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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 6, 2002 SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP. (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) Delaware 1-4040 51-0080535 3711 Kennett Pike, 19807 (302) 434-3112 (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report):
Not Applicable Item 5. Other Events. On December 6, 2002, Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. and Sears,
Roebuck and Co. executed a Selling Agent Agreement with Banc
of America Securities LLC, Incapital LLC, A.G. Edwards & Sons,
Inc., Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Edward D. Jones & Co.,
L.P., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Prudential Securities Incorporated,
Quick & Reilly Inc., RBC Dain Rauscher Inc., UBS Paine Webber Inc.,
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc., and Wachovia Securities, Inc., relating
to $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes® (the "Notes").
The Notes will constitute a series of unsecured senior debt securities to be
issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of October 1, 2002, between
the Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as
trustee, to be sold from time to time pursuant to the Selling Agent
Agreement. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits See Exhibit Index incorporated herein by reference 2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized. SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP. By:/s/ Keith E. Trost Date: December 10, 2002
3 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description 1 Selling Agent Agreement, dated December 6, 2002, among Sears Roebuck
Acceptance Corp., Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Agents named therein. 4 Form of Note. 5 Opinion of Anastasia D. Kelly dated December 6, 2002, relating to the
validity of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Sears Roebuck
Acceptance Corp. InterNotes®. 8 Opinion of Mayer, Brown Rowe & Maw as to certain federal income
tax matters. 23(a) Consent of Anastasia D. Kelly (included in Exhibit 5). 23(b) Consent of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw (included in Exhibit 8). 4 SELLING AGENT AGREEMENT by and among Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp., Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Agents named herein December 6, 2002 December 6, 2002 Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") proposes to issue and sell up to $2,000,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of its Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes®
due nine months or more from date of issue (the "Notes"). The Notes
will constitute part of a series of senior debt securities to be issued pursuant
to the Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of October 1, 2002,
between the Company and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as trustee (the
"Trustee"). The terms of the Notes are described in the Prospectus
referred to below. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Company
hereby (1) appoints each of you as agent of the Company ("Agent") for
the purpose of soliciting offers to purchase the Notes and each of you hereby
agree to use your reasonable best efforts to solicit 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 and in accordance with the terms hereof,
and after consultation with Incapital LLC (the "Purchasing Agent") and
(2) agrees that whenever the Company determines to sell Notes pursuant to this
Agreement, such Notes shall be sold pursuant to a Terms
Agreement (as defined herein) among the Company, Sears and the Purchasing
Agent relating to such sale in accordance with the provisions of Section V
hereof, with the Purchasing Agent purchasing such Notes as principal for resale
to the other Agents or dealers (the "Selected Dealers"), each of whom
will purchase as principal. The Company reserves the right to enter into
agreements substantially identical hereto with other agents. I. The Company and Sears, Roebuck and Co., a New York corporation
("Sears"), have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-92082)
relating to debt securities, including the Notes, and the offering thereof, from
time to time, in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act"). Such registration statement has been
declared effective by the SEC, and the Indenture has been qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").
The various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto
but excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the time such part became effective,
being hereinafter collectively called the "Registration Statement";
the prospectus relating to the Notes, in the form in which it has most recently
been filed with the SEC on or prior to the date of this Agreement, being
hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by
reference therein pursuant to the applicable form under the 1933 Act as of the
date of such Prospectus; any supplement to the Prospectus that sets forth only
the terms of any Notes to be sold through or to the Agents pursuant to this
Agreement, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit D, being hereinafter
called a "Pricing Supplement"; any reference to any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any
documents filed after the date of such Prospectus under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and incorporated therein by
reference; and any reference to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall
be deemed to refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented specifically
with respect to any Notes sold through or to the Agents pursuant to this
Agreement, in the form in which it is filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)
of Regulation C under the 1933 Act, including any documents incorporated by
reference therein as of the date of such filing. II. The Agents' obligations hereunder are subject to the following conditions: (a) On the date hereof, the Agents shall have received the following written
legal opinions, dated as of the date hereof and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agents: (1) The opinion of Anastasia D. Kelly, Senior Vice President and General
Counsel of Sears (or other counsel to the Company satisfactory to the
Purchasing Agent), to the effect that: (i) Each of the Company and Sears has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
respective state of incorporation; (ii) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
500,000 shares of common stock, par value $100.00 per share, all of the
issued and outstanding shares of which are owned by Sears
free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances,
and the authorized capital stock of Sears is as set forth or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; (iii) The Company is not an "investment company" that is
registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended; (iv) This Agreement (and, if the opinion is being given pursuant to
Section VII(c) as a result of the Company having entered into a Terms
Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreement with respect to the Notes) has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered on the part of the Company
and Sears; (v) The issue and sale of the Notes and the compliance by the Company
with all of the provisions of the Notes, the Indenture, this Agreement
and any applicable Terms Agreement with respect to the Notes will not
(a) conflict with or result in any breach which would constitute a
material default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the
Company material to the Company, pursuant to the terms of any indenture,
loan agreement or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money known
to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which the Company
may be bound or to which any of the property 2 or assets of the Company material to the Company is subject, (b)
result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended or the By-Laws of the Company or (c) to the
best of the knowledge of such counsel, result in any material violation
of any statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company of any court or any federal, state or other regulatory authority
or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, other
than the securities laws of the various states or other jurisdictions
which are applicable to the issue and sale of the Notes, as to which
such counsel need express no opinion; and, to the best knowledge of such
counsel, no consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
filing with, any court or any such regulatory authority or other
governmental body is required for the issue and sale of the Notes except
as has been obtained or effected under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the
Trust Indenture Act and securities laws of the various states or other
jurisdictions which are applicable to the issue and sale of the Notes; 3 (viii) Such counsel does not know of any pending legal or
governmental proceedings required to be described in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented (including documents incorporated by reference
therein) which are not described as required; (ix) Except for statements in such documents that do not constitute
part of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
412 of Regulation C under the 1933 Act and after substituting therefor
any statements modifying or superseding such excluded statements, the
documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented (other than the financial statements and related schedules,
the analyses of operations and financial condition and other financial,
statistical and accounting data therein, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), when they were filed with the SEC, complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act, and
the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; (x) Except for statements in such documents which do not constitute
part of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
412 of Regulation C under the 1933 Act and after substituting therefor
any statements modifying or superseding such excluded statements, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
(excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein) (other than
the financial statements and related schedules, the analyses of
operations and financial condition and other financial, statistical and
accounting data therein as to which such counsel need express no
opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC
thereunder; the answers in the Registration Statement to Items 9 and 10
(insofar as it relates to such counsel) of Form S-3 are to the best of
such counsel's knowledge accurate statements or summaries of the
matters therein set forth and fairly present the information called for
with respect to those matters by the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (xi) Such counsel does not know of any contract or other document to
which the Company or Sears or any subsidiary thereof is a party required
to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to
be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented or required to be described in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented which has not been so filed, incorporated by reference or
described. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely to the extent such
counsel deems appropriate upon certificates of officers or other executives
of the Company, Sears and its business groups and subsidiaries and of public
officials as to the factual matters and upon opinions of other counsel. 4 (2) The opinion of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, special tax counsel for
the Company, as to matters set forth under "Material
United States Federal Tax Considerations" in the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented. (3) The opinion of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen &
Hamilton, counsel to the Agents, to the effect that: (i) The Company is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware. (ii) Sears is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the State of New York. (iii) The execution and delivery of the Indenture have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the
Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and is a valid, binding and
enforceable agreement of the Company. (iv) The execution and delivery of the Notes have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and
(assuming their due authentication by the Trustee) when duly executed,
issued and delivered pursuant to the Indenture and any Terms Agreement,
will constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the
Company in accordance with their terms, entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture. (v) The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and Sears,
and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and Sears. Such counsel shall also state that: (a) no information has come to
such counsel's attention that causes such counsel to believe that the
Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, including the
documents incorporated by reference therein (except the financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data
included therein, as to which such counsel need express no view), at the
time it became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and (b) no
information has come to such counsel's attention that causes such
counsel to believe that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented,
including the documents incorporated by reference therein (except the
financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical
data included therein, as to which such counsel need express no view)
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. 5 (4) In giving the opinion required by subsection (a)(1) of this Section,
but without opining in connection therewith, counsel to the Company shall
additionally state, although such counsel has not independently verified, is
not passing upon and assumes no responsibility for, the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration
Statement that: (a) nothing has come to such counsel's attention which has
caused such counsel to believe that any of the documents referred to in
subsection (a)(1)(ix) above (other than the financial statements and related
schedules, the analyses of operations and financial condition and other
financial, statistical and accounting data therein, as to which such counsel
need express no belief), in each case after excluding any statement in any
such document which does not constitute part of the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented pursuant to Rule 412 of
Regulation C under the 1933 Act and after substituting therefor any
statement modifying or superseding such excluded statement, when it became
effective or was filed, as the case may be, contained, in the case of
documents which became effective under the 1933 Act, an untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, in
the case of documents which were filed under the 1934 Act with the SEC, an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (b) nothing
has come to such counsel's attention which has caused such counsel to
believe that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented (other than the financial statements, the analyses of
operations and financial condition and other financial, statistical and
accounting data therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief)
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading. (b) On the date hereof, the Agents shall have received a certificate of the
President, any Vice President or Treasurer or any other authorized officer of
each of the Company and Sears satisfactory to the Agents, dated as of the date
hereof, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully
examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement and that
to the best of their knowledge (i) the representations and warranties of the
Company and Sears, respectively, contained in this Agreement are true and
correct in all material respects with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of the date of such certificate, (ii) the Company or
Sears, as the case may be, has performed or complied with all agreements and
satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at
or prior to the date of such certificate, and (iii) no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, no proceedings for
that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the SEC and all requests for
additional information on the part of the SEC have been complied with. (c) On the date hereof, the Agents shall have received a letter or letters
from Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte & Touche") dated as of
the date hereof and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, to the
effect set forth in Schedule I hereto. (d) On the date hereof and, if so specified in any Terms Agreement, the
applicable Settlement Date (as defined herein) with respect to any purchase of
Notes by the Purchasing 6 Agent, counsel to the Agents shall have been furnished with such documents
and opinions as such counsel may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling
such counsel to pass upon the organization of the Company, the validity of the
Indenture and the registration, authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of
the Notes as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy and
completeness of any of the representations and warranties, or the fulfillment of
any of the conditions, contained herein; and all proceedings taken by the
Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes as herein
contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchasing Agent
and to counsel to the Agents. The obligations of the Purchasing Agent to purchase Notes as principal, both
under this Agreement and under any Terms Agreement, are subject to the
conditions that all representations and warranties and other statements of the
Company and Sears herein are true and correct at and as of the date of each
Representation Date (as defined herein), the condition that each of the Company
and Sears shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to
be performed and that: (i) no litigation or proceeding shall be threatened or
pending to restrain or enjoin the issuance or delivery of the Notes, or which in
any way questions or affects the validity of the Notes; (ii) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect,
and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the
SEC and all requests for additional information on the part of the SEC shall
have been complied with to the Purchasing Agent's reasonable satisfaction, each
of which conditions described in clauses (i) and (ii) shall be met on the date
of the applicable Terms Agreement and on the corresponding Settlement Date;
(iii) the Company and Sears shall not have sustained after the date of the
latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus and prior to each Settlement Date, any material loss or interference
with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented through the date that the Purchasing Agent agreed to purchase such
Notes as principal; and (iv) since the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and prior to each
Settlement Date, there shall not have been any material change in the capital
stock accounts or long-term debt of the Company or any material adverse change
in the general affairs, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company, otherwise than as set forth in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented through the date that the Purchasing Agent agreed to
purchase such Notes as principal, the effect of which, in any such case
described in clause (iii) or (iv), in the judgment of the Purchasing Agent makes
it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by the
Purchasing Agent of offers to purchase Notes or the purchase by the Purchasing
Agent of Notes from the Company as principal, as the case may be. Further, if
specifically called for by any written agreement by the Purchasing Agent,
including a Terms Agreement, to purchase Notes as principal, the Purchasing
Agent's obligations hereunder and under such agreement, shall be subject to
such additional conditions, including those set forth in subsections (a), (b)
and (c) above, as agreed to by the parties, each of which such agreed conditions
shall be met on the corresponding Settlement Date. III. In further consideration of your agreements herein contained, each of the
Company and Sears covenants with each Agent as follows: 7 (a) The Company or Sears will notify each Joint Lead
Manager and Lead Agent (as identified on Annex A hereto) immediately of (i)
the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement,
(ii) the filing of any supplement to the Prospectus or any document to be filed
pursuant to the 1934 Act that will be incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus (other than with respect to Current Reports on Form 8-K relating
exclusively to the issuance of debt securities under the Registration Statement
or filed solely for the purpose of disclosure under Item 9 thereof, the Annual
Reports on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company and
Sears), (iii) the receipt of any comments from the SEC with respect to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, (iv) any
request by the SEC for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or for
additional information relating thereto, and (v) the issuance by the SEC of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any
order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Notes
or the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose. The Company
and Sears will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any such
order preventing or suspending the use of any such prospectus or suspending any
such qualification and, if any stop order or other suspension is issued, to
obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment. (b) The Company or Sears will give the Agents notice of its intention to file
or prepare any additional registration statement with respect to the
registration of additional Notes or any amendment to the Registration Statement
or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (other than any Pricing
Supplement or an amendment or supplement providing solely for a change in the
interest rates or maturity dates of Notes or similar changes or an amendment or
supplement effected by the filing of a document with the SEC pursuant to the
1934 Act or any supplement relating exclusively to any offering of securities
other than the Notes) and, upon request, will furnish the Agents with copies of
any such registration statement or amendment or supplement proposed to be filed
or prepared a reasonable time in advance of such proposed filing or preparation,
as the case may be, and will not file any such registration statement or
amendment or supplement in a form as to which the Agents or your counsel
reasonably object. (c) The Company or Sears will deliver to the Agents without charge, a copy of
(i) the Indenture, (ii) the Registration Statement (as originally filed) and of
each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by
reference therein and documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
other than exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K,
the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Current Reports on Form 8-K of the
Company and Sears) and (iii) a certified copy of the corporate authorization of
the issuance and sale of the Notes. The Company and Sears will furnish to the
Agents as many copies of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including
any Prospectus amended or supplemented pursuant to subsection (e) of this
Section) as the Agents shall reasonably request so long as the Agents are
required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales or solicitations of
offers to purchase the Notes under the 1933 Act. (d) The Company and Sears will prepare a Pricing Supplement with respect to
each particular issue of Notes and the Company will file such Pricing Supplement
with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act not later than the close
of business of the SEC on the 8 second business day after the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first
used or by such other time as is otherwise required pursuant to Rule 424 under
the 1933 Act. (e) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (j) of this Section, if at any
time during the term of this Agreement any event shall occur or condition exist
as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of your counsel
or counsel for the Company, to further amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order that the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances existing at the
time the Prospectus as amended or supplemented is delivered to a purchaser, or
if it shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of either such counsel, to
amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to
comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the Trust Indenture
Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, immediate notice shall
be given, and confirmed in writing, to the Agents to cease the solicitation of
offers to purchase the Notes and to cease sales of any Notes by the Purchasing
Agent (and if so notified, the Agents shall promptly cease such solicitations),
and the Company or Sears or both, as appropriate, will promptly prepare and file
with the SEC such amendment or supplement, whether by filing documents pursuant
to the 1934 Act, the 1933 Act or otherwise, as may be necessary to correct such
untrue statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement and
Prospectus as amended or supplemented comply with such requirements. (f) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (j) of this Section, on or
prior to the date on which there shall be released to the general public interim
financial statement information related to the Company or Sears with respect to
each of the first three quarters of any fiscal year or preliminary financial
statement information with respect to any fiscal year, the Company or Sears, as
the case may be, shall cause promptly the Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented to include or incorporate by reference financial information with
respect thereto, as well as such other information and explanations as shall be
necessary for an understanding thereof, as may be required by the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act or otherwise. (g) The Company and Sears will make generally available to their respective
security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the
close of the period covered thereby (90 days in the case of the last fiscal
quarter in any fiscal year), an earning statement (in form complying with the
provisions of Section 11(a) and of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering each
twelve-month period beginning, in each case, not later than the first day of the
fiscal quarter of the Company and Sears, as the case may be, next following the
"effective date" (as defined in such Rule 158) of the Registration
Statement with respect to each sale of Notes. (h) The Company and Sears will endeavor to qualify the Notes for offering and
sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions
of the United States of America as the Agents may designate and will maintain
such qualifications in effect and otherwise comply with such laws for as long as
may be required for the distribution of the Notes; provided, however,
that neither the Company nor Sears shall be obligated to file any general
consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation in any
jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified. The Company, Sears or both will
file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of each
jurisdiction in which the Notes have been qualified as above provided. The
Company 9 or Sears will promptly advise the Agents of the receipt by the Company or
Sears of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
the Notes for sale in any such state or jurisdiction or the initiating or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. (i) The Company and Sears, during the period when the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file within
the prescribed time all documents required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act. (j) The Company shall not be required to comply with the provisions of
subsections (e) and (f) of this Section or the provisions of subsections VII(b),
(c) and (d) during any period (a "Suspension Period") from the time (i)
the Agents have suspended solicitation of purchases of the Notes pursuant to a
direction from the Company given in accordance with Sections
IX and X hereof and (ii) the Agents shall not then hold any Notes as
principal purchased from the Purchasing Agent to the time the Company shall
determine that solicitation of purchases of the Notes should be resumed or shall
subsequently agree for the Purchasing Agent to purchase Notes as principal. Upon
such determination or agreement of the Company that any such Suspension Period
should be terminated, such Suspension Period shall be deemed to have been
terminated effective and conditioned upon the delivery by the Company and Sears
to the Agent(s) of each certificate, opinion and letter that the Company and
Sears would otherwise have been obligated to deliver pursuant to the foregoing
sections during the entire duration of the Suspension Period, in form and
substance acceptable to the Agent(s); provided, however, that if
since the date of the commencement of such Suspension Period the Company or
Sears shall have filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K,
such certificates, opinions and letters need not be delivered with respect to
any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that
resulted merely from the incorporation by reference into the Registration
Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3 of periodic reports
filed by the Company prior to the date of such Annual Report on Form 10-K, if
such periodic reports are no longer deemed incorporated by reference into the
Registration Statement under the requirements of Form S-3 (it being understood
that with respect to any report filed by the Company or Sears under the 1934 Act
that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement,
the Company and Sears shall have delivered all such certificates, opinions and
letters before the Suspension Period terminates). During a Suspension Period all
obligations of the Agent(s), including the obligation to purchase Notes from the
Company as principal and to solicit offers for the purchase of Notes, will be
suspended. IV. (a) The Agents propose to solicit offers to purchase the Notes upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein and in the Prospectus and upon the terms
communicated to the Agents from time to time by the Company or the Purchasing
Agent, as the case may be. For the purpose of such solicitation the Agents will
use the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented which has been most recently
distributed to the Agents by the Company, and the Agents will solicit offers to
purchase only as permitted or contemplated thereby and herein and will solicit
offers to purchase the Notes only as permitted by the 1933 Act and the
applicable securities laws or 10 regulations of any jurisdiction. The Company reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to suspend solicitation of offers to purchase the Notes commencing
at any time for any period of time or permanently. Upon receipt of instructions
(which may be given orally and confirmed in writing pursuant to Sections IX and
X hereof) from the Company, the Agents will suspend promptly solicitation of
offers to purchase until such time as the Company has advised the Agents that
such solicitation may be resumed pursuant to Section III(j) hereof. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company, the Agents are authorized to
solicit offers to purchase the Notes only in denominations of $1,000 or more (in
multiples of $1,000). The Agents are not authorized to appoint subagents or to
engage the services of any other broker or dealer in connection with the offer
or sale of the Notes without the consent of the Company. Unless otherwise
instructed by the Company, the Purchasing Agent shall communicate to the
Company, orally or in writing, each offer to purchase Notes other than those
rejected by the Agents in accordance herewith. The Company shall have the sole
right to accept offers to purchase Notes and may reject any proposed offers to
purchase Notes as a whole or in part. Each Agent shall have the right, in its
discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any proposed purchase of Notes, as a
whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its
agreements contained herein. The Company agrees to pay the Purchasing Agent on
the applicable Settlement Date for any Notes offered hereunder, as consideration
for soliciting offers to purchase such Notes pursuant to a Terms Agreement, a
concession in the form of a discount equal to the percentages of the initial
offering price of each Note actually sold as set forth in Exhibit A hereto (the
"Concession"); provided, however, that the Company and
the Purchasing Agent may agree also to a Concession greater than or less than
the percentages set forth on Exhibit A hereto. The actual aggregate Concession
with respect to each tranche of Notes will be set forth in the related Pricing
Supplement. The Purchasing Agent and the other Agents or Selected Dealers will
share the above-mentioned Concession in such proportions as they may agree. Unless otherwise authorized by the Company, all Notes shall be sold to the
public at a purchase price not to exceed 100% of the principal amount thereof,
plus accrued interest, if any. Such purchase price shall be set forth in the
confirmation statement of the Agent or Selected Dealer responsible for such sale
and delivered to the purchaser along with a copy of the Prospectus (if not
previously delivered) and applicable Pricing Supplement. (b) Procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of, and the
solicitation of purchases and payment for, the Notes are set forth in the
Administrative Procedures attached hereto as Exhibit B (the
"Procedures"), as amended from time to time. Unless otherwise provided
in a Terms Agreement, the provisions of the Procedures shall apply to all
transactions contemplated hereunder. The Agents and the Company each agree to
perform the respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be
performed by each in the Procedures as amended from time to time. The Procedures
may only be amended by written agreement of the Company and the Agents. (c) The Company, Sears, the Purchasing Agent and each Agent acknowledges and
agrees, and each Selected Dealer will be required to acknowledge and agree, that
the Notes are being offered for sale only in the United States of America. 11 V. Each sale of Notes shall be made in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and a separate agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C (a "Terms Agreement") to be entered into which will provide
for the sale of such Notes to, and the purchase and reoffering thereof by, the
Purchasing Agent as principal. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain
provisions relating to the reoffering of such Notes by the Purchasing Agent. The
offering of Notes by the Company hereunder and the Purchasing Agent's
agreement to purchase Notes pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to
have been made on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of
the Company or Sears, as applicable, herein contained and shall be subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall describe
the Notes to be purchased pursuant thereto by the Purchasing Agent as principal,
and may specify, among other things, the principal amount of Notes to be
purchased, the interest rate or formula and maturity date or dates of such
Notes, the interest payment dates, if any, the net proceeds to the Company, the
initial public offering price at which the Notes are proposed to be reoffered,
and the time and place of delivery of and payment for such Notes (the
"Settlement Date"), whether the Notes provide for a Survivor's
Option (as such term is defined in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented),
whether the Notes are redeemable or repayable and on what terms and conditions,
and any other relevant terms. In connection with the resale of the Notes
purchased, without the consent of the Company, the Agents are not authorized to
appoint subagents or to engage the service of any other broker or dealer, nor
may you reallow any portion of the Concession paid to you. Terms Agreements,
each of which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, or as
otherwise agreed to among the Company, Sears and the Purchasing Agent, may take
the form of an exchange of any standard form of written telecommunication among
the Purchasing Agent, the Company and Sears. VI. (a) Each of the Company and Sears represents and warrants to, and agrees
with, each of the Agents as of the date hereof, as of the date of each
acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes (including any
purchase by the Purchasing Agent as principal, pursuant to a Terms Agreement or
otherwise), as of each Settlement Date and as of any time that the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented or there is filed
with the SEC any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other
than any Current Report on Form 8-K relating exclusively to the issuance of debt
securities other than the Notes under the Registration Statement or filed solely
for the purpose of disclosure under Item 9 thereof) (each of the times
referenced above being referred to herein as a "Representation Date"),
as follows: (i) Each of the Company and Sears meets the requirements for use of Form
S-3 under the 1933 Act and each has filed with the SEC the Registration
Statement, which has been declared effective. 12 (ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been
initiated or threatened by the SEC. (iii) Except for statements in such documents which do not constitute
part of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 412 of
Regulation C under the 1933 Act, and after substituting therefor any
statements modifying or superseding such excluded statements, (A) the
documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, on their respective
dates of effectiveness or filing with the SEC did, and as of the applicable
Representation Date will, conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, as applicable, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC thereunder, and none of such documents, on their
respective dates of effectiveness or filing did, and as of the applicable
Representation Date will, in the case of documents which became effective
under the 1933 Act, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or, in the case of documents
which were filed under the 1934 Act with the SEC, include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and (B) any further documents so filed
and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, on their respective dates
of effectiveness or filing with the SEC, and as of the applicable
Representation Date, will conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, as applicable, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC, and will not contain, in the case of documents
which become effective under the 1933 Act, an 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, and in the case of
documents which are filed under the 1934 Act with the SEC, an untrue
statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations
and warranties contained in this paragraph do not apply to statements or
omissions made in such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by any Agent expressly for use
in the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented to relate to a particular issuance of Notes; the
Indenture has been, and at the applicable Representation Date will be, duly
qualified under, and conform in all material respects to the requirements
of, the Trust Indenture Act. (iv) Except for statements in such documents which do not constitute part
of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 412 of
Regulation C under the 1933 Act, and after substituting therefor any
statements modifying or superseding such excluded statements, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, each as amended or supplemented,
on their respective dates of effectiveness or filing with the SEC did, and
as of the applicable Representation Date will, conform in all material
respects to the requirements of, as applicable, the 1933 Act and the Trust
Indenture Act and the respective rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder;
as of the respective dates of their effectiveness or filing with the SEC,
neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, each as amended or
supplemented did, nor as of the applicable Representation Date will, include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state 13 any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading, except that the representations
and warranties contained in this paragraph do not apply to statements or
omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Agent expressly for use therein.
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
Greenville, Delaware
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Keith E. Trost
President
To the Agents listed on
the signature page hereto.
(b) The Company represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Agents, as of each Representation
Date, as follows:
(i) Upon payment therefor as provided herein and in any Terms Agreement, the Notes will have been duly and validly authorized, and (assuming their due authentication by the Trustee) will have been duly and validly issued and will be valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the same may be limited by insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance and transfer or other laws similar to, relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general equity principles, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(ii) The issue and sale of the Notes and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Notes, the Indenture, this Agreement and any Terms Agreement will not conflict with or result in any breach which would constitute a material default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Company material to the Company, pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument for borrowed money to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company material to the Company, is subject, nor will such action result in any material violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or the By-Laws of the Company or, to the best of its knowledge, any statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any court or any Federal, State or other regulatory authority or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and no consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or filing with, any court or any such regulatory authority or other governmental body is required for the solicitation of offers to purchase Notes and the issue and sale of the Notes, except as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the Trust Indenture Act and securities laws of the various states and other jurisdictions in which the Agents will solicit offers to purchase Notes and will purchase Notes as principal, as the case may be.
(c) Any certificate signed by any director or officer of the Company or Sears and delivered to the Purchasing Agent or to counsel for the Purchasing Agent in connection with an offering of Notes or the sale of Notes to the Purchasing Agent as principal shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or Sears, as the case may be, to the Agents as to the matters covered thereby on the date of such certificate and at each Representation Date subsequent thereto.
14
(d) All indemnities, representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other statements of the Company or Sears contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or Sears submitted pursuant hereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Agent or any controlling person of any Agent, or by or on behalf of the Company or Sears, and shall survive each delivery of and payment for any of the Notes.
(e) Immediately after the Settlement Date relating to any sale of Notes to an Agent as principal, the aggregate principal amount of Notes which shall have been issued and sold by the Company hereunder or under any Terms Agreement and of any debt securities of the Company (other than such Notes) that shall have been issued and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement will not exceed the amount of debt securities registered under the Registration Statement.
VII.
(a) Each acceptance by the Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes, and each delivery of Notes to the Purchasing Agent pursuant to a sale of Notes to the Purchasing Agent, shall be deemed to be an affirmation that the representations and warranties of the Company or Sears, as applicable, made to the Agents in this Agreement and in any certificate theretofore delivered pursuant hereto are true and correct at the time of such acceptance or sale, as the case may be, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct at the time of delivery to the Purchasing Agent of the Note or Notes relating to such acceptance or sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of each such time (and it is understood that such representations and warranties shall relate to the Registration Statement and Prospectus, each as amended and supplemented to such time).
(b) Each time:
(i) the Company and Sears accept a Terms Agreement requiring such updating provisions;
(ii) the Company or Sears files an Annual Report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus;
(iii) the Company or Sears files a Current Report on Form 8-K required by Item 2 of Form 8-K with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; or
(iv) if required by the Agents after the Registration Statement or Prospectus has been amended or supplemented (other than by (1) an amendment or supplement providing solely for interest rates, maturity dates or other terms of Notes or similar changes, or (2) an amendment or supplement that relates exclusively to an offering of securities other than the Notes, or (3) an amendment or supplement that results from the case set forth in subsection (ii) or (iii) of this subsection (b));
the Company and/or Sears, as applicable, shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agents a certificate of any President, Vice President or Treasurer or any other authorized officer of the Company and/or Sears, as the case may be, satisfactory to the Agents (an
15
"Authorized Officer") dated the date specified in the applicable Terms Agreement or dated the date of filing with the SEC of such supplement or document or the date of effectiveness of such amendment, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to the Agents to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in subsection II(b) hereof which was last furnished to the Agents are true and correct as of the date specified in the applicable Terms Agreement or at the time of such filing, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, each as amended and supplemented to such time) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said subsection II(b), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, each as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate.
(c) Each time:
(i) the Company and Sears accept a Terms Agreement requiring such updating provisions;
(ii) the Company or Sears files an Annual Report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; or
(iii) if required by the Agents after:
(A) the Company or Sears files a Current Report on Form 8-K required by Item 2 of Form 8-K with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; or
(B) the Registration Statement or Prospectus has been amended or supplemented (other than by (1) an amendment or supplement providing solely for interest rates, maturity dates or other terms of the Notes or similar changes, (2) an amendment or supplement which relates exclusively to an offering of securities other than the Notes, or (3) an amendment or supplement that results from the case set forth in subsection (ii) of this subsection (c)),
the Company and Sears shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Agents and your counsel the written opinion of Anastasia D. Kelly, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Sears (or any deputy or associate general counsel of Sears), or other counsel satisfactory to the Agents, dated the date specified in the applicable Terms Agreement or dated the date of filing with the SEC of such supplement or document or the date of effectiveness of such amendment, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, of the same tenor as the opinions and statements referred to in subsections II(a)(1) and II(a)(4) hereof, but modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, each as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinions; or, in lieu of such opinions, counsel last furnishing such opinions to the Agents shall furnish the Agents with a letter substantially to the
16
effect that the Agents may rely on such last opinion to the same extent as though it was dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that statements in such last opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, each as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such letter authorizing reliance).
(d) Each time:
(i) the Company and Sears accept a Terms Agreement requiring such updating provisions;
(ii) the Company or Sears files an Annual Report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; or
(iii) if required by the Agents after:
(A) the Company or Sears files a Current Report on Form 8-K required by Item 2 of Form 8-K with the SEC that is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus; or
(B) the Registration Statement or Prospectus has been amended or supplemented to include additional financial information required to be set forth or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus under the terms of Item 11 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act,
the Company and Sears shall cause Deloitte & Touche to furnish the Agents a letter or letters, dated the date specified in the applicable Terms Agreement or dated the date of effectiveness of such amendment, supplement or document filed with the SEC, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to the Agents, of the same tenor as the letters referred to in subsection II(c) hereof but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and Prospectus, each as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter or letters and with such changes as may be necessary to reflect changes in the financial statements and other information derived from the accounting records of the Company or Sears, as the case may be; provided, however, that if the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or supplemented solely to include financial information as of and for a fiscal quarter, Deloitte & Touche may limit the scope of such letter or letters to the unaudited financial statements included in such amendment or supplement. If any other information included therein is of an accounting, financial or statistical nature, the Agents may request procedures be performed with respect to such other information. If Deloitte & Touche is willing to perform and report on the requested procedures, such letter or letters should cover such other information. Any letter required to be provided by Deloitte & Touche hereunder shall be provided within 10 business days of the filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, within a reasonable time of a request made pursuant to subsection (iii) hereof or on the date specified in an applicable Terms Agreement.
17
VIII.
(a) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Agent may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or any amendment or supplement thereto furnished by the Company or Sears, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or (in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any amendment or supplement thereto) necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and shall reimburse each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents expressly for use therein; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be liable to any Agent or any person controlling such Agent under the indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) with respect to the Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as the case may be, to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Agent or controlling person results solely from the fact that such Agent sold Notes to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference) or of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference), whichever is most recent, if the Company has previously furnished copies thereof to such Agent.
(b) Each Agent, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or (in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any amendment or supplement thereto) necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Agent expressly for use therein; and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. The Company acknowledges that, except as may otherwise be specified in any Terms Agreement, the name of such Agent appearing on the front cover of the Prospectus, the name of such Agent appearing in the Summary section of the Prospectus, and the third, fourth and fifth sentences of the first
18
paragraph, the second and third sentences of the third paragraph, the second sentence of the fourth paragraph, the third and fourth sentences of the seventh paragraph, the second sentence of the ninth paragraph, the entire tenth paragraph, and, with respect to the Purchasing Agent only, the entire eighth paragraph, all under the Section "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page S-22 of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Agent for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity.
(c) Within a reasonable period after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action with respect to which indemnification is sought under such subsection or contribution may be sought under subsection (d) below, such indemnified party shall notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section VIII is unavailable to an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the contributing Agent on the other from the offering of the Notes to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates and also the relative fault of the Company and Sears on the one hand and the contributing Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the contributing Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of Notes (before deducting expenses) to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates received by the Company bear to the total commissions or discounts from the sale of Notes to which such loss claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates received by the contributing Agent. The relative fault 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 Sears on the one hand or the contributing Agent on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission of the Company or Sears on the one hand and the contributing Agent on the other hand. With respect to any Agent, such relative fault shall also be determined by reference to the extent (if any) to which such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) result from the fact that such Agent sold Notes to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference) or of the
19
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference) if the Company has previously furnished copies thereof to such Agent. The Company and the contributing Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by per capita allocation among the contributing parties (even if all contributing Agents were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include 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 subsection (d), no Agent shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes that relate to such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) purchased by or through such Agent were sold to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in connection with the Notes from which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) arose. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of each of the Agents under this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to the respective purchases made by or through it to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates and are not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section VIII shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the meaning of the 1933 Act; and each Agent's obligations under this Section VIII shall be in addition to any liability which such Agent may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company or Sears and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act.
IX.
The Company may elect to suspend or terminate the offering of Notes under this Agreement at any time; the Company also (as to any one or more of the Agents) or any Agent (as to itself) may terminate the appointment and arrangements described in this Agreement. Upon receipt of instructions from the Company, the Purchasing Agent shall suspend or terminate the participation of any Selected Dealer. Such actions may be taken, in the case of the Company, by giving prompt written notice of suspension to all of the Agents and by giving not less than 5 days' written notice of termination to the affected party and the other parties to this Agreement, or in the case of an Agent, by giving not less than 5 days' written notice of termination to the Company and except that, if at the time of termination an offer for the purchase of Notes shall have been accepted by the Company but the time of delivery to the purchaser or his agent of the Note or Notes relating thereto shall not yet have occurred, the Company shall have the obligations provided herein with respect to such Note or Notes. The Company shall promptly notify the other parties in writing of any such termination.
20
The Purchasing Agent may, and, upon the request of an Agent with respect to any Notes being purchased by such Agent shall, terminate any agreement hereunder by the Purchasing Agent to purchase such Notes, immediately upon notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Settlement Date relating thereto and the Agents may terminate their obligation to solicit offers to purchase the Notes, (a) if the Company or Sears shall have sustained after the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and prior to such Settlement Date, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented through the date that the Agent agreed to purchase such Notes as principal; or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and prior to such Settlement Date, there shall have been any material change in the capital stock accounts or long-term debt of the Company or any material adverse change in the general affairs, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company, otherwise than as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented through the date that the Agent agreed to purchase such Notes as principal; or (b) if there shall have occurred, since the date of such agreement, any of the following events: (i) the United States of America shall have become engaged in the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States of America or there has been a declaration by the United States of America of a national emergency or a declaration of war, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by United States Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in securities settlement or clearance services in the United States of America shall have occurred, (iii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established by such Exchange, any of which events, in the judgment of the Purchasing Agent or such requesting Agent, renders it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation, public offering or the delivery of such Notes, or (iv) there shall have been any change in national or international political, legal, tax or regulatory conditions, any of which events, in the judgment of the Purchasing Agent or such requesting Agent, causes a substantial deterioration in the price and/or value of such Notes or (c) if any downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company's or Sears debt securities by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's Ratings Services; provided however, that this clause (c) shall not apply to any such rating agencies which shall have notified the Company of the downgrading in the rating of such debt securities and of which the Company shall have given the Agents written notice prior to the execution of the Terms Agreement.
Any Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination in your absolute discretion on the terms set forth or incorporated by reference therein. The termination of this Agreement shall not require termination of any agreement by the Purchasing Agent to purchase Notes as principal, and the termination of any such agreement shall not require termination of this Agreement.
If this Agreement is terminated, this paragraph, subsections III(c), (e) and (g), subsection VI(d), Section VIII, Section XII and the second paragraph of Section XIII hereof shall survive and shall remain in effect; provided that if at the time of termination of this Agreement an offer to purchase Notes has been accepted by the Company but the time of delivery to the Purchasing Agent of such Notes has not occurred, the provisions of all of Section III, subsection IV(b) and Section V shall also survive until the time of delivery.
21
In the event a proposed offering is not completed according to the terms of this Agreement, an Agent will be reimbursed by the Company only for out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred.
X.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in the Procedures, all statements, requests, notices and advices hereunder shall be in writing, or by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, and if to an Agent shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered in person or sent by telex, facsimile transmission (confirmed in writing), or registered mail to such Agent at its address, telex or facsimile number set forth on Annex A hereto and if to the Company or Sears shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent by telex, facsimile transmission (confirmed in writing) or registered mail to the Company or Sears, as the case may be, at the address specified below. All such notices shall be effective on receipt.
If to the Company:
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp.
3711 Kennett Pike
Greenville, Delaware 19807
Attention: President
Telecopy: (302) 434-3150
If to Sears:
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopy: (847) 286-0959
With a copy to:
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
Attention: Treasurer
Telecopy: (847) 286-2055
or at such other address as such party may designate from time to time by notice duly given in accordance with the terms of this Section.
This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be binding upon the Agents, the Company and Sears, and inure solely to the benefit of the Agents, the Company and Sears and any other person expressly entitled to indemnification hereunder and the respective personal
22
representatives, successors and assigns of each, and no other person shall acquire or have any rights under or by virtue of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement.
XII.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York.
XIII.
If this Agreement is executed by or on behalf of any party, such person hereby states that at the time of the execution of this Agreement he has no notice of revocation of the power of attorney by which he has executed this Agreement as such attorney.
The Company will pay the following expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement; (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes; (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Company's auditors, of the Trustee and its counsel and of any paying or other agents appointed by the Company; (iv) the printing and delivery to the Agents in quantities as hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including amendments or supplements thereto; (v) the reasonable fees and disbursements of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, counsel for the Agents; (vi) if the Company lists Notes on a securities exchange, the costs and fees of such listing; (vii) the fees and expenses, if any, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, incurred with respect to any filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; (viii) the cost of providing CUSIP or other identification numbers for the Notes, (ix) all reasonable expenses (including fees and disbursements of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton) in connection with "Blue Sky" qualifications and (x) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the Notes.
This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed by each of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be deemed original signatures.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company, Sears and you.
Very truly yours, SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP. By: /s/ Keith E. Trost SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. By: /s/ Larry R. Raymond |
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Confirmed and accepted BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC By: /s/ Lily Chang INCAPITAL LLC By: /s/ Thomas S. Ricketts By: /s/ James E. Hodapp |
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BANC ONE CAPITAL
MARKETS, INC.
By: /s/ Robert Nordlinger CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION By: /s/ Julie A. Keogh DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. By: /s/Christopher T. Whitman By: /s/Daniel F. Benton EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. By: /s/Phil Schwab MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH By: /s/ Perry Hall MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED By: /s/ Harold J. Hendershot III |
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PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Francesco P. Sinatra QUICK & REILLY INC. By: /s/ Michael S. Segal RBC DAIN RAUSCHER INC. By: /s/ Paul Rich UBS PAINEWEBBER INC. By: /s/ James LeBlanc U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY INC. By: /s/ Pat Gray WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC. By: /s/Kent Phillips |
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ANNEX A
AGENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Banc of America Securities LLC (Joint Lead Manager and
Lead Agent)
Bank of America Corporate Center
NC1-007-08-20
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
Attention: Douglas Fink
Fax: (704) 388-9982
Incapital LLC (Joint Lead Manager and Lead Agent)
One North LaSalle Street
Suite 3500
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Attention: Brian Walker
Fax: (312) 379-3701
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
#1 North Jefferson
7th Floor Bond Department
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Attn: Dan Moloney
Fax: (314) 955-5989
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
11 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10010
Attention: Helena Willner
Fax: (212) 743-5825
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
31 West 52nd Street
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Eric Dobi
Fax: (212) 469-7875
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P.
12555 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63131-3729
Att: Karen Liebsch
Fax: (314) 515-3502
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Global Transaction Management Group
4 World Financial Center Fl 15
New York, NY 10080
Attention: Scott G. Primrose
Fax: (212) 449-2234
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
2nd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Manager - Continuously Offered Products
Fax: (212) 761-0780
w/copy to:
1585 Broadway
29th Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Peter Cooper, Investment Banking Information Center
Fax: (212) 761-0260
Prudential Securities Incorporated
One New York Plaza
New York, NY 10292
Attention: Frederick J. Tate/Frank P. Sinatra
Fax: (212) 778-4456/4556
Quick & Reilly Inc.
14 Wall Street, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Michael S. Segal
Fax: (212) 384-0933
RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.
One Liberty Plaza, 2nd Floor
New York, New York 10006
Attention: Liz Garvey
Fax: (212) 428-3018
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UBS PaineWebber Inc.
800 Harbor Boulevard, 3rd Floor
Weehawken, New Jersey 07087
Attention: Corporate Debt Trading
Fax: (201) 352-6900
With a copy to:
UBS PaineWebber Inc.
299 Park Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, New York 10171
Attention: Transaction Management Group
Fax: (212) 821-5536
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
800 Nicollet Mall
Suite 800
Minneapolis, MN 55402-7020
Attention: Joel Connor
Fax: (612) 303-6965
Wachovia Securities, Inc.
One Wachovia Center, NC0602
301 South College St.
Charlotte, NC 28288
Attention: Keith Mauney
Fax: (704) 383-9165
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SCHEDULE I
Pursuant to Section II(c) of the Agreement, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall furnish a letter or letters to the effect that:
(i) They are independent public accountants with respect to the Company and Sears within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.(ii) In their opinion, the consolidated financial statements of each of the Company and Sears and the financial statement schedules of Sears audited by them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to registration statements on Form S-3 and the 1934 Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(iii) On the basis of procedures (but not an audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America) consisting of:
(a) Reading the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, the board of directors, executive committee and audit committee of the Company and Sears as set forth in the minute books through a specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of delivery of such letter;
(b) Performing the procedures specified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim financial information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company and Sears included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and reading the unaudited interim financial data, if any, for the period from the date of the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the date of the latest available interim financial data; and
(c) Making inquiries of certain officials of the Company and Sears who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding the specific items for which representations are requested below and making such inquiries and performing such other procedures as may be specified in such letters;
nothing has come to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures
that caused them to believe that:
(1) the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1934 Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(2) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America;
(3) (i) at the date of the latest available interim financial data and at the specified date not more than five business days prior to the date of the delivery of such letter or letters, there was any change in the capital stock, the long-term debt or the short-term debt, or any decreases in stockholders' equity or changes in other items specified by the Agents and agreed to by Deloitte & Touche, of the Company or Sears, as the case may be, on a consolidated basis as compared with the amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or (ii) for the period from the date of the latest available financial data to a specified date not more than five business days prior to the delivery of such letter or letters, there was any change in the capital stock, the long-term debt or the short-term debt, or any decreases in stockholders' equity or changes in other items specified by the Agents and agreed to by Deloitte & Touche, of the Company or Sears, as the case may be, on a consolidated basis, except in all instances for changes or decreases which the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented discloses have occurred or may occur, or Deloitte & Touche shall state any specific changes or decreases.
(iv) The letter or letters shall also state that Deloitte & Touche has carried out certain other specified procedures, not constituting an audit, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information which are included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and which are specified by the Agents and agreed to by Deloitte & Touche, and has found such amounts, percentages and financial information to be in agreement with the relevant accounting, financial and other records of the Company and Sears identified in such letter or letters.
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EXHIBIT A
DEALER AGENT PROGRAM
The following Concessions are payable as a percentage of the non-discounted Price to Public of each Note sold through the Purchasing Agent.
9 months to less than 23 months |
0.200% |
23 months to less than 35 months |
0.400% |
35 months to less than 47 months |
0.625% |
47 months to less than 59 months |
0.750% |
59 months to less than 71 months |
1.000% |
71 months to less than 83 months |
1.100% |
83 months to less than 95 months |
1.200% |
95 months to less than 107 months |
1.300% |
107 months to less than 119 months |
1.400% |
119 months to less than 131 months |
1.500% |
131 months to less than 143 months |
1.600% |
143 months to less than 179 months |
1.750% |
179 months to less than 239 months |
2.000% |
239 months to less than 360 months |
2.500% |
360 months or greater |
3.000% |
EXHIBIT B
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp.
$2,000,000,000
INTERNOTES
DUE FROM NINE MONTHS OR MORE FROM DATE OF ISSUE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
InterNotes, due from nine months or more from date of issue are offered on a continuing basis by Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. The Notes (as defined in the Selling Agent Agreement (as defined below)) will be offered by Incapital LLC (the "Purchasing Agent"), Banc of America Securities LLC, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Prudential Securities Incorporated, Quick & Reilly Inc., RBC Dain Rauscher Inc., UBS PaineWebber Inc., U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. and Wachovia Securities, Inc. (collectively, including the "Purchasing Agent," the "Agents") pursuant to a Selling Agent Agreement among the Company, Sears and the Agents dated as of the date hereof (the "Selling Agent Agreement") and one or more terms agreements substantially in the form attached to the Selling Agent Agreement as Exhibit C (each a "Terms Agreement"). The Notes are being resold by the Purchasing Agent (and by any Agent that purchases them from the Purchasing Agent) (i) directly to customers of the Agents or (ii) to selected broker-dealers (the "Selected Dealers") for distribution to their customers pursuant to a Master Selected Dealer Agreement (a "Dealer Agreement"). The Agents have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases of the Notes. The Notes will be senior debt and have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). BNY Midwest Trust Company is the trustee (the "Trustee") for the senior debt under the Indenture dated as of October 1, 2002, as amended from time to time, between the Company and the Trustee (the "Indenture") covering the Notes. Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, BNY Midwest Trust Company also will serve as authenticating agent, issuing agent and paying agent. The Bank of New York, an affiliate of the Trustee, may perform certain duties of the Trustee described in these Administrative Procedures on behalf of the Trustee.
Each tranche of Notes will be issued in book-entry only form and represented by one or more fully registered global notes without coupons (each, a "Global Note") held by the Trustee, as agent for The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC. Each Global Note will have the annual interest rate, maturity and other terms set forth in the relevant Pricing Supplement (as defined in the Selling Agent Agreement). Owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be entitled to physical delivery of Notes issued in certificated form equal in principal amount to their respective beneficial interests only upon certain limited circumstances described in the Indenture.
Administrative procedures and specific terms of the offering are explained below. The Company will advise the Agents and the Trustee in writing of those persons handling administrative responsibilities with whom the Agents and the Trustee are to communicate regarding offers to purchase Notes and the details of their delivery.
Notes will be issued in accordance with the administrative procedures set forth herein. To the extent the procedures set forth below conflict with or omit certain of the provisions of the Notes, the Indenture, the Selling Agent Agreement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and the Pricing Supplement (together, the "Prospectus"), the relevant provisions of the Notes, the Indenture, the Selling Agent Agreement and the Prospectus shall control. Capitalized terms used herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Selling Agent Agreement, the Prospectus in the form most recently filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 of the 1933 Act, or in the Indenture.
Administrative Procedures for Notes
In connection with the qualification of Notes for eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by DTC, the Trustee will perform the custodial, document control and administrative functions described below, in accordance with its obligations (through The Bank of New York) under a Letter of Representations from the Company and The Bank of New York to DTC, dated December 6, 2002 and a Certificate Agreement between The Bank of New York and DTC (the "Certificate Agreement") dated August 17, 1989 and its obligations (through The Bank of New York) as a participant in DTC, including DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System ("SDFS"). The procedures set forth below may be modified in compliance with DTC's then-applicable procedures and upon agreement by the Company, the Trustee and the Purchasing Agent.
Maturities: |
Each Note will mature on a date (the "Maturity Date") not less than nine months after the date of delivery by the Company of such Note. Notes will mature on any date selected by the initial purchaser and agreed to by the Company. "Maturity" when used with respect to any Note, means the date on which the outstanding principal amount of such Note becomes due and payable in full in accordance with its terms, whether at its Maturity Date or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption (pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise), repayment or otherwise. |
Issuance: |
All Notes having the same terms will be represented initially by a single Global Note. Each Global Note will be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee. |
Each Global Note will bear an original issue date (the "Original Issue Date"). The Original Issue Date shall remain the same for all Notes subsequently issued upon transfer, exchange or substitution of an original Note regardless of their dates of authentication. |
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Identification |
The Company has received from the CUSIP Service Bureau (the "CUSIP Service Bureau") of Standard & Poor's Corporation ("Standard & Poor's") one series of CUSIP numbers consisting of approximately 900 CUSIP numbers for future assignment to Global Notes. The Company will provide the Purchasing Agent, |
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DTC and the Trustee with a list of such CUSIP numbers. On behalf of the Company, the Purchasing Agent will assign CUSIP numbers as described below under "Procedure for Rate Setting and Posting." DTC will notify the CUSIP Service Bureau periodically of the CUSIP numbers that the Company has assigned to Global Notes. The Company will reserve additional CUSIP numbers when necessary for assignment to Global Notes and will provide the Purchasing Agent, the Trustee and DTC with the list of additional CUSIP numbers so obtained. | |
Registration: |
Unless otherwise specified by DTC, Global Notes will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons. Each Global Note will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, on the Security Register maintained under the Indenture by the Trustee. The beneficial owner of a Note (or one or more indirect participants in DTC designated by such owner) will designate one or more participants in DTC (with respect to such Note, the "Participants") to act as agent or agents for such owner in connection with the book-entry system maintained by DTC, and DTC will record in book-entry form, in accordance with instructions provided by such Participants, a credit balance with respect to such beneficial owner of such Note in the account of such Participants. The ownership interest of such beneficial owner in such Note will be recorded through the records of such Participants or through the separate records of such Participants and one or more indirect participants in DTC. |
Transfers: |
Transfers of interests in a Global Note will be accomplished by book entries made by DTC and, in turn, by Participants (and in certain cases, one or more indirect participants in DTC) acting on behalf of beneficial transferors and transferees of such interests. |
Exchanges: |
The Trustee, at the Company's request, may deliver to DTC and the CUSIP Service Bureau at any time a written notice of consolidation specifying (a) the CUSIP numbers of two or more Global Notes outstanding on such date that represent Notes having the same terms (except that Original Issue Dates need not be the same) and for which interest, if any, has been paid to the same date and which otherwise constitute Notes of the same series and tenor under the Indenture, (b) a date, occurring at least 30 days after such written notice is delivered and at least 30 days before the next Interest Payment Date, if any, for the related Notes, on which such Global Notes shall be exchanged for a single replacement Global Note; and (c) a new CUSIP number, obtained from the Company, to be assigned to such replacement |
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Global Note. Upon receipt of such a notice, DTC will send to its participants (including the issuing Agent) and the Trustee a written reorganization notice to the effect that such exchange will occur on such date. Prior to the specified exchange date, the Trustee will deliver to the CUSIP Service Bureau written notice setting forth such exchange date and the new CUSIP number and stating that, as of such exchange date, the CUSIP numbers of the Global Notes to be exchanged will no longer be valid. On the specified exchange date, the Trustee will exchange such Global Notes for a single Global Note bearing the new CUSIP number and the CUSIP numbers of the exchanged Global Notes will, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be cancelled and not immediately reassigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Global Notes to be exchanged exceed $500,000,000 in aggregate principal or face amount, one replacement Global Note will be authenticated and issued to represent each $500,000,000 of principal or face amount of the exchanged Global Notes and an additional Global Note will be authenticated and issued to represent any remaining principal amount of such Global Notes (See "Denominations" below). | |
Denominations: |
Unless otherwise agreed by the Company, Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or more (in multiples of $1,000). Global Notes will be denominated in principal or face amounts not in excess of $500,000,000 or any other limit set by DTC (the "Permitted Amount"). If one or more Notes having an aggregate principal or face amount in excess of the Permitted Amount would, but for the preceding sentence, be represented by a single Global Note, then one Global Note will be issued to represent each Permitted Amount principal or face amount of such Note or Notes and an additional Global Note will be issued to represent any remaining principal amount of such Note or Notes. In such case, each of the Global Notes representing such Note or Notes shall be assigned the same CUSIP number. |
Issue Price: |
Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Pricing Supplement, each Note will be issued at the percentage of principal amount specified in the Prospectus relating to such Note. |
Interest: |
General. Each Note will bear interest at a fixed rate. Interest on each Note will accrue from the Original Issue Date of such Note for the first interest period and from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid for all subsequent interest periods. Except as set forth hereafter, each payment of interest on a Note will include interest accrued to, but excluding, as the case may be, the Interest Payment Date or the date of |
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Maturity (other than a Maturity Date of a Note occurring on the 31st day of a month in which case such payment of interest will include interest accrued to but excluding the 30th day of such month). Any payment of principal, premium or interest required to be made on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined below) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue as a result of any such delayed payment to such succeeding Business Day. | |
DTC will arrange for each pending deposit message described under Settlement Procedure "C" below to be routed to Standard & Poor's, which will use the message to include certain information regarding the related Notes in the appropriate daily bond report published by Standard & Poor's. |
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Each Note will bear interest from, and including, its Original Issue Date at the rate per annum set forth thereon and in the applicable Pricing Supplement until the principal amount thereof is paid, or made available for payment, in full. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, interest on each Note will be payable either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually on each Interest Payment Date and at Maturity (or on the date of redemption or repayment if a Note is repurchased by the Company prior to maturity pursuant to mandatory or optional redemption or repayment provisions or the Survivor's Option). Interest will be payable to the person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date next preceding each Interest Payment Date; provided, however, interest payable at Maturity, on a date of redemption or repayment or in connection with the exercise of the Survivor's Option will be payable to the person to whom principal shall be payable. |
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Any payment of principal, and premium, if any, or interest required to be made on a Note on a day which is not a Business Day need not be made on such day, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such day, and no additional interest shall accrue to such succeeding Business Day as a result of such delayed payment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, any interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The interest rates the Company will agree to pay on newly-issued Notes are subject to change without notice by the Company from time to time, but no such change will affect any Notes already issued or as to which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company. |
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The Interest Payment Dates for a Note that provides for monthly interest payments shall be the fifteenth day of each calendar month, commencing in the calendar month that next succeeds the month in which the Note is issued. In the case of a Note that provides for quarterly interest payments, the Interest Payment Dates shall be the fifteenth day of each third month, commencing in the third succeeding calendar month following the month in which the Note is issued. In the case of a Note that provides for semi-annual interest payments, the Interest Payment Dates shall be the fifteenth day of each sixth month, commencing in the sixth succeeding calendar month following the month in which the Note is issued. In the case of a Note that provides for annual interest payments, the Interest Payment Date shall be the fifteenth day of every twelfth month, commencing in the twelfth succeeding calendar month following the month in which the Note is issued. The Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be the first day of the calendar month in which such Interest Payment Date occurred, except that the Regular Record Date with respect to the final Interest Payment Date shall be the final Interest Payment Date. |
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Each payment of interest on a Note shall include accrued interest from and including the Original Issue Date or from and including the last day in respect of which interest has been paid (or duly provided for), as the case may be, to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be. |
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Calculation of Interest: |
Interest on the Notes (including interest for partial periods) will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. (Examples of interest calculations are as follows: October 1, 1998 to April 1, 1999 equals 6 months and 0 days, or 180 days; the interest paid equals 180/360 times the annual rate of interest times the principal amount of the Note. The period from December 3, 1998 to April 1, 1999 equals 3 months and 28 days, or 118 days; the interest payable equals 118/360 times the annual rate of interest times the principal amount of the Note.) |
Business Day: |
"Business Day" means, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a legal holiday for banking institutions in any of the City of Chicago, The City of New York or the City of Wilmington, Delaware. |
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Payments of Principal |
Payments of Principal and Interest. Promptly after each Regular Record Date, the Trustee will deliver to the Company and DTC a written notice specifying by CUSIP number the amount of interest, if any, to be paid on each Global Note on the following Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date coinciding with a Maturity Date) and the total of such amounts. DTC will confirm the amount payable on each Global Note on such Interest Payment Date by reference to the daily bond reports published by Standard & Poor's. On such Interest Payment Date, the Company will pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee in turn will pay to DTC, such total amount of interest due (other than on the Maturity Date), at the times and in the manner set forth below under "Manner of Payment." If any Interest Payment Date for any Note is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date to such next succeeding Business Day. |
Payments on the Maturity Date. On or about the first Business Day of each month, the Trustee will deliver to the Company and DTC a written list of principal, premium, if any, and interest to be paid on each Global Note representing Notes reaching Maturity in the following month. The Trustee, the Company and DTC will confirm the amounts of such principal, premium, if any, and interest payments with respect to each Global Note on or about the fifth Business Day preceding the Maturity Date of such Global Note. On the Maturity Date, the Company will pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee in turn will pay to DTC, the principal amount of such Global Note, together with interest and premium, if any, due on such Maturity Date, at the times and in the manner set forth below under "Manner of Payment." If the Maturity Date of any Global Note is not a Business Day, the payment due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Maturity Date to such next succeeding Business Day. Promptly after payment to DTC of the principal, premium, if any, and interest due on the Maturity Date of such Global Note and all other Notes represented by such Global Note, the Trustee will make appropriate entries in its records and cancel and destroy such Global Note in accordance with the Indenture and so advise the Company. |
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Manner of Payment. The total amount of any principal, premium, if any, and interest due on Global Notes on any Interest Payment Date or at Maturity shall be paid by the |
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Company to the Trustee in immediately available funds on such date. The Company will make such payment on such Global Notes to an account specified by the Trustee. Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of Maturity or as soon as possible thereafter, the Trustee will make payment to DTC in accordance with existing arrangements between DTC and the Trustee, in funds available for immediate use by DTC, each payment of interest, principal and premium, if any, due on a Global Note on such date. On each Interest Payment Date (other than on the Maturity Date) the Trustee will pay DTC such interest payments in same-day funds in accordance with existing arrangements between the Trustee and DTC. Thereafter, on each such date, DTC will pay, in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then in effect, such amounts in funds available for immediate use to the respective Participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in such Global Note as are recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC. Once payment has been made to DTC, neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any direct responsibility or liability for the payment by DTC of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes to such Participants. | |
Withholding Taxes. The amount of any taxes required under applicable law to be withheld from any interest payment on a Note will be determined and withheld by the Participant, indirect participant in DTC or other person responsible for forwarding payments and materials directly to the beneficial owner of such Note or as applicable law may otherwise require. |
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Procedure for Rate |
The Company and the Agents will discuss, from time to time, the aggregate principal amounts of, the Maturities, the Issue Price and the interest rates to be borne by Notes that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of orders by the Agents. If the Company decides to set interest rates borne by any Notes in respect of which the Agents are to solicit orders (the setting of such interest rates to be referred to herein as "Posting") or if the Company decides to change interest rates previously posted by it, it will promptly advise the Agents of the prices and interest rates to be posted. |
The Purchasing Agent will assign a separate CUSIP number for each tranche of Notes to be posted, and will so advise and notify the Company and the Trustee of said assignment by telephone and/or by telecopier or other form of electronic transmission. |
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The Purchasing Agent will include the assigned CUSIP number on all Posting notices communicated to the Agents and Selected Dealers. | |
Offering of Notes: |
In the event that there is a Posting, the Purchasing Agent will communicate to each of the Agents and Selected Dealers the aggregate principal amount and Maturities of, along with the interest rates to be borne by, each tranche of Notes that is the subject of the Posting. Thereafter, the Purchasing Agent, along with the other Agents and the Selected Dealers, will solicit offers to purchase the Notes accordingly. |
Purchase of Notes by |
The Purchasing Agent will, no later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the seventh calendar day subsequent to the day on which such Posting occurs, or if such seventh day is not a Business Day on the preceding Business Day, or on such other Business Day and time as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Agents (any such day, a "Trade Date"), (i) complete, execute and deliver to the Company a Terms Agreement that sets forth, among other things, the amount of each tranche that the Purchasing Agent is offering to purchase or (ii) inform the Company that none of the Notes of a particular tranche will be purchased by the Purchasing Agent. |
Acceptance and |
Unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the Agents, the Company has the sole right to accept orders to purchase Notes and may reject any such order in whole or in part. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company, the Purchasing Agent will promptly advise the Company by telephone of all offers to purchase Notes received by it, other than those rejected by it in whole or in part in the reasonable exercise of its discretion. No order for less than $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be accepted. |
Upon receipt of a completed and executed Terms Agreement from the Purchasing Agent, the Company and Sears will (i) promptly execute and return such Terms Agreement to the Purchasing Agent or (ii) inform the Purchasing Agent that its offer to purchase the Notes of a particular tranche has been rejected, in whole or in part. The Purchasing Agent will thereafter promptly inform the other Agents and participating Selected Dealers of the action taken by the Company. |
9
Preparation of Pricing Supplement: |
If any offer to purchase a Note is accepted by or on behalf of the Company, the Company will provide a Pricing Supplement (substantially in the form attached to the Selling Agent Agreement as Exhibit D) reflecting the terms of such Note and will have filed such Pricing Supplement with the SEC in accordance with the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Act. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to send such Pricing Supplement by email or telecopy to the Purchasing Agent and the Trustee by 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the applicable Trade Date. The Purchasing Agent shall use its reasonable best efforts to send such Pricing Supplement and the Prospectus by email or telecopy or overnight express (for delivery by the close of business on the applicable Trade Date, but in no event later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Business Day following the applicable Trade Date) to each Agent (or other Selected Dealer) which made or presented the offer to purchase the applicable Note and the Trustee at the following applicable address: if to Banc of America Securities LLC, to: Banc of America Corporate
Center if to Incapital LLC, to: One North LaSalle Street |
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if to A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., to: #1 North Jefferson if to Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., to: 1 Bank One Plaza if to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, to: 11 Madison Ave if to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., to: 31 West 52nd Street if to Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., to: 12555 Manchester Road |
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if to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, to: Global Transaction Management Group if to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, to: 1585 Broadway w/copy to: if to Prudential Securities Incorporated, to: One New York Plaza if to Quick & Reilly Inc., to: 14 Wall Street, 23rd Floor if to RBC Dain Rauscher Inc., to: One Liberty Plaza, 2nd Floor |
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if to UBS PaineWebber Inc., to: 800 Harbor Boulevard, 3rd Floor With a copy to: if to U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc., to: 800 Nicollet Mall if to Wachovia Securities, Inc., to: One Wachovia Center, NC0602 and if to the Trustee, to: BNY Midwest Trust Company |
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For record keeping purposes, one copy of each Pricing Supplement, as so filed, shall also be mailed or telecopied to: Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton Each such Agent (or Selected Dealer), in turn, pursuant to the terms of the Selling Agent Agreement and the Dealer Agreement, will cause to be delivered a copy of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, including the applicable Pricing Supplement, to each purchaser of Notes from such Agent or Selected Dealer. |
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Outdated Pricing Supplements and the Prospectuses to which they are attached (other than those retained for files) will be destroyed. |
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Delivery of Confirmation |
Subject to "Suspension of Solicitation; Amendment or Supplement" below, the Agents will deliver a Prospectus and Pricing Supplement as herein described with respect to each Note sold by it. |
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For each offer to purchase a Note accepted by or on behalf of the Company, the Purchasing Agent will confirm in writing with each Agent or Selected Dealer the terms of such Note, the amount being purchased by such Agent or Selected Dealer and other applicable details described above and delivery and payment instructions, with a copy to the Company. In addition, the Purchasing Agent, other Agent or Selected Dealer, as the case may be, will deliver to investors purchasing the Notes the Prospectus (including the Pricing Supplement) in relation to such Notes prior to or simultaneously with delivery of the confirmation of sale or delivery of the Note. |
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Settlement: |
The receipt of immediately available funds by the Company in payment for Notes and the authentication and issuance of the Global Note representing such Notes shall constitute "Settlement" with respect to such Note. All orders accepted by the Company will be settled within one to three Business Days pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set forth below, unless the Company and the purchaser agree to Settlement on a later date, and shall be specified upon acceptance of such offer; provided, however, in all cases the Company will notify the Trustee on the date issuance instructions are given. |
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Settlement Procedures: |
In the event of a purchase of Notes by any Agent, as agent, appropriate Settlement details ("Settlement Procedures"), if different from those set forth below, will be set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement to be entered into among such Agent, the Company and Sears pursuant to the Selling Agent Agreement. Settlement Procedures with regard to each Note sold by an Agent, as principal for the Company, shall be as follows: |
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A. After the acceptance of an offer by the Company with respect to a Note, the Purchasing Agent will communicate the following details of the terms of such offer to the Company by telephone confirmed in writing or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means: |
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B. The Company will confirm the previously assigned CUSIP number to the Global Note representing such Note and then advise the Trustee and the Purchasing Agent by telephone (confirmed in writing at any time on the same date) or by telecopier or other form of electronic transmission of the information received in accordance with Settlement Procedure "A" above, the assigned CUSIP number and the name of the Purchasing Agent. Each such communication by the Company will be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Company to the Trustee and the Agents that (i) such Note is then, and at the time of issuance and sale thereof will be, duly authorized for issuance and sale by the Company; (ii) such Note, and the Global Note representing such Note, will conform with the terms of the Indenture; and (iii) upon authentication and delivery of the Global Note representing such Note, the aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued under the Indenture will not exceed the aggregate principal amount of Notes authorized for issuance at such time by the Company. |
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C. The Trustee will communicate to DTC and the Purchasing Agent through DTC's Participant Terminal System, a pending deposit message specifying the following Settlement information: |
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D. The Trustee will complete and deliver a Global Note representing such Note in a form that has been approved by the Company, the Agents and the Trustee. |
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E. The Trustee will authenticate the Global Note representing such Note and maintain possession of such Global Note as agent for DTC. |
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F. DTC will credit such Note to the participant account of the Trustee maintained by DTC. |
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G. The Trustee will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant Terminal System instructing DTC to (i) debit such Note to the Trustee's participant account and credit such Note to the participant account of the Purchasing Agent maintained by DTC and (ii) debit the settlement account of the Purchasing Agent and credit the settlement account of the Trustee maintained by DTC, in an amount equal to the price of such Note less the Purchasing Agent's commission. The entry of such a deliver order shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Trustee to DTC that (a) the Global Note representing such Note has been issued and authenticated and (b) the Trustee is holding such Global Note pursuant to the Certificate Agreement. |
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H. The Purchasing Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through DTC's Participant Terminal System instructing DTC to (i) debit such Note to the Purchasing Agent's participant account and credit such Note to the participant accounts of the Participants to whom such Note is to be credited maintained by DTC and (ii) debit the settlement accounts of such Participants and credit the settlement account of the Purchasing Agent maintained by DTC, in an amount equal to the price of the Note less the agreed upon commission so credited to their accounts. |
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I. Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders described in Settlement Procedures "G" and "H" will be settled in accordance with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement Date. |
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J. The Trustee will credit to an account of the Company maintained at BNY Midwest Trust Company funds available for immediate use in an amount equal to the amount credited to the Trustee's DTC participant account in accordance with Settlement Procedure "G". |
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K. The Trustee will send a copy of the Global Note representing such Note by first-class mail to the Company. |
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L. Each Agent and Selected Dealer will confirm the purchase of each Note to the purchaser thereof either by transmitting to the Participant to whose account such Note has been credited a confirmation order through DTC's Participant Terminal System or by mailing a written confirmation to such purchaser. In all cases the Prospectus as most recently amended or supplemented must accompany or precede such confirmation. |
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M. Each Business Day, the Trustee 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 the CUSIP number(s) assigned to, and a brief description of, any orders which the Company has advised the Trustee but which have not yet been settled. |
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Settlement Procedures Timetable: |
In the event of a purchase of Notes by the Purchasing Agent, as principal, appropriate Settlement details, if different from those set forth below will be set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement to be entered into between the Purchasing Agent and the Company pursuant to the Selling Agent Agreement. |
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Settlement Procedures "A" through "M" shall be completed as soon as possible but not later than the respective times (New York City time) set forth below: |
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Settlement |
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Procedure |
Time |
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A |
4:00 p.m. on the Trade Date. |
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5:00 p.m. on the Trade Date. |
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2:00 p.m. on the Business Day before the Settlement Date. |
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10:00 a.m. on the Settlement Date. |
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12:00 p.m. on the Settlement Date. |
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12:30 p.m. on the Settlement Date. |
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G-H |
2:00 p.m. on the Settlement Date. |
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4:45 p.m. on the Settlement Date. |
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5:00 p.m. on the Settlement Date. |
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Weekly or at the request of the Company. |
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NOTE: The Prospectus as most recently amended or supplemented must accompany or precede any written confirmation given to the customer (Settlement Procedure "L"). Settlement Procedure "I" is subject to extension in accordance with any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement Date. |
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If Settlement of a Note is rescheduled or cancelled, the Trustee will deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, a cancellation message to such effect by no later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the scheduled Settlement Date. |
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Failure to Settle: |
If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with respect to a Note pursuant to Settlement Procedure "G", the Trustee may deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant Terminal System, as soon as practicable a withdrawal message instructing DTC to debit such Note to the participant account of the Trustee maintained at DTC. DTC will process the withdrawal message, provided that such participant account contains Notes having the same terms and having a principal amount that is at least equal to the principal amount of such Note to be debited. If withdrawal messages are processed with respect to all the Notes issued or to be issued represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will cancel such Global Note in accordance with the Indenture, make appropriate entries in its records and so advise the Company. The CUSIP number assigned to such Global Note shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be cancelled and not immediately reassigned. If withdrawal messages are processed with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Notes represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will exchange such Global Note for two Global Notes, one of which shall represent such Notes and shall be cancelled immediately after issuance, and the other of which shall represent the remaining Notes previously represented by the surrendered Global Note and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Note. If the purchase price for any 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 related Agent may enter SDFS deliver orders through DTC's participant Terminal System reversing the orders entered pursuant to Settlement Procedures "G" and "H", respectively. Thereafter, the Trustee will deliver the withdrawal message and take the related actions described above. If such failure shall have occurred for any reason other than default by the Agent in the performance of its obligations hereunder or under the Selling Agent Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Agent on an equitable basis for its reasonable out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred and loss of the use of funds during the period when they were credited to the account of the Company. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with respect to a 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 Notes that were to have been represented by a Global Note, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedures "D" and "E", for the authentication and issuance of a Global Note representing the other Notes to have been represented by such Global Note and will make appropriate entries in its records. |
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Procedure for |
Each time a decision has been reached to change rates, the Company will promptly advise the Agents of the new rates, who will forthwith suspend solicitation of purchases of Notes at the prior rates. The Agents may telephone the Company with recommendations as to the changed interest rates. |
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Suspension of Solicitation; |
Subject to the representations, warranties and covenants of each of the Company and Sears contained in the Selling Agent Agreement, the Company may instruct the Agents to suspend at any time for any period of time or permanently, the solicitation of orders to purchase Notes. Upon receipt of such instructions (which may be given orally and confirmed in writing pursuant to Sections IX and X of the Selling Agent Agreement), each Agent will forthwith suspend solicitation until such time as the Company has advised it that solicitation of purchases may be resumed subject to the terms and conditions of the Selling Agent Agreement. |
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In the event that at the time the Company suspends solicitation of purchases there shall be any orders outstanding for settlement, the Company will promptly advise the Agents and the Trustee whether such orders may be settled and whether copies of the Prospectus as in effect at the time of the suspension may be delivered in connection with the settlement of such orders. The Company will have the sole responsibility for such decision and for any arrangements which may be made in the event that the Company determines that such orders may not be settled or that copies of such Prospectus may not be so delivered. |
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If the Company or Sears decides to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, it will promptly advise the Agents and furnish the Agents and the Trustee with the proposed amendment or supplement and with such certificates and opinions as are required, all to the extent required by and in accordance with the terms of the Selling Agent Agreement. Subject to the provisions of the Selling Agent Agreement, the Company may file with the SEC any supplement to the Prospectus relating to the Notes. The Company or Sears will provide the Agents and the Trustee with copies of any such supplement, and confirm to the Agents that such supplement has been filed with the SEC. |
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Trustee Not to Risk Funds: |
Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to risk or expend its own funds in connection with any payment to the Company, or the Agents or the purchasers, it being understood by all parties that payments made by the Trustee to either the Company or the Agents shall be made only to the extent that funds are provided to the Trustee for such purpose. |
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Advertising Costs: |
The Company shall have the sole right to approve the form and substance of any advertising an Agent may initiate in connection with such Agent's solicitation to purchase the Notes. The expense of such advertising will be solely the responsibility of such Agent, unless otherwise agreed to by the Company. |
23
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT
_________, 20__
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp.
3711 Kennett Pike
Greenville, Delaware 19807
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
This is a Terms Agreement entered into pursuant to the Selling Agent Agreement dated December 6, 2002, by and among Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp., Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Agents named therein. The undersigned agrees to purchase the following aggregate principal amount of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes®:
$____________
The terms of such Notes shall be as follows:
CUSIP Number: __________
Interest Rate: _____%
Maturity Date: __________
Price to Public: __________
Agent's Concession: ___%
Net Proceeds to Issuer: _________
Settlement Date (Original Issue Date), Time and Place: __________
Survivor's Option: __________
Interest Payment Frequency: __________
Optional Redemption/Repayment, if any: __________
Initial Redemption/Repayment Date[s]: __________
Redemption/Repayment Price: Initially ___% of Principal Amount and declining by
___% of the Principal Amount on each anniversary of the Initial
Redemption/Repayment Date until the Redemption/Repayment Price is 100% of the
Principal Amount.
DTC Participant Number: ______________
[Any other terms and conditions agreed to by the Purchasing Agent and the
Company]
INCAPITAL LLC | |
By: |
______________________ |
Title: |
______________________ |
ACCEPTED
SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP.
_____________________________ |
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Title: |
_____________________________ |
By: |
_____________________________ |
Title: |
_____________________________ |
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF PRICING SUPPLEMENT
Filed Under Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-92082
Pricing Supplement No. __ dated _______, 200__
(To: Prospectus dated ________, 2002 and Prospectus Supplement
dated ________, 2002)
CUSIP |
Aggregate Principal Amount |
Selling Price |
Concession |
Net Proceeds to Issuer |
Coupon Rate |
Coupon Frequency |
Maturity Date |
1st Coupon Date |
1st Coupon Amount |
Survivor's Option |
Redemption Information:
______________Joint Lead Managers and Lead Agents: ____________________ Agents: ___________________________________
[Other Terms:]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. |
Trade Date: ______, ________, 200__ @ _____ __M ET If the maturity date or an interest payment date for any note is not a "business day" (as this term is defined in the Prospectus Supplement), principal, premium, if any, and interest for that note is paid on the next business day, and no interest will accrue from the maturity date or interest payment date to that next business day. InterNotes® is a registered servicemark of Incapital Holdings LLC. All rights reserved. |
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. $2,000,000,000 Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes® |
Exhibit 4
FORM OF NOTE
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 2.10 OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, THIS NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED, IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART, ONLY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.
THIS NOTE IS A "GLOBAL SECURITY" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE DATED AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2002 BETWEEN SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP. AND BNY MIDWEST TRUST COMPANY (THE "INDENTURE"), AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. AS THE NOMINEE FOR THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY. UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION, ("DTC") (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP. OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY NOTE ISSUED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR, OR IN LIEU OF, THIS NOTE IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
Number _____ |
CUSIP NO.___________ |
SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP.
INTERNOTE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $ _______________
ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE: _________
ISSUE PRICE (expressed as a percentage aggregate principal amount) ______%
INTEREST RATE: ____ % per annum
MATURITY DATE: ______
INTEREST PAYMENT FREQUENCY: |
[ ] Annually |
[ ] Semi-annually |
REDEMPTION RIGHT: [ ] Yes (If yes, the Company has the right to redeem this Note on any Interest Payment Date after __________________)
REPAYMENT RIGHT: [ ] Yes (If yes, the holder of this Note has the right to the repayment of this Note on any Interest Payment Date after __________________)
SURVIVOR'S OPTION: [ ] Yes (If yes, the Survivor's Option is applicable to this Note)
OTHER/ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS:
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the Principal Amount shown above on the Maturity Date shown above or any date of earlier redemption or repayment upon presentation and surrender of this Note at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York or, at the option of the Holder hereof, any office or agency maintained by the Company in the city in which the principal executive office of the Company is located or the city in which the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee is located (collectively, the "Payment Locations"), in immediately payable funds in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts, and to pay interest thereon at the Interest Rate shown above. The Company will pay interest in arrears on the Interest Payment Dates specified below, until payment of the principal amount of this Note has been made or duly provided for. The Interest Payment Dates for a Note that provides for monthly interest payments shall be the fifteenth day of each calendar month (or if not a Business Day, the next Business Day), commencing in the calendar month that next succeeds the month of the Original Issue Date; in the case of a Note that provides for quarterly interest payments, the Interest Payment Dates shall be the fifteenth day of each third month (or if not a Business Day, the next Business Day), commencing in the third succeeding calendar month following the month of the Original Issue Date; in the case of a Note that provides for semi-annual interest payments, the Interest Payment Dates shall be the fifteenth day of each sixth month (or if not a Business Day, the next Business Day), commencing in the sixth succeeding calendar month following the month of the Original Issue Date; and in the case of a Note that provides for annual interest payments, the Interest Payment Date shall be the fifteenth day of every twelfth month (or if not a Business Day, the next Business Day), commencing in the twelfth succeeding calendar month following the month of the Original Issue Date. Interest on this Note will accrue from, and including, the most recent date to which interest has been paid, or if no interest has been paid, from the Original Issue Date shown above to, but excluding, the Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date or any earlier date of redemption or repayment, as the case may be.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered on the close of business in The City of New York on the Regular Record Date, which shall be the close of business in The City of New York on the first day of the calendar month in which the Interest Payment Date occurs (whether or not a Business Day), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts either, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Security Register, or at any of the Payment Locations; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing clause, the Regular Record Date with respect to the final Interest Payment Date shall be the Maturity Date and provided, further, that such interest payable on the Maturity Date or any such date of earlier redemption or repayment shall be paid or duly provided for in the same manner as the Principal Amount. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on such Interest Payment Date, and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business in The City of New York on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid, at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully set forth in the Indenture. To the extent permitted by law and the Indenture, such Defaulted Interest shall accrue interest at the rate borne by this Note from the date of such failure to punctually pay or provide for such interest until such Defaulted Interest is paid or duly provided for.
If any Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date or any earlier date of redemption or repayment falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the interest or principal payment shall be made on the next day that is a Business Day, and no interest on such payments shall accrue for the period from and after the Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date to such next Business Day. Interest on this Note will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Company will pay any administrative costs imposed by banks in connection with making payments in immediately available funds, but any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed upon any payments on this Note, including, without limitation, any withholding tax, is the responsibility of the owners of the beneficial interests in this Note in respect of which such payments are made.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, or become valid or obligatory for any purpose, until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee under such Indenture.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: ____________
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. |
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By _____________________________ |
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By _____________________________ |
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated
and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
BNY Midwest Trust Company,
as Trustee
By:___________________________________
[Corporate Seal]
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]
SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP.
INTERNOTE
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (hereinafter called the "Securities") of the series hereinafter specified, unlimited in aggregate principal amount, all issued or to be issued under or pursuant to an indenture dated as of October 1, 2002 executed between the Company and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee; to which indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto (herein collectively called the "Indenture") reference is hereby made for a specification of the rights and limitation of rights thereunder of the Holders of the Securities, the rights and obligations thereunder of the Company and the rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee and for the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions (if any), may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any), may be subject to different covenants and events of default and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of a series of notes of the Company designated as the "Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notes"). BNY Midwest Trust Company also serves as registrar and as Paying Agent in connection with the Notes. The amount of the series of Notes may be increased at any time. The Notes may bear different dates, mature at different times, bear interest at different rates and vary in such other ways as are provided in the Indenture. This Note is not subject to any sinking fund. All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
2. In case a default, as defined in the Indenture, shall occur and be continuing with respect to the Notes, the principal amount of all Notes then Outstanding under the Indenture may be declared or may become due and payable upon the conditions and in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that such declaration may in certain events be annulled by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes Outstanding.
3. To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Indenture, modifications or alterations of the Indenture, or of any indenture supplemental thereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Holders of the Notes, may be made without the consent of any Holders of Notes, for the limited purposes described in Section 11.1 of the Indenture. To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, Section 11.2 of the Indenture, modifications or alterations of the Indenture, or of any indenture supplemental thereto, and of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Holders of the Notes, may be made with the consent of the Company by the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding of each series to be affected, evidenced as provided in the Indenture; provided, however, that no such modification or alteration shall (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of or the interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount of or the rate of interest on, any Security, or change the Currency in which the principal of or interest on, such Security is denominated or payable, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Indenture without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the percentage of Securities, the vote or consent of the Holders of which is required for such modifications and alterations, without the consent of the Holders of all Securities affected.
4. The Indenture also provides that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series then Outstanding may waive any past default under the Indenture and its consequences for such series, except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on any of the Securities, provided that such Securities shall not then be due and payable by reason of a declaration pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Indenture.
5. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay
the principal of and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate, and in the Currency, herein prescribed.6. This Note is transferable by the registered Holder hereof or by his attorney duly authorized in writing at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York or, at the option of the Holder hereof, any Payment Locations, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in relation thereto, but only in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture and upon surrender of this Note. Upon any such transfer a Note or Notes of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding will be issued in exchange herefor.
7. The Notes are issuable only as registered Notes without coupons, in minimum denominations of $1,000 (the "Minimum Denomination") and any integral multiple of $1,000. In the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, Notes are exchangeable, without charge except for any tax, or other governmental charge imposed in relation thereto, for other Notes of authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount, at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York or, at the option of the Holder hereof, any Payment Locations.
8. The Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent and any Security registrar may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or other writing hereon by anyone other than the Company or any Security registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and interest hereon and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Trustee, an Authenticating Agent, a paying agent or the Security registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon this Note to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
9. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Note or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in any manner in respect hereof, or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitutional provision or statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or in any other manner, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof. In the event of any sale or transfer of its assets and liabilities substantially as an entirety to a successor corporation, the predecessor corporation may be dissolved and liquidated as more fully set forth in the Indenture.
10. IF NO REDEMPTION RIGHT IS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE REDEEMED AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION PRIOR TO THE STATED MATURITY DATE. If a Redemption Right is granted on the face of this Note, this Note may be redeemed at the option of the Company on any Interest Payment Date on and after the date, if any, specified on the face hereof (each, a "Redemption Date"). This Note
may be redeemed on any Redemption Date in whole or in part in increments of the Minimum Denomination at the option of the Company at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed, together with interest thereon payable to the Redemption Date (the "Redemption Price"). The Company will give notice of redemption not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, which date and the Redemption Price will be specified in the notice. On the Redemption Date, the Company shall be bound to redeem the Notes to which such notice relates at their Redemption Price upon presentment thereof. Notices to Holders shall be mailed by the Trustee, first class postage prepaid, at their last addresses as they appear in the Security Register. In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof.
11. IF NO REPAYMENT RIGHT IS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE REPAID AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER HEREOF PRIOR TO THE STATED MATURITY DATE. If a Repayment Right is granted on the face of this Note, this Note may be subject to repayment at the option of the Holder on any Interest Payment Date on and after the date, if any, indicated on the face hereof (each, a "Repayment Date"). On any Repayment Date this Note shall be repayable in whole or in part in increments of the Minimum Denomination at the option of the Holder hereof at a repayment price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be repaid, together with interest thereon payable to the date of repayment. For this Note to be repaid in whole or in part at the option of the Holder hereof, this Note must be received, with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" below duly completed, by the Trustee/Paying Agent at the designated office, or such other address of which the Company shall from time to time notify the holders of the Notes, not more than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to a Repayment Date. Exercise of such repayment option by the Holder hereof shall be irrevocable.
12. IF NO SURVIVOR'S OPTION IS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE REPAID OR REPURCHASED PRIOR TO THE MATURITY DATE AS A RESULT OF THE DEATH OF A BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THIS NOTE.
If the Survivor's Option is granted above, the Representative (defined below) of a deceased beneficial owner of this Note shall have the option to elect repayment or repurchase of this Note within 24 months following the death of the beneficial owner (a "Survivor's Option").(a) Unless specifically provided above, the Survivor's Option may not be exercised unless the beneficial owner acquired this Note at least six months prior to such election.
(b) Upon the valid exercise of the Survivor's Option, the Company shall repay or repurchase, at its option, this Note (or portion thereof), properly tendered for repayment or repurchase by or on behalf of the person (the "Representative") that has authority to act on behalf of the deceased beneficial owner of this Note under the laws of the appropriate jurisdiction (including, without limitation, the personal representative or executor of the estate of the deceased beneficial owner or the surviving joint owner with the deceased beneficial owner) at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the deceased beneficial owner's beneficial interest in this Note plus accrued interest to the date of such repayment or repurchase, subject to the following limitations:
(i) The Company may, in its sole discretion, limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes as to which exercises of the Survivor's Option shall be accepted from all deceased beneficial owners in any calendar year (the "Annual Put Limitation") to an amount equal to the greater of $2,000,000 or 2% of the Outstanding principal amount of all Notes as of the end of the most recent calendar year, or such greater amount as the Company in its sole discretion may determine for any calendar year, and may limit to $250,000, or such greater amount as the
Company in its sole discretion may determine for any calendar year, the aggregate principal amount of acceptances of exercise of the Survivor's Option in such calendar year for any individual deceased beneficial owner (the "Individual Put Limitation").
(ii) The Company shall not make principal repayments pursuant to exercise of the Survivor's Option in amounts that are less than the Minimum Denomination, and, in the event that the limitations described in the preceding sentence would result in the partial repayment of this Note, the principal amount of this Note remaining Outstanding after repayment must be at least the Minimum Denomination.
(iii) Any of this Note (or portion thereof) tendered pursuant to a valid exercise of the Survivor's Option may not be withdrawn.
(c) This Note (or portion thereof) that is tendered pursuant to valid exercise of the Survivor's Option shall be accepted in the order that all such Notes are received by the Trustee, except for any Note (or portion thereof) the acceptance of which would contravene (i) the Annual Put Limitation, if applied, or (ii) the Individual Put Limitation, if applied, with respect to the relevant individual deceased beneficial owner. If, as of the end of any calendar year, the aggregate principal amount of Notes (or portions thereof) that have been tendered pursuant to the valid exercise of the Survivor's Option during such year has exceeded either the Annual Put Limitation, if applied, or the Individual Put Limitation, if applied, for such year, any exercise(s) of the Survivor's Option with respect to Notes (or portions thereof) not accepted during such calendar year because such acceptance would have contravened either such limitation, if applied, shall be deemed to be tendered in the following calendar year in the order that all such Notes (or portions thereof) were originally tendered. This Note (or portion thereof) accepted for repayment or repurchase pursuant to exercise of the Survivor's Option shall be repaid or repurchased on the first Interest Payment Date that occurs 20 or more calendar days after the date of such acceptance. In the event that this Note (or any portion thereof) tendered for repayment or repurchase pursuant to exercise of the Survivor's Option is not accepted, the Trustee shall deliver a notice by first-class mail to the registered holder thereof, at its last known address as indicated in the Security Register, that states the reason this Note (or portion thereof) has not been accepted for payment.
(d) In order for a Survivor's Option to be validly exercised with respect to any Note (or portion thereof), the Trustee must receive from the Representative (i) the "Form of Notice of Election to Exercise Survivor's Option" below, constituting a written request for repayment or repurchase signed by the Representative, and such signature must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States, (ii) tender of this Note (or portion thereof) to be repaid or repurchased, (iii) appropriate evidence satisfactory to the Trustee that (A) the deceased was the beneficial owner of this Note at the time of death and the interest in this Note was owned by the deceased beneficial owner or the estate of the deceased beneficial owner at least six months prior to the request for repayment or repurchase, (B) the death of such beneficial owner has occurred, and the date of such death, and (C) the Representative has authority to act on behalf of the deceased beneficial owner, (iv) if applicable, a properly executed assignment or endorsement, (v) if the interest in this Note is held by a nominee of the deceased beneficial owner, a certificate satisfactory to the Trustee from such nominee attesting to the deceased's beneficial ownership in this Note, (vi) tax waivers and such other instruments or documents that the Trustee reasonably requires in order to establish the validity of the beneficial ownership of this Note and the claimant's entitlement to payment, and (vii) any additional information the Trustee reasonably requires to evidence satisfaction of any conditions to the exercise of such Survivor's Option or to document beneficial ownership or authority to make the election and to cause the repayment or
repurchase of this Note. Subject to the Company's right hereunder to limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes as to which exercises of the Survivor's Option shall be accepted in any one calendar year, all questions as to the eligibility or validity of any exercise of the Survivor's Option will be determined by the Trustee, in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties.
(e) The death of a person holding a beneficial interest in this Note as a joint tenant or tenant by the entirety with another person, or as a tenant in common with the deceased Holder's spouse, will be deemed the death of the beneficial owner of this Note, and the entire principal amount of this Note so held shall be subject to repayment or repurchase pursuant to exercise of the Survivor's Option. However, the death of a person holding a beneficial ownership interest in this Note as tenant in common with a person other than such deceased Holder's spouse will be deemed the death of a beneficial owner only with respect to the deceased person's interest in this Note. The death of a person who, during his or her lifetime, was entitled to substantially all of the beneficial interests of ownership of this Note will be deemed the death of the beneficial owner of this Note for purposes of this provision, regardless of whether such beneficial owner was the registered Holder of the Note, if such beneficial interest can be established to the satisfaction of the Trustee. Such beneficial interest will be deemed to exist in typical cases of nominee ownership, ownership under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act or Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, community property or other joint ownership arrangements between a husband and wife. In addition, the beneficial ownership interest will be deemed to exist in custodial and trust arrangements where one person has all of the beneficial ownership interest in this Note during his or her lifetime.
(f) The Depository or its nominee shall be the holder of this Note and therefore shall be the only entity that can exercise the Survivor's Option for this Note. To obtain repayment or repurchase pursuant to exercise of the Survivor's Option with respect to this Note, the Representative must provide to the broker or other entity through which the beneficial interest in this Note is held by the deceased beneficial owner (i) the documents described in the second preceding paragraph and (ii) instructions to such broker or other entity to notify the Depository of such Representative's desire to obtain repayment or repurchase pursuant to exercise of the Survivor's Option. Such broker or other entity shall provide to the Trustee (i) the documents received from the Representative referred to in clause (i) of the preceding sentence and (ii) a certificate satisfactory to the Trustee from such broker or other entity stating that it represents the deceased beneficial owner. Such broker or other entity shall be responsible for disbursing any payments it receives pursuant to exercise of the Survivor's Option to the appropriate Representative.
13. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, the term "Business Day" shall mean, for all purposes with respect to this Note, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a legal holiday for banking institutions in any of the City of Wilmington, Delaware, the City of Chicago, The City of New York, or the city in which the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee is located.
14. This Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
__________
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations
TEN COM --
as tenants in common
TEN ENT --
as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN --
as joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -- _______ Custodian ______
(Cust) (Minor)
Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act _________________
(State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
__________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
the within Note of SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP. and all rights thereunder,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_______________________________________
attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of Sears Roebuck Acceptance
Corp., with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:__________________ Your Signature: | _______________________________ |
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. | |
___________________________________ |
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an
eligible guarantor institution (banks, stock
brokers, savings and loan associations,
and credit unions with membership in
an approved signature guarantee medallion
program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
OPTION TO ELECT REPAYMENT
The undersigned hereby irrevocably request(s) and instruct(s) Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. (the "Company") to repay this Note (or portion hereof specified below) pursuant to its terms at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount hereof together with interest to the repayment date, to the undersigned, at _________________________________ (Please print or typewrite name and address of the undersigned). All terms used in this Option to Elect Repayment Form which are defined in this Note shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Note.
For this Note to be repaid, the Trustee (or the Paying Agent on behalf of the Trustee) must receive at 101 Barclay St., Floor 8W, New York, NY, 10286, attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holder of this Note, not more than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to a Repayment Date, this Note with this "Option to Elect Repayment" form duly completed.
If less than the entire principal amount of this Note is to be repaid, specify the portion hereof (which shall be in increments of the Minimum Denomination) which the Holder elects to have repaid and specify the denomination or denominations (which shall be the Minimum Denomination or an integral multiple of the Minimum Denomination) of the Notes to be issued to the Holder for the portion of this Note not being repaid (in the absence of any such specification, one such Note will be issued for the portion not being repaid).
$_______________________ |
____________________________________________ |
DATE: __________________ |
NOTICE: The signature on this Option to |
____________________________________
Signature Guaranteed
NOTICE: The signature(s) should be guaranteed by
an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers,
savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee
medallion program), pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under
the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.
SEARS ROEBUCK ACCEPTANCE CORP.
INTERNOTES
FORM OF NOTICE OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE SURVIVOR'S OPTION |
|
[ ] |
By checking this box, the undersigned represents that: (1) it is the authorized representative of the deceased beneficial owner identified below, (2) (a) the deceased was the beneficial owner of the principal amount of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes listed below at the date of his or her death and such InterNotes have been held by the deceased or his or her estate for at least six months, (b) the death of the beneficial owner listed below has occurred and (c) the undersigned representative has authority to act on behalf of the deceased beneficial owner, and (3) subject to the aggregate limitation on the amount of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes that may be tendered in any calendar year, it hereby elects to tender the principal amount of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes set forth below for repayment by Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. for a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the beneficial interest of the deceased owner plus accrued interest to the date of repayment. |
The deceased beneficial owner held the principal amount of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes to be tendered as (check one): |
|
____ |
a sole beneficial owner, a joint tenant or a tenant by the entirety with another or others, a tenant in common with a spouse or an individual entitled to substantially all of the beneficial interest. |
____ |
a tenant in common with another (other than a spouse). If applicable please provide the amount of interest held by the deceased beneficial owner. $_________________ |
Full name of deceased beneficial owner (please attach death certificate): |
|
If applicable, full name of the nominee of the deceased beneficial owner (please attach a certificate attesting to the deceased's ownership of the beneficial interest in the Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes):
______________________________________________
Principal amount of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes being tendered for repayment (amount must equal $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000):
$______________
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. may, in its sole discretion, limit the aggregate principal amount of InterNotes that may be tendered pursuant to the Survivor's Option by any single beneficial owner in any calendar year to $250,000 or such greater amount as it may determine. Additional limitations with respect to aggregate exercises by all holders and terms of acceptance are also applicable and are more fully described in the Prospectus Supplement dated December 6, 2002. Each tendered Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNote that is not accepted for repayment in any calendar year due to the application of any of these limitations will be deemed to be tendered in the following calendar year in the order in which all such notes were originally tendered. BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee on behalf of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. has the right to reject tenders of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp InterNotes if a properly executed election is not submitted or if it fails to receive any tax or additional information that is required to document adherence to any conditions precedent, ownership or authority to make the election.
THIS NOTICE OF ELECTION MAY NOT BE WITHDRAWN AND
INTERNOTES SUBJECT TO THIS NOTICE OF ELECTION MAY
NOT BE TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE OF REPAYMENT
PLEASE SIGN HERE
(Must be signed by authorized representatives(s) of deceased holder. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or another person acting in a fiduciary capacity, please set forth full title.)
Signature(s) of Authorized Representatives(s):
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Dated: ______________, 20___
Names(s):_________________________________________________________________________
(Please Print)
Capacity (full title):___________________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________________________
(Include Zip Code)
Area Code(s) and Telephone Number(s):__________________________________________________
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE
(Must be signed by authorized representative of: (1) a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or (2) a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.)
Name of Firm:______________________________________________________________________
Authorized Signature:_________________________________________________________________
Name:____________________________________________________________________________
(Please Print)
Title:_____________________________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________________________
(Include Zip Code)
Area Code(s) and Telephone Number(s):_________________________________________________
Dated:____________, ______
![]() |
Anastasia D. Kelly Senior Vice President and General Counsel Sears, Roebuck and Co. 3333 Beverly Road Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 |
Exhibit 5 |
December 6, 2002
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp.
3711 Kennett Pike
Greenville, Delaware 19807
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
3333 Beverly Drive
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60179
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Sears, Roebuck and Co. ("Sears"). I have examined (i) Registration Statement No. 333-92082, as amended, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of $9,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the "Debt Securities") of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. ("SRAC") for several offerings to be made on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Act; (ii) the final prospectus, dated December 6, 2002 (the "Prospectus"), relating to the offering and sale of Debt Securities, which is part of the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus Supplement, dated December 6, 2002 (the "Prospectus Supplement"), relating to the offering and sale up to $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. InterNotes® ("Notes") of SRAC; (iii) the Indenture dated as of October 1, 2002 between SRAC and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee, governing the Notes (the "Indenture"); (iv) the Selling Agent Agreement dated December 6, 2002 among the Company, Sears, Incapital LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Prudential Securities Incorporated, Quick & Reilly Inc., RBC Dain Rauscher Inc., UBS PaineWebber Inc., U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. and Wachovia Securities, Inc., as Agents for the Notes; and (v) the form of Note. I am familiar with the proceedings heretofore taken, and the additional proceedings proposed to be taken relating to the determination of certain terms not set forth in the form of the Note, by SRAC in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Notes.
I am of the opinion that the Notes have been duly authorized and, when duly issued, executed, authenticated and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and sold and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Selling Agent Agreement, will be legally issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of SRAC, enforceable against SRAC in accordance with their terms, except as the foregoing may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance and transfer or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and by general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). In giving the above opinion, I have relied, with their permission, on an opinion from Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell addressed to me and dated December 6, 2002.
I consent to the incorporation by reference of this opinion into the Registration Statement and to the references to me in the Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement.
Very truly yours, /s/ Anastasia D. Kelly |
Exhibit 8
190 South La Salle
Street |
|||
main telephone |
|||
December 6, 2002 |
|||
Banc
of America Securities LLC A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. |
Incapital
LLC Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. Deutsch Bank Securities Inc. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Prudential Securities Incorporated RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. |
||
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated |
c/o Banc of America Securities LLC
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
and
Incapital LLC
One North LaSalle Street
Suite 3500
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Re: |
Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. Issuance of
an Aggregate of up to |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special tax counsel to Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp., a Delaware corporation ("SRAC"), in connection with the issuance by SRAC of up to $2,000,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of SRAC's InterNotes® (the "Notes") as described in the Prospectus Supplement dated December 6, 2002 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Prospectus dated December 6, 2002 (the "Prospectus"). This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section II(a)(2) of the Selling Agent Agreement, by and among SRAC, Sears, Roebuck and Co., and the Agents named therein, dated December 6, 2002, (the "Agreement").
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw |
|
December 6, 2002 |
|
Page 2 |
In preparing our opinion, we have reviewed the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Agreement, and such other documents as we believed necessary for purposes of delivering this opinion. Our opinion is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), applicable Treasury regulations (the "Regulations"), and public administrative and judicial interpretations of the Code and the Regulations, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.
Subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the discussion included in the Prospectus Supplement entitled "Material United States Federal Tax Considerations" (the "Discussion") is a fair and accurate description of the material United States federal income and estate tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the Notes, subject to the conditions, limitations and assumptions described therein.
The Discussion does not cover all aspects of United States federal income and estate taxation that may be relevant to, or the actual tax effect that matters described therein will have on, any particular holder, and it does not address foreign, state or local tax consequences. The Discussion does not cover the tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which (such as dealers in securities, insurance companies, individual retirement and other tax-deferred accounts, and other tax-exempt entities) may be subject to special rules.
Our opinion may change if (i) the applicable law changes, (ii) any of the facts with respect to the Notes as included in the Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement or Agreement change, or (iii) the conduct of the parties is materially inconsistent with the facts reflected in the Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement or Agreement.
Our opinion represents only our legal judgment based on current law and the facts as described above. Our opinion has no binding effect on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts. The Internal Revenue Service may take a position contrary to our opinion, and if the matter is litigated, a court may reach a decision contrary to our opinion.
This opinion is furnished by us as tax counsel to SRAC to you and is solely for your benefit. This opinion may not be relied upon by any other person without our prior written consent. BNY Midwest Trust Company, as Trustee, may rely on this opinion as if it were addressed to them.
We hereby consent to the use of our opinion as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement and the reference to our firm in the Prospectus Supplement. We also consent to the filing of our opinion as part of SRAC's current report on Form 8-K dated on or about December 6, 2002.
Sincerely,
|
13009708 02043067 |
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