ISDA Anatomy™


In a Nutshell Section 12:

12. Notices
12(a) Effectiveness. Any communication under this Agreement may be given in any manner described below (except that communications about Events of Default and Termination Events or Early Termination may not be given by electronic messaging system or e-mail) as set out in the Schedule) and will be effective when delivered:―

(i) By hand: when delivered;
(ii) By telex: are you kidding me? Who has a telex these days? OK when the recipient’s answerback is received;
(iii) By fax: FAX??? When were you born Grampa? Ok when received in legible form (the burden of proof being on the sender and, no, a transmission report won’t do);
(iv) By registered mail: when delivered (or when delivery is attempted);
(v) By electronic messaging system: when received; or
(vi) By e-mail: when delivered delivered,

unless delivery or receipt happenens outside ordinary business hours on a Local Business Day, in which case it will be deemed effective on the following Local Business Day.
12(b) Change of Details. Either party may change its contact details by notice.
view template

2002 ISDA full text of Section 12:

12. Notices
12(a) Effectiveness. Any notice or other communication in respect of this Agreement may be given in any manner described below (except that a notice or other communication under Section 5 or 6 may not be given by electronic messaging system or e-mail) to the address or number or in accordance with the electronic messaging system or e-mail details provided (see the Schedule) and will be deemed effective as indicated:―

(i) if in writing and delivered in person or by courier, on the date it is delivered;
(ii) if sent by telex, on the date the recipient’s answerback is received;
(iii) if sent by facsimile transmission, on the date it is received by a responsible employee of the recipient in legible form (it being agreed that the burden of proving receipt will be on the sender and will not be met by a transmission report generated by the sender’s facsimile machine);
(iv) if sent by certified or registered mail (airmail, if overseas) or the equivalent (return receipt requested), on the date it is delivered or its delivery is attempted;
(v) if sent by electronic messaging system, on the date it is received; or
(vi) if sent by e-mail, on the date it is delivered,

unless the date of that delivery (or attempted delivery) or that receipt, as applicable, is not a Local Business Day or that communication is delivered (or attempted) or received, as applicable, after the close of business on a Local Business Day, in which case that communication will be deemed given and effective on the first following day that is a Local Business Day.
12(b) Change of Details. Either party may by notice to the other change the address, telex or facsimile number or electronic messaging system or e-mail details at which notices or other communications are to be given to it.
view template

Click here for the text of Section 12 in the 1992 ISDA

Index: Click to expand:Navigation
See ISDA Comparison for a comparison between the 1992 ISDA and the 2002 ISDA.
The Varieties of ISDA Experience
Subject 2002 (wikitext) 1992 (wikitext) 1987 (wikitext)
Preamble Pre Pre Pre
Interpretation 1 1 1
Obligns/Payment 2 2 2
Representations 3 3 3
Agreements 4 4 4
EODs & Term Events 5 Events of Default: FTPDBreachCSDMisrepDUSTCross DefaultBankruptcyMWA Termination Events: IllegalityFMTax EventTEUMCEUMATE 5 Events of Default: FTPDBreachCSDMisrepDUSTCross DefaultBankruptcyMWA Termination Events: IllegalityTax EventTEUMCEUMATE 5 Events of Default: FTPDBreachCSDMisrepDUSSCross DefaultBankruptcyMWA Termination Events: IllegalityTax EventTEUMCEUM
Early Termination 6 Early Termination: ET right on EODET right on TEEffect of DesignationCalculations; Payment DatePayments on ETSet-off 6 Early Termination: ET right on EODET right on TEEffect of DesignationCalculationsPayments on ETSet-off 6 Early Termination: ET right on EODET right on TEEffect of DesignationCalculationsPayments on ET
Transfer 7 7 7
Contractual Currency 8 8 8
Miscellaneous 9 9 9
Offices; Multibranch Parties 10 10 10
Expenses 11 11 11
Notices 12 12 12
Governing Law 13 13 13
Definitions 14 14 14
Schedule Schedule Schedule Schedule
Termination Provisions Part 1 Part 1 Part 1
Tax Representations Part 2 Part 2 Part 2
Documents for Delivery Part 3 Part 3 Part 3
Miscellaneous Part 4 Part 4 Part 4
Other Provisions Part 5 Part 5 Part 5
Tell me more
Sign up for our newsletter — or just get in touch: for ½ a weekly 🍺 you get to consult JC. Ask about it here.


A Teleprinter exchange is the original form of data transmission, developed during the Second World War and used as a secure and reliable long distance communication.
Unlike fax or email, Telex has full “legal document status" in every country of the world. It carries proof of RECEIPT as well as proof of sending due to its unique electronic handshake on each message. It remains a reliable communication tool with specific needs in Banking, Aviation and Maritime, and is still widely used in many secure environments including Embassies, Governments, Post Offices and Military organisations worldwide.

So people DO still use it. Just not for ISDA Master Agreements. But actually what an awesome plot point for a novel.

The internet was based on many original telex functionalities for direct Inter-Country communication, desktop messaging and the Internet Chat type facility is the traditional telex "conversational" call.

For legally secure, guaranteed transmission, the telex service remains unique , from the transmission of banking "TT" (standing for telex transfer) to Maritime emergency calls, ships in distress , pirate threat to lifeboat launch , it is truly a mission critical communication platform.

http://www.networktelex.com/faq/