of any document and any
amendments and exhibits thereto required to be filed by the Company under the
Exchange Act, (iv) the costs of preparing, printing and mailing of the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, (v) the costs of
distributing each Registration Statement, as originally filed, and each
amendment and post-effective amendment thereof (including exhibits), the
Prospectus, any supplement or amendment to the Prospectus and any documents
incorporated by reference in any of the foregoing documents, (vi) the fees and
disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the costs and fees in
connection with the listing of the Securities on any securities exchange, (viii)
the cost of any filings with the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., (ix) the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Company, (x) the fees
paid to rating agencies in connection with the rating of the Securities, (xi)
the fees and expenses of qualifying the Securities under the securities laws of
the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 3(l) hereof and of preparing
and printing a Blue Sky Memorandum and a memorandum concerning the legality of
the Securities as an investment (including fees and expenses of counsel for the
Agents in connection therewith), (xii) the cost of the "tombstone" advertisement
and such other advertising expenses agreed to by the Company and Agents in
connection with the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities, and
<PAGE>   12
                                                                              12


(xiii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company's
obligations under this Agreement (including any Purchase Agreement). In
addition, subject to the provisions of Section 7, the Company agrees to
reimburse the Agents for the fees and disbursements of their legal counsel
(except that the Company shall not be liable for the fees and disbursements of
more than one separate firm of attorneys).

                  Except as specifically provided in this Section and herein,
the Agents agree to pay all their costs and expenses.

                  SECTION 5. Conditions of Obligations. The obligation of the
Agents, as agents of the Company, under this Agreement to solicit offers to
purchase the Securities, as well as the obligation of each Agent to purchase
Securities pursuant to any Purchase Agreement or otherwise, is subject to the
accuracy, on each Representation Date, of the representations and warranties of
the Company contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company's
officers made in any certificate furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof to
the extent then relevant, to the performance by the Company in all material
respects of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional
terms and conditions:

                  (a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement, or any part thereof, nor any order directed to any
document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus shall have been issued and
no stop order proceeding shall have been initiated or threatened by the
Commission and no challenge by the Commission shall be pending to the accuracy
or adequacy of any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus; any
request of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in any
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have been withdrawn
or complied with; and after the date of any Purchase Agreement (and prior to the
closing date for the Securities referred to therein) the Company shall not have
filed with the Commission any amendment or supplement to any Registration
Statement or the Prospectus (or any document incorporated by reference therein)
without the consent of the Agent or Agents party thereto.

                  (b) No order suspending the sale of the Securities in any
jurisdiction designated by an Agent pursuant to Section 3(l) hereof shall have
been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or
threatened.
<PAGE>   13
                                                                              13


                  (c) The Agents shall not have discovered and disclosed to the
Company that any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of
counsel for the Agents, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the
opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

                  (d) At each Closing Date, the Agents shall have received from
Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Agents, such opinion and letter, dated
such Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the
Indenture, each Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, and other related matters as the Agents 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.

                  (e) At each Closing Date, the Agents shall have received the
opinion, addressed to the Agents and dated such Closing Date, of John Jay List,
Esq., General Counsel of the Company, in form and scope satisfactory to the
Agents and their counsel, to the effect that:

                  (i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a cooperative association under the laws of the District of
         Columbia with corporate power to conduct its business as described in
         each Registration Statement;

                 (ii) the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company
         pursuant to this Agreement (and, if the opinion is being given pursuant
         to Section 6(c) hereof on account of the Company having entered into a
         Purchase Agreement, the applicable Purchase Agreement) have been duly
         and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action (subject to
         the approval of the terms of each Security by the Governor or the Chief
         Financial Officer of the Company); and no authorization, consent, order
         or approval of, or filing or registration with, or exemption by, any
         government or public body or authority of the District of Columbia or
         any department or subdivision thereof is required for the validity of
         the Securities or for the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities
         by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and any Purchase Agreement or
         for the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Purchase
         Agreement and the Indenture by the Company (except that such counsel
         need not express an opinion as to whether offers or sales by Agents
         require qualification or
<PAGE>   14
                                                                              14


         registration under the securities laws of the District of Columbia);

                (iii) the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company
         and constitutes an instrument valid and binding on the Company and
         enforceable in accordance with its terms;

                 (iv) the Securities, assuming they are in a form conforming to
         the specimens thereof examined by such counsel, and assuming due
         execution of the Securities on behalf of the Company and authentication
         thereof by the Trustee and issuance thereof in accordance with the
         terms of the Indenture and delivery thereof against payment therefor in
         accordance with the terms of this Agreement (and any Purchase
         Agreement) and subject to the approval of the terms of each Security by
         the Governor or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, will
         constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in
         accordance with their terms and will be entitled to the benefits of the
         Indenture;

                  (v) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and
         delivered by the Company and the performance of this Agreement and the
         consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not result in
         a breach of any terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
         the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or any
         indenture, deed of trust, note, note agreement or other agreement or
         instrument known to such counsel, after due inquiry, to which the
         Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its properties is
         bound or affected;

                 (vi) no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court
         or governmental agency, authority or body of the District of Columbia
         is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
         this Agreement (including any Purchase Agreement) (except that such
         counsel need not express an opinion as to whether offers or sales by
         Agents require qualification or registration under the securities laws
         of the District of Columbia); and

                (vii) there is no tax of the District of Columbia or the
         Commonwealth of Virginia applicable to the execution of the Indenture.

                  Such counsel shall state that nothing has come to the
attention of such counsel causing him to believe, based upon such counsel's
participation in the preparation of each Registration Statement or otherwise,
that any Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment thereof), at
the
<PAGE>   15
                                                                              15


time such Registration Statement became effective and at the effective time of
any such amendment or supplement, contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus (as
amended or supplemented, if amended or supplemented), as of the Closing Date,
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and
such counsel does not know of any litigation or any governmental proceeding
instituted or threatened against the Company required to be disclosed in any
Registration Statement or the Prospectus and which is not disclosed therein.

                  Insofar as such opinion relates to the enforceability of the
Securities and the Indenture, such counsel may state that the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally
and may be limited by general principles of equity (regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including without limitation
(a) the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or
any other equitable remedy and (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good
faith and fair dealing, and by laws with respect to or affecting the remedies
provided for in the Securities and the Indenture (provided that such laws do
not, in the opinion of such counsel, make inadequate the remedies afforded
thereby for the realization of the benefits provided for in the Securities and
the Indenture).

                  (f) At each Closing Date, the Agents shall have received the
opinion, addressed to the Agents and dated such Closing Date, of Milbank, Tweed,
Hadley & McCloy, counsel to the Company, in form and scope satisfactory to the
Agents and their counsel, to the effect that:

                  (i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a cooperative association in good standing under the laws
         of the District of Columbia with corporate power to conduct its
         business as described in the Prospectus;

                 (ii) the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company
         pursuant to this Agreement (and, if the opinion is being given pursuant
         to Section 6(c) hereof on account of the Company having entered into a
         Purchase Agreement, the applicable Purchase Agreement) have been duly
         and validly authorized by all necessary
<PAGE>   16
                                                                              16


         corporate action (subject to the approval of the terms of each Security
         by the Governor or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company); and no
         authorization, consent, order or approval of, or filing or registration
         with, or exemption by, any governmental or public body or authority
         (including, without limitation, the Rural Utilities Service) of the
         United States or of the State of New York or any department or
         subdivision thereof, or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any
         court, other than such as may be required under State securities or
         blue sky laws and other than registration of the Securities under the
         Act and qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act,
         is required for the validity of the Securities or for the issuance,
         sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company pursuant to this
         Agreement (including any Purchase Agreement) or for the execution and
         delivery of this Agreement (including any Purchase Agreement) and the
         Indenture by the Company;

                (iii) the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company,
         has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and constitutes
         an instrument valid and binding on the Company and enforceable in
         accordance with its terms;

                 (iv) the Securities, assuming they are in a form conforming to
         the specimens thereof examined by such counsel, and assuming due
         execution of the Securities on behalf of the Company and authentication
         thereof by the Trustee and issuance thereof in accordance with the
         terms of the Indenture and delivery thereof against payment therefor in
         accordance with the terms of this Agreement (and any Purchase
         Agreement) and subject to the approval of the terms each Security by
         the Governor or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, will
         constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in
         accordance with their terms and will be entitled to the benefits of the
         Indenture;

                  (v) this Agreement (including any Purchase Agreement) has been
         duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the
         performance of this Agreement (including any Purchase Agreement) and
         the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not
         result in a breach of any terms or provisions of, or constitute a
         default under, the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company
         or any indenture, deed of trust, note, note agreement or other
         agreement or instrument known to such counsel, after due inquiry, to
         which the Company is a party or by
<PAGE>   17
                                                                              17


         which the Company or any of its properties is bound or affected;

                 (vi) the Securities and the Indenture conform in all material
         respects to the descriptions thereof contained in each Registration
         Statement; and the statements made in the Prospectus under the caption
         "Description of Securities" and in the prospectus supplement dated    ,
         1999, under the caption "Description of the Medium-Term Notes" (and the
         comparable provisions of any supplement to the Prospectus approved by
         the Agents), insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of
         documents or agreements specifically referred to therein, fairly
         present the information called for with respect thereto by Form S-3;

                (vii) each Registration Statement (and any post-effective
         amendment thereof) has become and is effective under the Act and the
         Securities have become registered under the Act, and, to the best of
         the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the
         effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no
         proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
         contemplated, and each Registration Statement (and any post-effective
         amendment thereof) and the Prospectus and each amendment thereof or
         supplement thereto (except for the financial statements and other
         financial data included therein as to which such counsel need express
         no opinion) when they became effective or were filed with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission complied as to form in all material
         respects with the requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust
         Indenture Act and the rules and regulations issued thereunder;

               (viii) the Company is not required to be registered as an
         investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

                 (ix) the Company is not subject to regulation under the Public
         Utility Holding Company Act of 1935; and

                  (x) the Company is not a public utility as defined in the
         Federal Power Act.

                  Such counsel shall state that based upon such counsel's
participation in the preparation of each Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and documents incorporated by reference therein, such counsel's discussions with
certain officers and employees of the
<PAGE>   18
                                                                              18


Company, such counsel's conferences with representatives of the Company's
independent certified public accountants and such counsel's representation of
the Company, nothing has come to the attention of such counsel causing it to
believe that such Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment
thereof), at the time such Registration Statement became effective and at the
effective time of any such amendment or supplement, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not misleading, or that
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if amended or supplemented), as of
the Closing Date, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion
concerning financial or statistical data included therein) and such counsel does
not know of any litigation or any governmental proceeding instituted or
threatened against the Company required to be disclosed in any Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and which is not disclosed therein.

                  Such counsel shall also state that to the best knowledge of
such counsel, no order directed to any document incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus has been issued and no challenge has been made by any regulatory
agency to the accuracy or adequacy of any such document.

                  Insofar as such opinion relates to the enforceability of the
Securities and the Indenture, such counsel may state that the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally
and may be limited by general principles of equity (regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including without limitation
(a) the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or
any other equitable remedy and (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good
faith and fair dealing, and by laws with respect to or affecting the remedies
provided for in the Securities and the Indenture (provided that such laws do
not, in the opinion of such counsel, make inadequate the remedies afforded
thereby for the realization of the benefits provided for in the Securities and
the Indenture).

                  In rendering the foregoing opinion, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley &
McCloy may rely as to matters of the law of the District of Columbia upon the
opinion of John Jay List, Esq., General Counsel of the Company, addressed to the
Agents and dated such Closing Date, satisfactory in form and
<PAGE>   19
                                                                              19


scope to counsel for the Agents. If Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy shall so
rely upon the opinion of John Jay List, Esq., (i) copies of the opinion so
relied upon (to the extent such opinion is different than the opinion required
by Section 5(e)) shall be delivered to you and to counsel for the Agents and
(ii) the opinion required by this Section 5(f) shall also state that Milbank,
Tweed, Hadley & McCloy has made an independent investigation of the matters in
its opinion covered by the opinion so relied upon and that the Agents are
justified in relying upon such opinion.

                  (g) The Company shall have furnished to the Agents on each
Closing Date a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of its President, Governor,
Vice President or Chief Financial Officer stating that: (i) the representations,
warranties and agreements of the Company in Section 1 hereof are true and
correct as of such Closing Date; the Company has complied in all material
respects with all its agreements contained herein; and the conditions set forth
in Sections 5(a) and 5(b) hereof have been fulfilled, (ii) in his opinion, as of
the effective date of each Registration Statement, such Registration Statement
did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, and, as of the effective date of the most recent Registration
Statement, the Prospectus did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iii) since the
effective date of the most recent Registration Statement, no event has occurred
which should have been set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
but which has not been so set forth, (iv) since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the most recent Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, there has not been any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or other, or earnings of the Company, whether
or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, (v) the
Company has no material contingent obligations which are required to be
disclosed in any Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not disclosed
therein, (vi) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement is in effect on such Closing Date and no proceedings for the issuance
of such an order have been taken or to the knowledge of the Company are
contemplated by the Commission on or prior to such Closing Date, (vii) there are
no material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which
property of the Company is the subject
<PAGE>   20
                                                                              20


which are required to be disclosed in any Registration Statement or the
Prospectus and are not disclosed therein and (viii) there are no material
contracts to which the Company is a party which are required to be disclosed in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not disclosed therein.

                  (h) Arthur Andersen LLP (or successor independent public
accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations) shall have furnished to the Agents, at or prior to each
Closing Date, a letter, addressed to the Agents and dated such Closing Date,
confirming that they are independent public accountants with respect to the
Company within the meaning of the Act and are in compliance with the applicable
requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X of the Commission; and stating, as of the date of such letter
(or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the
respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the
Prospectus, as of a date not more than five days prior to the date of such
letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial
information and other matters covered by its letter delivered to the Agents
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and confirming in all material
respects the conclusions and findings set forth in such prior letter or, if no
such letter shall have been delivered to you, the conclusions and findings of
such firm, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents with respect to such
financial information and other matters as the Agents shall reasonably request.

                  (i) There shall not have occurred (i) any suspension or
material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
Exchange or any establishment of minimum prices on such exchange, (ii) any
banking moratorium declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or
(iii) any outbreak of hostilities involving the United States or escalation of
hostilities involving the United States or a declaration of a national emergency
or war by the United States.

                  (j) Prior to each Closing Date, the Company shall have
furnished to the Agents and to Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel to the Agents,
such further certificates and documents as the Agents or counsel to the Agents
may have reasonably requested prior to such Closing Date.

                  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not
have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, this
Agreement and all obligations of the Agents hereunder may be canceled on, or
<PAGE>   21
                                                                              21


at any time prior to, any Closing Date by the Agents. Notice of such cancelation
shall be given to the Company in writing, or by facsimile, telephone or telex
confirmed in writing.

                  All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned
above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with
the provisions hereof only if they are on the date of delivery in the form and
scope satisfactory to counsel for the Agents.

                  In the event that any Agent purchases Securities as a
principal (whether pursuant to a Purchase Agreement or otherwise), the
conditions of Section 3 of the Purchase Agreement set forth in Exhibit C hereto
shall also apply to such purchase.

                  SECTION 6. Additional Covenants of the Company. The Company
covenants and agrees that:

                  (a) Each acceptance by it of an offer for the purchase of
Securities shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Agent which procured the
offer that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement and in any certificate theretofore given to the Agents pursuant hereto
(to the extent relevant to such purchase) are true and correct at the time of
such acceptance, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties
will be true and correct at the time for delivery to the purchaser or his agent
of the Securities relating to such acceptance as though made at and as of each
such time (and it is understood that such representations and warranties shall
relate to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented to each such time).

                  (b) Each time that any Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an amendment or
supplement providing solely for a change in the interest rates or maturities of
the Securities or a change in the principal amount of Securities remaining to be
sold or similar changes) or the Company files with the Commission any document
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (except in all cases by filing a
report on Form 8-K, pursuant to the Exchange Act, solely to add exhibits to
documents previously filed), the Company shall, concurrently with such
amendment, supplement or filing, furnish the Agents with a certificate of the
President, Governor or Chief Financial Officer of the Company in form
satisfactory to the Agents to the effect that the statements contained in the
certificate referred to in Section 5(g) hereof which was last furnished to the
Agents are true and
<PAGE>   22
                                                                              22


correct at the time of such amendment, supplement or filing, as the case may be,
as though made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be
deemed to relate to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
and supplemented to such time) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of
the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 5(g) modified as
necessary to relate to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate; provided, that,
except if the Agents shall then hold any Securities acquired from the Company as
principal (other than such Securities as shall have been held for a period of
six months or more), no certificate need be given during any period in which the
Agents have been instructed to or have suspended the solicitation and receipt of
offers to purchase Securities but shall be required to be given before the
Agents shall again be obligated to solicit offers to purchase the Securities.

                  (c) Each time that any Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an amendment or
supplement providing solely for a change in the interest rates or maturities of
the Securities or a change in the principal amount of Securities remaining to be
sold or similar changes) or the Company files with the Commission any document
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (except in all cases by filing a
report on Form 8-K, pursuant to the Exchange Act, solely to add exhibits to
documents previously filed), the Company shall, concurrently with such
amendment, supplement or filing, furnish the Agents and their counsel with
written opinions of (i) the General Counsel of the Company and (ii) Milbank,
Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, counsel to the Company, addressed to the Agents and
dated the date of delivery of such opinions, in form satisfactory to the Agents,
of the same tenor as the respective opinions referred to in Sections 5(e) and
5(f) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to such Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the time of delivery
of such opinions; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinions, either of
such counsel may furnish the Agents with letters to the effect that the Agents
may rely on such prior opinions to the same extent as though they were dated the
date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that statements in such prior
opinions shall be deemed to relate to such Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the time of delivery of such letters
authorizing reliance); provided further, that, except if the Agents shall then
hold any Securities acquired from the Company as principal (other than such
Securities as each Agent shall have held for a period of six months or more),
<PAGE>   23
                                                                              23


no opinion need be given during any period in which the Agents have been
instructed to or have suspended the solicitation and receipt of offers to
purchase Securities but shall be required to be given before the Agents shall
again be obligated to solicit offers to purchase the Securities.

                  (d) Each time that any Registration Statement or the
Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional financial
information with respect to the Company or the Company files with the Commission
any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus which contains
additional financial information the Company shall cause Arthur Andersen LLP (or
successor independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations) to furnish the Agents,
concurrently with such amendment, supplement or filing, a letter, addressed
jointly to the Company and the Agents and dated the date of delivery of such
letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, of the same
tenor as the letter referred to in Section 5(h) hereof but modified to relate to
such Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to
the date of such letter, with such changes as may be necessary to reflect
changes in the financial statements and other information derived from the
accounting records of the Company; provided, however, that if any Registration
Statement or the Prospectus is amended or supplemented solely to include
financial information with respect to the Company as of and for a fiscal
quarter, Arthur Andersen LLP (or successor independent public accountants with
respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations) may limit the scope of such letter to the unaudited financial
statements included in such amendment or supplement unless there is contained
therein any other accounting, financial or statistical information with respect
to the Company 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; provided further that, except if the Agents shall then hold any
Securities acquired from the Company as principal (other than such Securities as
shall have been held for a period of six months or more), no letter need be
given during any period in which the Agents have been instructed to or have
suspended the solicitation and receipt of offers to purchase Securities but
shall be required to be given before the Agents shall again be obligated to
solicit offers to purchase the Securities.

                  (e) On request from time to time by any Agent, the Company
will advise the Agents of the amount of Securities sold (which for this purpose
shall include
<PAGE>   24
                                                                              24


medium-term notes having terms substantially similar to the terms of the
Securities but constituting one or more separate series of securities for
purposes of the Indenture and sold outside the United States pursuant to any
other agreement), and the amount remaining registered under the Securities Act
and authorized for issuance and sale hereunder.

                  SECTION 7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Agents (for purposes of this Section 7,
the "Agents" shall be deemed to include the Agents and all subsidiaries and
affiliates of the Agents to the extent such subsidiaries and affiliates are
agents of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(a)) and
each person, if any, who controls an Agent within the meaning of the Act from
and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, to which
such Agent or controlling person may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange
Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation or common law, and to
reimburse the Agents and such controlling persons for any legal or other
expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating any claims and
defending any actions, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereof or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented,
if the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto), if used within the period during which the Agent claiming
indemnification is authorized to use the Prospectus as provided hereunder, or
arises out of, or is based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state
therein (if so used, in the case of such Prospectus) a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or
is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in such Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereof or the Prospectus (as amended and supplemented) in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Agent claiming indemnification specifically for inclusion therein or contained
in that part of such Registration Statement constituting the Statement of
Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee; and
provided further that as to any Prospectus (as amended and supplemented) this
indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of an Agent or any person
controlling such Agent on account of any loss, claim, damage, liability or
action
<PAGE>   25
                                                                              25


arising from the sale of Securities to any person by such Agent if such Agent
failed to send or give a copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have made any amendments thereof or
supplements thereto which shall have been furnished to such Agent prior to the
time of the below-written confirmation) to that person at or prior to the time
written confirmation of the sale of such Securities was sent to such person, and
the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Prospectus was corrected in
such amendment or supplement, unless such failure resulted from non-compliance
by the Company with Section 3(b) hereof. For purposes of the second proviso to
the immediately preceding sentence, the term "Prospectus (or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented if the Company shall have made any amendments thereof or
supplements thereto)" shall not be deemed to include the documents incorporated
therein by reference and under no circumstances shall any Agent be obligated to
send or give any document incorporated by reference or any supplement or
amendment to any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to any
person. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which
the Company may otherwise have to an Agent or controlling person.

                  (b) Each Agent shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company,
each of its directors, each of its officers who signed any Registration
Statement and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act
from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, and any
action in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such director, officer or
controlling person may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act or
federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is
based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof
or the Prospectus (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto), or arises
out of, or is 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, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Agent specifically for inclusion therein, and shall reimburse
the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person for any legal
and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
investigating or defending or preparing
<PAGE>   26
                                                                              26


to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. The
foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which an Agent may
otherwise have to the Company or any of its directors, officers or controlling
persons. The information with respect to the manner of distribution of the
Securities by the Agents and with respect to the Agents set forth in any
Prospectus Supplement as expressly specified in writing by the Agents
constitutes the only information furnished in writing by the Agents for
inclusion in the Registration Statements and the Prospectus, and the Agents
confirm that such information is correct.

                  (c) Each indemnified party will, promptly after the receipt of
notice of the commencement of any action against such indemnified party in
respect of which indemnity may be sought from an indemnifying party on account
of an indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7, notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement thereof. The omission of any indemnified
party so to notify an indemnifying party of any such action shall not relieve
the indemnifying party from any liability (to the extent not prejudiced by such
delay) which it may have to such indemnified party on account of the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 7 or otherwise; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding any prejudice caused by such delay, the indemnifying party's
liability with respect to contribution as set forth in Section 7(d) shall not be
relieved. Except as provided in the next succeeding sentence, in case any such
action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify an
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice
in writing from such indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, such 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 other than reasonable costs of investigation. Such indemnified
party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified
party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been authorized in writing
by the indemnifying party in connection with the defense of such action, (ii)
such indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that there are
material legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional
to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying
party shall not have the right
<PAGE>   27
                                                                              27


to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party) or
(iii) the indemnifying party shall not have assumed the defense of such action
and employed counsel therefor satisfactory to such indemnified party within a
reasonable time after notice of commencement of such action, in any of which
events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the indemnifying party, provided
that (x) the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such
action, or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be
liable for the fees and expenses with respect to any period during the pendency
of such action or similar or related actions of more than one separate firm of
attorneys (except where local counsel is necessary in connection with such
action or similar or related actions) for all indemnified parties so named,
designated in writing by such Agent or the Agents if the indemnifying party is
the Company or by the Company if the indemnifying party is an Agent or the
Agents, and (y) the firm of attorneys so designated may be changed from time to
time with respect to different periods during the pendency of such action or
similar or related actions. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any action or claim effected without its consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                  (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
shall for any reason be unavailable to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an
indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b) hereof in respect of any loss,
claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the indemnified or
indemnifying Agent or Agents on the other from the offering of the Securities or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company on the one hand and the indemnified or indemnifying Agent or Agents
on the other with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such
loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and an Agent on the other with respect to such offering
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total
<PAGE>   28
                                                                              28


net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company bears to the total commissions received by such Agent
with respect to such offering. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or such Agent, the intent of the parties and their
relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Company and the Agents agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d) were to be
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim,
damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this
Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 7(d), any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), no Agent shall be required
to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which the Securities sold through such Agent and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Agent has
otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. No person shall be obligated to contribute hereunder any
amounts in payment for any settlement of any action or claim effected without
such person's consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                  SECTION 8. Status of Each Agent. In soliciting offers to
purchase the Securities from the Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than
offers to purchase pursuant to Section 11), each Agent is acting solely as agent
for the Company and not as principal. Each Agent will make reasonable efforts to
assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to
purchase Securities from the Company has been solicited by such Agent and
accepted by the Company but such Agent shall have no liability to the Company in
the event any such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Company
shall default (which default shall include, but is not limited to, the Company
having told an Agent not to settle any order which the Company has accepted) in
its obligations to
<PAGE>   29
                                                                              29


deliver Securities to a purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the Company shall
hold each Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a
result of such default by the Company, provided such default is not attributable
to the fault of such Agent.

                  SECTION 9. Representations and Warranties to Survive Delivery.
All representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement,
or contained in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant
hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of the
termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on
behalf of an Agent or any person controlling such Agent or by or on behalf of
the Company, and shall survive each delivery of and payment for any of the
Securities.

                  SECTION 10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated for
any reason, at any time, by any party hereto upon the giving of one day's
written notice of such termination to the other parties hereto, provided,
however, if such terminating party is an Agent, such termination shall be
effective only with respect to such terminating party. The provisions of
Sections 3(c), 3(h), 4, 7, 8, 9, 13 and 14 hereof shall survive any such
termination.

                  SECTION 11. Purchases as Principal. From time to time an Agent
may agree with the Company to purchase Securities from the Company as principal,
in which case such purchase shall be made in accordance with the terms of a
separate agreement (a "Purchase Agreement") to be entered into between such
Agent and the Company in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C. A Purchase
Agreement, to the extent set forth therein, may incorporate by reference
specified provisions of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 12. Amendments to Add Securities. From time to time,
the Company and the Agents may enter into amendments to this Agreement (any such
amendment shall be herein referred to as an "Amendment") for the purpose of
increasing the aggregate principal amount of Securities to which this Agreement
shall relate. Such Amendment may be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.

                  SECTION 13. 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 received or transmitted by any standard form
of telecommunication.
<PAGE>   30
                                                                              30


Notices to the Agents shall be directed to them as follows:

                  Lehman Brothers Inc.
                  3 World Financial Center, 12th Floor
                  New York, New York 10285

                  Attention:  Medium Term Note Department

                  Banc of America Securities LLC
                  NC1-007-07-01
                  100 North Tryon Street
                  Charlotte, NC 28255

                  Attention:  Product Management-Medium Term Notes

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

                  Attention:  Medium-Term Note Department

                  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
                  World Headquarters
                  World Financial Center
                  North Tower, 23rd Floor
                  New York, New York 10281

                  Attention:  Product Management-Medium Term Notes

                  J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
                  60 Wall Street
                  New York, New York 10260

                  Attention:  Medium-Term Note Desk


Notices to the Company shall be directed to it as follows:

                  National Rural Utilities Cooperative
                  Finance Corporation
                  Woodland Park
                  2201 Cooperative Way
                  Herndon, Virginia 20171

                  Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

                  SECTION 14. Binding Effect; Benefits. This Agreement shall be
binding upon each Agent, the Company and their respective successors. This
Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only
those persons, except that (a) the representations, warranties,
<PAGE>   31
                                                                              31


indemnities and agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall also
be deemed to be for the benefit of any entity or entities deemed to be an
"Agent" for the purposes of Section 7 and the person or persons, if any, who
control an Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, and (b) the
indemnity agreements of the Agents contained in Section 7 hereof shall be deemed
to be for the benefit of directors of the Company, officers of the Company who
have signed a Registration Statement and any persons controlling the Company.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person,
other than the persons referred to in this Section, any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision
contained herein. No purchaser of Securities shall be deemed to be a successor
by reason merely of such purchase.

                  SECTION 15. Miscellaneous. (a) The term "business day" as used
in this Agreement shall mean any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday, which in
New York City is not a day on which banking institutions are generally
authorized or obligated by law to close and on which the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc. is open for trading.

                  (b) Section headings have been inserted in this Agreement as a
matter of convenience of reference only and it is agreed that such section
headings are not a part of this Agreement and will not be used in the
interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

                  SECTION 16. Governing Law; Counterparts. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New York. This
Agreement may be executed
<PAGE>   32
                                                                              32


in counterparts and the executed counterparts shall together constitute a single
instrument.

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


                                  Very truly yours,

                                  NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                                  COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION,

                                  by /s/ Steven L. Lilly
                                     ----------------------------
                                     Name:  Steven L Lilly
                                     Title: Senior Vice President
                                            and Chief Financial
                                            Officer; Assistant
                                            Secretary-Treasurer


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


LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,

 by /s/ Kyle Miller
    -------------------------
    Name:  Kyle Miller
    Title: Managing Director


BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

 by /s/ Paul J. Kline
    -------------------------
    Name:  Paul J. Kline
    Title: Associate Director


GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.,

 by /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co
    -------------------------
    (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
<PAGE>   33
                                                                              33


MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
& SMITH INCORPORATED,

 by /s/ Scott G. Primrose
    ---------------------------
    Name:  Scott G. Primrose
    Title: Authorized Signatory


J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

 by /s/ Robert Nordlinger
    ---------------------------
    Name:  Robert Nordlinger
    Title: Vice President
<PAGE>   34
                                                                       EXHIBIT A



                                                 NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                                                 COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

                                                 Medium-Term Notes, Series C

                                                 Schedule of Payments


                  The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission equal to the
following percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Securities or
percentage of the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or Dollar
Equivalent of the Currency Unit (as defined in the Indenture) of the principal
amount of Securities placed by such Agent, as the case may be, or such other fee
as is mutually agreed upon by the Company and such Agent:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Term                                            Commission Rate
            ----                                            ---------------
<S>                                                         <C>
9 months to less than 1 year                                      0.125%

1 year to less than 18 months                                     0.150%

18 months to less than 2 years                                    0.200%

2 years to less than 3 years                                      0.250%

3 years to less than 4 years                                      0.350%

4 years to less than 5 years                                      0.450%

5 years to less than 7 years                                      0.500%

7 years to less than 10 years                                     0.550%

10 years to less than 15 years                                    0.600%

15 years to less than 30 years                                    0.625%

30 years or more                                                  To be
                                                                  negotiated
                                                                  at time of
                                                                  sale
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   35
                                                                       EXHIBIT B



                            NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                         COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

                           Medium-Term Notes, Series C
                            Administrative Procedures

                  Medium-Term Notes, Series C, with maturities of nine months or
more from date of issue (the "Notes") are to be offered on a continuing basis by
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (the "Company"). Lehman
Brothers Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as
agents (each an "Agent" and, collectively, the "Agents"), have agreed to use
their best efforts to solicit offers to purchase the Notes. The Notes are being
sold pursuant to an Agency Agreement between the Company and the Agents dated
        , 1999 (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the
"Agency Agreement"), to which these administrative procedures are attached as an
exhibit. The Company has also reserved the right to sell Notes directly on its
own behalf. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of
December 15, 1987 (as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
October 1, 1990 and as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the
"Indenture"), between the Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as
successor trustee (the "Trustee"). The Notes will rank equally with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will have been
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Agency Agreement or
Indenture shall have the same meaning when used in this exhibit.

                  Each Note will be represented by either a Global Security (as
defined hereinafter) delivered to the Trustee as agent for The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC"), and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC (a
"Book-Entry Note") or a certificate delivered to the Holder thereof or a Person
designated by such Holder (a "Certificated Note"). Only Notes denominated and
payable in U.S. dollars may be issued as Book-Entry Notes. Owners of beneficial
interests in Book-Entry Notes will be entitled to delivery of Certificated Notes
only under the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.
<PAGE>   36
                                                                               2


                  Administrative responsibilities, document control and
record-keeping functions to be performed by the Company will be performed by its
Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer. Administrative procedures for the offering
are explained below.

                  Book-Entry Notes will be issued in accordance with the
administrative procedures set forth in Part II and Part III hereof and the
Letter of Representations of the Company and the Trustee to DTC dated June 19,
1996, as amended or supplemented from time to time (the "Letter of
Representations"), and Certificated Notes will be issued in accordance with the
administrative procedures set forth in Part I and Part III hereof. Notes for
which interest is calculated on the basis of a fixed interest rate, which may be
zero, are referred to herein as "Fixed Rate Notes." Notes for which interest is
calculated on the basis of a floating interest rate are referred to herein as
"Floating Rate Notes." To the extent the procedures set forth below conflict
with the provisions of the Notes, the Indenture, the Letter of Representations
or the Agency Agreement, the relevant provisions of the Notes, the Indenture,
the Letter of Representations and the Agency Agreement shall control.


                                                  PART I

                Administrative Procedures for Certificated Notes

Price to Public

                  Each Certificated Note will be issued at 100% of principal
amount, unless otherwise determined by the Company.

Date of Issuance

                  Each Certificated Note will be dated and issued as of the date
of its authentication by the Trustee.

Maturities

                  Each Certificated Note will mature on a Business Day (as
defined in Part III below) selected by the purchaser
<PAGE>   37
                                                                               3


and agreed upon by the Company, with maturities of nine months or more from the
date of issuance.

Registration

                  Certificated Notes will be issued only in fully registered
form. Bank of Montreal Trust Company (the "Paying Agent") will serve as
registrar and transfer agent in connection with the Certificated Notes.

Denominations

                  The Certificated Notes will be issued and payable in U.S.
dollars in the denomination of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof unless
otherwise determined by the Company.

                  The Company may determine, upon agreement with a purchaser of
Certificated Notes, that such Certificated Notes will be denominated and payable
in a foreign currency or currency unit to be specified in a supplement to the
Prospectus ("Specified Currency"). In such case, unless otherwise specified in
such supplement, the authorized denominations of such Certificated Notes will be
the equivalent, as determined by the noon (New York City time) buying rate for
such Specified Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified
for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the "Market
Exchange Rate") on the Business Day immediately preceding the Settlement Date
(as defined below) for such Certificated Notes, of U.S. $1,000 (rounded down to
an integral multiple of units of specified denominations of such Specified
Currency). If such rates are not available for any reason, the Market Exchange
Rate will be determined in accordance with the alternative provision for
determining the Market Exchange Rate pursuant to Section 311(i) of the
Indenture.

Interest Payments

                  Each Fixed Rate Certificated Note will bear interest from its
issue date (the "Original Issue Date") at the annual rate stated on the face
thereof, payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year (the "Interest Payment
Dates"), commencing (unless otherwise specified in the applicable supplement to
the Prospectus) on the first
<PAGE>   38
                                                                               4


Interest Payment Date after issuance, and at Stated Maturity or upon redemption,
if applicable. Interest on each Certificated Note will be calculated and paid on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months (unless otherwise specified
in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus). Interest will be payable to the
Person in whose name such Certificated Note is registered at the close of
business on the January 1 or July 1 (the "Regular Record Dates") next preceding
the respective Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that (i) if an Original
Issue Date falls between a Regular Record Date and an Interest Payment Date, the
first payment of interest will occur on the Interest Payment Date following the
next Regular Record Date and (ii) interest payable at Maturity will be payable
to the Person to whom principal shall be payable (whether or not such Maturity
is an Interest Payment Date). Any payment of principal and interest on such
Certificated Note required to be paid on an Interest Payment Date or at Stated
Maturity or upon redemption, if applicable, which is not a Business Day shall
be postponed to the next day which is a Business Day. All interest payments
(excluding interest payments made at Stated Maturity or upon redemption, if
applicable) will be made by check mailed to the Person entitled thereto as
provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of $10,000,000 or more
in aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes of like tenor and terms
shall be entitled to receive such payments of interest by wire transfer in
immediately available funds, but only if appropriate instructions have been
received in writing by the Paying Agent on or prior to the applicable Regular
Record Date for any such payment of interest.

                  On the fifth Business Day immediately preceding each Interest
Payment Date, the Trustee will furnish the Company with the total amount (to the
extent known to the Trustee on such date) of the interest payments to be made on
such Interest Payment Date. The Trustee (or any duly selected paying agent) will
provide monthly to the Company's finance department a list of the principal and
interest to be paid on Certificated Notes maturing in the next succeeding
month. To the extent provided in the Indenture, the Company will provide to the
Paying Agent not later than the payment date sufficient moneys to pay in full
all principal and interest payments due on such payment date. The Paying
<PAGE>   39
                                                                               5


Agent will assume responsibility for withholding taxes on interest paid as
required by law.

                  For special provisions relating to the Floating Rate Notes,
see Appendix A hereto. Special provisions relating to Certificated Notes
denominated in a Specified Currency may be agreed upon by the Company and the
Agents at a later time (the "Specified Currency Provisions").

Settlement

                  The receipt of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars by
the Company in payment for a Certificated Note (less the applicable commission)
and the authentication and issuance of such Certificated Note shall, with
respect to such Certificated Note, constitute "Settlement" and the date thereof
shall be referred to as the "Settlement Date". All offers to purchase
Certificated Notes accepted by the Company will be settled from one to five
Business Days, or one to three Business Days, should the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission so require, from the date of acceptance by the Company
pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set forth below unless the Company and
the purchaser agree to Settlement on a different date; provided, however, that
the Company will so notify the Trustee (which notice with respect to a
Certificated Note denominated in a Specified Currency will not be less than five
Business Days prior to the Settlement Date) of any such different date on or
before the Business Day immediately prior to the Settlement Date.

Settlement Procedures

                  In the event of a purchase of Certificated Notes by an Agent,
as principal, appropriate Settlement details will be set forth in the applicable
Purchase Agreement to be entered into between such Agent and the Company
pursuant to the Agency Agreement.

                  Settlement procedures with regard to each Certificated Note
sold through an Agent, as agent (the "Presenting Agent"), shall be as follows:

                  A. The Presenting Agent will advise the Company, and after the
         Company has accepted the offer, the Trustee, in writing by telex,
         facsimile or other
<PAGE>   40
                                                                               6


electronic transmission, of the following Settlement information:

                            1.      Exact name in which Certificated Note is to
                                    be registered ("Registered Owner").

                            2.      Exact address of the Registered Owner and
                                    address for payment of principal and
                                    interest, if any.

                            3.      Taxpayer identification number of the
                                    Registered Owner.

                            4.      Principal amount of the Certificated Note
                                    (and, if multiple Certificated Notes are to
                                    be issued, denominations thereof).

                            5.      If the Certificated Notes are to be
                                    denominated in a Specified Currency, whether
                                    principal and interest is to be paid in U.S.
                                    dollars or the Specified Currency.

                            6.      Settlement Date.

                            7.      Date of Maturity.

                            8.      Interest rate:

                                    (a) Fixed Rate Notes:

                                        i) Interest Rate
                                       ii) Interest Reset Dates

                                    (b) Floating Rate Notes:

                                        i) Interest Rate Basis
                                       ii) Initial Interest Rate
                                      iii) Spread or Spread Multiplier, if
                                           any
                                       iv) Interest Reset Periods and
                                           Interest Reset Dates
                                        v) Index Maturity
<PAGE>   41
                                                                               7


                                       vi) Maximum and Minimum Interest
                                           Rates, if any
                                      vii) Calculation Agent
                                     viii) Calculation Date
                                       ix) Interest Determination Dates

                                    (c) Interest Payment Periods and
                                        Interest Payment Dates

                                    (d) Regular Record Date.

                            9.      If applicable, the date on or after which
                                    the Certificated Notes are redeemable at the
                                    option of the Company.

                           10.      Wire transfer information (including
                                    overseas bank account of the country of the
                                    Specified Currency, if any).

                           11.      Presenting Agent's commission (to be paid in
                                    the form of a discount from the proceeds
                                    remitted to the Company upon Settlement).

                           12.      Trade Date

                           13.      Net Proceeds to Company

                           14.      Extension of Maturity Option (including the
                                    basis or formula, of any, for the setting of
                                    the Interest Rate or Spread and/or Spread
                                    Multiplier, as applicable).

                           15.      Renewal of Note Provisions.

                  B. The Company will confirm to the Trustee (i) by telephone,
         telex, facsimile or other electronic transmission, the above Settlement
         information and (ii) by facsimile in the form attached as Appendix B,
         that the terms of the Notes have been approved by the Governor or the
         Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and the Trustee will assign a
         Certificated Note number to the transaction. If the Company rejects an
         offer, the Company will promptly notify the Presenting Agent
<PAGE>   42
                                                                               8


         by telephone, telex, facsimile or other electronic transmission.

                  C. The exchange rate agent, if any, appointed by the Company
         will notify the Company, the Trustee and the Presenting Agent of the
         Market Exchange Rate and the denominations of Certificated Notes which
         are to be denominated and payable in a Specified Currency.

                  D. The Trustee will complete the preprinted 4-ply Certificated
         Note packet, the form of which was previously approved by the Company,
         the Agents and the Trustee.

                  E. The Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Certificated
         Note (with the attached white confirmation) and the yellow and blue
         stubs to the Presenting Agent. The Presenting Agent will acknowledge
         receipt of the Certificated Note by completing the yellow stub and
         returning it to the Trustee.

                  F. The Presenting Agent will cause to be wire transferred to a
         bank account designated by the Company immediately available funds in
         U.S. dollars in the amount of the principal amount of the Certificated
         Note, less the applicable commission.

                  G. The Presenting Agent will deliver the Certificated Note
         (with the attached white confirmation) to the purchaser against
         payment in immediately available funds in the amount of the principal
         amount of the Certificated Note. The Presenting Agent will deliver to
         the purchaser a copy of the most recent Prospectus applicable to the
         Certificated Note with or prior to delivery of the Certificated Note
         and the confirmation and payment by the purchaser for the Certificated
         Note. If instructed by the purchaser to deliver the Certificated Note
         and confirmation to different locations, the Certificated Note and the
         confirmation will each be accompanied or preceded by the Prospectus
         applicable to the Certificated Note being delivered.

                  H. The Presenting Agent will obtain the acknowledgement of
         receipt for the Certificated Note and
<PAGE>   43
                                                                               9


         Prospectus by the purchaser through the purchaser's completion of the
         blue stub.

                  I.  The Trustee will mail the pink stub to the
         Company's Chief Financial Officer or other appropriate
         official.

Settlement Procedures Timetable

                  For offers accepted by the Company, Settlement procedures "A"
through "I" set forth above shall be completed on or before the respective times
set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Settlement
         Procedure                    Time (New York)
         ---------                    ---------------
<S>                                   <C>
             A                         4 P.M.  on date of order (2 P.M. on
                                               date of order in the case of
                                               Certificated Notes with a
                                               Settlement Date on the
                                               Business Day after the date of
                                               order)

             B                         5 P.M.  on date of order (3 P.M. on
                                               date of order in the case of
                                               Certificated Notes with a
                                               Settlement Date on the
                                               Business Day after the date of
                                               order)

             C                        10 A.M.  on the Settlement Date

             D-E                   12:30 P.M.  on the Settlement Date (1 P.M.
                                               on the Settlement Date in the
                                               case of Certificated Notes
                                               denominated in a Specified
                                               Currency)

             F                         2 P.M.  on the Settlement Date

             G-H                       3 P.M.  on the Settlement Date

             I                         5 P.M.  on the Business Day after the
                                               Settlement Date
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   44
                                                                              10


Fails

                  In the event that a purchaser of a Certificated Note shall
either fail to accept delivery of or make payment for Certificated Note on the
date fixed by the Company for Settlement, the Presenting Agent will immediately
notify the Trustee and the Company's Chief Financial Officer or other
appropriate official by telephone, confirmed in writing, of such failure and
return the Certificated Note to the Trustee. Upon the Trustee's receipt of the
Certificated Note from the Presenting Agent, the Company will promptly return to
the Presenting Agent an amount of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars
equal to any amount previously transferred to the Company in respect of the
Certificated Note pursuant to advances made by such Agent. Such returns will be
made on the Settlement Date, if possible, and in any event not later than 12
noon (New York City time) on the Business Day following the Settlement Date. The
Company will reimburse the Presenting Agent on an equitable basis for its loss
of the use of the funds during the period when the funds were credited to the
account of the Company. Upon receipt of the Certificated Note in respect of
which the default occurred, the Trustee will mark the Certificated Note
"cancelled", make appropriate entries in its records and deliver the
Certificated Note to the Company with an appropriate debit advice. The
Presenting Agent will not be entitled to any commission with respect to any
Certificated Note which the purchaser does not accept or make payment for.

Redemption

                  Except as otherwise specified in an applicable supplement to
the Prospectus and on the Certificated Notes, the Certificated Notes will not be
redeemable prior to their Stated Maturity. If so specified in such a supplement
and on the Certificated Note, such Certificated Note will be subject to
redemption by the Company, at one or more redemption prices (expressed as a
percentage of the principal amount of such Certificated Note) applicable during
one or more redemption periods, together with interest accrued thereon on the
date fixed for redemption.

                  Notice of redemption shall be given in accordance with Section
1104 of the Indenture. In the event of redemp-
<PAGE>   45
                                                                              11


tion in part of any Certificated Note, a new Certificated Note for the amount of
the unredeemed portion shall be issued in the name of the Holder upon
cancellation of the redeemed Certificated Note.

Maturity

                  Upon presentation of each Certificated Note at Stated Maturity
(unless the Company has exercised its option to extend the Stated Maturity of a
Certificated Note) or upon redemption the Trustee (or any duly appointed Paying
Agent) will pay the principal amount or redemption price thereof, together with
accrued interest due at Stated Maturity or the date of redemption. Such payment
shall be made in immediately available funds in U.S. dollars (except as provided
in any Specified Currency Provisions), provided that the Certificated Note is
presented to the Trustee (or any such Paying Agent) in time for the Trustee (or
such Paying Agent) to make payments in such funds in accordance with its normal
procedures. To the extent provided in the Indenture, the Company will provide
the Trustee (and any such Paying Agent) with funds available for immediate use
for such purpose. Certificated Notes presented at Stated Maturity or upon
redemption will be cancelled by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture.



                                     PART II

                          Administrative Procedures for
                                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 obligations under the Letter of Representations
and a Medium-Term Note Certificate Agreement between the Trustee and DTC dated
as of October 18, 1989 (the "Medium-Term Note Certificate Agreement"), a copy of
which is attached hereto, and its obligations as a participant in DTC, including
DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System ("SDFS").
<PAGE>   46
                                                                              12


Price to Public

                  Each Book-Entry Note will be issued at 100% of principal
amount, unless otherwise determined by the Company.

Date of Issuance

                  On any Settlement Date (as defined under "Settlement" below)
for one or more Book-Entry Notes, the Company 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 Book-Entry Notes
that have the same terms. Each Global Security will be dated and issued as of
the date of its authentication by the Trustee. Each Global Security will bear an
original issue date, which will be (i) with respect to an original Global
Security (or any portion thereof), the original issue date specified in such
Global Security and (ii) following a consolidation of Global Securities, with
respect to the Global Security resulting from such consolidation, the most
recent Interest Payment Date (as defined in the Indenture) to which interest has
been paid or duly provided for on the predecessor Global Securities, regardless
of the date of authentication of such resulting Global Security. No Global
Security will represent (i) both Fixed Rate Book-Entry Notes and Floating Rate
Book-Entry Notes or (ii) any Certificated Note.
<PAGE>   47
                                                                           13

Identification Numbers

                  The Company has arranged with the CUSIP Service Bureau of
Standard & Poor's Corporation (the "CUSIP Service Bureau") for the reservation
of a series of CUSIP numbers, which series consists of approximately 900 CUSIP
numbers and relates to Global Securities representing Book-Entry Notes and
book-entry medium-term notes issued by the Company with other series
designations. The Company has obtained from the CUSIP Service Bureau a written
list of such reserved CUSIP numbers and has provided a copy of such list to DTC
and the Trustee. The Company will assign CUSIP numbers to Global Securities as
described below under Settlement Procedure "B". DTC will notify the CUSIP
Service Bureau periodically of the CUSIP numbers that the Company has assigned
to Global Securities. The Trustee will notify the Company at any time when fewer
than 100 of the reserved CUSIP numbers remain unassigned to Global Securities,
and, if it deems necessary, the Company will reserve additional CUSIP numbers
for assignment to Global Securities. Upon obtaining such additional CUSIP
numbers, the Company shall deliver a list of such addition CUSIP numbers to the
Trustee and DTC.

Registration

                  Global Securities will be issued only in fully registered form
without coupons. Each Global Security will be registered in the name of CEDE &
CO., as nominee for DTC, on the securities register for the Notes maintained
under the Indenture. The beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Note (or one or more
indirect participants in DTC designated by such owner) will designate one or
more participants in DTC (with respect to such Book-Entry 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 beneficial owner in such Book-Entry Note in the account of
such Participants. The ownership interest of such beneficial owner (or such
indirect participant in DTC) in such Book-Entry 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.
<PAGE>   48
                                                                              14


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 specifying (i) the CUSIP numbers of
two or more outstanding Global Securities that represent (A) Fixed Rate
Book-Entry Notes having the same terms and for which interest has been paid to
the same date or (B) Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes having the same terms and
for which interest has been paid to the same date, (ii) a date, occurring at
least thirty days after such written notice is delivered and at least thirty
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, obtained from the Company, 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 such new CUSIP number and
stating that, as of such exchange date, the CUSIP numbers of the Global
Securities to be exchanged will no longer be valid. On the specified exchange
date, the Trustee will exchange such Global Securities for a single Global
Security bearing the new CUSIP number and 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).
<PAGE>   49
                                                                              15


Maturity

                  Each Book-Entry Note will mature on a date nine months or more
after the Settlement date for such Note.

Denominations

                  Book-Entry Notes will be issued in principal amounts of $1,000
or any integral 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 authenticated and issued to represent each $200,000,000
principal amount of such Book-Entry Note or Notes and an additional Global
Security will be authenticated and 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

                  Interest, if any, on each Fixed Rate Book-Entry Note will
accrue from the original issue date for the first interest period or the last
date to which interest has been paid, if any, for each subsequent interest
period, on the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Note, and will be
calculated and paid in the manner described in such Book-Entry Note. Unless
otherwise specified therein, each payment of interest on a Fixed Rate Book-Entry
Note will include interest accrued to but excluding the Interest Payment Date or
to but excluding the date of Maturity. Interest on Fixed Rate Book-Entry Notes
(including interest for partial periods) will be calculated on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

                  Interest payable at the date of Maturity of a Book-Entry Note
will be payable to the Person to whom the principal of such Note is payable.
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group may use the information received in the pending
deposit message described under Settlement Proce-
<PAGE>   50
                                                                              16


dure "C" below in order to include the amount of any interest payable and
certain other information regarding the related Global Security in the
appropriate (daily or weekly) bond report published by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group.

                  For special provisions relating to the Floating Rate Notes,
see Appendix A hereto.

Payments of Interest

                  Promptly after each Regular Record Date, the Paying Agent will
deliver to the Company and DTC a written notice setting forth, by CUSIP number,
the amount of interest to be paid on each Global Security on such Interest
Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date coinciding with Maturity) and
the total of such amounts. DTC will confirm the amount payable on each Global
Security on such Interest Payment Date by reference to the appropriate (daily or
weekly) bond reports published by Standard & Poor's Corporation. The Company
will pay to the Paying Agent the total amount of interest due on such Interest
Payment Date (other than at Maturity), and the Paying Agent 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.

Payment at Maturity

                  On or about the first Business Day of each month, the Paying
Agent will deliver to the Company and DTC a written list of principal and
interest to be paid on each Global Security maturing in the following month
(excluding principal on a Book-Entry Note where the Company has exercised its
option to extend the Stated Maturity). The Company and DTC will confirm the
amounts of such principal and interest payments with respect to each such Global
Security on or about the fifth Business Day preceding the Maturity of such
Global Security. On or before Maturity, the Company will pay to the Paying
Agent, the principal amount of such Global Security, together with interest due
at such Maturity. The Paying Agent will pay such amount to DTC at the times and
in the manner set forth below under
<PAGE>   51
                                                                              17


"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 Maturity of such Global Security, the
Paying Agent will cancel such Global Security in accordance with the Indenture
and so advise the Company.

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
Company to the Paying Agent in immediately available funds no later than 9:30
A.M. (New York City time) on such date. The Company will make such payment on
such Global Securities by instructing the Paying Agent to withdraw funds from an
account maintained by the Company at the Paying Agent or by wire transfer to the
Paying Agent. The Company will confirm any such instructions in writing to the
Paying Agent. Prior to 10 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of Maturity or
as soon as possible thereafter, the Paying Agent 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 a Global Security
on such date. On each Interest Payment Date (other than at Maturity), interest
payments shall be made to DTC, in funds available for immediate use by DTC, in
accordance with existing arrangements between the Paying Agent and DTC. On each
such date, DTC will pay, in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then
in effect, such amounts in funds available for immediate use to the respective
Participants in whose names the Book-Entry Notes represented by such Global
Securities are recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC. Neither the
Company (as issuer) nor the Paying Agent (as trustee, security registrar or
paying agent) 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.
<PAGE>   52
                                                                              18
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 Company of immediately available funds in
payment for a Book-Entry Note and the authentication and issuance of the Global
Security representing such Book-Entry Note shall constitute "Settlement" with
respect to such Book-Entry Note and the date thereof shall be referred to as the
"Settlement Date". All orders for Book-Entry Notes accepted by the Company will
be settled on the fifth Business Day, or the third Business Day, should the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission so require, following the date of acceptance
by the Company pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set forth below unless
the Company and the purchaser agree to Settlement on another day which shall be
no earlier than the next Business Day following the date of acceptance.

Settlement Procedures

                  In the event of a purchase of Book-Entry Notes by an Agent, as
principal, appropriate Settlement details will be set forth in the applicable
Purchase Agreement to be entered into between such Agent and the Company
pursuant to the Agency Agreement.

                  Settlement Procedures with regard to each Book-Entry Note
sold by the Company through an Agent, as agent (the "Presenting Agent"), shall
be as follows:

                  A. The Presenting Agent will advise the Company by telephone
         of the following Settlement information:

                            1.      Principal amount.

                            2.      Settlement Date.
<PAGE>   53
                                                                              19


                            3.      Date of Maturity.

                            4.      Interest rate:

                                    (a) Fixed Rate Notes:

                                        i) Interest Rate
                                       ii) Interest Reset Dates

                                    (b) Floating Rate Notes:

                                        i) Interest Rate Basis
                                       ii) Initial Interest Rate
                                      iii) Spread or Spread Multiplier, if
                                           any
                                       iv) Interest Reset Periods and
                                           Interest Reset Dates
                                        v) Index Maturity
                                       vi) Maximum and Minimum Interest
                                           Rates, if any
                                      vii) Calculation Agent
                                     viii) Calculation Date
                                       ix) Interest Determination Dates

                                    (c) Interest Payment Periods and
                                    Interest Payment Dates.

                                    (d) Regular Record Date.

                            5.      If applicable, the date on or after which
                                    the Book-Entry Notes are redeemable at the
                                    option of the Company.

                            6.      Presenting Agent's commission (to be paid in
                                    the form of a discount from the proceeds
                                    remitted to the Company upon Settlement).

                            7.      Trade Date.

                            8.      Net Proceeds to Company.

                            9.      Extension of Maturity Option (including the
                                    basis or formula, if any, for the setting of
                                    the Interest Rate, or the
<PAGE>   54
                                                                              20


                                    Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, as
                                    applicable).

                           10.      Renewal of Note Provisions.

                  B. The Company will assign a CUSIP number to the Global
         Security representing such Book-Entry Note and then advise the Trustee
         by telephone (confirmed in writing at any time on the same date) or
         electronic transmission of the information set forth in Settlement
         Procedure "A" above, such CUSIP number and the name of the Presenting
         Agent. The Company will confirm to the Trustee, by facsimile in the
         form attached as Appendix B, that the terms of the Notes have been
         approved by the Governor or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
         The Company will also notify the Presenting Agent by telephone of such
         CUSIP number as soon as practicable.

                  C. 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 Ratings Group and Interactive Data Corporation)
         and the Presenting Agent:

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

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

                            3.      Initial Interest Payment Date for such
                                    Book-Entry Note, number of days by which
                                    such date succeeds the related Regular
                                    Record Date (which, in the case of
                                    Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes that
                                    reset weekly, shall be the DTC Record
                                    Date, which is the date five calendar
                                    days immediately preceding the
                                    applicable Interest Payment Date and, in the
                                    case of all other Book-Entry Notes,
                                    shall be the Regular Record Date as
                                    defined in the Indenture) and amount of
<PAGE>   55
                                                                              21


                                    interest payable on such Interest
                                    Payment Date.

                            4.      The interest payment period.

                            5.      CUSIP number of the Global Security
                                    representing such Book-Entry Note.

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

                            7.      Numbers of the participant accounts
                                    maintained by DTC on behalf of the Trustee
                                    and the Presenting Agent.

                  D. To the extent the Company has not already done so, the
         Company will deliver to the Trustee a Global Security in a form that
         has been approved by the Company, the Agents and the Trustee.

                  E. The Trustee will complete such Book-Entry Note, stamp the
         appropriate legend, as instructed by DTC, if not already set forth
         thereon, and authenticate the Global Security representing such
         Book-Entry Note.

                  F. DTC will credit such Book-Entry 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
         Book-Entry Note to the Trustee's participant account and credit such
         Book-Entry 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 principal
         amount of such Book-Entry Note less the Presenting Agent's commission.
         The entry of such a deliver order shall constitute a representation
         and warranty by the Trustee to DTC that (i) the Global Security
         representing such Book-Entry Note has been issued and authenticated and
         (ii) the Trustee is holding such Global Security pursuant to the
         Medium-Term Note Certificate Agreement.
<PAGE>   56
                                                                              22


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

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

                  J. The Trustee will, upon receipt of funds from the Agent in
         accordance with Settlement Procedure "G", credit to an account of the
         Company maintained at the Trustee funds available for immediate use in
         the amount transferred to the Trustee in accordance with Settlement
         Procedure "G".

                  K. The Trustee will send a copy of the Book-Entry Note by
         first-class mail to the Company.

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

Settlement Procedures Timetable

                  For orders of Book-Entry Notes solicited by any Agent and
accepted by the Company for Settlement on the first Business Day after such
acceptance, Settlement Procedures "A" through "K" set forth above shall be
completed as soon as possible but not later than the respective times set forth
below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Settlement
         Procedure                    Time (New York)
         ---------                    ---------------
<S>                                   <C>
                  A                   11 A.M. on date of order
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   57
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                  B                   12 P.M. on date of order
                  C                    2 P.M. on date of order
                  D                    3 P.M. on date of order
                  E                    9 A.M. on Settlement Date
                  F                   10 A.M. on Settlement Date
                  G-H                  2 P.M. on Settlement Date
                  I                 4:45 P.M. on Settlement Date
                  J-K                  5 P.M. on Settlement Date
</TABLE>

                  If an order is to be settled more than one Business Day after
acceptance by the Company, Settlement Procedures "A", "B" and "C" may be
completed not later than 11:00 A.M., 12:00 Noon and 2:00 P.M., respectively, on
the Business Day after the date of acceptance. 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 not later than 12:00
Noon and 2:00 P.M., respectively, on the Business Day after the date of
acceptance. Settlement Procedure "I" is subject to extension in accordance with
any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events specified in
SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement Date.

                  If Settlement of a Book-Entry Note is rescheduled or canceled,
the Company will advise the Trustee and the Trustee will deliver to DTC, through
DTC's Participant Terminal System, a cancelation 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 Book-Entry 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 Book-Entry 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-
<PAGE>   58
                                                                              24


Entry Notes represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will cancel such
Global Security in accordance with the Indenture and so advise the Company. The
CUSIP number assigned to such Global Security shall, in accordance with CUSIP
Service Bureau procedures, be canceled and not immediately reassigned. If a
withdrawal message is processed with respect to one or more, but not all, of the
Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will exchange
such Book-Entry Note for two Global Securities, one of which shall represent
such Book-Entry Notes and shall be canceled immediately after issuance and the
other of which shall represent the other 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 related
actions described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will reimburse the
Presenting Agent and the Trustee, as applicable, on an equitable basis for their
loss of the use of the funds during the period when the funds were credited to
the account of the Company (except that the Company shall not be required to
reimburse a party if such party's default hereunder or under the Agency
Agreement shall have caused such failure by the beneficial purchaser to make
timely payment of the purchase price),

                  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, of the Book-Entry Notes to have been
represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with
Settlement Procedure "E", for the authentication and issuance of a Global
Security representing the other Book-Entry Notes to have been represented by
such Global Security and will make appropriate entries in its records.
<PAGE>   59
                                                                              25


Trustee Not to Risk Funds

                  Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to risk
or expend its own funds in connection with any payment to the Company, DTC, the
Agents or the purchaser, it being understood by all parties that payments made
by the Trustee to the Company, DTC, the Agents or the purchaser shall be made
only to the extent that funds are provided to the Trustee for such purpose.
<PAGE>   60
                                                                              26


                                    PART III

                 Administrative Procedures for Book-Entry Notes
                             and Certificated Notes

Procedures for Establishing the Terms of the Notes

                  The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to 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 an Agent has recorded any indication of interest
in Notes upon certain terms, and communicated with the Company, if the Company
plans to accept an offer to purchase Notes upon such terms, it will prepare a
sticker reflecting the terms of such Notes (if the interest rate, Stated
Maturity or other terms have changed) and, after approval from such Agent, will
arrange to have such sticker (together with the Prospectus if amended or
supplemented), electronically filed or transmitted by a means reasonably
calculated to result in filing with the Commission by the second Business Day
after the Company has accepted such offer (or by the Business Day prior to the
Settlement Date in the event the Settlement Date is the first or second Business
Day after such acceptance) and pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations, and will supply an appropriate number of copies of the Prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented, and bearing such sticker, to the Agent that
presented such offer. No Settlements with respect to Notes upon such terms may
occur prior to such filing or such transmission and the Agents will not, prior
to such filing or such transmission, mail confirmations to customers who have
offered to purchase Notes upon such terms. After such filing or such
transmission, 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 Company decides to post rates and a decision has been
reached to change interest rates, the Company will promptly so notify each
Agent. Each Agent will forthwith suspend solicitation of purchases. At that
time, the Agents will recommend and the Company will establish rates to be so
posted. Following establishment of posted rates and prior to the filing or
transmission described in the following sentence, the Agents may record
indications of interest in purchasing Notes only at the posted rates. Once
<PAGE>   61
                                                                              27


an Agent has recorded any indication of interest in Notes at the posted rates
and communicated with the Company, if the Company plans to accept an offer at
the posted rate, it will prepare a sticker reflecting such posted rates and,
after approval from such Agent, will arrange to have such sticker (together with
the Prospectus if amended or supplemented), electronically filed or transmitted
by a means reasonably calculated to result in filing with the Commission by the
second Business Day after the Company has accepted such offer (or by the
Business Day prior to the Settlement Date in the event the Settlement Date is
the first or second Business Day after such acceptance) and pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, and will supply an appropriate number of
copies of the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, to the Agent who
presented such offer. No Settlements at the posted rates may occur prior to such
filing or such transmission and the Agents will not, prior to such filing or
such transmission, mail confirmations to customers who have offered to purchase
Notes at the posted rates. After such filing or such transmission, sales,
mailing of confirmations and Settlements may resume, subject to the provisions
of "Delivery of Prospectus" below.

Acceptance and Rejection of Offers

                  The Company shall have the sole right to accept offers to
purchase Notes from the Company and may reject any such offer in whole or in
part. Each Agent shall promptly communicate to the appropriate official of the
Company, orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to purchase Notes from the
Company received by it other than those rejected by such Agent. Each Agent shall
have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised without advising the
Company, to reject any offers in whole or in part.

Suspension of Solicitation; Amendment or Supplement

                  If, during any period in which, in the opinion of counsel for
the Agents (provided, if the Agents are no longer soliciting (or have been
instructed not to solicit) purchases of Securities from the Company such opinion
is known to the Company), a prospectus relating to the Notes is required to be
delivered under the Act, any event known to the Company occurs as a result of
which the Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to
<PAGE>   62
                                                                              28


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 is
necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the
Rules and Regulations, the Company will notify the Agents promptly to suspend
solicitation of purchases of the Notes and the Agents shall suspend their
solicitations of purchases of Notes; and if the Company shall decide to amend or
supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus for purposes of
offering the Securities, it will promptly advise the Agents by telephone (with
confirmation in writing) and, except as otherwise provided in any relevant
Purchase Agreement, will promptly prepare and file with the Commission an
amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an
amendment, whether by filing such documents pursuant to the Act or the Exchange
Act, as may be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission or to
make the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements
and to prepare and furnish to the Agents at its own expense such amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as will correct such
Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall
in any event promptly prepare, file and furnish an Agent with such an amendment
or supplement if such Agent shall then hold any Securities acquired from the
Company as principal (other than such Securities as such Agent shall have held
for a period of six months or more). Upon the Agents' receipt of such amendment
or supplement and advice from the Company that solicitations may be resumed, the
Agents will resume solicitations of purchases of the Notes.

                  In addition, the Company may instruct the Agents to suspend
solicitation of offers to purchase at any time. Upon receipt of such
instructions the Agents will forthwith (but in any event within one Business
Day) suspend solicitation of offers to purchase from the Company until such
time as the Company has advised it that solicitation of offers to purchase may
be resumed and the Company has complied with Section 6 of the Agency Agreement
to the extent then required. If the Company decides to amend or supplement the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Notes (other than to
change interest rates or maturities or similar changes and except in all cases
by filing a report on Form 8-K, pursuant to the Exchange Act, solely to add
<PAGE>   63
                                                                              29


exhibits to documents previously filed), it will promptly advise the Agents and
the Trustee and will furnish the Agents and the Trustee with copies of the
proposed amendment or supplement.

                  In the event that at the time the Agents, at the direction of
the Company, suspend solicitation of offers to purchase from the Company there
shall be any orders outstanding which have not been settled, the Company will
promptly advise the Agents and the Trustee whether such orders may be settled
and whether copies of the Prospectus as theretofore amended and/or supplemented
as in effect at the time of the suspension may be delivered in connection with
the Settlement of such orders. The Company will have the sole responsibility for
such decision and for any arrangements which may be made in the event that the
Company determines that such orders may not be settled or that copies of such
Prospectus may not be so delivered.

Delivery of Prospectus

                  A copy of the Prospectus as most recently amended or
supplemented on the date of delivery thereof must be delivered to a purchaser
prior to or together with the earliest of (i) any written offer of such Note,
(ii) confirmation of the purchase of such Note and (iii) payment for such Note
by its purchaser. The Company shall ensure that an Agent receives copies of the
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto (including appropriate
pricing stickers as described in the section entitled "Procedures for
Establishing the Terms of the Notes" above) in such quantities and within such
time limits as will enable such Agent to deliver such confirmation or Note to a
purchaser as contemplated by these procedures and in compliance with the
preceding sentence. If, since the date of acceptance of a 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 Company 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. The Trustee will make
all such
<PAGE>   64
                                                                              30


deliveries with respect to all Notes sold directly by the Company.

Confirmation

                  For each order to purchase a Note solicited by any Agent and
accepted by the Company, the Presenting Agent will issue a confirmation to the
purchaser (with a copy to the Company), including delivery and payment
instructions.

Advertising Costs

                  The Company will determine with the Agents the amount and
nature of advertising that may be appropriate in offering the Notes. The
"tombstone" advertisement and such other expenses agreed to by the Company and
Agents in connection with solicitation of offers to purchase Notes from the
Company will be paid by the Company.

Business Day

                  "Business Day" shall mean, for all purposes of these
Administrative Procedures, any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday and which
is not a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or obligated
by law or executive order to close (i) in New York City, (ii) in the case of
Notes denominated in a Specified Currency, in the city designated in an
applicable supplement to the Prospectus as the principal financial center of
the country of such Specified Currency, (iii) in the case of Notes denominated
in ECU, in Brussels and (iv) in the case of LIBOR Notes (as defined in Appendix
A), in New York City and London.
<PAGE>   65
                                                                       EXHIBIT C


                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                                                           , 199


NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION
Woodland Park
2201 Cooperative Way
Herndon, Virginia 20171

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

                  1. The undersigned agrees to purchase the following principal
amount of the Securities described in the Agency Agreement dated , 1999 (as it
may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the "Agency Agreement"):

         Principal Amount:                  [$]

         Currency:

         Interest Rate:                              %

         Discount:                                   % of Principal Amount

         Aggregate Price to
          be paid to Company
          (in immediately
          available funds):                 [$]

         Settlement Date:

         Other Terms:


                  2. In the case of Securities issued in a foreign currency or
currency unit, unless otherwise specified below, settlement and payments of
principal and interest will be in U.S. dollars based on the highest bid
quotation in the City of New York received by the Exchange Rate Agent (as
defined in the Indenture dated as of December 15, 1987, as supplemented by the
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1990, between National Rural
Utilities
<PAGE>   66
                                                                               2


Cooperative Finance Corporation (the "Company") and Harris Trust and Savings
Bank, as successor trustee) at approximately 11:00 A.M. New York City time, on
the second Business Day (as defined in the Procedures) preceding the applicable
payment date from three recognized foreign exchange dealers (one of which may be
the Exchange Rate Agent) for the purchase by the quoting dealer of the Specified
Currency for U.S. dollars for settlement on such payment date in the aggregate
amount of the Specified Currency payable to all holders of Securities
denominated in such Specified Currency electing to receive U.S. dollar payments
and at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract. If such bid
quotations are not available, payments will be made in the Specified Currency.

                  3. Our obligation to purchase Securities hereunder is subject
to the continued accuracy on the above Settlement Date as if made on the
Settlement Date of your representations and warranties contained in the Agency
Agreement and to your performance and observance in all material respects of all
applicable covenants and agreements contained therein, including, without
limitation, your obligations pursuant to Section 7 thereof. Our obligation
hereunder is subject to the further conditions that:

                  (a) we shall receive (i) the opinions required to be delivered
pursuant to Sections 5(e) and 5(f) of the Agency Agreement, (ii) the certificate
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(g) of the Agency Agreement and
(iii) the letter required to be delivered pursuant to 5(h) of the Agency
Agreement, in each case dated as of the above Settlement Date;

                  (b) on or after the date hereof and prior to the Settlement
Date: (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the
Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule
436(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations and (ii) no such organization shall have
publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible
negative implications, its rating of any of the Company's debt securities; and

                  (c) on or after the date hereof and prior to the Settlement
Date, there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or
material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York
declared by Federal or state authorities or (iii) the United States shall have
become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation
<PAGE>   67
                                                                               3


in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a
declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States the effect of
which, in any such case described in clause (iii), is, in our reasonable
judgment, to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase
of the Securities.

                  4. 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, except to your members, any
debt securities of the Company of substantially the form of the Securities.

                  5. We may terminate this Agreement, immediately upon notice to
you, at any time prior to the above Settlement Date, if prior thereto any of the
events described in clauses (b) or (c) of paragraph 3 occurs. In the event of
such termination, no party shall have any liability to the other party hereto,
except as provided in Sections 4, 7 and 13 of the Agency Agreement.

                  6. Except as expressly designated, capitalized terms used
herein are defined in the Agency Agreement (including the exhibits thereto).

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

                  8. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and the
executed counterparts shall together constitute a single instrument.

                                                       [Insert Name of Agent],


                                                       By ____________________
                                                          Title:

Accepted:  _________ __, 199_

NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION



By __________________________
   Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>   68
                                                                       EXHIBIT D



                                FORM OF AMENDMENT


                                    AMENDMENT dated as of [          ] to
                           the Agency Agreement dated [           ],
                           1999, [and amended as of [          ], among
                           National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
                           Corporation (the "Company"), a District of
                           Columbia cooperative association, Lehman
                           Brothers Inc. (an "Agent"), Banc of America
                           Securities LLC (an "Agent"), Goldman,
                           Sachs & Co. (an "Agent"), Merrill Lynch,
                           Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (an
                           "Agent") and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. (an
                           "Agent") (such Agency Agreement [, as
                           amended,] the "Agreement").


                  WHEREAS, the parties hereto have entered into the
Agreement;

                  WHEREAS, the Agreement initially contemplated the issuance and
sale by the Company from time to time of up to $[    ] aggregate principal
amount of its Medium-Term Notes, Series C (the "Securities");

                  [WHEREAS, the Agreement was amended as of [    ], to increase
the aggregate principal amount of the Securities permitted to be issued and sold
by the Company thereunder to $[   ] and the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities permitted to be sold on and after the date of such amendment to
$[   ];]

                  WHEREAS, the Company has issued and sold approximately $[   ]
aggregate principal amount of Securities pursuant to the Agreement and the
Indenture on and after [     ];

                  WHEREAS, immediately prior to this Amendment taking effect,
the Company's Registration Statement No. [   ] remains effective under the Act
relating to the Securities, with $[     ] aggregate principal amount
<PAGE>   69
                                                                               2


of Securities remaining unissued and unsold under such Registration Statement;

                  WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the
Agreement;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  1. The Agreement is hereby amended to include in the
definition of "Registration Statement", as contemplated therein in Section 1(a),
Registration Statement No. [   ], previously filed with the Commission and
effective as of [        ], relating to the registration of $[      ] in
aggregate principal amount of Securities, and to revise the definition of
"Prospectus" to mean the prospectus supplement dated [        ], relating to the
Securities covered by the Agreement as amended by this Amendment, together with
the prospectus contained in such Registration Statement.

                  2. The Agreement is hereby amended to increase the aggregate
principal amount of Securities which may be issued and sold from time to time by
the Company thereunder to $[      ] and the aggregate principal amount of
Securities which may be issued and sold from time to time thereunder on or after
the date hereof to $[      ].

                  [3. The Agreement is hereby amended to delete from the
definition of "Registration Statement", Registration Statement No. [    ], and
all amendments thereto and supplements thereof, all of the Securities
registrated thereby having been issued by the Company.]

                  4. This Amendment shall become effective only on the
satisfaction (or waiver by the Agents) of the conditions in Section 5 of the
Agreement with respect to the Closing Date for this Amendment.

                  Except as expressly amended hereby, the Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof as
in existence on the date hereof.

                  All capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in the Agreement.
<PAGE>   70
                                                                               3


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have each caused this
Amendment to be fully executed as of the date first above written.

                                   NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                                   COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION,

                                     by

                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                   LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,

                                     by

                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                   BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

                                     by

                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                   GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.,

                                     by

                                         (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)


                                   MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
                                      & SMITH INCORPORATED,

                                     by

                                         Name:
                                         Title:
<PAGE>   71
                                                                               4



                                   J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

                                     by

                                         Name:
                                         Title:
<PAGE>   72
                                                                      APPENDIX A


                                   APPENDIX A


                           Special Provisions Relating
                             to Floating Rate Notes

Interest Rate:             Interest on Floating Rate Notes will be determined by
                           reference to an "Interest Rate Basis", which shall be
                           the "Commercial Paper Rate" ("Commercial Paper Rate
                           Notes"), "LIBOR" ("LIBOR Notes"), the "Treasury Rate"
                           ("Treasury Rate Notes"), the "Federal Funds Effective
                           Rate" ("Fed Funds Notes"), the "CD Rate" ("CD Rate
                           Notes"), the "Prime Rate" ("Prime Rate Notes") or
                           such other interest rate formula as may be designated
                           by the Company, based upon the Index Maturity and
                           adjusted by a Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any, as
                           specified in the applicable pricing supplement to the
                           Prospectus setting forth the terms of each issuance
                           of Notes (the "Pricing Supplement"). The "Index
                           Maturity" is the particular maturity of the type of
                           instrument or obligation from which the Interest Rate
                           Basis is calculated (e.g., in the case of commercial
                           paper, 30-day rather than 90-day commercial paper).
                           The "Spread" is the number of basis points (100 basis
                           points equals one percent) above or below the
                           Interest Rate Basis applicable, to such Floating Rate
                           Note, and the "Spread Multiplier" is the percentage
                           of the Interest Rate Basis applicable to the interest
                           rate for such Floating Rate Note. The Spread, Spread
                           Multiplier, Index Maturity and other variable terms
                           as described below are subject to change by the
                           Company from time to time, but no such change will
                           affect any Floating Rate Note theretofore issued or
                           as to which an offer has been accepted by the
                           Company. A Floating Rate Note may also have either or
                           both of the following: (i) a maximum limit, or
                           ceiling ("Maximum Interest Rate"), on the rate of
                           interest
<PAGE>   73
                                                                               2


                           which may apply during any Interest Period (as
                           defined below); and (ii) a minimum limit, or floor
                           ("Minimum Interest Rate"), on the rate of interest
                           which may apply during any Interest Period. In
                           addition to any Maximum Interest Rate which may be
                           applicable to any Floating Rate Note pursuant to the
                           above provisions, the interest rate on the Floating
                           Rate Notes will in no event be higher than the
                           maximum rate permitted by New York law, as the same
                           may be modified by United States law of general
                           application. Under present New York law, the maximum
                           rate of interest is 25% per annum on a simple
                           interest basis. The limit may not apply to Floating
                           Rate Notes in which $2,500,000 or more has been
                           invested.

                           The Calculation Agent appointed by the Company (the
                           "Calculation Agent") (initially Lehman Brothers Inc.)
                           will, upon request of a holder of Floating Rate
                           Notes, provide the interest rate then in effect and,
                           if determined, the interest rate which will become
                           effective as a result of a determination made with
                           respect to the most recent Interest Determination
                           Date (as defined below) with respect to such Floating
                           Rate Notes. The applicable Pricing Supplement will
                           specify for each Floating Rate Note the following
                           terms: Interest Rate Basis, rate of interest for the
                           initial Interest Period (the "Initial Interest
                           Rate"), date of issue, Interest Determination Dates,
                           Interest Reset Dates (as defined below), Interest
                           Payment Dates (as defined below), Regular Record Date
                           (as defined below), Index Maturity, maturity date,
                           Maximum Interest Rate and Minimum Interest Rate, if
                           any, and the Spread or Spread Multiplier, if any.

Interest Payment           Except as set forth in the applicable Pricing
Dates:                     Supplement and except as provided below, interest
                           will be payable in the case of Floating Rate Notes
                           with a daily, weekly or monthly Interest Reset Date,
                           on the third Wednesday of each month or on the third
                           Wednesday of
<PAGE>   74
                                                                               3


                           March, June, September and December of each year, as
                           specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement; in
                           the case of Floating Rate Notes with a quarterly
                           Interest Reset Date, on the third Wednesday of March,
                           June, September and December of each year; in the
                           case of Floating Rate Notes with a semi-annual
                           Interest Reset Date, on the third Wednesday of two
                           months of each year, as specified in the applicable
                           Pricing Supplement; and in the case of Floating Rate
                           Notes with an annual Interest Reset Date, on the
                           third Wednesday of one month of each year, as
                           specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement. If
                           any Interest Payment Date for any Floating Rate Note
                           would otherwise be a day that is not a Business Day
                           (as defined below) for such Floating Rate Note, the
                           Interest Payment Date for such Floating Rate Note
                           shall be postponed to the next day that is a Business
                           Day for such Floating Rate Note, except that in the
                           case of a LIBOR Note, if such day falls in the next
                           calendar month, such Interest Payment Date shall be
                           the preceding day that is a London Business Day (as
                           defined below) with respect to such Note. Each date
                           on which interest is payable on a Floating Rate Note
                           is referred to herein as an "Interest Payment Date."

Interest Reset             The rate of interest on each Floating
<PAGE>   75
                                                                               4


Dates:                     Rate Note will be reset daily, weekly,
                           monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually (each
                           an "Interest Reset Date"), as specified in the
                           applicable Pricing Supplement. Except as set forth in
                           the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Interest Reset
                           Date will be, in the case of Floating Rate Notes
                           which reset daily, each Business Day; in the case of
                           Floating Rate Notes (other than Treasury Rate Notes)
                           which reset weekly, the Wednesday of each week; in
                           the case of Treasury Rate Notes which reset weekly,
                           the Tuesday of each week; in the case of Floating
                           Rate Notes which reset monthly, the third Wednesday
                           of each month; in the case of Floating Rate Notes
                           which reset quarterly, the third Wednesday of March,
                           June, September and December; in the case of Floating
                           Rate Notes which reset semiannually, the third
                           Wednesday of two months of each year, as specified in
                           the applicable Pricing Supplement; and in the case of
                           Floating Rate Notes which reset annually, the third
                           Wednesday of one month of each year, as specified in
                           the applicable Pricing Supplement; provided, however,
                           that (i) the interest rate in effect from the date of
                           issue to the first Interest Reset Date with respect
                           to a Floating Rate Note will be the Initial Interest
                           Rate (as set forth in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement) and (ii) unless otherwise specified in
                           the applicable Pricing Supplement, the interest rate
                           in effect for the ten calendar days immediately prior
                           to maturity or redemption, if applicable, will be
                           that in effect on the tenth calendar day preceding
                           such maturity or redemption. If any Interest Reset
                           Date for any Floating Rate Note would otherwise be a
                           day that is not a Business Day for such Floating Rate
                           Note, the Interest Reset Date for such Floating Rate
                           Note shall be postponed to the next day that is a
                           Business Day for such Floating Rate Note, except that
                           in the case of a LIBOR Note, if such Business Day is
                           in the next succeeding calendar month, such
<PAGE>   76
                                                                               5


                           Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately
                           preceding Business Day.

Interest Determi-
nation Dates:              Except as set forth in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, the "Interest Determination Date"
                           pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a Commercial
                           Paper Rate Note (the "Commercial Paper Interest
                           Determination Date"), a Fed Funds Note (the "Fed
                           Funds Interest Determination Date"), a CD Rate Note
                           (the "CD Interest Determination Date") or a Prime
                           Rate Note (the "Prime Interest Determination Date")
                           will be the second Business Day preceding such
                           Interest Reset Date. The "Interest Determination
                           Date" pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a
                           LIBOR Note (the "LIBOR Interest Determination Date")
                           will be the second London Business Day preceding such
                           Interest Reset Date. The "Interest Determination
                           Date" pertaining to an Interest Reset Date for a
                           Treasury Rate Note (the "Treasury Interest
                           Determination Date") will be the day of the week in
                           which such Interest Reset Date falls on which
                           Treasury bills would normally be auctioned. Treasury
                           bills are usually sold at auction on Monday of each
                           week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which
                           case the auction is usually held on the following
                           Tuesday, except that such auction may be held on the
                           preceding Friday. If, as the result of a legal
                           holiday, an auction is so held on the preceding
                           Friday, such Friday will be the Treasury Interest
                           Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset
                           Date occurring in the next succeeding week. If an
                           auction date for Treasury bills shall fall on any
                           Interest Reset Date for a Treasury Rate Note, then
                           such Interest Reset Date shall instead be the first
                           Business Day immediately following such auction date.

Calculation Dates:         The Calculation Date, where applicable, pertaining to
                           any Interest Determination Date will be the earlier
                           of (i) the tenth calendar day after such Interest
                           Determination Date or if any such day is
<PAGE>   77
                                                                               6


                           not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day
                           or (ii) the Business Day preceding the applicable
                           Interest Payment Date or maturity, as the case may
                           be.

                           All percentages resulting from any calculation on
                           Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest
                           one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with
                           five one millionths of a percentage point rounded
                           upwards (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) would be
                           rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar
                           amounts used in or resulting from such calculation on
                           Floating Rate Notes will be rounded to the nearest
                           cent or, in the case of Notes denominated other than
                           in United States dollars, the nearest unit (with
                           one-half cent or unit being rounded upward).

Commercial Paper
Rate:                      Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, the "Commercial Paper Rate" for each such
                           Interest Reset Date will be determined as of the
                           Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date and will
                           be the Money Market Yield (as defined below) on such
                           date of the rate for commercial paper having the
                           Index Maturity specified in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement as published by the Board of Governors of
                           the Federal Reserve System in "Statistical Release
                           H.15(519), Selected Interest Rates" or any successor
                           publication selected by the Calculation Agent
                           ("H.15(519)") under the heading "Commercial Paper".
                           In the event that such rate is not published prior to
                           9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Calculation
                           Date pertaining to such Commercial Paper Interest
                           Determination Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate
                           shall be the Money Market Yield on such Commercial
                           Paper Interest Determination Date of the rate for
                           commercial paper of the specified Index Maturity as
                           published in the daily update of H.15(519), available
                           through the world wide web site of the Board of
                           Governors
<PAGE>   78
                                                                               7


                           of the Federal Reserve System at
                           http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/releases/h15/ update under
                           the heading "Commercial Paper--Nonfinancial" (with an
                           Index Maturity of one month or three months being
                           deemed to be equivalent to an Index Maturity of 30
                           days or 90 days respectively), or any successor
                           publication selected by the Calculation Agent (the
                           "H.15 Daily Update") under the heading "Commercial
                           Paper". If by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such
                           Calculation Date such rate is not published in either
                           H.15(519) or H.15 Daily Update, the Commercial Paper
                           Rate for that Commercial Paper Interest Determination
                           Date shall be calculated by the Calculation Agent and
                           shall be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic
                           mean of the offered rates as of 11:00 A.M., New York
                           City time, on that Commercial Paper Interest
                           Determination Date, of three leading dealers of
                           commercial paper in The City of New York selected by
                           the Calculation Agent for commercial paper of the
                           specified Index Maturity placed for an industrial
                           issuer whose bond rating is "Aa", or the equivalent,
                           from a nationally recognized securities rating
                           agency; provided, however, that if the dealers
                           selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent are
                           not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the
                           Commercial Paper Rate with respect to such Commercial
                           Paper Interest Determination Date will be the
                           Commercial Paper Rate in effect on such Commercial
                           Paper Interest Determination Date.

Money Market Yield:

                           "Money Market Yield" shall be a yield (expressed as a
                           percentage rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next
                           higher one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point)
                           calculated in accordance with the following formula:

                                    Money Market Yield =   D x 360  x 100
                                                         ----------
                                                         360 - (DxM)

                           where "D" refers to the per annum rate for commercial
                           paper quoted on a bank
<PAGE>   79
                                                                               8


                           discount basis and expressed as a decimal, and "M"
                           refers to the actual number of days in the interest
                           period for which interest is being calculated.

LIBOR:                     Each LIBOR Note will bear interest at the interest
                           rate (calculated with reference to LIBOR and the
                           Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any) specified in
                           such LIBOR Note and in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement.

                           Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, "LIBOR" will be determined by the
                           Calculation Agent in accordance with the following
                           provisions:

                           (i) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination
                           Date, LIBOR will be, as specified in the applicable
                           Pricing Supplement, either: (a) the arithmetic mean
                           of the offered rates for deposits in the U.S. dollars
                           having the Index Maturity designated in the
                           applicable Pricing Supplement, commencing on the
                           second day on which dealings in deposits in U.S.
                           dollars are transacted in the London interbank market
                           ("London Business Day") immediately following such
                           LIBOR Interest Determination Date, that appear on the
                           Reuters Screen LIBO Page as of 11:00 A.M., London
                           time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date, if
                           at least two such offered rates appear on the Reuters
                           Screen LIBO Page ("LIBOR Reuters"), or (b) the rate
                           for deposits in U.S. dollars having the Index
                           Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, commencing on the second London Business
                           Day immediately following such LIBOR Interest
                           Determination Date, that appears on Telerate Page
                           3750 as of 11:00 A.M., London Time, on such LIBOR
                           Interest Determination Date ("LIBOR Telerate").
                           "Reuters Screen LIBO Page" means the display
                           designated as page "LIBO" on the Reuters Monitor
                           Money Rates Service (or such other page as may
                           replace page LIBO on that service for the purpose of
                           displaying London
<PAGE>   80
                                                                               9


                           interbank offered rates of major banks). "Telerate
                           Page 3750" means the display designated as page
                           "3750" on the Telerate Service (or such other page as
                           may replace the 3750 page on that service or such
                           other service or services as may be nominated by the
                           British Bankers' Association for the purpose of
                           displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S.
                           dollar deposits). If neither LIBOR Reuters nor LIBOR
                           Telerate is specified in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, LIBOR will be determined as if LIBOR
                           Telerate had been specified. If fewer than two
                           offered rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBO Page,
                           or if no rate appears on Telerate Page 3750, as
                           applicable, LIBOR in respect of such LIBOR Interest
                           Determination Date will be determined as if the
                           parties had specified the rate described in (ii)
                           below.

                           (ii) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination
                           Date on which fewer than two offered rates appear on
                           the Reuters Screen LIBO Page, as specified in (i) (a)
                           above, or on which no rate appears on Telerate Page
                           3750, as specified in (i) (b) above, as applicable,
                           LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the rates at
                           which deposits in U.S. dollars having the Index
                           Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement are offered at approximately 11:00 A.M.,
                           London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination
                           Date by four major banks in the London interbank
                           market selected by the Calculation Agent (the
                           "Reference Banks") to prime banks in the London
                           interbank market, commencing on the second London
                           Business Day immediately following such LIBOR
                           Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount
                           equal to an amount of not less than $1,000,000 that
                           is representative for a single transaction in such
                           market at such time. The Calculation Agent will
                           request the principal London office of each of the
                           Reference Banks to provide a quotation of its rate.
                           If at
<PAGE>   81
                                                                              10


                           least two such quotations are provided, LIBOR in
                           respect of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date
                           will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If
                           fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR in
                           respect of such LIBOR Interest Determination Date
                           will be the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at
                           approximately 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on such
                           LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major
                           banks in The City of New York selected by the
                           Calculation Agent for loans in U.S. dollars to
                           leading European banks having the Index Maturity
                           designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement,
                           commencing on the second London Business Day
                           immediately following such LIBOR Interest
                           Determination Date and in a principal amount equal to
                           an amount of not less than $1,000,000 that is
                           representative for a single transaction in such
                           market at such time; provided, however, that if the
                           banks selected as aforesaid by the Calculation Agent
                           are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR
                           with respect to such LIBOR Interest Determination
                           Date will be the interest rate otherwise in effect on
                           such LIBOR Interest Determination Date.

Treasury Rate:             Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, the "Treasury Rate" for each such
                           Interest Reset Date will be determined as of the
                           Treasury Interest Determination Date and will be the
                           rate applicable to the most recent auction of direct
                           obligations of the United States ("Treasury bills")
                           having the Index Maturity specified in the applicable
                           Pricing Supplement, as such rate is published in
                           H.15(519) under the heading "U.S. Government
                           Securities--Treasury Bills--Auction Average
                           (Investment)" or, if not so published by 9:00 A.M.,
                           New York City time, on the Calculation Date
                           pertaining to such Treasury Interest Determination
                           Date, the auction average rate (expressed as a bond
                           equivalent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days,
                           as
<PAGE>   82
                                                                              11


                           applicable, and applied on a daily basis) as
                           otherwise announced by the United States Department
                           of the Treasury. In the event that the results of the
                           auction of Treasury bills having the specified Index
                           Maturity are not reported as provided by 3:00 P.M.,
                           New York City time, on such Calculation Date, or if
                           no such auction is held in a particular week, then
                           the Treasury Rate shall be calculated by the
                           Calculation Agent and shall be a yield to maturity
                           (expressed as a bond equivalent on the basis of a
                           year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and applied
                           on a daily basis) of the arithmetic mean of the
                           secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30
                           P.M., New York City time, on such Treasury Interest
                           Determination Date, of three leading primary United
                           States government securities dealers, selected by the
                           Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury bills
                           with a remaining maturity closest to the applicable
                           Index Maturity; provided, however, that if the
                           dealers selected as aforesaid by the Calculation
                           Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence,
                           the Treasury Rate with respect to such Treasury
                           Interest Determination Date will be the Treasury Rate
                           in effect on such Treasury Interest Determination
                           Date.
<PAGE>   83
                                                                              12


Fed Funds Rate:            Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, "Fed Funds Rate" means, with respect to
                           any Fed Funds Interest Determination Date, the rate
                           on such date for Federal Funds as such rate shall be
                           published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal
                           Funds (Effective)" or, if not so published by 9:00
                           A.M., New York City time, on the Calculation Date
                           pertaining to such Fed Funds Interest Determination
                           Date, the Fed Funds Rate will be the rate on such Fed
                           Funds Interest Determination Date as published in
                           H.15 Daily Update under the heading "Federal Funds
                           (Effective)". If such rate is not published by 3:00
                           P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date,
                           then the Fed Funds Rate on such Fed Funds Interest
                           Determination Date will be calculated by the
                           Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of
                           the rates as of 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on
                           such Fed Funds Interest Determination Date for the
                           last transaction in overnight Federal Funds arranged
                           by three leading brokers of Federal Funds
                           transactions in The City of New York selected by the
                           Calculation Agent; provided, however, that if the
                           brokers selected as aforesaid by the Calculation
                           Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence,
                           the Fed Funds Rate with respect to such Fed Funds
                           Interest Determination Date will be the Fed Funds
                           Rate in effect on such Fed Funds Interest
                           Determination Date.
<PAGE>   84
                                                                              13


CD Rate:                   Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, the "CD Rate" for each such Interest
                           Reset Date will be determined as of the CD Interest
                           Determination Date and will be the rate on such date
                           for negotiable certificates of deposit having the
                           Index Maturity designated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement as published in H.15(519) under the
                           heading "CDs (Secondary Market)" or, if not so
                           published by 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the
                           Calculation Date pertaining to such CD Interest
                           Determination Date, the CD Rate will be the rate on
                           such CD Interest Determination Date for negotiable
                           certificates of deposit of the Index Maturity
                           designated in the applicable Pricing Supplement as
                           published in H.15 Daily Update under the heading "CDs
                           (Secondary Market)". If such rate is not published by
                           3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation
                           Date, then the CD Rate on such CD Interest
                           Determination Date will be calculated by the
                           Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of
                           the secondary market offered rates as of the opening
                           of business, New York City time, on such CD Interest
                           Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers
                           in negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit in
                           The City of New York selected by the Calculation
                           Agent for negotiable certificates of deposit of major
                           United States money market banks (in the market for
                           negotiable certificates of deposit) with a remaining
                           maturity closest to the Index Maturity designated in
                           the Pricing Supplement in a denomination of
                           $5,000,000 or if greater, an amount that is
                           representative for a single transaction in the
                           relevant market at the time; provided, however, that
                           if the dealers selected as aforesaid by the
                           Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in
                           this sentence, the CD Rate with respect to such CD
                           Interest Determination Date will be the CD Rate in
                           effect on such CD Interest Determination Date.
<PAGE>   85
                                                                              14


Prime Rate:                Each Prime Rate Note will bear interest at the
                           interest rate (calculated with reference to the Prime
                           Rate and the Spread and/or Spread Multiplier, if any)
                           specified in such Prime Rate Note and in the
                           applicable Pricing Supplement.

                           Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, "Prime Rate" means, with respect to any
                           Prime Interest Determination Date, the rate set forth
                           in H.15(519) for such date opposite the caption "Bank
                           Prime Loan," or, if not so published by 9:00 A.M.,
                           New York City time, on the Calculation Date
                           pertaining to such Prime Interest Determination Date,
                           the Prime Rate will be calculated by the Calculation
                           Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the rates of
                           interest publicly announced by each bank named on the
                           Reuters Screen NYMF Page as such bank's prime rate or
                           base lending rate as in effect for such Prime
                           Interest Determination Date as quoted on the Reuters
                           Screen NYMF Page on such Prime Interest Determination
                           Date, or, if fewer than four such rates appear on the
                           Reuters Screen NYMF Page for such Prime Interest
                           Determination Date, the rate shall be the arithmetic
                           mean of the prime rates quoted on the basis of the
                           actual number of days in the year divided by 360 as
                           of the close of business on such Prime Interest
                           Determination Date by at least two of the three major
                           money center banks in The City of New York selected
                           by the Calculation Agent from which quotations are
                           requested. If fewer than two quotations are quoted as
                           aforesaid, the Prime Rate for such Prime Interest
                           Determination Date shall be calculated by the
                           Calculation Agent and shall be the arithmetic means
                           of the prime rates quoted in The City of New York on
                           such date by the appropriate number of substitute
                           banks or trust companies organized and doing business
                           under the laws of the Untied States, or any State
                           thereof, having total equity capital of at least $500
                           million and being subject to supervision or
                           examination by a
<PAGE>   86
                                                                              15


                           federal or State authority, selected by the
                           Calculation Agent to quote such rate or rates;
                           provided, however, that if the Prime Rate is not
                           published in H.15(519) and the banks or trust
                           companies selected as aforesaid are not quoting as
                           mentioned in this sentence, the Prime Rate with
                           respect to such Prime Interest Determination Date
                           will be the interest rate otherwise in effect on such
                           Prime Interest Determination Date. "Reuters Screen
                           NYMF Page" means the display designated as page
                           "NYMF" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or
                           such other page as may replace page NYMF on that
                           service for the purpose of displaying prime rates or
                           base lending rates of major United States banks).

Record Dates:

                           Interest payments on Floating Rate Notes will be made
                           on each Interest Payment Date to the registered
                           owners at the close of business on the date 15
                           calendar days prior to such Interest Payment Date
                           (the "Regular Record Date"). If a Note is issued
                           between a Regular Record Date and an Interest Payment
                           Date, the first payment of Interest will occur on the
                           Interest Payment Date following the next Regular
                           Record Date to the registered holder on such next
                           succeeding Regular Record Date. Interest payable at
                           maturity or upon redemption (whether or not such
                           maturity or redemption date is an Interest Payment
                           Date) will be paid to the same person to whom
                           principal is payable. Interest will begin to accrue
                           on the issue date of a Note for the first interest
                           period and from and including the most recent
                           Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid
                           for all subsequent interest periods. Each payment of
                           interest shall include interest accrued from and
                           including the most recent date in respect of which
                           interest has been paid or duly provided for, or from
                           and including the date of issue, through the day
                           before the Interest Payment Date (or maturity date)
                           (an "Interest Period"). In the case of Floating Rate
                           Notes on
<PAGE>   87
                                                                              16


                           which the interest rate is reset daily or weekly, the
                           interest payments shall include interest accrued from
                           but excluding the most recent Regular Record Date in
                           respect of which interest has been paid or duly
                           provided for, or from and including the date of
                           issue, to and including the Regular Record Date next
                           preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date,
                           except that the interest payment at the maturity date
                           will include interest accrued to such date.

Accrued Interest:          Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing
                           Supplement, interest payments for Floating Rate Notes
                           will include interest accrued from and including the
                           most recent date in respect of which interest has
                           been paid or duly provided for, or from and including
                           the date of issuance to but excluding the next
                           Interest Payment Date (or maturity date); provided,
                           however, that if the Interest Reset Dates with
                           respect to such Note are daily or weekly, interest
                           payable on any Interest Payment Date, other than
                           interest payable on any date on which principal for
                           such Note is payable, will include interest accrued
                           from but excluding the most recent Regular Record
                           Date in respect of which interest has been paid or
                           duly provided for, or from and including the date of
                           issue, to and including the next preceding Regular
                           Record Date. Interest payments on Floating Rate Notes
                           made at maturity will include interest accrued to but
                           excluding the date of maturity. Accrued interest from
                           the date of issue or from the last date to which
                           interest has been paid is calculated by multiplying
                           the face amount of a Note by an accrued interest
                           factor. This accrued interest factor is computed by
                           adding the interest factors calculated for each day
                           in the period for which accrued interest is being
                           calculated. The interest factor for each such day is
                           computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to
                           such date by 360, in the case of Commercial Paper
                           Rate Notes, LIBOR Notes, Fed
<PAGE>   88
                                                                              17


                           Funds Notes, CD Rate Notes and Prime Rate Notes, or
                           by the actual number of days in the year, in the case
                           of Treasury Rate Notes.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                               U.S. $2,143,529,000

                            NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES
                         COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

                           Medium-Term Notes, Series C


                           CALCULATION AGENT AGREEMENT


                                    This AGREEMENT dated June 8, 1999, between
                           National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance
                           Corporation, a District of Columbia cooperative
                           association (hereinafter called the "Issuer"), whose
                           principal office is at Woodland Park, 2201
                           Cooperative Way, Herndon, Virginia 20171, and Lehman
                           Brothers Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
                           sometimes called the "Calculation Agent" which term
                           shall, unless the context shall otherwise require,
                           include its successors and assignees), whose
                           principal office is at 3 World Financial Center,
                           New York, New York 10285-0900.

                  WHEREAS (A) The Issuer proposes to issue from time to time an
aggregate principal amount of up to $2,143,529,000 of Medium-Term Notes, Series
C (the "Notes") entitled to the benefits of the Indenture dated as of December
15, 1987 (as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
October 1, 1990 and as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time, the
"Indenture"), between the Issuer and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as successor
Trustee;

                  (B) Each Note will bear interest at either (a) a fixed rate or
(b) a floating rate determined by reference to an interest rate formula (the
"Floating Rate Notes");

                  NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED THAT,
<PAGE>   2
                                                                               2


                  1. Terms defined in the "Description of Securities" and
"Description of the Medium-Term Notes" shall bear the same meanings herein
unless the context otherwise requires. The "Description of Debt Securities"
means the terms and conditions of the Notes as set forth in the Prospectus,
dated June 4, 1999, as supplemented by a Prospectus Supplement, dated June 7,
1999, relating to the Notes. The "Description of the Medium-Term Notes" means
the terms and conditions of the Notes as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement,
dated June 7, 1999, relating to the Notes. Such Prospectus Supplement will be
supplemented or amended by one or more Pricing Supplements (each a "Supplement")
setting forth additional terms and conditions of the Notes.

                  2. The Issuer hereby appoints Lehman Brothers Inc. as
Calculation Agent for the Notes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
herein mentioned, and Lehman Brothers Inc. hereby accepts such appointment. The
Calculation Agent shall act as an agent of the Issuer for the purpose of
determining the interest rate of the Floating Rate Notes in accordance with the
Description of the Medium-Term Notes and the provisions of this Agreement.

                  3. The Calculation Agent shall calculate the applicable
interest rates for the Floating Rate Notes in accordance with the provisions set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes dated June 7, 1999,
under the heading "Description of the Medium-Term Notes--Floating Rate Notes"
which provisions are incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in full in
this Agreement.

                  4. In no event shall the interest rate be less than the floor,
if any, or more than the ceiling, if any, designated in the applicable
Supplement.

                  5. The Calculation Agent will, as soon as practicable after
(i) 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date pertaining to each
Interest Determination Date relating to Commercial Paper Rate Notes, Fed Funds
Rate Notes, CD Rate Notes and Treasury Rate Notes or (ii) 11:00 a.m., London
time, on each Interest Determination Date relating to LIBOR Notes, determine
(and notify the Issuer and the Trustee of) the interest rate applicable during
the next succeeding interest period (if the interest rate cannot be determined
in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Notes dated June 7, 1999, in clause (i) under the heading
"Description of the Medium-Term Notes--Floating Rate Notes--LIBOR", the
Calculation Agent agrees to determine (and notify the Issuer and Trustee of) the
interest rate in
<PAGE>   3
                                                                               3


accordance with the provisions in clause (ii) of such heading).

                  6. As soon as determined after each Interest Determination
Date, the Calculation Agent will cause to be forwarded to the Issuer, the
Trustee and the Paying Agent information regarding the interest rates and the
interest periods for each interest period and the relevant Interest Payment
Date.

                  7. The Issuer will pay such compensation as shall be agreed
upon and the expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, properly incurred by
the Calculation Agent in connection with its duties hereunder, upon receipt of
such invoices as the Issuer shall reasonably require.

                  8. The Issuer will indemnify the Calculation Agent against any
losses, liabilities, costs, claims, actions or demands which it may incur or
sustain or which may be made against it in connection with its appointment or
the exercise of its powers and duties hereunder as well as the reasonable costs,
including the expenses and fees of counsel in defending any claim, action or
demand, except such as may result from the negligence, wilful default or bad
faith of the Calculation Agent or any of its employees. The Calculation Agent
shall incur no liability and shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Issuer for, or in respect of, any actions taken or suffered to be taken in good
faith by the Calculation Agent in reliance upon (i) the written opinion or
advice of counsel or (ii) written instructions from the Issuer.

                  9. The Calculation Agent accepts its obligations herein (and
agrees to act in good faith in the performance of its obligations) set forth
upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which
the Issuer agrees:

                  (i) in acting under this Agreement and in connection with the
         Notes, the Calculation Agent, acting as agent for the Issuer, does not
         assume any obligation towards, or any relationship of agency or trust
         for or with, any of the holders of the Notes;

                 (ii) unless herein otherwise specifically provided, any order,
         certificate, notice, request or communication from the Issuer made or
         given under any provision of this Agreement shall be sufficient if
         signed by any person whom the Calculation Agent reasonably believes to
         be a duly authorized officer of the Issuer;
<PAGE>   4
                                                                               4


                 (iii) the Calculation Agent shall be obligated to perform only
         such duties as are set forth specifically herein and any duties
         necessarily incidental thereto; and

                  (iv) the Calculation Agent shall be protected and shall incur
         no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted to be
         taken by it in reliance upon anything contained in a Floating Rate
         Note, the Description of Securities, the Description of the Medium-Term
         Notes or one or more Prospectus Supplements.

                  10. (A) The Issuer agrees to notify the Calculation Agent at
least five London Business Days prior to the issuance of any LIBOR Note. The
Calculation Agent agrees to select four Reference Banks prior to the issuance of
the first LIBOR Note by the Issuer; to make all appropriate arrangements for
such banks to act as Reference Banks; and to notify the Issuer, the Trustee and
each of the Agents as to the names and addresses of such Reference Banks. The
Calculation Agent covenants that, for so long as it is required so to do in
accordance with the applicable Description of the Medium-Term Notes it shall
ensure that there shall at all times be four Reference Banks. Forthwith upon any
change in the identity of the Reference Banks the Calculation Agent shall notify
the Issuer, the Trustee and the Agents of such change. If fewer than two
Reference Banks are quoting, the Calculation Agent agrees to select three major
banks in The City of New York in accordance with the applicable Description of
the Medium-Term Notes. The Calculation Agent shall not be responsible to the
Issuer or any third party for any failure of the Reference Banks to fulfill
their duties or meet their obligations as Reference Banks or as a result of the
Calculation Agent having acted (except in the event of negligence, wilful
default or bad faith) on any certificate given by any Reference Bank which
subsequently may be found to be incorrect.

                  (B) If necessary, in accordance with the provisions set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes dated June 7, 1999, under the
Heading "Description of the Medium-Term Notes--Floating Rate Notes--Prime Rate",
the Calculation Agent agrees to select a substitute major bank or trust company
(meeting the requirements specified under such heading). The Calculation Agent
shall not be responsible to the Issuer or any third party for the failure of
such bank or trust company to fulfill any duty or obligation contemplated under
such heading.
<PAGE>   5
                                                                               5


                  (C) Except as provided below, the Calculation Agent may at any
time resign as Calculation Agent by giving written notice to the Issuer and the
Trustee of such intention on its part, specifying the date on which its desired
resignation shall become effective, provided that such notice shall be given not
less than two months prior to the said effective date unless the Issuer and the
Trustee otherwise agree in writing. Except as provided below, the Calculation
Agent may be removed by the filing with it of an instrument in writing signed by
the Issuer specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective
(such effective date being at least 20 days after said filing). Such resignation
or removal shall take effect upon:

                  (i) the appointment by the Issuer as hereinafter provided of a
         successor Calculation Agent approved by the Trustee, which shall be a
         responsible financial firm or institution having an established place
         of business in The City of New York;

                 (ii) the acceptance of such appointment by such successor
         Calculation Agent; and

                (iii) the giving of notice of such appointment to the holders
         of the Notes, provided that if the Calculation Agent fails duly to
         establish the amount of interest for any interest period, such removal
         will take effect immediately upon such appointment of, and acceptance
         thereof by, a successor Calculation Agent approved by the Trustee and
         qualified as aforesaid, in which event notice of such appointment shall
         be given to the holders of the Notes as soon as practicable thereafter.
         Upon its resignation or removal becoming effective, the retiring
         Calculation Agent shall be entitled to the payment of its compensation
         and the reimbursement of all expenses incurred by such retiring
         Calculation Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 hereof.

                  (D) If at any time the Calculation Agent shall resign or be
removed, or shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or
insolvent, or liquidated or dissolved, or an order is made or an effective
resolution is passed to wind up the Calculation Agent, or if the Calculation
Agent shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or make an assignment for
the benefit of its creditors, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver,
administrator or other similar official of all or any substantial part of its
property, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay or meet its debts as
they mature, or if a receiver, administrator or other similar official of the
Calculation Agent or of all or any substantial part of its property shall be
appointed, or if any order of any court
<PAGE>   6
                                                                               6


shall be entered approving any petition filed by or against the Calculation
Agent under the provisions of any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law, or if
any public officer shall take charge or control of the Calculation Agent or its
property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or
liquidation, then a successor Calculation Agent, approved by the Trustee, shall
be appointed by the Issuer by an instrument in writing filed with the successor
Calculation Agent. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Calculation
Agent and acceptance by the latter of such appointment and (except in cases of
removal for failure to establish the amount of interest) the giving of notice to
the holders of the Notes, the former Calculation Agent shall cease to be
Calculation Agent hereunder.

                  (E) Any successor Calculation Agent appointed hereunder shall
execute and deliver to its predecessor and the Issuer an instrument, in the form
acceptable to the Trustee, accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon
such successor Calculation Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance,
shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities,
duties and obligations of such predecessor with like effect as if originally
named as the Calculation Agent hereunder, and such predecessor shall thereupon
become obliged to transfer and deliver, and such successor Calculation Agent
shall be entitled to receive, copies of any relevant records maintained by such
predecessor Calculation Agent.

                  (F) Any corporation into which the Calculation Agent may be
merged or converted or any corporation with which the Calculation Agent may be
consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Calculation Agent shall be a party shall, to the
extent permitted by applicable law and provided that it shall be a responsible
financial firm or institution having an established place of business in The
City of New York, be the successor Calculation Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto. Notice of any such merger, conversion or
consolidation shall forthwith be given to the Issuer and the Trustee.

                  11. Any notice required to be given hereunder shall be
delivered in person, sent by letter or telex or communicated by telephone
(subject, in the case of communication by telephone, to confirmation dispatched
within two business days by letter or telex), in the case of the Issuer, to it
at Woodland Park, 2201 Cooperative Way, Herndon, Virginia 20171, Attention:
Chief Financial Officer; in the case of the Calculation Agent, to it at 3 World
Financial Center, New York, New York 10285, Attention:
<PAGE>   7
                                                                               7


Medium-Term Note Department; and in the case of the Trustee, to it c/o Bank of
Montreal Trust Company, 77 Water Street, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10005,
Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department or, in any case, to any
other address of which the party receiving notice shall have notified the party
giving such notice in writing.
<PAGE>   8
                                                                               8


                  12. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing duly
executed and delivered by each of the parties signing below.

                  13. The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

                  14. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and the
executed counterparts shall together constitute a single instrument.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and
delivered as of the day and year first above written.

                                   NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE
                                   FINANCE CORPORATION,

                                   by /s/ Steven L. Lilly
                                      ---------------------------------
                                      Name:  Steven L. Lilly
                                      Title: Senior Vice President
                                             and Chief Financial
                                             Officer; Assistant
                                             Secretary-Treasurer

                                   LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.,

                                   by /s/ Kyle Miller
                                      ---------------------------------
                                      Name:  Kyle Miller
                                      Title: Managing Director


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