-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, K/K4ObzjuLqZ+qE1A0DFJZhb8fiYHVQlZ0iQ62LupfglkWg6hrCo+xbDvz58n0jv 2/6u/Jq/vwqS/h+i2DvDjA== 0001047469-98-035431.txt : 19980928 0001047469-98-035431.hdr.sgml : 19980928 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-98-035431 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19980924 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19980925 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NEW YORK TIMES CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000071691 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711] IRS NUMBER: 131102020 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-05837 FILM NUMBER: 98714501 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 229 W 43RD ST CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 BUSINESS PHONE: 2125561234 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 229 W 43RD STREET CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10036 8-K 1 FORM 8-K 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 September 24, 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) New York 1-5837 13-1102020 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or Other Juris- (Commission (I.R.S. Employer diction of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 229 West 43d Street, New York, New York 10036 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (212) 556-1234 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) N/A - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) Item 5. Other Events. On August 21, 1998, The New York Times Company (the "Company" or the "Registrant") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-62023) (the "Registration Statement") relating to the issuance by the Company from time to time its unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness at an aggregate initial offering price of not more than $300,000,000 or, if applicable, the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or currency units. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on August 28, 1998. The Company filed with the SEC a Prospectus Supplement dated September 24, 1998 relating to the offer and sale of up to $300,000,000 or equivalent thereof in other currencies aggregate initial offering price of the Company's Medium-Term Notes (the "Notes"). The Notes are being issued under an Indenture dated as of March 29, 1995 as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 21, 1998. On September 24, 1998, the Company entered into the following agreements in connection with the Notes: (i) a U.S. Distribution Agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. relating to the distribution of the Notes (the "Distribution Agreement"); (ii) an Exchange Rate Agency Agreement with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (the "Exchange Rate Agency Agreement"); and (iii) a Calculation Agent Agreement with The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Calculation Agent Agreement"). Copies of the Distribution Agreement, the Exchange Rate Agency Agreement and the Calculation Agency Agreement are filed as exhibits hereto and are incorporated herein. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits. Exhibit No. Exhibit ----------- ------- 10.1 Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998 by and among The New York Times Company, Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. 10.2 Exchange Rate Agency Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998 by and between The New York Times Company and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter 10.3 Calculation Agent Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998 by and between The New York Times Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank 2 Signature --------- 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 thereunto duly authorized. THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY (Registrant) Dated: September 24, 1998 By:/s/Rhonda L. Brauer -------------------------- Name: Rhonda L. Brauer Title: Assistant Secretary 3 EXHIBIT INDEX ------------- Exhibit No. Description Page - ----------- ----------- ---- 10.1 Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998 by and among The New York Times Company, Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. 10.2 Exchange Rate Agency Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998 by and between The New York Times Company and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter 10.3 Calculation Agent Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998 by and between The New York Times Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank 4 EX-10.1 2 DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT 09/24/98 Exhibit 10.1 THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY $300,000,000 MEDIUM-TERM NOTES Due more than 9 Months from Date of Issue U.S. DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT September 24, 1998 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED CHASE SECURITIES INC. SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. Dear Sirs: The New York Times Company, a New York corporation (the "COMPANY"), confirms its agreement with each of you with respect to the issue and sale from time to time by the Company of up to $300,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies) aggregate initial public offering price of its medium-term notes due more than 9 months from date of issue (the "NOTES"). The Notes will be issued under an Indenture dated as of March 29, 1995 as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 21, 1998 (the Indenture as so supplemented the "INDENTURE") between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "TRUSTEE"), and will have the maturities, interest rates, redemption provisions, if any, and other terms as set forth in supplements to the Basic Prospectus referred to below. The Company hereby appoints Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("MORGAN STANLEY") and Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. (individually, an "AGENT" and collectively, the "AGENTS") as its agents, subject to Section 11, for the purpose of soliciting and receiving offers to purchase Notes from the Company by others and, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Agent agrees to use reasonable efforts to solicit and receive offers to purchase Notes upon terms acceptable to the Company at such times and in such amounts as the Company shall from time to time specify. The Company may appoint one or more new agents in accordance with the provisions of Section 11. In addition, any Agent may also purchase Notes as principal pursuant to the terms of a terms agreement relating to such sale (a "TERMS AGREEMENT") in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") a registration statement (File No. 333-62023), including a prospectus, relating to the Notes. Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the Commencement Date (as hereinafter defined), is hereinafter referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT." The Company proposes to file with the Commission from time to time, pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), supplements to the prospectus included in the Registration Statement that will describe certain terms of the Notes. The prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter referred to as the "BASIC PROSPECTUS." The term "PROSPECTUS" means the Basic Prospectus together with the prospectus supplement or supplements (each a "PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT") specifically relating to Notes, as filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission pursuant to Rule 424. As used herein, the terms "BASIC PROSPECTUS" and "PROSPECTUS" shall include in each case the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein. The terms "SUPPLEMENT" and "AMENDMENT" as used herein shall include all documents deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus that are filed subsequent to the date of the Basic Prospectus by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT") and "AMEND" and "SUPPLEMENT" shall include the filing of such documents with the Commission. 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each Agent as of the Commencement Date, as of each date on which an Agent solicits offers to purchase Notes, as of each date on which the Company accepts an offer to purchase Notes (including any purchase by an Agent pursuant to a Terms Agreement), as of each date the Company issues and delivers Notes and as of each date the Registration Statement or the Basic Prospectus is amended or supplemented, as follows (it being understood that such representations, warranties and agreements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus, each as amended or supplemented to each such date): (a) The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission. (b) (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied or will comply when so -2- filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, did not contain and each such part, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will 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 not misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that (A) the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply (1) to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to an Agent furnished to the Company in writing by such Agent expressly for use therein or (2) to that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TRUST INDENTURE ACT"), of the Trustee and (B) the representations and warranties set forth in clauses 1 (b)(iii) and 1 (b)(iv) above, when made as of the Commencement Date or as of any date on which an Agent solicits offers to purchase Notes or on which the Company accepts an offer to purchase Notes, shall be deemed not to cover information concerning an offering of particular Notes to the extent such information will be set forth in a supplement to the Basic Prospectus. (c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (d) Each subsidiary of the Company that in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles is consolidated with the Company in the Company's consolidated financial statements AND that generated 7% or more of the revenues or held 7% or more of the assets, of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for or at the end of the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company for which an Annual Report on Form 10-K or proxy statement of the Company containing audited financial results has been filed with the Commission (each, a "Significant Subsidiary") is set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto and has been duly incorporated -3- and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and each Significant Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens and encumbrances. (e) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles. (f) The Notes have been duly authorized; and when the Notes are authenticated by the Trustee and delivered and paid for pursuant to any applicable Terms Agreement on the Closing Date (as defined below), such Notes will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus, and such Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles. (g) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes by the Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under state (or foreign) securities laws and except such which the failure to obtain or make would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (h) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture, this Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a breach or -4- violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any of their properties, or any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary except (i) that any rights to indemnity and contribution herein may be limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy considerations and (ii) for such breaches, violations and defaults as would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and the Company has full corporate power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Notes as contemplated by this Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement. (i) Each of this Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. (j) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have good title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them that are material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free from liens and encumbrances that would materially affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property that are material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them. (k) The Company and the Significant Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies that are material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (l) To the knowledge of the Company, except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any subsidiary exists or is imminent that might have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (m) The Company and the Significant Subsidiaries own, possess, license or can acquire on reasonable terms, all trademarks, trade names and other rights to -5- inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS") that are material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of such intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (n) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), or to the knowledge of the Company is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, in each case which violations, contaminations or liabilities would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim. (o) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus (and except for pending or threatened libel suits in which adverse determinations are unlikely), there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Indenture, the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), or which are otherwise materially adverse in the context of the sale of the Notes; and, to the Company's knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated. (p) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, subject in the case of interim financial statements to normal recurring year-end adjustments, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis; and any schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. -6- (q) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of the latest financial statements included in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event reasonably likely to result in a prospective material adverse change, in the financial condition, business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus and except for regular quarterly cash dividends and the stock dividend effective June 17, 1998 in connection with the Company's 2-for-1 stock split, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock. (r) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties set forth in clauses l(b)(iii) and l(b)(iv) and Sections l(e) (except as to due authorization of the Notes) and 1(g), when made as of the Commencement Date, or as of any date on which an Agent solicits offers to purchase Notes, with respect to any Notes the payments of principal or interest on which will be determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors, shall be deemed not to address the application of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, or the rules, regulations or interpretations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 2. Solicitations as Agent; Purchases as Principal. (a) SOLICITATIONS AS AGENT. In connection with an Agent's actions as agent hereunder, such Agent agrees to use reasonable efforts to solicit offers to purchase Notes upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented. The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to instruct the Agents to suspend at any time, for any period of time or permanently, the solicitation of offers to purchase Notes. Upon receipt of at least one business day's prior notice from the Company, the Agents will forthwith suspend solicitations of offers to purchase Notes from the Company until such time as the Company has advised the Agents that such solicitation may be resumed. While such solicitation is suspended, the Company shall not be required to deliver any certificates, opinions or letters in accordance with Sections 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Registration Statement or Prospectus is amended or supplemented during the period of suspension (other than by an amendment or supplement providing solely for a change in the interest rates, redemption provisions, amortization schedules or maturities offered on the Notes or for a change the Agents deem to be immaterial), no Agent shall be required to resume -7- soliciting offers to purchase Notes until the Company has delivered such certificates, opinions and letters as such Agent may request. The Company agrees to pay to each Agent, as consideration for the sale of each Note resulting from a solicitation made or an offer to purchase received by such Agent, a commission in the form of a discount from the purchase price of such Note equal to the percentage set forth below of the purchase price of such Note:
COMMISSION TERM RATE ----------------------------------------------- -------------------- From 9 months to less than 1 year .125% From 1 year to less than 18 months .150% From 18 months to less than 2 years .200% From 2 years to less than 3 years .250% From 3 years to less than 4 years .350% From 4 years to less than 5 years .450% From 5 years to less than 6 years .500% From 6 years to less than 7 years .550% From 7 years to less than 10 years .600% From 10 years to less than 15 years .625% From 15 years to less than 20 years .700% From 20 years to less than 30 years .750% From 30 years and beyond To be negotiated
Each Agent shall communicate to the Company, orally or in writing, each offer to purchase Notes received by such Agent as agent that in its judgment should be considered by the Company. The Company shall have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Notes and may reject any offer in whole or in part. Each Agent shall have the right to reject any offer to purchase Notes that it considers to be unacceptable, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its agreements contained herein. The procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of Notes sold by the Agents as agents and the payment therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative Procedures (as hereinafter defined). -8- (b) PURCHASES AS PRINCIPAL. Each sale of Notes to an Agent as principal shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In connection with each such sale, the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement that will provide for the sale of such Notes to and the purchase thereof by such Agent. Each Terms Agreement will take the form of either (i) a written agreement between such Agent and the Company, which may be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (a "WRITTEN TERMS AGREEMENT"), or (ii) an oral agreement between such Agent and the Company confirmed in writing by such Agent to the Company in the form of Exhibit A hereto. An Agent's commitment to purchase Notes pursuant to a Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the principal amount of Notes to be purchased by such Agent pursuant thereto, the maturity date of such Notes, the price to be paid to the Company for such Notes, the interest rate and interest rate formula, if any, applicable to such Notes and any other terms of such Notes. Each such Terms Agreement may also specify any requirements for officers' certificates, opinions of counsel and letters from the independent public accountants of the Company pursuant to Section 4 hereof. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Notes by such Agent. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the time and place of delivery of and payment for such Notes. Unless otherwise specified in a Terms Agreement, the procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of Notes purchased by an Agent as principal and the payment therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative Procedures. Each date of delivery of and payment for Notes to be purchased by an Agent pursuant to a Terms Agreement is referred to herein as a "SETTLEMENT DATE." Unless otherwise specified in a Terms Agreement, if you are purchasing Notes as principal you may resell such Notes to other dealers. Any such sales may be at a discount, which shall not exceed the amount set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Notes. (c) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. The Agents and the Company agree to perform the respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed in the Medium-Term Notes Administrative Procedures (attached hereto as Exhibit B) (the "ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES"), as amended from time to time. The Administrative Procedures may be amended only by written agreement of the Company and the Agents. -9- (d) DELIVERY. The documents required to be delivered by Section 4 of this Agreement as a condition precedent to each Agent's obligation to begin soliciting offers to purchase Notes as an agent of the Company shall be delivered at the office of Sullivan and Cromwell, counsel for the Agents, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date hereof, or at such other time and/or place as the Agents and the Company may agree upon in writing, but in no event later than the day prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which the Agents begin soliciting offers to purchase Notes and (ii) the first date on which the Company accepts any offer by an Agent to purchase Notes pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The date of delivery of such documents is referred to herein as the "COMMENCEMENT DATE." (e) OBLIGATIONS SEVERAL. The Company acknowledges that the obligations of the Agents under this Agreement are several and not joint. 3. AGREEMENTS. The Company agrees with each Agent that: (a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, the Company will not file any Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes or any amendment to the Registration Statement unless the Company has previously furnished to the Agents copies thereof for their review and will not file any such proposed supplement or amendment to which the Agents reasonably object; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) the foregoing requirement shall not apply to any of the Company's periodic filings with the Commission required to be filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, copies of which filings the Company will cause to be delivered to the Agents promptly after being transmitted for filing with the Commission and (ii) any Prospectus Supplement that merely sets forth the terms or a description of particular Notes (each a "PRICING SUPPLEMENT") shall only be reviewed and approved by the Agent or Agents offering such Notes. Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Company will promptly cause each Prospectus Supplement to be filed with or transmitted for filing to the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. The Company will promptly advise the Agents (i) of the filing of any amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus (except that notice of the filing of an amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus that merely sets forth the terms or a description of particular Notes shall only be given to the Agent or Agents offering such Notes), (ii) of the filing and effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the -10- initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or notice of suspension of qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof. If the Basic Prospectus is amended or supplemented as a result of the filing under the Exchange Act of any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, no Agent shall be obligated to solicit offers to purchase Notes so long as it is not reasonably satisfied with such document. (b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Notes is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include an untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of the Agents or in the opinion of the Company, it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, to comply with applicable law, the Company will immediately notify the Agents by telephone (with confirmation in writing) to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase Notes and, if so notified by the Company, the Agents shall forthwith suspend such solicitation and cease using the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented. If the Company shall decide to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, it shall so advise the Agents promptly by telephone (with confirmation in writing) and, at its expense, shall prepare and, subject to Section 3(a), cause to be filed promptly with the Commission an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, satisfactory in all respects to the Agents, that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance and will supply such amended or supplemented Prospectus to the Agents in such quantities as they may reasonably request. If any documents, certificates, opinions and letters furnished to the Agents pursuant to Sections 3(f), 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) in connection with the preparation and filing of such amendment or supplement are satisfactory in all respects to the Agents, upon the filing with the Commission of such amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or upon the effectiveness of an amendment to the Registration Statement, the Agents will resume the solicitation of offers to purchase Notes hereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, for a period of 45 days after the Settlement Date of any purchase of Notes by an Agent as principal, if any event described above in this paragraph occurs, the Company will, at its own expense, forthwith prepare and cause to be filed promptly with the Commission an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, satisfactory in all respects to such Agent, will supply such amended or supplemented Prospectus to such Agent in such quantities as it may reasonably request and shall furnish to such Agent pursuant to Sections 3(f), 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) such documents, certificates, -11- opinions and letters as it may request in connection with the preparation and filing of such amendment or supplement. (c) The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Agents as soon as practicable earning statements that satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder covering twelve-month periods beginning, in each case, not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the "effective date" (as defined in Rule 158 under the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement with respect to each sale of Notes. If such fiscal quarter is the last fiscal quarter of the Company's fiscal year, such earning statement shall be made available not later than 90 days after the close of the period covered thereby and in all other cases shall be made available not later than 45 days after the close of the period covered thereby. (d) The Company will furnish to each Agent, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement, including exhibits and all amendments thereto, and as many copies of the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Agent may reasonably request. (e) The Company will endeavor to qualify the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Agents shall reasonably request and to maintain such qualifications for as long as the Agents shall reasonably request. (f) The Company shall furnish to the Agents such relevant documents and certificates of officers of the Company relating to the business, operations and affairs of the Company, the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, the Indenture, the Notes, this Agreement, the Administrative Procedures, any Terms Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder as the Agents may from time to time reasonably request. (g) The Company shall notify the Agents promptly in writing of any downgrading, or of its receipt of any notice of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act. (h) The Company will, whether or not any sale of Notes is consummated, pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and -12- any Terms Agreement, including: (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel and accountants and of the Trustee and its counsel, (iv) the qualification of the Notes under securities or Blue Sky laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e), including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of any Blue Sky or Legal Investment Memoranda, (v) the printing and delivery to the Agents in quantities as hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Agents of copies of any Blue Sky or Legal Investment Memoranda, (vii) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the Notes, (viii) any expenses incurred by the Company in connection with a "road show" presentation to potential investors and (ix) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents incurred in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes, including any opinions to be rendered by such counsel hereunder, and (x) any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents; PROVIDED that any advertising expenses incurred by the Agents shall have been approved by the Company. (i) During the period beginning the date of any Terms Agreement and continuing to and including the Settlement Date with respect to such Terms Agreement, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of each Agent that is party to such Terms Agreement, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company or warrants to purchase debt securities of the Company substantially similar to such Notes (other than (i) the Notes that are to be sold pursuant to such Terms Agreement, (ii) Notes previously agreed to be sold by the Company and (iii) commercial paper issued in the ordinary course of business), except as may otherwise be provided in such Terms Agreement. 4. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE AGENTS. Each Agent's obligation to solicit offers to purchase Notes as agent of the Company, each Agent's obligation to purchase Notes pursuant to any Terms Agreement and the obligation of any other purchaser to purchase Notes will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company's officers made in each certificate furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance and observance by the Company of all covenants and agreements herein contained on its part to be performed and observed (in the case of an Agent's obligation to solicit offers to purchase Notes, at the time of such solicitation, and, in the case of an Agent's or any other purchaser's obligation to purchase Notes, at the time the Company accepts the offer to purchase such Notes and at the time of issuance and delivery) and (in each case) to the following additional conditions precedent when and as specified: -13- (a) Prior to such solicitation or purchase, as the case may be: (i) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at the time of such solicitation or at the time such offer to purchase was made, that, in the judgment of the relevant Agent, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the judgment of such Agent, impracticable to market the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented; (ii) there shall not have occurred any (A) suspension or material limitation of trading generally on or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (B) suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (C) declaration of a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York by either Federal or New York State authorities or (D) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the relevant Agent, is material and adverse and, in the case of any of the events described in clauses 4(a)(ii)(A) through 4(a)(ii)(D), such event, singly or together with any other such event, makes it, in the judgment of such Agent, impracticable to market the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at the time of such solicitation or at the time such offer to purchase was made; and (iii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; (A) except, in each case described in Section 4(a)(i), 4(a)(ii) or 4(a)(iii) above, as disclosed to the relevant Agent in writing by the Company prior to such solicitation or, in the case of a purchase of Notes, as disclosed to the relevant Agent before the offer to purchase such Notes was made or (B) unless in each case described in Section 4(a)(ii) above, the relevant event shall have occurred and been known to the relevant Agent before such solicitation or, in the case of a purchase of Notes, before the offer to purchase such Notes was made. -14- (b) On the Commencement Date and, if called for by any Terms Agreement, on the corresponding Settlement Date, the relevant Agents shall have received: (i) The opinion, dated as of such date, of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, outside counsel for the Company, to the effect that: (A) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; (B) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the Notes have been duly authorized; the Indenture constitutes and, when executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided in the Indenture and paid for by the purchasers thereof on the date of such opinion, the Notes will constitute, valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the Notes, when so issued and delivered and sold will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; (C) To such counsel's knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by any applicable Written Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) in connection with the issuance or sale of the Notes by the Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under state or foreign securities laws (with respect to which counsel need express no opinion); (D) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture and any applicable Written Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) and the issuance and sale of the Notes and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any applicable statute, or any rule, regulation or order known to such counsel of any governmental agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any material portion of their properties (except that any rights to indemnity and contribution under this Agreement may be limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy concerns), or any agreement identified by the Agents -15- (which shall be listed on a schedule annexed to such opinion), or the charter or by-laws of the Company, and the Company has full corporate power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Notes as contemplated by any applicable Written Terms Agreement; (E) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the Prospectus was filed with the Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) specified in such opinion on the date specified therein, and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Act. The registration statement relating to the Registered Securities, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the date of any applicable Written Terms Agreement (except, in each case, for financial statements and schedules as to which counsel need express no opinion), complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations; (F) While such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume responsibility for, and shall not be deemed to have independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except the statements made under the caption "Description of Debt Securities" and "Description of Notes" insofar as they relate to legal matters), nothing has come to the attention of such counsel in the course of participating with officers and representatives of the Company in the preparation of the Registration Statement that would lead such counsel to believe that, insofar as relevant to the offering of the Notes, any part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, as of the date of any applicable Written Terms Agreement or as of the date of such opinion (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data contained therein, as to which counsel need express no opinion and excluding the documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, as to which counsel need express no opinion), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as of the date of any Written Terms Agreement or as of the date of such opinion (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data contained therein, as to which counsel need express no opinion and excluding the documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, as to which counsel need express no opinion), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements -16- therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (G) The Distribution Agreement and any applicable Written Terms Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; and (H) Such counsel is of the opinion ascribed to it in the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented under the caption "United States Taxation." Such opinion may state (i) that it is limited to the laws of New York and the federal laws of the United States and (ii) that as to matters of fact it has been rendered in reliance on certificates of the Company, officers thereof and public official. (ii) The opinion, dated as of such date, of Solomon B. Watson IV, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, to the effect that: (A) Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; (B) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture, Distribution Agreement, and any applicable Written Terms Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is bound or to which any material portion of the properties of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of any Significant Subsidiary, except for such breaches, violations and defaults as would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (C) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and are not so described or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are -17- required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, or to be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to such Registration Statement that are not described, filed or incorporated as required; (D) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; (E) While such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume responsibility for, and shall not be deemed to have independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, nothing has come to the attention of counsel in the course of participating with officers and representatives of the Company in the preparation of the Registration Statement that would lead counsel to believe that, insofar as relevant to the offering of the Notes, any part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, as of the date of any applicable Terms Agreement or as of the date of such opinion (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial data contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as of the date of any applicable Terms Agreement or as of the date of such opinion (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial data contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (F) Such counsel (1) is of the opinion that each document, if any, filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented (except for financial statements and schedules included therein as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) complied when so filed as to form in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and (2) is of the opinion that the Registration Statement and Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if applicable (except for financial statements and schedules included therein as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; PROVIDED that in the case of an opinion delivered on the Commencement Date or pursuant to Section 5(b), the -18- opinion and belief set forth in clause 4(b)(ii)(F)(2) above shall be deemed not to cover information concerning an offering of particular Notes to the extent such information will be set forth in a supplement to the Basic Prospectus. Such opinion may state that (i) it is limited to the law of New York, except to the extent that matters contained in paragraph (i) pertain to the laws of jurisdiction other than New York (with respect to which counsel may rely, and the opinion may so state, on opinions of local counsel and/or certificates of public officials), and (ii) that as to matters of fact it has been rendered in reliance on certificates of the Company, officers thereof, and public officials. (iii) The opinion, dated as of such date, of Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel for the Agents, such opinion, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of the Company, the validity of the Notes, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Representative may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the opinions described in Sections 4(b)(i)(B) (except as to due authorization of the Notes) and 4(b)(i)(D) and clauses 4(b)(ii)(D)(1), 4(b)(i)(E) and 4(b)(ii)(C), when contained in an opinion delivered on the Commencement Date or pursuant to Section 5(b), shall be deemed not to address the application of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, or the rules, regulations or interpretations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to Notes the payments of principal or interest on which will be determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. The opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP described in Section 4(b)(i) above shall be rendered to the Agents at the request of the Company and shall so state therein. (c) On the Commencement Date and, if called for by any Terms Agreement, on the corresponding Settlement Date, the relevant Agents shall have received a certificate, dated the Commencement Date or such Settlement Date, as the case may be, and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Sections 1(g) and 4(a)(iii) and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of such date in all material respects and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied on or before such date. -19- The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his knowledge as to proceedings threatened. (d) On the Commencement Date and, if called for by any Terms Agreement, on the corresponding Settlement Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP independent public accountants, shall have furnished to the relevant Agents a letter or letters, dated the Commencement Date or such Settlement Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to such Agents containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented. (e) On the Commencement Date and on each Settlement Date, the Company shall have furnished to the relevant Agents such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as they may reasonably request. 5. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. (a) Each time the Registration Statement or Prospectus is amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing Supplement or an amendment or supplement providing for a change the Agents deem to be immaterial), the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered forthwith to each Agent a certificate signed by an executive officer of the Company, dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the case may be, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in Section 4(c) relating to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate. (b) Each time the Company furnishes a certificate pursuant to Section 5(a), the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to each Agent a written opinion of independent counsel for the Company, and/or of the General Counsel of the Company. Any such opinions shall be dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the case may be, shall be in a form satisfactory to the Agents and shall be of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii), respectively, but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion. In lieu of such opinions, each counsel last furnishing such an opinion to an Agent may furnish to each Agent a letter to the effect that such Agent may rely on such last opinion to the same extent as though it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such last opinion will be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the time of delivery of such letter.) (c) Each time the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or supplemented to set forth amended or supplemental financial information or such amended or supplemental information is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, -20- the Company shall cause its independent public accountants forthwith to furnish each Agent with a letter, dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to the Agents, of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 4(d), with regard to the amended or supplemental financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the date of such letter. 6. INDEMNITY AND CONTRIBUTION. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim, and will reimburse such Agent or person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to such Agent furnished to the Company in writing by such Agent expressly for use therein. (b) Each Agent agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Agent, but only with reference to information relating to such Agent furnished to the Company in writing by such Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto. (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either Section 6(a) or 6(b) above, such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have -21- the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to appoint counsel reasonably satisfactory to indemnified party. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Agents that are indemnified parties, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding. (d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 6(a) or 6(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the other hand from the offering of such Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause -22- 6(d)(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 6(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the other hand in connection with the offering of such Notes shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of such Notes (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total discounts and commissions received by each Agent in respect thereof. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by such Agent and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Each Agent's obligation to contribute pursuant to this Section 6 shall be several in the proportion that the principal amount of the Notes the sale of which by or through such Agent gave rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities bears to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes the sale of which by or through any Agent gave rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, and not joint. (e) The Company and the Agents agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined BY PRO RATA allocation (even if the Agents were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 6(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, 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 6, no Agent shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes referred to in Section 6(d) that were offered and sold to the public through such Agent exceeds the amount of any damages that such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity. -23- (f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, its officers and the Agents set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement or any such Terms Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Agent or any person controlling any Agent or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Notes. 7. POSITION OF THE AGENTS. In acting under this Agreement and in connection with the sale of any Notes by the Company (other than Notes sold to an Agent pursuant to a Terms Agreement), each Agent is acting solely as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with any purchaser of Notes. An Agent shall make reasonable efforts to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Notes has been solicited by such Agent and accepted by the Company, but such Agent shall not have any liability to the Company in the event any such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Company shall default in its obligations to deliver Notes to a purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the Company shall hold the relevant Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage or liability arising from or as a result of such default and shall, in particular, pay to such Agent the commission it would have received had such sale been consummated. 8. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Company or, as to any Agent, by the Company or such Agent upon the giving of written notice of such termination to the other parties hereto, but without prejudice to any rights, obligations or liabilities of any party hereto accrued or incurred prior to such termination. The termination of this Agreement shall not require termination of any Terms Agreement, and the termination of any such Terms Agreement shall not require termination of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated, the provisions of the third paragraph of Section 2(a), Section 2(e), the last sentence of Section 3(b) and Sections 3(c), 3(h), 6, 7, 9, 10 and 13 shall survive; PROVIDED that if at the time of termination an offer to purchase Notes has been accepted by the Company but the time of delivery to the purchaser or its agent of such Notes has not occurred, the provisions of Sections 1, 2(b), 2(c), 3(a), 3(b), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f), 3(g), 3(i), 4 and 5 shall also survive until such delivery has been made. 9. NOTICES. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to Morgan Stanley, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to Morgan Stanley at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York, 10036, Attention: Manager, Credit Department (telefax number: 212-761-0780), with a copy to 1585 Broadway, New York, New York, 10036, Attention: Managing Director, Debt Syndicate, if sent to Chase Securities Inc., will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to Chase Securities Inc. at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Medium Term Note Desk (telefax number: (212) 834-6081), if sent to -24- Salomon Smith Barney Inc., will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to Salomon Smith Barney Inc. at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 Medium Term Note Desk (telefax number: (212) 783-2274) or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to the Company at 229 West 43d Street, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Ellen Taus, Treasurer and R. Anthony Benten, Assistant Treasurer (telefax number (212) 556-1646) with a copy to Solomon B. Watson IV, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Counsel (telefax number (212) 556-4634). 10. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 6 and the purchasers of Notes (to the extent expressly provided in Section 4), and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. 11. AMENDMENTS; APPOINTMENT OF NEW AGENTS. (a) This Agreement may be amended or supplemented if, but only if, such amendment or supplement is in writing and is signed by the Company and each Agent; PROVIDED that the Company may from time to time appoint new agents in accordance with sub-sections (b) and (c) of this Section 11. (b) The Company may appoint one or more new agents for the duration of this Agreement or, with regard to a particular tranche of Notes, one or more new agents for the purposes of that tranche, in either case upon the terms of this Agreement, PROVIDED that: (i) any new agent shall have first delivered to the Company an Agent Accession Letter substantially in the form set out in Part I or III (as appropriate) of Exhibit C hereto or executed a Terms Agreement substantially in the form set out in Exhibit A hereto; and (ii) the Company shall have delivered to such new agent a Confirmation Letter substantially in the form set out in Part II or IV (as appropriate) of Exhibit C hereto or executed a Terms Agreement substantially in the form set out in Exhibit A hereto. Upon appointment, such new agent shall, subject to the terms of the relevant Agent Accession Letter and the relevant Confirmation Letter, become a party to this Agreement, vested with all authority, rights, powers, duties and obligations of an Agent as if originally named as an Agent hereunder; PROVIDED that except in the case of the appointment of a new agent for the duration of the Program, following the issue of the Notes of the relevant tranche, the relevant new agent shall have no further such authority, rights, powers, duties or obligations except such as may have accrued prior to or in connection with the issue of the relevant Notes. -25- (c) The Company shall at least [seven] days prior to such appointment promptly notify the other Agents of any proposed appointment of a new agent for the duration of the Program and shall promptly supply to such parties a copy of any Agent Accession Letter and Confirmation Letter. No such notice shall be required to be given in the case of an appointment of a new agent for a particular issue of Notes. 12. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. 13. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CHOICE-OF-LAW RULES THEREOF WHICH MIGHT APPLY THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. 14. HEADINGS. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement. -26- If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement between the Company and you. Very truly yours, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY By: /s/ Ellen Taus ----------------------------------------- Name: Ellen Taus Title: Treasurer The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written. MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED By: /s/ Michael Fusco ----------------------------------------- Name: Michael Fusco Title: Vice President CHASE SECURITIES INC. By: /s/ John W. Judson ----------------------------------------- Name: John W. Judson Title: Managing Director SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. By: /s/ Martha D. Bailey ----------------------------------------- Name: Martha D. Bailey Title: Vice President -27- SCHEDULE 1 SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES 1. Affiliated Publications, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation 2. Globe Newspaper Company, a Massachusetts corporation 3. The New York Times Sales, Inc., a Delaware Corporation 4. NYT Capital, Inc. a Delaware corporation -28- EXHIBIT A THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY MEDIUM-TERM NOTES TERMS AGREEMENT ___________, 199_ THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY 229 West 43d Street, 13th floor New York, New York 10036 Attention: Treasurer RE: DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT DATED ___________, 1998 (THE "DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT") We agree to purchase your Medium-Term Notes having the following terms: We agree to purchase, [severally and not jointly,]* the principal amount of Notes set forth below opposite our names: PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NAME OF NOTES - ------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated [Insert syndicate list](*) ---------------- Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ ================ - --------------------- * Delete if the transaction will not be syndicated. The Notes shall have the following terms: ALL NOTES: FIXED RATE NOTES: FLOATING RATE NOTES: Principal amount: Interest Rate: Base rate: Purchase price: Applicability of modified payment upon acceleration: Index maturity: Price to public: If yes, state issue price: Spread: Settlement date and Amortization schedule: Spread multiplier: time: Place of delivery: Alternate rate event spread: Specified currency: Initial interest rate: Maturity date: Initial interest reset date: Initial accrual period Interest reset dates: OID: Total amount of OID: Interest reset period: Original yield to Maximum interest rate: maturity: Optional repayment Minimum interest rate: date(s): Optional redemption Interest payment period: date(s): Initial redemption date: Interest payment dates: Initial redemption Calculation agent: percentage: Annual redemption percentage decrease: Other terms:
A-2 The provisions of Sections 1, 2(b), 2(c), 3 through 6 and 9 through 13 of the Distribution Agreement and the related definitions are incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed to have the same force and effect as if set forth in full herein. [If on the Settlement Date any one or more of the Agents shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes that it has or they have agreed to purchase on such date, and the aggregate amount of Notes which such defaulting Agent or Agents agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate amount of the Notes to be purchased on such date, the other Agents shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the amount of Notes set forth opposite their respective names above bears to the aggregate amount of Notes set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Agents, or in such other proportions as may specify, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Agent or Agents agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; PROVIDED that in no event shall the amount of Notes that any Agent has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this paragraph by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such amount of Notes without the written consent of such Agent. If on the Settlement Date any Agent or Agents shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes and the aggregate amount of Notes with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate amount of Notes to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to and the Company for the purchase of such Notes are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Agent or the Company. In any such case either _______________ or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Settlement Date but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Agent from liability in respect of any default of such Agent under this Agreement.](*) This Agreement is also subject to termination on the terms incorporated by reference herein. If this Agreement is terminated, the provisions of Sections 3(h), 6, 9, 10 and 13 of the Distribution Agreement shall survive for the purposes of this Agreement. The following information, opinions, certificates, letters and documents referred to in Section 4 of the Distribution Agreement will be required: ___________________ [NAME OF RELEVANT AGENT(S)] - --------------------- * Delete if the transaction will not be syndicated. A-3 By: ------------------------------- Name: Title: Accepted: THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY By: ------------------------------- Name: Title: A-4 EXHIBIT B THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY MEDIUM-TERM NOTES ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES _________________________________ Explained below are the administrative procedures and specific terms of the offering of Medium-Term Notes (the "NOTES"), on a continuous basis by The New York Times Company (the "COMPANY") pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1998 (the "DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT") among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. (the "AGENTS"). The Notes will be issued under an Indenture dated as of March 29, 1995 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank)("Chase"), as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"), as supplemented by an Indenture Supplement, dated as of August 21, 1998 (such Indenture, as supplemented, the "INDENTURE"). In the Distribution Agreement, the Agents have agreed to use reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of the Notes, and the administrative procedures explained below will govern the issuance and settlement of any Notes sold through an Agent, as agent of the Company. An Agent, as principal, may also purchase Notes for its own account, and if requested by such Agent, the Company and such Agent will enter into a terms agreement (a "TERMS AGREEMENT"), as contemplated by the Distribution Agreement. The administrative procedures explained below will govern the issuance and settlement of any Notes purchased by an Agent, as principal, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Terms Agreement. Chase will be the Trustee, Calculation Agent, Authenticating Agent and Paying Agent for the Notes and will perform the duties specified herein. Each Note will be represented by either a Global Security (as defined below) delivered to Chase, 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"). Except as set forth in the Indenture, an owner of a Book-Entry Note will not be entitled to receive a Certificated Note. Book-Entry Notes, which may be payable only in U.S. dollars, will be issued in accordance with the administrative procedures set forth in Part I hereof as they may subsequently be amended as the result of changes in DTC'S operating procedures. Certificated Notes will be issued in accordance with the administrative procedures set forth in Part II hereof. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Indenture, the Notes or any prospectus supplement relating to the Notes shall be used herein as therein defined. The Company will advise the Agents in writing of the employees of the Company with whom the Agents are to communicate regarding offers to purchase Notes and the related settlement details. PART I: 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, Chase will perform the custodial, document control and administrative functions described below, in accordance with its respective obligations under a Letter of Representation from the Company and Chase to DTC, dated as of September 18, 1998, and a Medium-Term Note Certificate Agreement between the Trustee and DTC, dated as of December 2, 1998 (the "MTN CERTIFICATE AGREEMENT"), and its obligations as a participant in DTC, including DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System ("SDFS"). Issuance: On any date of settlement (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 U.S. $200,000,000 principal amount of all such Notes that have the same Original Issue Date, Maturity Date and other 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 "INTEREST ACCRUAL DATE," which will be (i) with respect to an original Global Security (or any portion thereof), its original issuance date and (ii) with respect to any Global Security (or any portion thereof) issued subsequently upon exchange of a Global Security, or in lieu of a destroyed, lost or stolen Global Security, the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the predecessor Global Security (or if no such payment or provision B-2 has been made, the original issuance date of the predecessor Global Security), regardless of the date of authentication of such subsequently issued Global Security. Book-Entry Notes may be payable only in U.S. dollars. No Global Security will represent any Certificated Note. Denominations: Book-Entry Notes will be issued in principal amounts of U.S. $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an integral multiple of U.S. $1,000. Global Securities will be denominated in principal amounts not in excess of U.S. $200,000,000. If one or more Book-Entry Notes having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $200,000,000 would, but for the preceding sentence, be represented by a single Global Security, then one Global Security will be issued to represent each U.S. $200,000,000 principal amount of such Book-Entry Note or Notes and an additional Global Security will be issued to represent any remaining principal amount of such Book-Entry Note or Notes. In such a case, each of the Global Securities representing such Book-Entry Note or Notes shall be assigned the same CUSIP number. Preparation If any offer to purchase a Book-Entry Note is accepted by or on of Pricing behalf of the Company, the Company will prepare a pricing Supplement: supplement (a "PRICING SUPPLEMENT") reflecting the terms of such Note. The Company (i) will arrange to file such Pricing Supplement with the Commission in accordance with the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Act and (ii) will, as soon as possible and in any event not later than the date on which such Pricing Supplement is filed with the Commission, deliver the number of copies of such Pricing Supplement to the relevant Agent as such Agent shall request. In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is prepared, the relevant Agent will affix the Pricing Supplement to Prospectuses prior to their use. Outdated Pricing Supplements, and the Prospectuses to which they are attached (other than those retained for files), will be destroyed. 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 Note shall constitute "SETTLEMENT" with respect to such Note. All offers accepted by the Company will be settled on the third Business Day next succeeding the date of acceptance, unless the Company B-3 accepts an offer to purchase Notes after 4:30 p.m. on such date in which case settlement will occur on the fourth Business Day next succeeding such date of acceptance, 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. Settlement Settlement Procedures with regard Procedures: to each Book-Entry Note sold by the Company to or through an Agent (unless otherwise specified pursuant to a Terms Agreement) shall be as follows: A. The relevant Agent will advise the Company by telephone that such Note is a Book-Entry Note and of the following settlement information: 1. Principal amount. 2. Maturity Date. 3. In the case of a Fixed Rate Book-Entry Note, the Interest Rate, whether such Note will pay interest annually or semiannually and whether such Note is an Amortizing Note, and, if so, the amortization schedule, or, in the case of a Floating Rate Book-Entry Note, the Initial Interest Rate (if known at such time), Interest Payment Date(s), Interest Payment Period, Calculation Agent, Base Rate, Index Maturity, Interest Reset Period, Initial Interest Reset Date, Interest Reset Dates, Spread or Spread Multiplier (if any), Minimum Interest Rate (if any), Maximum Interest Rate (if any) and the Alternate Rate Event Spread (if any). 4. Redemption or repayment provisions (if any). 5. Settlement date and time (Original Issue Date). 6. Interest Accrual Date. 7. Price. 8. Agent's commission (if any) determined as provided in the Distribution Agreement. B-4 9. Whether the Note is an Original Issue Discount Note (an "OID NOTE"), and if it is an OID Note, the total amount of OID, the yield to maturity, the initial accrual period OID and the applicability of Modified Payment upon Acceleration (and, if so, the Issue Price). 10. Whether the Note is an Indexed Note, and if it is an Indexed Note, the Denominated Currency, the Indexed Currency or Currencies, the Payment Currency, the Exchange Rate Agent, the Reference Dealers, the Face Amount, the Fixed Amount of each Indexed Currency, the Aggregate Fixed Amount of each Indexed Currency and the Authorized Denominations (if other than U.S. dollars). 11. Whether the Note is a Renewable Note, and if it is a Renewable Note, the Initial Maturity Date and the Final Maturity Date. 12. Whether the Company has the option to extend the Original Maturity Date of the Note, and, if so, the Final Maturity Date of such Note. 13. Whether the Company has the option to reset the Interest Rate, the Spread or the Spread Multiplier of the Note. 14. Any other applicable terms. B. The Company will advise Chase by telephone or electronic transmission (confirmed in writing at any time on the same date) of the information set forth in Settlement Procedure "A" above. Chase will then assign a CUSIP number to the Global Security representing such Note and will notify the Company and the relevant Agent of such CUSIP number by telephone as soon as practicable. C. Chase will enter a pending deposit message through DTC's Participant Terminal System, providing the following settlement information to DTC, the relevant Agent and Standard & Poor's Corporation: 1. The information set forth in Settlement Procedure "A". B-5 2. The Initial Interest Payment Date for such Note, the number of days by which such date succeeds the related DTC Record Date (which in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset daily or weekly, shall be the date five calendar days immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date and, in the case of all other Notes, shall be the Record Date as defined in the Note) and, if known, the amount of interest payable on such Initial Interest Payment Date. 3. The CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such Note. 4. Whether such Global Security will represent any other Book-Entry Note (to the extent known at such time). 5. Whether such Note is an Amortizing Note (by an appropriate notation in the comments field of DTC's Participant Terminal System). 6. The number of participant accounts to be maintained by DTC on behalf of the relevant Agent and Chase. D. The Trustee will complete and authenticate the Global Security representing such Note. E. DTC will credit such Note to Chase's participant account at DTC. F. Chase will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant Terminal System instructing DTC to (i) debit such Note to Chase's participant account and credit such Note to the relevant Agent's participant account and (ii) debit such Agent's settlement account and credit Chase's settlement account for an amount equal to the price of such Note less such Agent's commission (if any). The entry of such a deliver order shall constitute a representation and warranty by Chase to DTC that (a) the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Note has been issued and authenticated and (b) Chase is holding such Global Security pursuant to the MTN Certificate Agreement. G. Unless the relevant Agent is the end purchaser of such Note, such Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's B-6 Participant Terminal System instructing DTC (i) to debit such Note to such Agent's participant account and credit such Note to the participant accounts of the Participants with respect to such Note and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts of such Participants and credit the settlement account of such Agent for an amount equal to the price of such Note. H. Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders described in Settlement Procedures "F" and "G" will be settled in accordance with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the settlement date. I. Chase will credit to the account of the Company maintained at Chase, in immediately available funds the amount transferred to Chase in accordance with Settlement Procedure "F". J. Unless the relevant Agent is the end purchaser of such Note, such Agent will confirm the purchase of such Note to the purchaser either by transmitting to the Participants with respect to such Note a confirmation order or orders through DTC's institutional delivery system or by mailing a written confirmation to such purchaser. K. Monthly, Chase will send to the Company a statement setting forth the principal amount of Notes outstanding as of that date under the Indenture and setting forth a brief description of any sales of which the Company has advised Chase that have not yet been settled. Settlement For sales by the Company of Book-Entry Notes to or through Procedures an Agent (unless otherwise specified pursuant to a Terms Timetable: Agreement) for settlement on the first Business Day after the sale date, Settlement Procedures "A" through "J" set forth above shall be completed as soon as possible but not later than the respective times in New York City set forth below: Settlement Procedure Time --------- ---- A 11:00 a.m. on sale date B 12:00 Noon on sale date C 2:00 p.m. on sale date D 9:00 a.m. on settlement date E 10:00 a.m. on settlement date B-7 F-G 2:00 p.m. on settlement date H 4:45 p.m. on settlement date I-J 5:00 p.m. on settlement date If a sale is to be settled more than a Business Day after the sale date, Settlement Procedures "A", "B" and "C" shall be completed as soon as practicable but no later than 11:00 A.M., 12:00 Noon and 2:00 P.M., respectively, on the first Business Day after the sale date. If the Initial Interest Rate for a Floating Rate Book-Entry Note has not been determined at the time that Settlement Procedure "A" is completed, Settlement Procedures "B" and "C" shall be completed as soon as such rate has been determined but no later than 12:00 Noon and 2:00 P.M., respectively, on the first Business Day before the settlement date. Settlement Procedure "H" is subject to extension in accordance with any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect on the settlement date. If settlement of a Book-Entry Note is rescheduled or cancelled, Chase, after receiving notice from the Company or the relevant Agent, will deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, a cancellation message to such effect by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately preceding the scheduled settlement date. Failure If Chase fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with to Settle: respect to a Book-Entry Note pursuant to Settlement Procedure "F", Chase may deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, as soon as practicable a withdrawal message instructing DTC to debit such Note to Chase's participant account, provided that Chase's participant account contains a principal amount of the Global Security representing such Note that is at least equal to the principal amount to be debited. If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to all the Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Security, Chase will mark such Global Security "cancelled," make appropriate entries in the Trustee's records and send such cancelled Global Security to the Company. The CUSIP number assigned to such Global Security shall, in accordance with the procedures of the CUSIP Service Bureau of Standard & Poor's Corporation, be cancelled 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, Chase will exchange such Global Security for two Global B-8 Securities, one of which shall represent such Book-Entry Note or Notes and shall be cancelled immediately after issuance and the other of which shall represent the remaining Book-Entry Notes previously represented by the surrendered Global Security and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Security. If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Note is not timely paid to the Participants with respect to such Note by the beneficial purchaser thereof (or a person, including an indirect participant in DTC, acting on behalf of such purchaser), such Participants and, in turn, the relevant Agent may enter SDFS deliver orders through DTC's Participant Terminal System reversing the orders entered pursuant to Settlement Procedures "F" and "G", respectively. Thereafter, Chase will deliver the withdrawal message and take the related actions described in the preceding paragraph. 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 Procedures "D" and "F", for the authentication and issuance of a Global Security representing the Book-Entry Notes to be represented by such Global Security and will make appropriate entries in its records. B-9 PART II: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES The Trustee will serve as Registrar in connection with the Certificated Notes. Issuance: Each Certificated Note will be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee. Each Certificated Note will bear an Original Issue Date, which will be (i) with respect to an original Certificated Note (or any portion thereof), its original issuance date (which will be the settlement date) and (ii) with respect to any Certificated Note (or portion thereof) issued subsequently upon transfer or exchange of a Certificated Note or in lieu of a destroyed, lost or stolen Certificated Note, the original issuance date of the predecessor Certificated Note, regardless of the date of authentication of such subsequently issued Certificated Note. Preparation If any offer to purchase a Certificated Note is accepted by or of Pricing on behalf of the Company, the Company will prepare a Pricing Supplement: Supplement reflecting the terms of such Note. The Company (i) will arrange to file such Pricing Supplement with the Commission in accordance with the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Act and (ii) will, as soon as possible and in any event not later than the date on which such Pricing Supplement is filed with the Commission, deliver the number of copies of such Pricing Supplement to the relevant Agent as such Agent shall request. In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is prepared, the relevant Agent will affix the Pricing Supplement to Prospectuses prior to their use. Outdated Pricing Supplements, and the Prospectuses to which they are attached (other than those retained for files), will be destroyed. Settlement: The receipt by the Company of immediately available funds in exchange for an authenticated Certificated Note delivered to the relevant Agent and such Agent's delivery of such Note against receipt of immediately available funds shall constitute "SETTLEMENT" with respect to such Note. All offers accepted by the Company will be settled on the third Business Day next succeeding the date of acceptance, unless the Company accepts an offer to purchase Notes after 4:30 p.m. on such date in which case settlement will occur on the fourth Business Day next succeeding such date of acceptance, pursuant to the timetable for settlement set forth below, unless the Company and the purchaser agree to B-10 settlement on another date, which date shall be no earlier than the next Business Day. Settlement Settlement Procedures with regard to each Certificated Note Procedures: sold by the Company to or through an Agent (unless otherwise specified pursuant to a Terms Agreement) shall be as follows: A. The relevant Agent will advise the Company by telephone that such Note is a Certificated Note and of the following settlement information: 1. Name in which such Note is to be registered ("REGISTERED OWNER"). 2. Address of the Registered Owner and address for payment of principal and interest. 3. Taxpayer identification number of the Registered Owner (if available). 4. Principal amount. 5. Maturity Date. 6. In the case of a Fixed Rate Certificated Note, the Interest Rate, whether such Note will pay interest annually or semiannually and whether such Note is an Amortizing Note and, if so, the amortization schedule, or, in the case of a Floating Rate Certificated Note, the Initial Interest Rate (if known at such time), Interest Payment Date(s), Interest Payment Period, Calculation Agent, Base Rate, Index Maturity, Interest Reset Period, Initial Interest Reset Date, Interest Reset Dates, Spread or Spread Multiplier (if any), Minimum Interest Rate (if any), Maximum Interest Rate (if any) and the Alternate Rate Event Spread (if any). 7. Redemption or repayment provisions (if any). 8. Settlement date and time (Original Issue Date). 9. Interest Accrual Date. B-11 10. Price. 11. Agent's commission (if any) determined as provided in the Distribution Agreement. 12. Denominations. 13. Specified Currency. 14. Whether the Note is an OID Note, and if it is an OID Note, the total amount of OID, the yield to maturity, the initial accrual period OID and the applicability of Modified Payment upon Acceleration (and if so, the Issue Price). 15. Whether the Note is an Indexed Note, and if it is an Indexed Note, the Denominated Currency, the Indexed Currency or Currencies, the Payment Currency, the Exchange Rate Agent, the Reference Dealers, the Face Amount, the Fixed Amount of each Indexed Currency, the Aggregate Fixed Amount of each Indexed Currency and the Authorized Denominations (if other than U.S. dollars). 16. Whether the Note is a Renewable Note, and if it is a Renewable Note, the Initial Maturity Date and the Final Maturity Date. 17. Whether the Company has the option to extend the Original Maturity Date of the Note, and, if so, the Final Maturity Date of such Note. 18. Whether the Company has the option to reset the Interest Rate, the Spread or the Spread Multiplier of the Note. 19. Any other applicable terms. B. The Company will advise the Trustee by telephone or electronic transmission (confirmed in writing at any time on the same date) of the information set forth in Settlement Procedure "A" above. B-12 C. The Company will have delivered to the Trustee a pre-printed four-ply packet for such Note, which packet will contain the following documents in forms that have been approved by the Company, the relevant Agent and the Trustee: 1. Note with customer confirmation. 2. Stub One - For the Trustee. 3. Stub Two - For the relevant Agent. 4. Stub Three - For the Company. D. The Trustee will complete such Note and authenticate such Note and deliver it (with the confirmation) and Stubs One and Two to the relevant Agent, and such Agent will acknowledge receipt of the Note by stamping or otherwise marking Stub One and returning it to the Trustee. Such delivery will be made only against such acknowledgment of receipt. The Agent will arrange for payment to the account of the Company at Chase, or to such other account as the Company shall have specified to such Agent and the Trustee, in immediately available funds, of an amount equal to the price of such Note less such Agent's commission (if any). In the event that the instructions given by such Agent for payment to the account of the Company are revoked, the Company will as promptly as possible wire transfer to the account of such Agent an amount of immediately available funds equal to the amount of such payment made. E. Unless the relevant Agent is the end purchaser of such Note, such Agent will deliver such Note (with confirmation) to the customer against payment in immediately available funds. Such Agent will obtain the acknowledgment of receipt of such Note by retaining Stub Two. F. The Trustee will send Stub Three to the Company by first-class mail. Monthly, the Trustee will also send to the Company a statement setting forth the principal amount of the Notes outstanding as of that date under the Indenture and setting forth a brief description of any sales of which B-13 the Company has advised the Trustee that have not yet been settled. Settlement For sales by the Company of Certificated Notes to or through an Prcedures Agent (unless otherwise specified pursuant to a Terms Timetable: Agreement), Settlement Procedures "A" through "F" set forth above shall be completed on or before the respective times in New York City set forth below: Settlement Procedure Time ---------- ---- A 2:00 p.m. on day before settlement date B 3:00 p.m. on day before settlement date C-D 2:15 p.m. on settlement date E 3:00 p.m. on settlement date F 5:00 p.m. on settlement date Failure to Settle: If a purchaser fails to accept delivery of and make payment for any Certificated Note, the relevant Agent will notify the Company and the Trustee by telephone and return such Note to the Trustee. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company will immediately wire transfer to the account of such Agent an amount equal to the price of such Note less such Agent's commission in respect of such Note (if any). Such wire transfer will be made on the settlement date, if possible, and in any event not later than the Business Day following the settlement date. If the failure shall have occurred for any reason other than a default by such Agent in the performance of its obligations hereunder and under the Distribution Agreement, then the Company will reimburse such Agent or the Trustee, as appropriate, on an equitable basis for its loss of the use of the funds during the period when they were credited to the account of the Company. Immediately upon receipt of the Certificated Note in respect of which such failure occurred, the Trustee will mark such Note "cancelled," make appropriate entries in the Trustee's records and send such Note to the Company. B-14 EXHIBIT C PART I FORM OF AGENT ACCESSION LETTER - PROGRAM [Date] To: The New York Times Company Re: The New York Times Company (the "COMPANY") U.S.$300,000,000 Medium-Term Note Program ----------------------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: We refer to the Distribution Agreement dated as of September 24, 1998 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT") relating to the above Medium-Term Note Program and made between the Company and the Agents party thereto. Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms used herein have the meanings given to them in the Distribution Agreement. We confirm that we are in receipt of a copy of the Distribution Agreement and copies of all documents that we have requested and have found them to our satisfaction. For the purposes of the Distribution Agreement our notice details are as follows: (insert name, address, telephone, facsimile and attention). In consideration of the appointment by the Company of us as an Agent under the Distribution Agreement we hereby undertake, for the benefit of the Company and each of the other Agents, that we will perform and comply with all the duties and obligations expressed to be assumed by an Agent under the Distribution Agreement. This letter is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Yours faithfully, [Name of New Agent] By ---------------------------- Name: Title: cc: _______________________ (Trustee) _______________________ (Agents) EXHIBIT C PART II FORM OF CONFIRMATION LETTER - PROGRAM [Date] To: [Name and address of new Agent] Re: U.S.$300,000,000 Medium-Term Note Program ----------------------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: We refer to the Distribution Agreement dated as of September 24, 1998 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT") relating to the above Medium-Term Note Program and hereby acknowledge receipt of your Agent Accession Letter to us dated _____________. In accordance with Section 11 of the Distribution Agreement we hereby confirm that, with effect from the date hereof, you shall become a party to the Distribution Agreement, vested with all the authority, rights, powers, duties and obligations of an Agent as if originally named as Agent under the Distribution Agreement. Yours faithfully, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY By ----------------------------- Name: Title: C-2 EXHIBIT C PART III FORM OF AGENT ACCESSION LETTER - NOTE ISSUE [Date] To: The New York Times Company Re: The New York Times Company (the "COMPANY") U.S.$300,000,000 Medium-Term Note Program ----------------------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: We refer to the Distribution Agreement dated as of September 24, 1998 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT") relating to the above Medium-Term Note Program and made between the Company and the Agents party thereto. Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms used herein have the meanings given to them in the Distribution Agreement. We confirm that we are in receipt of a copy of the Distribution Agreement and copies of all documents that we have requested and have found them to our satisfaction. For the purposes of the Distribution Agreement our notice details are as follows: (insert name, address, telephone, facsimile and attention). In consideration of the Company appointing us as an Agent in respect of the issue of [__________ Medium-Term Notes due __________] (the "ISSUE") under the Distribution Agreement we hereby undertake, for the benefit of the Issuer and each of the other Agents, that in relation to the Issue we will perform and comply with all the duties and obligations expressed to be assumed by an Agent under the Distribution Agreement. This letter is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Yours faithfully, [Name of New Agent] By ---------------------------- Name: Title: cc: _______________________ (Trustee) C-3 EXHIBIT C PART IV FORM OF CONFIRMATION LETTER - NOTE ISSUE [Date] To: [Name and address of new Agent] Re: The New York Times Company U.S.$300,000,000 Medium-Term Note Program ----------------------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: We refer to the Distribution Agreement dated as of September 24, 1998 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT") relating to the above Medium-Term Note Program and hereby acknowledge receipt of your Agent Accession Letter to us dated ___________. In accordance with Section 11 of the Distribution Agreement we hereby confirm that, with effect from the date hereof in respect of the issue of __________ Medium-Term Notes due __________ (the "ISSUE"), you shall become a party to the Distribution Agreement, vested with all the authority, rights, powers, duties and obligations of an Agent in relation to the Issue as if originally named as Agent under the Distribution Agreement, provided that following the issue of the Notes representing the Issue you shall have no further authority, rights, powers, duties or obligations except such as may have accrued or been incurred prior to or in connection with the issue of such Notes. Yours faithfully, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY By ----------------------------- Name: Title: cc: _______________________ (Trustee) C-4 EX-10.2 3 EXHIBIT 10-2 Exhibit 10.2 EXCHANGE RATE AGENCY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY AND MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER Dated as of September 24, 1998 The New York Times Company (the "Company") proposes to issue and sell from time to time its Medium-Term Notes (the "Notes") in an initial aggregate principal amount of up to $300,000,000 or its equivalent in one or more foreign currency or composite currency, pursuant to an Indenture dated as of March 29, 1995 as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 21, 1998 (the Indenture so supplemented, the "Indenture"), by and between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank), as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture). Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Pricing Supplement, payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Notes denominated in one or more foreign currency or composite currency (the "Foreign Currency Notes") will be made in the foreign currency or composite currency specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement (the "Specified Currency"); provided, however, that payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Foreign Currency Notes will be made in U.S. dollars (i) at the option of the Company in the case of imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company on the basis of the most recently available noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such Specified Currency or (ii) in the case of Notes which so provide, at the option of the holder of such Foreign Currency Note in accordance with the procedures set forth in such Foreign Currency Note. For the purpose of appointing an Exchange Rate Agent to convert Specified Currencies to U.S. dollars for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Foreign Currency Notes to holders of Foreign Currency Notes who are to be paid in U.S. dollars and for the purpose of performing the other services hereinafter described upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter mentioned, the Company hereby agrees as follows. Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings ascribed thereto in the Prospectus Supplement dated September 24, 1998, pertaining to the Notes (the "Prospectus Supplement") or in the Foreign Currency Notes. SECTION 1. Appointment of Exchange Rate Agent. The Company hereby appoints Morgan Stanley Dean Witter as Exchange Rate Agent (the "Exchange Rate Agent") with respect to the Foreign Currency Notes sold by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to the Distribution Agreement dated September 24, 1998, and the Exchange Rate Agent accepts its obligations as set forth in this Agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth herein. SECTION 2. Exchange of Currencies. The Company shall cause the Trustee to notify the Exchange Rate Agent at least two Business Days prior to each day on which principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Notes shall be payable (each a "Payment Date") of the aggregate amount of Specified Currency payable to all holders of Foreign Currency Notes scheduled to receive payments in U.S. dollars on such Payment Date. As of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day next preceding the applicable Payment Date, the Exchange Rate Agent will solicit bid quotations from three Recognized Foreign Exchange Dealers (as defined in Section 3 hereof) for the purchase by the quoting Recognized Foreign Exchange Dealer of the aggregate amount of the Specified Currency which is to be exchanged for payment in U.S. dollars on such Payment Date. The settlement date for the exchange of such Specified Currency for U.S. dollars shall be the applicable Payment Date. The Exchange Rate Agent shall enter into an agreement to trade such currencies (in such amounts and upon such terms as indicated above and upon such further terms as are not inconsistent with the above) with such Recognized Foreign Exchange Dealers as shall have submitted the highest bid. The Exchange Rate Agent shall notify the Company and the Paying Agent, by telex, telefax or telephone and confirmed promptly in writing or in any other manner satisfactory to the Company or the Paying Agent, (i) of the highest exchange rate quoted in the bids received from the Recognized Foreign Exchange Dealers or (ii) if such bids are not available from the Recognized Foreign Exchange Dealers. If such bids are not available, the Exchange Rate Agent will transmit the total amount of the Specified Currency received from the Company for payment on the Payment Date to the Company's paying agent as provided below. Prior to each Payment Date, the Exchange Rate Agent will give telephonic notice to the Company of the place (including the account number and related information) to which the conversion amount shall be paid on the Payment Date to the Exchange Rate Agent by the Company. Such telephonic notice shall be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable thereafter in accordance with Section 11. In the event the Exchange Rate Agent fails to give such notice, the Company shall be entitled to rely on the payment instructions with respect to the immediately preceding Payment Date. As early as practicable on the Payment Date, the Company shall remit to the Exchange Rate Agent the aggregate amount of Specified Currency payable to all holders of Foreign Currency Notes scheduled to receive payments in U.S. dollars on such Payment Date. As promptly as practicable thereafter on the Payment Date, the Exchange Rate Agent will exchange such amount of Specified Currency for U.S. dollars and transmit the U.S. dollars received upon exchange from the Specified Currency to the Company's paying agent, or in accordance with the instructions of such paying agent. -2- SECTION 3. Certain Definitions. As used herein, "Business Day" means any day which is not a Saturday or a Sunday and which is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York. As used herein, "Recognized Foreign Exchange Dealers" means (a) any of the first three foreign exchange dealers in a list to be selected by the Exchange Rate Agent, or (b) upon the failure to obtain one or more of such bids from the first three firms in the list, such other firms listed in the descending order of their appearance on such list, as shall be necessary to obtain the three bids as required by Section 2 hereof, or (c) in the absences of bids under subsection (a) or (b) above, such other firms located in The City of New York as the Exchange Rate Agent shall advise the Company from time to time in writing. Nothing contained herein shall be considered to prohibit the Exchange Rate Agent from serving as a Recognized Foreign Exchange Dealer. SECTION 4. Fees and Expenses. The Exchange Rate Agent shall be entitled to such compensation for its services under this Agreement as may be agreed upon with the Company, and the Company shall pay such compensation from time to time. Upon receiving an accounting therefor from the Exchange Rate Agent, the Company will also pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including legal, bid solicitation, telex and cable expenses) incurred by the Exchange Rate Agent in connection with its services to the Company as Exchange Rate Agent hereunder, except any expenses or disbursements attributable to its negligence or bad faith. It is understood that all currency exchange costs will be borne by Foreign Currency Note holders whose Note payments are required to be converted into U.S. dollars and will be deducted by the Exchange Rate Agent from funds transmitted to or in accordance with the instructions of the Company's paying agent pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Upon request by the Exchange Rate Agent, the Company will confirm to the Exchange Rate Agent whether specified expenses, disbursements or advances are or are not to be borne by such Foreign Currency Note holders pursuant to the terms of the Foreign Currency Notes. SECTION 5. Status of Exchange Rate Agent. Any acts of the Exchange Rate Agent under this Agreement or in connection with the Foreign Currency Notes shall be solely as agent of the Company and shall not create or imply any obligation to, or any relationship with, the owners or holders of the Foreign Currency Notes. SECTION 6. Rights and Liabilities of Exchange Rate Agent. The Exchange Rate Agent shall incur no liability for, or in respect of, any action taken or omitted to be taken, or anything suffered by it in reliance upon any Foreign Currency Note, written instruction, notice, request, direction, certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper, document or communication reasonably believed by it to be genuine. Any order, certificate, affidavit, instruction, notice, request, direction, statement or other communication from the Company made or given by it and sent, delivered or directed to the Exchange Rate Agent under, pursuant to or as permitted by any provision of this Agreement shall be sufficient for purposes of this Agreement if such -3- communication is in writing and signed by any officer or other duly authorized employee of the Company. All determinations made by the Exchange Rate Agent with respect to any Foreign Currency Note shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company. SECTION 7. Duties of Exchange Rate Agent. The Exchange Rate Agent shall be obligated to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth herein and in the Prospectus Supplement, the related Pricing Supplement and the Administrative Procedure relating to the Distribution Agreement dated September 24, 1998, among the Company and the Agents (as defined therein), and no other duties or obligations shall be implied by this Agreement. SECTION 8. Termination, Resignation or Removal of Exchange Rate Agent. (a) The Exchange Rate Agent may at any time terminate this Agreement by giving no less than two months (60 days) prior written notice to the Company unless the Company agrees in writing to a shorter time. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time by giving written notice to the Exchange Rate Agent and specifying the date when the termination shall become effective. Upon termination by either party under this Section, (i) the Exchange Rate Agent shall repay to the Company the unearned portion, calculated on a pro rata basis, of its fee payable under this Agreement and (ii) the Exchange Rate Agent shall be entitled to the payment of any amount owed to it by the Company and to the reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the services rendered by it hereunder, which obligations shall survive the Exchange Rate Agent's resignation or removal hereunder and the termination of this Agreement, and the provisions of Section 9 shall remain in effect. (b) Any successor Exchange Rate Agent appointed shall execute and deliver to the Exchange Rate Agent it is replacing and to the Company an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon such successor Exchange Rate Agent shall without any further act, deed or conveyance, become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations of the Exchange Rate Agent it is replacing, and with like effect as if originally named as Exchange Rate Agent by consent hereunder, and the Exchange Rate Agent shall thereupon be obligated to transfer and deliver, and such subsequent Exchange Rate Agent shall be entitled to receive, copies of any relevant records maintained by the Exchange Rate Agent it is replacing. SECTION 9. Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Exchange Rate Agent, its officers, employees and agents from and against all actions, claims, damages, liabilities, losses and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) to the extent that such actions, claims, damages, liabilities, losses and expenses arise directly from its appointment or the exercise of its powers and duties hereunder, except actions, claims, damages, liabilities, losses and expenses caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Exchange Rate Agent, its officers or employees. -4- SECTION 10. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Business by the Exchange Rate Agent. Any corporation into which the Exchange Rate Agent may be merged or consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Exchange Rate Agent may be a party, or any corporation to which the Exchange Rate Agent may sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets and business, shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the Exchange Rate Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act by the parties hereto. Notice in writing of any such merger, consolidation or sale shall be given forthwith to the Company. SECTION 11. Notices. Any notice given hereunder shall be delivered in person, sent by a letter sent through a service that maintains a record of delivery and receipt or facsimile transmission or communicated by telephone (subject, in the case of communication by telephone, to confirmation dispatched immediately by letter sent through a service that maintains a record of delivery and receipt or facsimile transmission) to the addresses given below or such other address as the party to receive such notice may have previously specified: To the Company: The New York Times Company 229 West 43d Street New York, New York 10036 Attn: Mr. R. Anthony Benten, Assistant Treasurer Telephone Number: (212) 556-1713 Facsimile Number: (212) 556-1646 With copies to: The New York Times Company 229 West 43d Street New York, New York 10036 Attn: Ms. Ellen Taus, Treasurer Telephone Number: (212) 556-1774 Facsimile Number: (212) 556-1646 and The New York Times Company 229 West 43d Street New York, New York 10036 -5- Attn: Solomon B. Watson IV, Esq., Senior Vice President and General Counsel Telephone Number: (212) 556-7531 Facsimile Number: (212) 556-4634 To the Paying Agent or the Trustee: The Chase Manhattan Bank 450 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor New York, New York 10001-2697 Attn: Global Trust Services Telephone Number: (212) 946-3042 Facsimile Number: (212) 946-8154 To the Exchange Rate Agent: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter 1585 Broadway New York, New York 10036 Attention: Manager, Credit Department Telephone Number: (212) 761-4000 Facsimile Number: (212) 761-0780 With a copy to: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter 1585 Broadway New York, New York 10036 Attn: Managing Director, Debt Syndicate Telephone Number: (212) 761-4000 Facsimile Number: (212) 761-0780 Any notice hereunder given by facsimile transmission or letter shall be effective when it is received. SECTION 12. Benefit of Agreement. Except as provided herein, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns an no other person shall acquire or have any rights under or by virtue hereof. -6- SECTION 13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements entered into and to be performed in such State. SECTION 14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement. -7- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been entered into the day and year first above written. THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY By: /s/ Rhonda L. Brauer ---------------------------- Name: Rhonda L. Brauer Title: Assistant Secretary MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER By: /s/ Michael Fusco ---------------------------- Name: Michael Fusco Title: Vice President -8- EX-10.3 4 CALCULATION AGENT AGREEMENT 09/24/98 Exhibit 10.3 THE NEW YORK TIMES MEDIUM-TERM NOTES CALCULATION AGENT AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT dated as of September 24, 1998 between The New York Times Company (hereinafter called the "Issuer"), having its principal office at 229 West 43d Street, New York, New York 10036 and The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corporation (hereinafter sometimes called the "Calculation Agent" which term shall, unless the context shall otherwise require, include its successors and assigns), having its principal corporate trust office at 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001. Recitals of the Issuer The Issuer proposes to issue from time to time medium-term notes (the "Notes") under the Indenture dated as of March 29, 1995, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 21, 1998 (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank), as Trustee. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used as defined in the Indenture. Certain of the Notes may bear interest at one of several floating rates determined by reference to an interest rate formula (the "Floating Rate Notes") and the Issuer desires to engage the Calculation Agent to perform certain services in connection therewith. 2 NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED THAT: 1. The Issuer hereby appoints The Chase Manhattan Bank as Calculation Agent for the Floating Rate Notes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein mentioned, and The Chase Manhattan Bank hereby accepts such appointment. The Calculation Agent shall act as an agent of the Issuer for the purpose of determining the interest rate or rates of the Floating Rate Notes. 2. The Issuer agrees to deliver to the Calculation Agent, prior to the issuance of any Floating Rate Notes, copies of the proposed forms of such Notes, including copies of all terms and conditions relating to the determination of the interest rate thereunder. The Issuer shall not issue any Floating Rate Note prior to the receipt of confirmation from the Calculation Agent of its acceptance of the proposed form of such Note. The Calculation Agent hereby acknowledges its acceptance of the proposed form of Floating Rate Note previously delivered to it. 3. The Issuer shall notify the Calculation Agent of the issuance of any Floating Rate Notes prior to the issuance thereof and at the time of such issuance, shall deliver to the Calculation Agent the information required to be provided by the Issuer for the calculation of the 3 applicable interest rates thereunder. The Calculation Agent shall calculate the applicable interest rates for Floating Rate Notes in accordance with the terms of such Notes, the Indenture and the provisions of this Agreement. 4. Promptly following the determination of each change to the interest rate applicable to any Floating Rate Note, the Calculation Agent will cause to be forwarded to the Issuer, the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent information regarding the interest rate then in effect for such Floating Rate Note. 5. The Issuer will pay such compensation as shall be agreed upon with the Calculation Agent and the out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred by the Calculation Agent in connection with its duties hereunder, upon receipt of such invoices as the Issuer shall reasonably require. 6. Notwithstanding any satisfaction or discharge of the Notes or the Indenture, 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 reasonable expenses and fees of counsel in defending any 4 claim, action or demand, except such as may result from the gross negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith of the Calculation Agent or any of its employees. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, 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. 7. The Calculation Agent accepts its obligations herein 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 provisions of this Agreement shall be sufficient if signed by any person whom the Calculation Agent 5 reasonably believes to be a duly authorized officer or attorney-in-fact of the Issuer; (iii) the Calculation Agent shall be obligated to perform only such duties as are set forth specifically herein and any duties necessarily incidental thereto; (iv) except in the case of gross negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith, the Calculation Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted to be taken or anything suffered by it in reliance upon anything contained in a Floating Rate Note, the Indenture or any information supplied to it by the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement, including the information to be supplied pursuant to paragraph 3 above; (v) the Calculation Agent, whether acting for itself or in any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights as it would have had if it were not acting hereunder as Calculation Agent; (vi) the Calculation Agent shall incur no liability hereunder except for loss sustained by reason of its gross negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith; and 6 (vii) in no event shall the Calculation Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Calculation Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. 8. (a) The Issuer agrees to notify the Calculation Agent at least 30 days prior to the issuance of any Floating Rate Note with an interest rate to be determined by any formula that would require the Calculation Agent to select banks or other financial institutions (the "Reference Banks") for purposes of quoting rates, provided however the Issuer need not give such 30 day notice with respect to any Floating Rate Note with an interest rate to be determined by a formula that provides for the Calculation Agent to select Reference Banks only upon the occurrence of a contingency such as the unavailability of a published reference rate. Promptly thereafter, the Calculation Agent will notify the Issuer and the Trustee of the names and addresses of such Reference Banks. Forthwith upon any change in the identity of the Reference Banks, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Issuer and the Trustee of such change. The Calculation Agent shall not be responsible to the Issuer or any third party for any failure of the Reference Banks to fulfill 7 their duties or meet their obligations as Reference Banks or as a result of the Calculation Agent having acted (except in the event of gross negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith) on any quotation or other information given by any Reference Bank which subsequently may be found to be incorrect. (b) 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 60 days 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 and the Trustee 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). Any such resignation or removal shall take effect upon: (i) the appointment by the Issuer as hereinafter provided of a successor Calculation Agent; and 8 (ii) the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Calculation Agent; provided, however, that in the event the Calculation Agent has given not less than 60 days' prior notice of its desired resignation, and during such 60 days there has not been acceptance by a successor Calculation Agent of its appoint- ment as successor Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent so resigning may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Calculation Agent. The Issuer covenants that it shall appoint a successor Calculation Agent as soon as practicable after receipt of any notice of resignation hereunder. 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 (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by such retiring Calculation Agent pursuant to paragraph 5 hereof to the date such resignation or removal becomes effective. (c) 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 9 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 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 shall be appointed by the Issuer by an instrument in writing filed with the successor Calculation Agent and the Trustee. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Calculation Agent and acceptance by the latter of such appointment the former Calculation Agent shall cease to be Calculation Agent hereunder. (d) Any successor Calculation Agent appointed hereunder shall execute and deliver to its predecessor, the Issuer and the Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor 10 Calculation Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, immunities, duties and obligations of such predecessor with like effect as if originally named as the Calculation Agent hereunder, and such predecessor, upon payment of its compensation, charges and disbursements then unpaid, 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. (e) 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, 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. (f) The provisions of paragraph 6 hereof shall survive any resignation or removal hereunder. 11 9. Any notice required to be given hereunder shall be delivered in person against written receipt, sent by letter or telex or telecopy or communicated by telephone (subject, in the case of communication by telephone, to confirmation dispatched within two business days by letter, telex or telecopy), in the case of the Issuer, to it at the address set forth in the heading of this Agreement, Attention: Assistant Treasurer, Telephone: (212) 556-1713, Telecopy: (212) 556-1646, with a copy to the Treasurer and the Senior Vice President and General Counsel; in the case of the Calculation Agent, to it at the address set forth in the heading of this Agreement, Attention: Global Trust Services, Telephone: (212) 946-3481, Telecopy: (212) 946-8159; in the case of the Trustee, to it at 450 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Global Trust Services, Telephone: (212) 946-3360, Telecopy: (212) 946-8159; or, in any case, to any other address of which the party receiving notice shall have notified the party giving such notice in writing. 10. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing duly executed and delivered by each of the parties signing below. 12 11. The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. 12. 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. THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY By /s/ Rhonda L. Brauer ---------------------------- Title: Assistant Secretary THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK By /s/ R. Lorenzen ---------------------------- Title: Senior Trust Officer -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----