Document:

Document

        

Exhibit 10.1

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
PRSU AGREEMENT

POST HOLDINGS, INC. (the “Company”), hereby grants to the individual named below (the “Grantee”) an award of performance-based restricted stock units (the “PRSUs”) as set forth below, effective on the Date of Grant set forth below, subject to the Grantee timely executing and delivering to the Company, pursuant to such procedures as the Company will establish from time to time, this PRSU Agreement (this “Agreement”).  The PRSUs shall vest and become payable in Shares, subject to earlier termination of the PRSUs, as provided in this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Post Holdings, Inc. 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as in the Plan.

Grantee: 
Number of PRSUs at Target (“Target Award”):
Date of Grant:
Performance Period: [insert three-year period]
Vesting Schedule: Subject to Section 2 of this Agreement, 0% to 260% of the Target Award shall vest following the end of the Performance Period, on the date on which the Committee certifies the extent to which the Performance Criteria have been achieved, which date shall not be later the December 31st that immediately follows the last day of the Performance Period (the “Default Vesting Date”), and as otherwise set forth in Appendix A.

1.    Award.  Each PRSU represents the right to receive one Share with respect to each PRSU that vests as set forth in this Agreement, including Appendix A, subject, as applicable, to achievement of the applicable Performance Criteria and certification by the Committee thereof (the portion of the PRSUs that vests is hereafter referred to as the “Vested Units”).  
2.    Vesting and Forfeiture.
(a)    Condition to Vesting.  The vesting of the PRSUs on a Vesting Date (as defined in Section 2(b)) is, subject to the Grantee’s continued employment with the Company (or its Affiliates or Parent, as applicable) through the applicable Vesting Date, except as specifically provided by Section 2(b)(ii)(1).  
(b)    Accelerated Vesting.  
i.    Death and Disability.  Subject to Section 2(c) below, the Target Award will become Vested Units as of the date of the Grantee’s death or Disability (such date, an “Accelerated Vesting Date” which, together with the Default Vesting Date, is a “Vesting Date”), if either such event occurs prior to the Default Vesting Date.  
ii.    Change in Control.  Subject to Section 2(c) below, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(g) of the Plan, in the event the Grantee ceases to be employed with the Company, either as a result of a termination by the Company without Cause or by the Grantee for Good Reason:
1.Within the three (3)-month period prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control Date or on the Change in Control Date, a number of unvested PRSUs shall become Vested Units on such Change in Control equal to the greater of: (A) the number of PRSUs that would have become vested based upon the achievement of the Performance Criteria, calculated as set forth in Appendix A through the last full trading day prior to the Change in Control Date (such date, also an “Accelerated Vesting Date”) or (B) the Target Award adjusted pro-rata based on the number of 

        

days of the Performance Period which have passed as of the Change in Control Date (such date, also an “Accelerated Vesting Date”); or 
2.During the twelve (12)-month period starting on the day following the Change in Control Date and ending on the first anniversary of the Change in Control Date, a number of unvested PRSUs shall become Vested Units on such termination of employment equal to the greater of: (A) the number of PRSUs that would have become vested based upon the achievement of the Performance Criteria, calculated as set forth in Appendix A through the last full trading day prior to date upon which the Grantee ceases to be employed (such date, also an “Accelerated Vesting Date”) or (B) the Target Award adjusted pro-rata based on the number of days of the Performance Period which have passed as of the day of termination of employment (such date, also an “Accelerated Vesting Date”). 
iii.    Failure to Assume.  In the event that in connection with a Change in Control the acquirer does not agree to assume in writing, effective upon the Change in Control, on substantially the same terms, the PRSUs and the obligations hereunder: a number of unvested PRSUs shall become Vested Units as of immediately prior to the Change in Control Date equal to the number of PRSUs that would have become vested based upon the achievement of the Performance Criteria, calculated as set forth in Appendix A through the last full trading day prior to the Change in Control Date (such date, also an “Accelerated Vesting Date”), and the remainder shall be forfeited.
(c)    Conversion to Time-Based Awards.  If the Committee determines that, as the result of the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Performance Criteria should no longer apply to the PRSUs following the Change in Control, the Committee shall calculate the Vesting Percentage as set forth in Appendix A through the last full trading day prior to the Change in Control Date and thereafter a number of PRSUs equal to the Target Award multiplied by such Vesting Percentage (the “Time-Based PRSUs”) will be subject to the requirement to remain employed through the applicable Vesting Date (and except for such Time-Based PRSUs, any other portion of the award made pursuant to this Agreement shall be forfeited without payment or consideration therefor), it being understood that (i) the applicable Vesting Date of the then-outstanding Time-Based PRSUs shall be either the Default Vesting Date set forth above or, if applicable, an Accelerated Vesting Date, subject to the conditions thereof, (ii) upon such applicable Vesting Date, if any, the Time-Based PRSUs shall become vested without additional adjustment with respect to performance through such applicable Vesting Date, and (iii) in the event the Grantee’s employment terminates prior to such applicable Vesting Date (other than a termination described in Section 2(b) above, in which case the then-outstanding Time-Based PRSUs shall become vested pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 2(c)), the Time-Based PRSUs shall be forfeited as set forth in Section 2(d). 
(d)    Forfeiture Upon Termination of Employment.  Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2(b) and 2(c) above, in the event that the Grantee’s employment with the Company terminates for any reason or no reason, voluntarily or involuntarily, the Grantee shall forfeit any and all PRSUs which are not and cannot become, as of the time of such termination or as a result of the completion of the Performance Period, Vested Units, and the Grantee shall not be entitled to any payment or other consideration with respect thereto.
(e)    Definition of Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, Cause shall be defined as: (i) Grantee’s conviction of a crime, the circumstances of which involve fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, dishonesty or moral turpitude, and which is substantially related to the circumstances of Grantee’s duties; (ii) Grantee’s conviction of a crime, the circumstances of which involve federal or state securities laws; or (iii) Grantee’s falsification of Company or Affiliate records.

2

        

3.    Settlement of the Vested Units.  
(a)Settlement.  Subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, the Company shall issue to the Grantee a number of Shares equal to the number of Vested Units no later than sixty (60) days after the Vesting Date.  
(b)Compliance with Laws.  The grant of the PRSUs and issuance of Shares upon settlement of the Vested Units shall be subject to and in compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities, other law or regulations and the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed.  The Company’s inability to obtain permission or other authorization from any relevant regulatory body necessary to the lawful issuance of any Shares subject to the Vested Units shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such Shares as to which such requisite authority was not obtained.  As a condition to the settlement of the Vested Units, the Company may require the Grantee to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and/or to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto.
(c)Registration.  Shares issued in settlement of the Vested Units shall be registered in the name of the Grantee.  Such Shares may be issued either in certificated or book entry form.  In either event, the certificate or book entry account shall bear such restrictive legends or restrictions as the Company, in its sole discretion, shall require.
4.    Incorporation of the Plan by Reference.  The award of PRSUs pursuant to this Agreement is granted under, and expressly subject to, the terms and provisions of the Plan, which terms and provisions are incorporated herein by reference, except as expressly provided herein.  The Grantee hereby acknowledges that a copy of the Plan has been made and remains available to the Grantee.  
5.    Committee Discretion.  This Award has been made pursuant to a determination made by the Committee.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee shall have the authority as set forth in the Plan.
6.    No Right to Continued Employment.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any limitation or restriction on such rights as the Company or its Affiliates or Parent otherwise would have to terminate the employment of the Grantee at any time for any reason.
7.    Withholding of Taxes.  In addition to any rights the Company may have pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Plan, the Company shall make such provisions for the withholding or payment of taxes as it deems necessary under applicable law and shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to the Grantee or alternatively to require the Grantee to remit to the Company an amount in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, certified check or such other form as may be acceptable to the Company, sufficient to satisfy at the time when due any federal, state, or local taxes or other withholdings of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the PRSUs.
8.    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings and negotiations between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.    Governing Law.  To the extent federal law does not otherwise control, this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws.  The Grantee shall be solely responsible to seek advice as to the laws of any jurisdiction to which he or she may be subject, and participation by the Grantee in the Plan shall be on the basis of a warranty by the Grantee that he or she may lawfully so participate without the Company being in breach of the laws of any such jurisdiction.
10.    Not Assignable or Transferable.  The PRSUs shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if permitted by the Committee, the 
3

        

Grantee may assign his or her rights with respect to the PRSUs granted herein to a trust or custodianship, the beneficiaries of which may include only the Grantee, the Grantee’s spouse or the Grantee’s lineal descendants (by blood or adoption).  In the event of any such assignment, such trust or custodianship shall be subject to all the restrictions, obligations, and responsibilities as apply to the Grantee under the Plan and this Agreement and shall be entitled to all the rights of the Grantee under the Plan.
11.    Specified Employee Delay and Separation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Grantee is determined to be a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, payment on account of termination of employment shall be made on the earlier of the first payroll date which is more than six months following the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment, or the Grantee’s death, in any event only to the extent required to avoid any adverse tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code.  References to termination of employment and similar phrases or terms under this Agreement shall mean a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf, and the Grantee has signed this Agreement to evidence his or her acceptance of the terms hereof, all as of the Date of Grant.
												
	POST HOLDINGS, INC.		GRANTEE
				
	By:			
	Name:			[name]
	Title:			

4

        

Appendix A

Performance Criteria

Subject to the terms and restrictions of the Agreement and the Plan, the PRSUs shall be eligible to become Vested Units based on the level of achievement of the performance goals set forth herein during the Measurement Period, as defined in this Appendix A.  The number of Vested Units shall be determined by multiplying the Target Award by the Vesting Percentage, as defined in this Appendix A.  
The Company’s “Relative TSR Percentile Rank” shall be determined by the Committee and means the percentile rank of the Company’s TSR for a period (the “Measurement Period”), which period shall be determined as follows: (i) other than in the case of Sections 2(b)(ii), 2(b)(iii)  or (c), the Performance Period, (ii) in the case of Sections 2(b)(ii)(1), 2(b)(iii) and 2(c), during the Performance Period but only through the last full trading day prior to the Change in Control Date, and (iii) in the case of Section 2(b)(ii)(2), during the Performance Period but only through the last full trading day prior to the date upon which the Grantee ceases to be employed, in any case relative to the TSR of the companies (the “Peer Group”) set forth below.  
“Peer Group” means those companies which are included in the Russell 3000 Packaged Foods and Meats Index on the Date of Grant, as determined by the Committee. Constituents of the Peer Group (the “Peer Companies”) may be changed as follows: 
i.In the event of a merger, acquisition or business combination transaction of a Peer Company with or by another Peer Company, the surviving entity shall remain a Peer Company.
ii.In the event of a merger of a Peer Company with an entity that is not a Peer Company, or the acquisition or business combination transaction by or with a Peer Company, or with an entity that is not a Peer Company, in each case where the Peer Company is the surviving entity and remains publicly traded, the surviving entity shall remain a Peer Company.
iii.In the event of a merger or acquisition or business combination transaction of a Peer Company by or with an entity that is not a Peer Company, a “going private” transaction involving a Peer Company where the Peer Company is not the surviving entity or is otherwise no longer publicly traded, the company shall no longer be a Peer Company.
iv.In the event of a stock distribution from a Peer Company consisting of the shares of a new publicly-traded company (a “spin-off”), the Peer Company shall remain a Peer Company and the stock distribution shall be treated as a dividend from the Peer Company based on the closing price of the shares of the spun-off company on its first day of trading.  The performance of the shares of the spun-off company shall not thereafter be tracked for purposes of calculating TSR.
v.Otherwise as the Committee shall determine is necessary and appropriate to prevent enlargement or dilution of rights. 

“TSR” means total shareholder return as applied to the Company and each of the companies in the Peer Group, and will be equal to the difference of (A) the quotient of (i) (a) the applicable Ending Stock Price plus (b) dividends paid with respect to a record date occurring during the period over which the Beginning Stock Price is calculated and during the remainder of the Measurement Period (assuming dividend reinvestment on the ex-dividend date), divided by (ii) (a) the applicable Beginning Stock Price plus (b) dividends paid with respect to a record date occurring during the period over which the Beginning Stock Price is calculated (assuming dividend reinvestment on the ex-dividend date); minus (B) 1.00.  For purposes of calculating TSR: 

(1) Any dividend paid in cash shall be valued at its cash amount.  Any dividend paid in securities with a readily ascertainable fair market value shall be valued at the market value of the securities as of the dividend record date.  

(2) If any company included in the Peer Group on the Date of Grant (and any successor to such company) does not have a common stock price that is quoted on a national securities exchange at the end of the Measurement Period due to reasons not enumerated above in the definition of Peer Group, then such company will be removed from the Peer Group, provided that if any company included in the Peer Group on the Date of Grant (and any successor to such company) (a) files for bankruptcy, reorganization or liquidation under any chapter of the 
5

        

U.S. Bankruptcy Code, (b) is the subject of an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding that is not dismissed within 30 days, or (c) is the subject of a shareholder approved plan of liquidation or dissolution, the TSR of such company shall be negative 100% for purposes of determining Relative TSR Percentile Rank.

“Beginning Stock Price,” with respect to the Company or any other company in the Peer Group, means the average of the closing sales prices for a share of common stock of the applicable company for the 250 trading days (or 90 trading days if the Measurement Period is shorter than 250 trading days) immediately preceding and including the first day of the Measurement Period, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other sources as the Committee deems reliable.  If a member of the Peer Group has been publicly traded for less than 250 trading days, such company’s beginning stock price shall equal the average of the closing sales prices for a share of common stock of the applicable company over the period during which the company’s stock has been publicly traded.

“Ending Stock Price,” with respect to the Company or any other company in the Peer Group, means the average of the closing sales prices for a share of common stock of the applicable company for the 250 trading days (or 90 trading days if the Measurement Period is shorter than 250 trading days) immediately preceding and including the last day of the Measurement Period, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other sources as the Committee deems reliable.

“Vesting Percentage” is a function of the Company’s Relative TSR Percentile Rank during the Measurement Period and shall be determined as set forth below:
						
	Relative TSR Percentile Rank	Vesting Percentage
	≥85th
	260%
	75th
	200%
	50th
	100%
	25th
	50%

To determine the Relative TSR Percentile Rank during the Measurement Period, the Committee will rank the TSR of the companies in the Peer Group including the Company from highest to lowest, with the highest being ranked number 1, and apply the following formula, where N is the total number of companies in the Peer Group including the Company and R is the ranking of the Company’s TSR within the Peer Group:

N - R
N - 1
The result will be rounded to the nearest whole percentile, rounding up for any value of .50 or higher.
In the event that the Relative TSR Percentile Rank is less than the 25th percentile, the Vesting Percentage shall be equal to 0%.  In the event that the Relative TSR Percentile Rank during the Measurement Period falls between two Relative TSR Percentile Ranks set forth above, the Vesting Percentage shall be determined using straight line linear interpolation between the levels specified above.  Notwithstanding the Relative TSR Percentile Rank, in the event the Company’s TSR for the Measurement Period is a negative number, the Vesting Percentage shall not exceed 100%.
6Exhibit

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

INDENTURE
Dated as of November 20, 2020
Among
ALLIANT ENERGY FINANCE, LLC,
as Issuer,
ALLIANT ENERGY CORPORATION,
as Guarantor
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
1.400% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

CONTENTS
	
			
	 
	 
	Page

	
				
	ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
	4

	 
	Section 1.01
	Definitions
	4

	 
	Section 1.02
	Rules of Construction
	14

	 
	Section 1.03
	Acts of Holders
	15

	
				
	ARTICLE II THE NOTES
	16

	 
	Section 2.01
	Form and Dating; Terms
	16

	 
	Section 2.02
	Execution and Authentication
	18

	 
	Section 2.03
	Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent
	19

	 
	Section 2.04
	Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
	19

	 
	Section 2.05
	Holder Lists
	19

	 
	Section 2.06
	Transfer and Exchange
	20

	 
	Section 2.07
	Replacement Notes
	33

	 
	Section 2.08
	Outstanding Notes
	33

	 
	Section 2.09
	Treasury Notes
	33

	 
	Section 2.10
	Temporary Notes
	33

	 
	Section 2.11
	Cancellation
	34

	 
	Section 2.12
	Defaulted Interest
	34

	 
	Section 2.13
	CUSIP/ISIN Numbers
	34

	
				
	ARTICLE III REDEMPTION
	35

	 
	Section 3.01
	Notices to Trustee
	35

	 
	Section 3.02
	Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed
	35

	 
	Section 3.03
	Notice of Redemption
	35

	 
	Section 3.04
	Effect of Notice of Redemption
	37

	 
	Section 3.05
	Deposit of Redemption Price
	37

	 
	Section 3.06
	Notes Redeemed in Part
	38

	 
	Section 3.07
	Optional Redemption
	38

	 
	Section 3.08
	Mandatory Redemption; No Sinking Fund
	39

	
				
	ARTICLE IV COVENANTS
	39

	 
	Section 4.01
	Payment of Notes
	39

	 
	Section 4.02
	Maintenance of Office or Agency
	39

	 
	Section 4.03
	Reports and Other Information
	40

	 
	Section 4.04
	Compliance Certificate
	40

	 
	Section 4.05
	Taxes
	40

	 
	Section 4.06
	Stay, Extension and Usury Laws
	41

	 
	Section 4.07
	Liens
	41

	 
	Section 4.08
	Existence
	42

	
				
	ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS
	42

	 
	Section 5.01
	Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets
	42

	 
	Section 5.02
	Successor Person Substituted
	43

1

	
			
	 
	 
	Page

	
				
	ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
	43

	 
	Section 6.01
	Events of Default
	43

	 
	Section 6.02
	Acceleration
	44

	 
	Section 6.03
	Other Remedies
	45

	 
	Section 6.04
	Waiver of Past Defaults
	45

	 
	Section 6.05
	Control by Majority
	45

	 
	Section 6.06
	Limitation on Suits
	46

	 
	Section 6.07
	Rights of Holders to Receive Payment
	46

	 
	Section 6.08
	Collection Suit by Trustee
	46

	 
	Section 6.09
	Restoration of Rights and Remedies
	46

	 
	Section 6.10
	Rights and Remedies Cumulative
	47

	 
	Section 6.11
	Delay or Omission Not Waiver
	47

	 
	Section 6.12
	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
	47

	 
	Section 6.13
	Priorities
	47

	 
	Section 6.14
	Undertaking for Costs
	48

	
				
	ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE
	48

	 
	Section 7.01
	Duties of Trustee
	48

	 
	Section 7.02
	Rights of Trustee
	50

	 
	Section 7.03
	Individual Rights of Trustee
	52

	 
	Section 7.04
	Trustee’s Disclaimer
	52

	 
	Section 7.05
	Notice of Defaults
	52

	 
	Section 7.06
	Compensation and Indemnity
	52

	 
	Section 7.07
	Replacement of Trustee
	53

	 
	Section 7.08
	Successor Trustee by Merger, etc
	54

	 
	Section 7.09
	Appointment of Co-Indenture Trustee or Separate Indenture Trustee
	54

	 
	Section 7.10
	Eligibility; Disqualification
	55

	
				
	ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
	56

	 
	Section 8.01
	Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
	56

	 
	Section 8.02
	Legal Defeasance and Discharge
	56

	 
	Section 8.03
	Covenant Defeasance
	56

	 
	Section 8.04
	Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance
	57

	 
	Section 8.05
	Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
	59

	 
	Section 8.06
	Repayment to Issuer
	59

	 
	Section 8.07
	Reinstatement
	59

	
				
	ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
	60

	 
	Section 9.01
	Without Consent of Holders
	60

	 
	Section 9.02
	With Consent of Holders
	61

	 
	Section 9.03
	Revocation and Effect of Consents
	63

	 
	Section 9.04
	Notation on or Exchange of Notes
	63

	 
	Section 9.05
	Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc
	63

2

	
				
	ARTICLE X GUARANTEE
	64

	 
	Section 10.01
	Guarantee
	64

	 
	Section 10.02
	Limitation on Guarantor Liability
	65

	 
	Section 10.03
	Evidence of the Guarantee
	65

	 
	Section 10.04
	Subrogation
	66

	 
	Section 10.05
	Benefits Acknowledged
	66

	 
	Section 10.06
	Release of Guarantee
	66

	
				
	ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
	66

	 
	Section 11.01
	Satisfaction and Discharge of the Notes
	66

	 
	Section 11.02
	Satisfaction and Discharge of this Indenture
	69

	 
	Section 11.03
	Application of Trust Money
	70

	
				
	ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS
	70

	 
	Section 12.01
	Notices
	70

	 
	Section 12.02
	Communication with Holders of a Global Note
	72

	 
	Section 12.03
	Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
	72

	 
	Section 12.04
	Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
	72

	 
	Section 12.05
	Rules by Trustee and Agents
	73

	 
	Section 12.06
	No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Managers, Employees, Shareholders or Members
	73

	 
	Section 12.07
	Governing Law
	73

	 
	Section 12.08
	Waiver of Jury Trial
	73

	 
	Section 12.09
	Force Majeure
	73

	 
	Section 12.10
	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
	74

	 
	Section 12.11
	Successors
	74

	 
	Section 12.12
	Severability
	74

	 
	Section 12.13
	Counterpart Originals
	74

	 
	Section 12.14
	Table of Contents, Headings, etc
	74

	 
	Section 12.15
	USA PATRIOT Act
	74

	 
	Section 12.16
	FATCA
	75

	 
	Section 12.17
	Execution
	75

EXHIBITS
	
		
	Exhibit A
	Form of 2026 Note

	Exhibit B
	Form of Certificate of Transfer

	Exhibit C
	Form of Certificate of Exchange

3

INDENTURE, dated as of November 20, 2020, among Alliant Energy Finance, LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company, as the Issuer (as defined herein), Alliant Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation, as the Guarantor (as defined herein) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee (as defined herein).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issuance of up to $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 1.400% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”), fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantor; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Guarantor have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture (as defined herein) including the Guarantee (as defined herein).
NOW, THEREFORE, the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined herein).
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01.    Definitions.
“144A Global Note” means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
“Par Call Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a) hereof.
“Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Transfer Agent, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.
“Applicable Law” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.16 hereof.

4

“Applicable Premium” means any premium owed pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 3.07(a).
“Applicable Premium Deficit” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04 hereof.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any selection of Notes or any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such selection, transfer or exchange.
“Authentication Order” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02 hereof.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means, for any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or, if such Person does not have such a board of directors or other governing body and is owned or managed by a single entity, the Board of Directors of such entity, or, in either case, any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board of Directors.  Unless otherwise provided, “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Issuer.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Legal Holiday.
“Capital Stock” means:
(1)    in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares in the capital of such corporation;
(2)    in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3)    in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
(4)    any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person;
but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme and its successors.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming that the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

5

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
“consolidated” means, with respect to any Person, such Person consolidated with its Subsidiaries, provided that with respect to any Person who is the Guarantor, the term “consolidated” refers to the Guarantor consolidated with the Issuer and the other Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, with respect to the Guarantor, the total amount of the Guarantor’s assets determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, less (i) the sum of the Guarantor’s consolidated current liabilities determined in accordance with GAAP and (ii) the amount of the Guarantor’s consolidated assets classified as intangible assets determined in accordance with GAAP, including but not limited to, such items as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents, and unamortized debt discount and expense and regulatory assets carried as an asset on the Guarantor’s consolidated balance sheet.
“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.01 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Issuer.
“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03 hereof.
“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes, in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, any Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company and its successors.

6

“Eligible Obligations” means, for U.S. dollar-denominated notes, securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations the full and timely payment of which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof, or depository receipts issued by a bank as custodian with respect to these obligations or any specific interest, principal or other payments due in respect thereof held by the custodian in accordance with this Indenture for the account of the holder of a depository receipt.
“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system, and its successors.
“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 hereof.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, as in effect on the Issue Date.  
“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(ii) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, issued in accordance with Sections 2.01, 2.06(b) or 2.06(d) hereof.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state, local, or otherwise, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Government Securities” means securities that are:
(1)    direct obligations of the United States for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or
(2)    obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and will also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

7

“guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business or consistent with industry practice), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.
“Guarantee” means the guarantee by the Guarantor of the Issuer’s Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.
“Guarantor” means Alliant Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation, and any Successor Person in respect thereof.
“Holder,” at any time, means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books at such time.
“Indebtedness” applied to any Person, without duplication, means:
(1)    any liability of such Person 
(a)    for borrowed money, or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit (other than trade letters of credit) issued to support Indebtedness or Obligations of such Person or others of the kinds referred to in this definition, or 
(b)    evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument, or
(c)    for payment obligations arising under any conditional sale or other title retention arrangement given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind, or
(d)    for the payment of money relating to a capitalized lease obligation;
(2)    any liability of others described in the preceding clause (1) that such Person has guaranteed or that is otherwise its legal liability; and
(3)     any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above.
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith judgment of the Issuer, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

8

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Issuer.
“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
“Initial Notes” means the initial $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date.
“Initial Purchaser” means each of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. and Mischler Financial Group, Inc.
“Interest Payment Date” means March 15 and September 15 of each year to stated maturity, beginning March 15, 2021.
“Issue Date” means November 20, 2020.
“Issuer” means Alliant Energy Finance, LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company, and any Successor Person in respect thereof.  
“Issuer’s Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer, who must be the president, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Issuer, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.02 hereof.
“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or at the place of payment.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event will an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.
“Non-U.S. Person” means a Person who is not a U.S. Person.
“Note Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03 hereof.
“Notes” has the meaning assigned to it in the recitals of this Indenture.  Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes.

9

“Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing on or subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum, dated November 17, 2020, relating to the sale of the Initial Notes.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Issuer or any Person.  Unless otherwise indicated, Officer shall refer to an officer of the Issuer.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of a Person by an Officer of such Person that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee, provided, however, that if no particular Person is referenced, an Officer’s Certificate shall be deemed to be an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  Counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Guarantor.
“ordinary course of business” means activity conducted in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and the Guarantor.
“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).
“Paying Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03 hereof.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(i) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture, except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.
“Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the March 1 and September 1 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

10

“Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and MUFG Securities Americas, or their affiliates that are primary U.S. Government Securities dealers, and their respective successors, unless any of them ceases to be a primary dealer in U.S. Government Securities (“Primary Treasury Dealer”), in which case the Issuer shall substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer located in The City of New York; and (2) one other Primary Treasury Dealer located in The City of New York selected by the Issuer.
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding that Redemption Date.
“Registrar” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03 hereof.
“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Regulation S Global Note” means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as applicable.
“Regulation S Permanent Global Note” means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto, bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the applicable Restricted Period.
“Regulation S Temporary Global Note” means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto, bearing the Global Note Legend, the Private Placement Legend and the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903.
“Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f)(iii) hereof.
“Restricted Definitive Note” means a Definitive Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.
“Restricted Global Note” means a Global Note bearing, or that is required to bear, the Private Placement Legend.
“Restricted Liens” means Liens on any shares of the Capital Stock of any of the Issuer’s or the Guarantor’s Significant Subsidiaries to secure any Indebtedness, other than Liens described in (1) and (2) of Section 4.07(b) hereof. 

11

“Restricted Period” means, in respect of any Note issued pursuant to Regulation S, the 40-day distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) applicable to such Note.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 903” means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 904” means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any direct, majority owned subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:
(1)    any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50.00% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, members of management or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and
(2)    any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which:
(a)    more than 50.00% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and
(b)    such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Guarantor.
“Successor Person” means any Person formed by or surviving any consolidation, amalgamation or merger or to which a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made, which is organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof.

12

“Transfer Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03 hereof.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the Redemption Date.
“Trust Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer, assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust department matter relating to this Indenture is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
“Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code or any successor provision thereof as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York.
“Unrestricted Definitive Note” means one or more Definitive Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
“Unrestricted Global Note” means a permanent Global Note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary, representing Notes that do not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
“U.S. Person” means a U.S. person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.

13

Section 1.02.    Rules of Construction.  Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)    a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b)    an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c)    “or” is not exclusive;
(d)    the words “including,” “includes” and similar words shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”;
(e)    words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;
(f)    “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;
(g)    provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
(h)    references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;
(i)    unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” “Section” or “clause” refers to an Article, Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Indenture;
(j)    the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision;
(k)    words used herein implying any gender shall apply to both genders;
(l)    in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including”; and
(m)    the principal amount of any non-interest bearing Indebtedness or other discount security constituting Indebtedness at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

14

Section 1.03.    Acts of Holders.
(a)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing.  Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Issuer.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.03.
(b)    The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c)    The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.
(d)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
(e)    Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Issuer prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.
(f)    Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.  Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

15

(g)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including DTC, that is a Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and any Person, that is a Holder of a Global Note, including DTC, may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.
(h)    The Issuer may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by DTC entitled under the procedures of such Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders.  If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date.  No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 120 days after such record date.
ARTICLE II

THE NOTES
Section 2.01.    Form and Dating; Terms.
(a)    General.  The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.  The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage.  The Notes shall be dated the date of its authentication.  The Notes shall be issued initially in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.
(b)    Global Notes.  Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.  Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

16

(c)    Temporary Global Notes.  Notes offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian and registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided.
Following (i) the termination of the applicable Restricted Period and (ii) the receipt by the Trustee of (A) a certification or other evidence in a form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of each Regulation S Temporary Global Note (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and who shall take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a 144A Global Note bearing a Private Placement Legend, all as contemplated by Section 2.06(b) hereof) and (B) an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer, the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend shall be deemed removed from the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, following which temporary beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall automatically become beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Note pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.
The aggregate principal amount of a Regulation S Temporary Global Note and a Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.
(d)    Terms.  The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture (or any applicable supplemental indenture), expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.  However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article III hereof.
The Issuer may, from time to time, without notice to or consent of the Holders, increase the principal amount of Notes that may be issued under this Indenture and issue such increased principal amount (or any portion thereof), in which case any such Additional Notes so issued will have the same form and terms (other than the public offering price and the issue date and, in some cases, the first interest payment date and, under certain circumstances, the date from which interest thereon will begin to accrue), and will carry the same right to receive accrued and unpaid interest as the Notes previously issued, and such Additional Notes will be consolidated and form a single series with the previously issued Notes, including for purposes of voting and redemptions; provided, however, that a separate CUSIP number or ISIN would be issued for the Additional Notes, unless the Notes and the Additional Notes are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  Such Additional Notes will also be guaranteed by the Guarantor (with the same ranking as the Guarantee for the Notes).  Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.
(e)    Euroclear and Clearstream Applicable Procedures.  The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Notes that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream and this Indenture shall not govern such transfers.

17

Section 2.02.    Execution and Authentication.  At least one Officer of the Issuer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Issuer, which shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “.pdf,” “.tif,” “.jpg” or other format) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign).
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, by the manual, facsimile or electronic signature of the Trustee.  The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer’s Order (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes in the aggregate principal amount or amounts specified in such Authentication Order.  In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order (together with such other documents as may be required pursuant to this Indenture), authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued or increased hereunder.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer.

18

Section 2.03.    Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent.  The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration (“Registrar”), (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for transfer or for exchange (“Transfer Agent”) and (iii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”).  The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange.  The registered Holder will be treated as the owner of the Note for all purposes.  Only registered Holders will have rights under this Indenture and the Notes.  The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more co-transfer agents and one or more additional paying agents.  The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, the term “Transfer Agent” includes any co-transfer agent and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agents.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder.  The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture.  If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar, Transfer Agent or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.  The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.
The Issuer initially appoints DTC to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
If any Notes are listed on an exchange, for so long as the Notes are so listed and the rules of such exchange so require, the Issuer will satisfy any requirement of such exchange as to paying agents, registrars and transfer agents and will comply with any notice requirements required under such exchange in connection with any change of any paying agent, registrar or transfer agent.
Section 2.04.    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.  The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment.  While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee for its own benefit and for the benefit of the Holders.  The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee for its own benefit and for the benefit of the Holders.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary or the Trustee) shall have no further liability for the money.  If the Issuer or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.  Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.05.    Holder Lists.  The Registrar shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders.  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders.

19

Section 2.06.    Transfer and Exchange.
(a)    Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.  Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor thereto.  A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note unless (A) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days or (B) upon the request of a Holder if there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Notes.  Upon the occurrence of any of the events in clauses (A) or (B) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).  Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.07 and Section 2.10.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or Section 2.10, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the events in (A) or (B) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(b)(ii)(B) and (c) hereof.  A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, that beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Sections 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.  The transferor shall also provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation, any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code.  The Trustee may rely on any such information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

20

(b)    Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.  Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act.  Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i)    Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.  Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend; provided that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person other than pursuant to Rule 144A or another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note.  No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).
(ii)    All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes.  In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above; provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period therefor and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B).  Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof.

21

(iii)    Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note.  A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and the Registrar receives the following:
(A)    if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; or
(B)    if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
(iv)    Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note.  A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof and:
(A)    the Registrar receives the following:
(1)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
(2)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar or the Issuer so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

22

If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (A) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (A) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
In connection with any proposed exchange of Global Notes for Notes in definitive registered form, the Issuer or DTC shall be required to provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information reasonably necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code.  The Trustee may rely on any such information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.
(c)    Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(i)    Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes.  If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clauses (A) and (B) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
(B)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a person reasonably believed to be a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(C)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof; or

23

(E)    if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof;
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(i) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(ii)    Beneficial Interests in Regulation S Temporary Global Note to Definitive Notes.  Notwithstanding Sections 2.06(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) of the Securities Act, except in the case of a transfer pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.
(iii)    Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only upon the occurrence of any of the events in clause (A) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and if:
(A)    the Registrar receives the following:
(1)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
(2)    if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;

24

and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar or the Issuer so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iv)    Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in clauses (A) and (B) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(g) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(iv) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(d)    Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(i)    Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes.  If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A)    if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
(B)    if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a person reasonably believed to be a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

25

(C)    if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(D)    if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof; or
(E)    if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(b) thereof;
the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the applicable Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the applicable 144A Global Note and, in the case of clause (C) above, the applicable Regulation S Global Note.
(ii)    Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.  A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A)    the Registrar receives the following:
(1)    if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(2)    if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar or the Issuer so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

26

Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii)    Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.  A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time.  Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to sub-paragraph (ii) or (iii) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
(e)    Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.  Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes.  Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer or exchange in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing.
In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e):
(i)    Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes.  Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A)    if the transfer will be made to a person reasonably believed to be a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;

27

(B)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or
(C)    if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(ii)    Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A)    the Registrar receives the following:
(1)    if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(2)    if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar or the Issuer so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(iii)    Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes.  A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.  Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
(f)    Legends.  The following legends shall appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:
(i)    Private Placement Legend.
(A)    Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:

28

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION.  NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION.  THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED NOTES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD THEN REQUIRED UNDER RULE 144 OR ITS SUCCESSOR RULE)][IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH NOTE), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER OR THE GUARANTOR, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHICH NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, (C) PURSUANT TO AN OFFER OR SALE THAT OCCURS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR ACQUIRING THE NOTE FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE NOTES OF $500,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (F) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER.  THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

29

(B)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(iii), (c)(iv), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii) or (e)(iii) of this Section 2.06 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(ii)    Global Note Legend.  Each Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (with appropriate changes in the last sentence if DTC is not the Depositary):
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(g) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.  UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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.
(iii)    Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend.  The Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

30

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.  BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
(iv)    OID Legend.  Each Note that has more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH “ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 1272 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED).  UPON WRITTEN REQUEST (ADDRESSED TO [NAME/TITLE] AT [ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER]), THE ISSUER WILL PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO ANY HOLDER OF THIS NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: (1) THE ISSUE PRICE AND ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTE; (2) THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THE NOTE; AND (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE NOTE.
(g)    Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.  At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(h)    General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(i)    To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

31

(ii)    No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer shall require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.10, 3.06 and 9.04 hereof).
(iii)    Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar shall be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of the Notes to be redeemed under Section 3.03 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part, or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.
(iv)    Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(v)    All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(vi)    Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer shall deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(vii)    Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.
(viii)    At the option of the Holder, subject to Section 2.06(a) hereof, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency.  Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee, subject to its receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes to which the Holder making the exchange is entitled in accordance with Section 2.02.

32

(ix)    All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted electronically, which shall include transmission by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, in “.pdf,” “.tif,” “.jpg” or other format).
(x)    The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary, Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Notes) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
(xi)    Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
Section 2.07.    Replacement Notes.  If either (x) any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuer or (y) if the Issuer and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, then the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note.  An indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee to protect the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced.  The Issuer and the Trustee shall charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuer and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.08.    Outstanding Notes.  The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.  Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or the Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer or the Guarantor holds the Note.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser (as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code).
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer or the Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer or the Guarantor) holds, on a Redemption Date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes (or portions thereof) payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.
Section 2.09.    Treasury Notes.  In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer or the Guarantor or by any Affiliate of the Issuer or the Guarantor shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.  Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to such pledged Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Issuer or the Guarantor.
Section 2.10.    Temporary Notes.  Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes.  Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuer consider appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  Without 

33

unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under this Indenture.
Section 2.11.    Cancellation.  The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment.  The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act).  Certification of the cancellation of all surrendered Notes shall be delivered to the Issuer at the Issuer’s written request.  The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.12.    Defaulted Interest.  If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.  The Issuer may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date.  The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on the Notes and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.11.  The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer of any such special record date.  At least 15 days before any such special record date, the Issuer (or, upon the written request of the Issuer, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.
Subject to this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.
Section 2.13.    CUSIP/ISIN Numbers.  The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers (in each case, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.  The Issuer will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

34

ARTICLE III 

REDEMPTION
Section 3.01.    Notices to Trustee.  If the Issuer elects to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least ten Business Days (unless the Trustee agrees to a shorter period) before notice of redemption is required to be delivered to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the date of redemption, which will be selected by the Issuer in its discretion, subject to any limitations set forth herein (the “Redemption Date”), (iii) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
Section 3.02.    Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.  If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased at any time, the Trustee shall, upon prior written request of the Issuer, select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (a) if the Notes are listed on an exchange, in compliance with the requirements of such exchange or (b) if the Notes are not listed on an exchange, on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable, or, if a pro rata basis is not practicable for any reason, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, and in any case in accordance with the Applicable Procedures to the extent applicable.  In the event of partial redemption by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.
In the case of the redemption of Definitive Notes, the Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.  No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed or purchased in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder shall be redeemed.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
Section 3.03.    Notice of Redemption.  The Issuer shall deliver electronically, mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered or mailed more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Section 3.03(i), Article VIII or Article XI hereof.

35

The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and will state:
(a)    the Redemption Date;
(b)    the redemption price;
(c)    if any Definitive Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed and that, upon request, after the Redemption Date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed will be issued in the name of the Holder upon cancellation of the original Note;
(d)    the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e)    that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f)    that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date subject to satisfaction or waiver of any conditions specified in clause (i) below;
(g)    the paragraph or subparagraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;
(h)    the CUSIP and ISIN number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and ISIN number that is listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and
(i)    if such redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, a description of such conditions and, if applicable, will state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the redemption notice was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions are satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions are not satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date so delayed, or such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Issuer’s discretion if in the good faith judgment of the Issuer any or all of such conditions will not be satisfied.

36

At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at its expense; provided that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be delivered, mailed or caused to be mailed to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice together with the form of notice of redemption setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
The Issuer may redeem Notes pursuant to one or more of the Sections of this Indenture, and a single redemption notice may be delivered with respect to redemptions made pursuant to different Sections.  Any such notice may provide that redemptions made pursuant to different Sections will have different Redemption Dates.
The Issuer may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.  If any Notes are listed on an exchange, and the rules of the exchange so require, the Issuer will notify the exchange of any such redemption and the principal amount of any Notes outstanding following any partial redemption of such Notes.  In no event will the Trustee be responsible for monitoring, or charged with knowledge of, the maximum aggregate amount of Notes eligible hereunder to be redeemed.  Notes will remain outstanding until redeemed, notwithstanding that they have been called for redemption or are subject to a notice of redemption.
Section 3.04.    Effect of Notice of Redemption.  Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, subject to satisfaction of any conditions precedent relating thereto specified in the applicable notice of redemption, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the Redemption Date at the redemption price, except as set forth in Section 3.03(i).  The notice, if delivered, mailed or caused to be mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to deliver such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.  Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the Redemption Date or the date of purchase, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
Section 3.05.    Deposit of Redemption Price.
(a)    Prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Redemption Date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that Redemption Date.  The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.
(b)    If the Issuer complies with the preceding paragraph (a), on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption.  If a Note is redeemed on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date.  If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the Redemption Date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the Redemption Date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

37

Section 3.06.    Notes Redeemed in Part.  Upon surrender of a Definitive Note that is redeemed in part, upon request the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.  It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.
Section 3.07.    Optional Redemption.  (a) Prior to February 15, 2026 (the “Par Call Date”), the Notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the Issuer’s option at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes and (ii) the sum, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker and delivered to the Trustee, of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) that would have been payable if the Notes matured on the Par Call Date discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption.
(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, on or after the Par Call Date, the Notes will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the Issuer’s option at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption.
(c)    Unless the Issuer defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
(d)    Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 shall be made pursuant to Sections 3.01 through 3.06.
(e)    In addition to any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.07 and subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, U.S. federal securities laws), the Issuer, the Guarantor or any of their Affiliates may at any time and from time to time acquire Notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, in the open market, negotiated transaction or otherwise.

38

Section 3.08.    Mandatory Redemption; No Sinking Fund.  The Issuer will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS
Section 4.01.    Payment of Notes.  The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and this Indenture.  Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or the Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Issuer or the Guarantor, holds as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the due date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; the Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.02.    Maintenance of Office or Agency.  The Issuer shall maintain the offices or agencies (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or Transfer Agent) required under Section 2.03 hereof where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or presented for payment and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be made.  The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain such offices or agencies as required by Section 2.03 hereof for such purposes.  The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

39

The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof; provided the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall not be an office or agency of the Issuer for the purpose of effecting service of legal process on the Issuer.
Section 4.03.    Reports and Other Information.
(a)    To the extent not otherwise made publicly available by the Issuer or the Guarantor, and so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Issuer will furnish to Holders thereof and prospective investors in the Notes, upon their written request, the information, if any, required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) (or any successor provision) of the Securities Act during any period in which the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(b)    It is understood that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been posted on the Issuer’s website or filed with the SEC.  The posting or delivery of any such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of the covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).
Section 4.04.    Compliance Certificate.
(a)    The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and the Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in this Indenture during such fiscal year and is not in Default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).
(b)    When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, the Issuer shall promptly (which shall be no more than 30 days after becoming aware of such Default) deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail or by e-mail an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default, its status and what actions the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.05.    Taxes.  Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor shall pay or discharge, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay or discharge, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, lawful assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate actions or where the failure to effect such payment or discharge is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

40

Section 4.06.    Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.  Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor covenants (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Issuer and the Guarantor (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.07.    Liens.  (a) So long as any Notes remain outstanding, neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor will secure, or permit any of their respective direct or indirect Subsidiaries to secure, any Indebtedness with a Lien on any shares of the Capital Stock of any of the Issuer’s or the Guarantor’s Significant Subsidiaries, which shares of Capital Stock the Issuer or the Guarantor directly or indirectly owns from the date of this Indenture or thereafter, unless the Issuer or the Guarantor equally and ratably secure all Notes. 
(b)    This restriction shall not apply to or prevent:
(1)    (i) Liens upon Capital Stock later acquired, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer or the Guarantor to secure (A) the purchase price of such Capital Stock or (B) Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of any such Capital Stock, (ii) Liens existing on any such Capital Stock at the time of acquisition, and (iii) extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing, provided that in connection with clause (iii), the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured shall be for the same or a lesser principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by the Lien and no such Lien shall extend to or cover any Capital Stock other than the Capital Stock being acquired or to more than the same proportion of all shares of Capital Stock as was covered by the Lien that was extended, renewed or replaced; or
(2)    attachment, judgment or other similar Liens arising in connection with court proceedings, provided that the execution or other enforcement of such Liens is effectively stayed and (i) the claims secured by the Lien are being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) payment of the claims is covered in full (subject to customary deductible amounts) by insurance maintained with responsible insurance companies.
(c)    The foregoing limitations shall not apply to the extent that the Issuer or the Guarantor create any Restricted Liens to secure Indebtedness that, together with all of the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s other Indebtedness secured by Restricted Liens, does not at the time exceed 10% of the Guarantor’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as determined by the Guarantor, as of a month end not more than 90 days prior to the closing or consummation of the proposed transaction.

41

(d)    Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to this Section 4.07 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of each of the Liens described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.07 or upon such Liens no longer attaching to assets or property of the Issuer or the Guarantor.
(e)    The expansion of Liens by virtue of accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of dividends in the form of Indebtedness and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Liens for purposes of this covenant.
Section 4.08.    Existence.  Subject to Article V hereof, each of the Issuer and the Guarantor shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence, and the corporate, partnership or other organizational existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with their respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time); provided that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor shall be required to preserve the corporate, partnership or other organizational existence of its Subsidiaries, if the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, taken as a whole.
ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01.    Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.   Neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor may consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(1)    the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer, or the Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, properties and assets substantially as an entirety, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State in the United States or the District of Columbia and such other corporation or Person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Notes on the Issuer’s part, or the Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee, as applicable, and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, part to be performed or observed; 
(2)    immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

42

(3)    the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the provisions of this Indenture governing consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with. 
(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, may merge or consolidate with or transfer all or substantially all of the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, assets to an affiliate that has no significant assets or liabilities and was formed solely for the purpose of changing the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, jurisdiction of organization or the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, form of organization; provided that the amount of the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, Indebtedness is not increased; and provided, further that the Successor Person assumes all of the Issuer’s, or the Guarantor’s, as applicable, obligations under this Indenture.
Section 5.02.    Successor Person Substituted.  Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger, or any winding up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer or the Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the Successor Person formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into or with which the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, is merged or to which such wind up, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantee referring to the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, shall refer instead to the Successor Person and not to the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, under this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantee with the same effect as if such Successor Person had been named as the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, herein, and the Guarantor’s Guarantee and the Guarantor will be automatically released and discharged from its obligations hereunder. 
ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01.    Events of Default.  An “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events with respect to the Notes (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1)    failure by the Issuer for 30 days to pay interest on the Notes, when due on an interest payment date other than at maturity or upon earlier redemption;
(2)    failure by the Issuer to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption;

43

(3)    failure by the Issuer to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty of the Issuer in this Indenture for 90 days after written notice to the Issuer from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes;
(4)    except as permitted by this Indenture, the Guarantee of the Guarantor is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or the Guarantor, or any authorized person acting on behalf of the Guarantor, denies or disaffirms the Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantee;
(5)    the Guarantor, the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i)    commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;
(ii)    consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law;
(iii)    consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;
(iv)    makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(v)    generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or
(6)    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i)    is for relief against the Guarantor, the Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, in a proceeding in which the Guarantor, the Issuer or any such Significant Subsidiary, is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;
(ii)    appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Guarantor, the Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Guarantor, the Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries; or
(iii)    orders the liquidation of the Guarantor, the Issuer or any of the Significant Subsidiaries;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.
Section 6.02.    Acceleration.  If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Issuer) with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing under this Indenture, the Trustee by written notice to the Issuer (at the direction and indemnity of the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes) or the Holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal of and premium, if any, and interest will be due and payable immediately.  The Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default, except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.  The Trustee will have no obligation to accelerate the Notes affected.

44

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes arising under clause (5) or (6) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Issuer, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.
The Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder (except (i) a Default in the payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest or (ii) a Default in respect of a covenant or provision which as provided under this Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected) and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if such rescission would not conflict with any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 6.03.    Other Remedies.  If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.  A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.  All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04.    Waiver of Past Defaults.  Subject to Section 6.02 hereof, Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Trustee, may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder (except (i) a Default in the payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which as provided under this Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected).  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05.    Control by Majority.  Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee.  The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

45

Section 6.06.    Limitation on Suits.  Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or such Notes unless:
(1)    such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
(2)    Holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have requested in writing the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3)    Holders of Notes have offered (and if requested, provided) the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(4)    the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(5)    Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such written request within such 60-day period.
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).
Section 6.07.    Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to bring suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Note, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08.    Collection Suit by Trustee.  If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
Section 6.09.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies.  If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

46

Section 6.10.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative.  Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11.    Delay or Omission Not Waiver.  No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.  The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes including the Guarantor), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee on behalf of such Holder, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof.  To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.13.    Priorities.  If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

47

(i)    to the Trustee, such Agent, their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.06 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or such Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;
(ii)    to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
(iii)    to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct including the Guarantor, if applicable.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13.
Section 6.14.    Undertaking for Costs.  In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.  This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE
Section 7.01.    Duties of Trustee.
(a)    The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiver of all Events of Default that may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture.  In the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(b)    Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred:

48

(i)    the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii)    in the absence of bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c)    No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i)    this paragraph (c) does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
(ii)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii)    the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the Holders received by it pursuant to Section 6.02, Section 6.04 or Section 6.05 hereof.
(d)    Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01 and Section 7.01(f).
(e)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless the Holders have offered (and if requested, provide) to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(f)    the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the Issuer or the Guarantor or any Paying Agent or any records maintained by any Registrar with respect to the Notes.

49

(g)    If any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred, unless a Trust Officer had actual knowledge of such event.
(h)    in the absence of written investment direction from the Issuer or the Guarantor, all cash received by the Trustee shall be placed in a non-interest bearing trust account, and in no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon or for losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any such investment prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investments prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investment to provide timely written investment direction, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amounts held hereunder in the absence of such written investment direction from the Issuer or the Guarantor.
(i)    In the event that the Trustee is also acting as Registrar, Paying Agent, or Transfer Agent hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article VII shall also be afforded to such Registrar, Paying Agent, or Transfer Agent.
(j)    delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee hereunder is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).
Section 7.02.    Rights of Trustee.
(a)    The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(b)    Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate.  The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such an Officer’s Certificate.
(c)    The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(d)    The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes, suffers or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, except conduct which constitutes willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(e)    The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel.

50

(f)    The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, for any reasonable expenses incurred and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(g)    Any request or direction of the Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Issuer’s Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors.
(h)    Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate.
(i)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.  In no event shall the Trustee be required to risk or expend its own funds in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture.
(j)    In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(k)    The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default except any Default or Event of Default occurring pursuant to clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01 hereof if, at the time of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default pursuant to clause (1) or (2) of Section 6.01, the Trustee is the Paying Agent, unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has written notice of any event which is in fact such a default and which shall have been given to a Trust Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
(l)    The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(m)    The Trustee may request that the Issuer and the Guarantor deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

51

Section 7.03.    Individual Rights of Trustee.  The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer, the Guarantor or any of their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights.  However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign.  Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.  The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 hereof.
Section 7.04.    Trustee’s Disclaimer.  The Trustee (i) is not responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of this Indenture or any Notes, (ii) will not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and (iii) will not be responsible for any recital or statement of the Issuer or the Guarantor in this Indenture or any Notes, other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, or in any offering memorandum used in the sale of any of the Notes, other than statements, if any, provided in writing or approved by the Trustee for use in such a prospectus.  The Trustee shall not be responsible to make any calculation with respect to any matter under this Indenture.
Section 7.05.    Notice of Defaults.  The Trustee will give to the Holders of the Notes notice of any Default with regard to the Notes known to the Trustee (upon receipt in writing by a Trust Officer), within 90 days after it occurs; provided, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Notes, the Trustee will be protected in withholding notice of the Default if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that the withholding of the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 7.06.    Compensation and Indemnity.  (a) The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and its services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time.  The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services.  Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts.
(b)    The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust created by this Indenture and the performance of its duties under this Indenture (including the reasonable costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer or the Guarantor (including this Section 7.06) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Issuer or the Guarantor, or any other Person or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, but excluding taxes imposed on such persons in connection with compensation for such administration or performance).  The Trustee shall notify the Issuer and the Guarantor promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer and the Guarantor shall not relieve the Issuer and the Guarantor of their obligations hereunder.  The Issuer and the Guarantor shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer or the Guarantor shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.  Neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor need to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision.

52

(c)    Neither the Issuer nor the Guarantor need pay for any settlement made without its prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(d)    The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.06 and the immunities of the Trustee contained in Article VII shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.
(e)    To secure the payment obligations of the Issuer and the Guarantor under this Section 7.06, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except for money or property held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes.  Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the termination for any reason of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
(f)    When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(5) or (6) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
(g)    For purposes of this Section 7.06, “Trustee” will include any predecessor Trustee, but the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of any Trustee will not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 7.06.
Section 7.07.    Replacement of Trustee.  A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.07.  The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal.  The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:
(a)    the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b)    the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c)    a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d)    the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

53

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.
If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.  All fees, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such petition shall be paid by the Issuer.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.  All fees, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such petition shall be paid by the Issuer.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer.  Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture.  The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders.  The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.06 hereof.  Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.07, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.06 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
The resigning Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for any action or inaction of a successor Trustee.
Section 7.08.    Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.  If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further action required (including the providing of notice) shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.09.    Appointment of Co-Indenture Trustee or Separate Indenture Trustee.
(a)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, at any time, the Trustee shall have the power and may execute and deliver all instruments necessary to appoint one or more Persons to act as a co-trustee or co-trustees, or separate trustee or separate trustees, of all or any part of such trust, and to vest in such Person or Persons, in such capacity and for the benefit of the Holders, such title to the trust, or any part hereof, and subject to the other provisions of this Section, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Trustee may consider necessary or desirable.  No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be required to meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee under Section 7.10 and no notice to Holders of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required under Section 7.07 hereof.

54

(b)    Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:
(1)    all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed the Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and obligations (including the holding of title to the trust created by this Indenture or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Trustee;
(2)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any act or omission of any separate trustee or co-trustee; and
(3)    the Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.
(c)    Any notice, request or other writing given to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them.  Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this Article VII.  Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection or rights (including the rights to compensation, reimbursement and indemnification hereunder) to, the Trustee.  Every such instrument shall be filed with the Trustee.
(d)    Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time constitute the Trustee its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this Indenture on its behalf and in its name.  If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor trustee.
Section 7.10.    Eligibility; Disqualification.  There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has, together with its parent, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

55

ARTICLE VIII 
 
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01.    Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.  The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof applied to all Notes outstanding and all obligations of the Guarantor with respect to the Guarantee upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.
Section 8.02.    Legal Defeasance and Discharge.  Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Notes outstanding and the Guarantee in connection with such Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer and the Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Notes outstanding, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof, to have cured all then existing Events of Default and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture including that of the Guarantor (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute such instruments requested by the Issuer acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a)    the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;
(b)    the Issuer’s obligations with respect to Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of such Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;
(c)    the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(d)    this Section 8.02.
Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03.    Covenant Defeasance.  Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer and the Guarantor shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07 and 4.08 hereof and Sections 5.01(a)(2) and 5.01(a)(3) hereof with respect to the Notes outstanding on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes).  For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Notes outstanding and the Guarantee related to such Notes, the Issuer and the Guarantor may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document, and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes and the Guarantee shall be unaffected thereby.  In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Section 6.01(3) (solely with respect to the covenants that are released upon a Covenant Defeasance), Section 6.01(5) and Section 6.01(6) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

56

Section 8.04.    Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.  In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes:
(1)    the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without reinvestment, in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor to the extent such amounts consist of U.S. dollar-denominated Government Securities, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest due on the Notes on the stated maturity date or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Issuer must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited will be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated by the Issuer as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of redemption (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no liability whatsoever in the event that such deposit is not made after the Trustee has discharged this Indenture.  Any Applicable Premium Deficit will be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit will be applied toward such redemption;
(2)    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer will have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions:
(A)    the Issuer have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or
(B)    since the issuance of the Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

57

(3)    in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer will have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4)    no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens and the consummation of other transactions in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(5)    such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement, instrument or documents (other than this Indenture) to which the Issuer or the Guarantor is a party or by which the Issuer or the Guarantor is bound (other than that resulting from any borrowing of funds to be applied to make the deposit required to effect such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness to be redeemed, and, in each case, the granting of Liens and the consummation of other transactions in connection therewith);
(6)    the Issuer will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or the Guarantor or others; and
(7)    the Issuer will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Opinion of Counsel required by clause (2) of the immediately preceding paragraph with respect to Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer.

58

Section 8.05.    Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer or the Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of an Independent Financial Advisor expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee to the extent such requested amount consists of Government Securities (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06.    Repayment to Issuer.  Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.
Section 8.07.    Reinstatement.  If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or Governmental Authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes and the Guarantee shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

59

ARTICLE IX 
 
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01.    Without Consent of Holders.  Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuer, the Guarantor (with respect to the Guarantee) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including the Guarantee) or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:
(1)    to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;
(2)    to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;
(3)    to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;
(4)    to provide for the assumption of the Issuer’s or the Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders by a Successor Person;
(5)    to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not materially adversely affect (as determined in good faith by the Issuer) the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;
(6)    to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer or the Guarantor;
(7)    to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee hereunder pursuant to the requirements hereof;
(8)    to add a guarantor under this Indenture or to release a guarantor in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(9)    to conform the text of this Indenture, the Guarantee or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of the Notes and the Guarantee” section of the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in such section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, the Guarantee or the Notes, as provided to the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate;
(10)    to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes; provided that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;
(11)    to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or
(12)    to secure the Notes and/or the related Guarantee.

60

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof (to the extent requested by the Trustee), the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantor (solely with respect to the Guarantee) in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall have the right, but not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel shall be required in connection with the addition of a guarantor under this Indenture upon execution and delivery by such guarantor and the Trustee of a supplemental indenture to this Indenture.
Section 9.02.    With Consent of Holders.  Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer, the Guarantor (solely with respect to the Guarantee) and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantee with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of such Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, tender offer or exchange offer for, such Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Guarantee or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes (including Additional Notes, if any), other than Notes beneficially owned by the Issuer or its Affiliates, voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer or offer to purchase with respect to the Notes).  Section 2.08 hereof and Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof (to the extent requested by the Trustee), the Trustee shall join with the Issuer and the Guarantor (solely with respect to the Guarantee) in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall have the right, but not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall deliver to the Holders affected thereby (with a copy to the Trustee) a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver.  Any failure of the Issuer to deliver such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

61

Without the consent of each affected Holder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Notes held by Affiliates), an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:
(1)    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Note or the rate of interest on any Note or any premium payable upon the redemption of any Note, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest of any Note, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the stated maturity of any Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date);
(2)    reduce the percentage of principal amount of the outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults under this Indenture and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture;
(3)    release the Guarantor from any of its obligations under the Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(4)    amend or modify any of the provisions of this Indenture or related definitions affecting the Guarantee in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes; or
(5)    modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to supplemental indentures requiring the consent of Holders, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase any percentage vote required for such an amendment or supplemental indenture or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of each affected Holder of an outstanding Note.

62

Section 9.03.    Revocation and Effect of Consents.  Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note.  However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.  An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver.  If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.  No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.
Section 9.04.    Notation on or Exchange of Notes.  The Trustee may, but shall have no obligation to, place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated.  The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.05.    Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.  The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.  The Issuer may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until the Board of Directors of the Issuer approves it.  In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall receive, and shall be fully protected in relying conclusively upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 12.03 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantor, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Opinion of Counsel will be required for the Trustee to execute any amendment or supplement adding a new Guarantor under this Indenture.

63

ARTICLE X 
 
GUARANTEE
Section 10.01.    Guarantee.  (a) Subject to this Article X, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably, fully and unconditionally guarantees, on a senior unsecured basis, for the benefit of each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of any invalidity, irregularity on unenforceability of this Indenture or any supplement hereto, the Notes or the Obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, that (i) the principal of the Notes, and any premium and interest thereon, shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal of the Notes, and any premium and interest thereon, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Issuer to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, including for expenses, indemnification or otherwise, shall be promptly paid in full, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of Notes or any of such other Obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due and performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.  Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantor shall be obligated to pay the same promptly.  The Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.
(b)    The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Issuer, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (other than payment in full of all of the Obligations of the Issuer hereunder and under the Notes).
(c)    The Guarantor hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, diligence, presentment, demand for payment, notice of default, marshaling of assets, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Issuer, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance and full payment of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture or by release in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
(d)    The Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.
(e)    If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Issuer, the Guarantor or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to either the Issuer or the Guarantor, then any amount paid by either to the Trustee or such Holder, then this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

64

(f)    The Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article VI hereof, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.
(g)    The Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Issuer for liquidation, reorganization, should the Issuer become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Issuer’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or Guarantee, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.  In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
(h)    In case any provision of the Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
(i)    The Guarantee issued by the Guarantor shall be a general unsecured senior obligation of the Guarantor and shall be pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor from time to time outstanding, if any.
(j)    Each payment to be made by the Guarantor in respect of the Guarantee shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment, set-off, defense, counterclaim, discharge or termination of any kind or nature for any reason.
Section 10.02.    Limitation on Guarantor Liability.  The Guarantor, and by its acceptance of the Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of the Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to the Guarantee.  To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of the Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor that are relevant under such laws, result in the obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.
Section 10.03.    Evidence of the Guarantee.  
(a)    To evidence its guarantee in the form of the Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof, any guarantor that becomes a party hereto after the date hereof shall cause a supplemental indenture to be executed on behalf of such guarantor by one of its authorized Officers.
(b)    The Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of any endorsement of any notation of the Guarantee on the Notes.
(c)    The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantor.

65

Section 10.04.    Subrogation.  Until the Guarantee is released in accordance with Section 10.06, the Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to exercise any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Issuer under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.
Section 10.05.    Benefits Acknowledged.  The Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to the Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
Section 10.06.    Release of Guarantee.  (a) The Guarantee by the Guarantor will provide by its terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged and shall thereupon terminate and be of no further force and effect, and no further action by the Guarantor, the Issuer or the Trustee is required for the release of the Guarantor’s Guarantee, upon:
(1)    the exercise by the Issuer of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option as described under Article VIII hereof; or
(2)    the discharge of the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture in accordance with Article XI hereof.
(b)    Unless released from its obligations under the Guarantee as provided in this Article X, the Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of, interest on, if any, and premium on, if any, the Notes and for the other Obligations of the Guarantor under this Indenture as provided in this Article X.
ARTICLE XI 
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.01.    Satisfaction and Discharge of the Notes.  The Notes, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, shall be deemed to have been paid and no longer outstanding for all purposes of this Indenture, and the entire Indebtedness of the Issuer in respect thereof shall be satisfied and discharged, if there shall have been irrevocably deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Issuer), in trust: 
(a)    money in an amount which shall be sufficient, or 

66

(b)    in the case of a deposit made prior to the maturity of the Notes or portions thereof, Eligible Obligations, which shall not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide moneys which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, shall be sufficient, or 
(c)    a combination of (a) or (b) which shall be sufficient,
to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on the Notes or portions thereof; provided, however, that in the case of the provision for payment or redemption of less than all the Notes, such Notes or portions thereof shall have been selected by the Trustee (in the case of Definitive Notes) or in accordance with the Applicable Procedures (in the case of Global Notes) as provided herein and, in the case of a redemption, the notice requisite to the validity of such redemption shall have been given or irrevocable written direction shall have been given by the Issuer to the Trustee to give such notice, under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee; provided, further, that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee and such Paying Agent: 
(1)    if such deposit shall have been made prior to the maturity of the Notes, an Issuer’s Order stating that the money and Eligible Obligations deposited in accordance with this Section 11.01 shall be held in trust, as provided in Section 11.03 hereof; 
(2)    if Eligible Obligations shall have been deposited, an Opinion of Counsel that the obligations so deposited constitute Eligible Obligations and do not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment at the option of the Issuer thereof, and an opinion of an independent public accountant or a firm of independent public accountants, selected by the Issuer and as reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, to the effect that the requirements set forth in clause (b) above have been satisfied; and 
(3)    if such deposit shall have been made prior to the maturity of the Notes, (i) an Officer’s Certificate stating the Issuer’s intention that, upon delivery of such Officer’s Certificate, its Indebtedness in respect of such Notes or portions thereof will have been satisfied and discharged as contemplated in this Section 11.01, and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as a result of a change in law occurring or a ruling of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service issued after the date of issuance of such Notes, the Holders of such Notes, or portions of the principal amount thereof, will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the satisfaction and discharge of the Issuer’s Indebtedness in respect thereof and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, at the same times and in the same manner as if such satisfaction and discharge had not been effected. 

67

Upon the deposit of money or Eligible Obligations, or both, in accordance with this Section 11.01, together with the documents required by clauses (1), (2) and (3) above, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer’s Order, acknowledge in writing that the Notes or portions thereof with respect to which such deposit was made are deemed to have been paid for all purposes of this Indenture and that the entire Indebtedness of the Issuer in respect thereof has been satisfied and discharged as contemplated in this Section 11.01.  In the event that all of the conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph shall have been satisfied in respect of the Notes or portions thereof except that, for any reason, the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel specified in clause (3) shall not have been delivered, such Notes or portions thereof shall nevertheless be deemed to have been paid for all purposes of this Indenture, and the Holders of such Notes or portions thereof shall nevertheless be no longer entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or of any of the covenants under Article IV (except the covenants contained in Sections 4.01 and 4.02 hereof), but the Indebtedness of the Issuer in respect of such Notes or portions thereof shall not be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged prior to maturity for any other purpose, and the Holders of such Notes or portions thereof shall continue to be entitled to look to the Issuer for payment of the Indebtedness represented thereby; and, upon an Issuer’s Order, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing that such Notes or portions thereof are deemed to have been paid for all purposes of this Indenture. 
If payment at maturity of less than all of the Notes is to be provided for in the manner and with the effect provided in this Section 11.01, the Trustee (in the case of Definitive Notes) shall select such Notes, or portions of principal amount thereof, in the manner specified by Section 3.02 hereof for selection for redemption of less than all the Notes, or (in the case of Global Notes) such selection of such Notes or portions of principal amount thereof to be redeemed shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures. 
In the event that Notes which shall be deemed to have been paid for purposes of this Indenture, and, if such is the case, in respect of which the Issuer’s Indebtedness shall have been satisfied and discharged, all as provided in this Section 11.01, do not mature and are not to be redeemed within the 60-day period commencing with the date of the deposit of moneys or Eligible Obligations, as aforesaid, the Issuer shall, as promptly as practicable, give a notice, in the same manner as a notice of redemption with respect to such Notes, to the Holders of such Notes to the effect that such deposit has been made and the effect thereof. 
Notwithstanding that the Notes shall be deemed to have been paid for purposes of this Indenture, as aforesaid, the obligations of the Issuer and the Trustee in respect of the Notes under Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.07, 3.03, 4.01, 4.02, 7.02, 7.06 hereof and this Article XI shall survive. 

68

The Issuer shall pay, and shall indemnify the Trustee or any Paying Agent with which Eligible Obligations shall have been deposited as provided in this Section 11.01 against, any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against such Eligible Obligations or the principal or interest received in respect of such Eligible Obligations, including any such tax payable by any entity deemed, for tax purposes, to have been created as a result of such deposit. 
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) if, at any time after the Notes would be deemed to have been paid for purposes of this Indenture, and, if such is the case, the Issuer’s Indebtedness in respect thereof would be deemed to have been satisfied or discharged, pursuant to this Section 11.01 (without regard to the provisions of this paragraph), the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall be required to return the money or Eligible Obligations, or combination thereof, deposited with it as aforesaid to the Issuer or its representative under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, such Note shall thereupon be deemed retroactively not to have been paid and any satisfaction and discharge of the Issuer’s Indebtedness in respect thereof shall retroactively be deemed not to have been effected, and such Notes shall be deemed to remain outstanding, and (ii) any satisfaction and discharge of the Issuer’s Indebtedness in respect of the Notes shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.03 hereof. 
Section 11.02.    Satisfaction and Discharge of this Indenture.  This Indenture shall, upon an Issuer’s Order, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes herein expressly provided for) and the Trustee, at the expense and request of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when: 
(a)    no Notes remain outstanding hereunder; 
(b)    the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer; and 
(c)    the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with; 
provided, however, that if, in accordance with the last paragraph of Section 11.01 hereof, any Notes previously deemed to have been paid for purposes of this Indenture, shall be deemed retroactively not to have been so paid, this Indenture shall thereupon be deemed retroactively not to have been satisfied and discharged, as aforesaid, and to remain in full force and effect, and the Issuer shall execute and deliver such instruments as the Trustee shall reasonably request to evidence and acknowledge the same. 
The Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so by the Issuer with respect the Notes issued under this Indenture and if the other conditions thereto are met.  In the event there are two or more Trustees hereunder, then the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from all Trustees hereunder. 

69

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as aforesaid, the obligations of the Issuer and the Trustee in respect of the Notes under Sections 2.02, 2.03, 2.07, 3.03, 4.01, 4.02, 7.02, 7.06 hereof and this Article XI shall survive. 
Section 11.03.    Application of Trust Money.  Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, neither the Eligible Obligations nor the money deposited pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof, nor the principal or interest payments on any such Eligible Obligations, shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes or portions of principal amount thereof in respect of which such deposit was made, all subject, however, to the provisions of Section 4.01 hereof; provided, however, that any cash received from such principal or interest payments on such Eligible Obligations, if not then needed for such purpose, shall, to the extent practicable and upon an Issuer’s Order and delivery to the Trustee of the documents referred to in subclause (2) of clause (c) in Section 11.01 hereof, be invested pursuant to an Issuer’s Order in Eligible Obligations of the type described in clause (b) in Section 11.01 hereof maturing at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient, together with any other moneys and the proceeds of any other Eligible Obligations then held by the Trustee, to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on such Notes or portions thereof on and prior to the maturity thereof, and interest earned from such reinvestment shall be paid over to the Issuer as received, free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the lien provided by Section 7.06 hereof; provided, further, that any moneys held in accordance with this Section 11.03 on the maturity of all such Notes in excess of the amount required to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due on such Notes shall be paid over to the Issuer free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the lien provided by Section 7.06 hereof.
ARTICLE XII 
 
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.01.    Notices.  Any notice or communication by the Issuer, the Guarantor or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), electronically, which shall include transmission by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, in “.pdf,” “.tif,” “.jpg” or other format), or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:
If to the Issuer and/or the Guarantor:
Alliant Energy Finance, LLC
c/o Alliant Energy Corporation 
4902 N. Biltmore Lane 
Madison, Wisconsin 53718 
Attention: Treasurer
E-mail: barbaratormaschy@alliantenergy.com

70

in each case, with a copy to:
Perkins Coie LLP 
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900 
Seattle, WA 98101-3099 
Attention: Allison Handy 
E-mail: ahandy@perkinscoie.com
If to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee 
2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 700 
Chicago, Illinois 60602 
Attention: Corporate Trust 
Email: glen.ford@bnymellon.com
The Issuer, the Guarantor or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; 5 calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; on the first date on which publication is made or electronic delivery made; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be electronically delivered, mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the Note Register kept by the Registrar.
Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or purchase) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary.

71

If a notice or communication is mailed or otherwise delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, such notice or communication shall be deemed duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Issuer delivers or mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall deliver or mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
The Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with notices, instructions, directions or other communications sent by e-mail and other similar unsecured electronic methods by persons believed by the Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Issuer or the Guarantor.  The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Issuer or the Guarantor; and the Trustee shall have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Issuer or the Guarantor as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such notices, instructions, directions or other communications.  Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit notices, instructions, directions or other communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.  The Issuer and the Guarantor shall use all reasonable endeavors to ensure that any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications transmitted to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture are complete and correct.  Any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications shall be conclusively deemed to be valid instructions from the Issuer or the Guarantor, as applicable, to the Trustee for the purposes of this Indenture.
Section 12.02.    Communication with Holders of a Global Note.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.
Section 12.03.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.  Upon any request or application by the Issuer or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture (other than as set forth in the last sentence of Section 9.05 and with respect to clause (B) below, in connection with the initial issuance of Notes on the Issue Date), the Issuer or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee:
(A)    An Officer’s Certificate in form satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(B)    An Opinion of Counsel in form satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.04 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 12.04.    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.  Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(A)    a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(B)    a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(C)    a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and
(D)    a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officer’s Certificate or certificates of public officials.

72

Section 12.05.    Rules by Trustee and Agents.  The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders.  The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 12.06.    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Managers, Employees, Shareholders or Members.  By accepting a Note, each Holder thereof agrees to release from liability the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s past, present and future directors, officers, managers, employees, incorporators or similar founders, shareholders or members, as such, and any of their Affiliates, for any of the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under the Notes, the Guarantee or this Indenture or any supplemental indenture, as applicable, or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
Section 12.07.    Governing Law.  THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE GUARANTEE, AND ANY DISPUTE, CASE OR CONTROVERSY ARISING THEREUNDER OR RELATING THERETO, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE ANY OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS INDENTURE OR WITH REGARD TO THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES, AND AGREES NOT TO SEEK A TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING ON THE BASIS OF INCONVENIENCE OF THE FORUM OR OTHERWISE (BUT NEITHER THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTOR NOR THE TRUSTEE WILL BE PREVENTED FROM REMOVING ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING FROM A STATE COURT TO THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK).  EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEE AGREES THAT PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE SERVED UPON IT BY REGISTERED MAIL OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY THE RULES OF THE COURT IN WHICH THE ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT.
Section 12.08.    Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE ISSUER, THE GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY, AND EACH HOLDER OF A NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREBY, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 12.09.    Force Majeure.  In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, epidemics and pandemics, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

73

Section 12.10.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.  This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Guarantor, the Issuer, of any of their Subsidiaries or of any other Person.  Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 12.11.    Successors.  All agreements of the Issuer in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.  All agreements of the Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06 hereof.
Section 12.12.    Severability.  In case any provision or any part of any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 12.13.    Counterpart Originals.  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts, which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument.  The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by electronic transmissions (including, without limitation, in “.pdf,” “.tif,” “.jpg” or other format) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto, which shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “.pdf,” “.tif,” “.jpg” or other format) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 12.14.    Table of Contents, Headings, etc.  The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 12.15.    USA PATRIOT Act.  The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003, Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.  The parties hereto agree that they will provide the Trustee with name, address, tax identification number, if applicable, and other information that will allow the Trustee to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship, and will further provide the Trustee with formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents.

74

Section 12.16.    FATCA.  In order to comply with Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the rules and regulations thereunder (as in effect from time to time, collectively, the “Applicable Law”), a foreign financial institution, issuer, collateral agent, paying agent, holder or other institution is or has agreed to be subject to related to this Indenture, the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Holders agree (i) to provide to the Trustee upon its request information in the Issuer’s possession about holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under the Applicable Law, (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with the Applicable Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability for its withholding or deduction from payment under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law, and (iii) to hold harmless the Trustee for any losses it may suffer due to the actions it takes to comply with such Applicable Law.  The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.
Section 12.17.    Execution.  The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “.pdf,” “.tif” or “.jpg” format) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign).  The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.  Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Authentication Order, Issuer’s Order, Officer’s Certificate, Opinion of Counsel, Notes, certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note, supplemental indenture or other certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to the Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats, and (b) all references in Section 2.02 or elsewhere in the Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Note or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats.
[Signatures on following pages]

75

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
ALLIANT ENERGY FINANCE, LLC, 
as Issuer
		
	By:
	____________________________ 
Name:    Barbara P. Tormaschy 
Title:    President and Treasurer

ALLIANT ENERGY CORPORATION, 
as Guarantor
		
	By:
	____________________________ 
Name:    Barbara P. Tormaschy 
Title:    Vice President and Treasurer

[Indenture]

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
		
	By:
	____________________________ 
Name:     
Title:    

[Indenture]

EXHIBIT A
[Face of Note]
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Private Placement Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the Regulation S Temporary Global Note Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert the OID Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

A-1

CUSIP [    ]1 
ISIN [    ]2 

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S] GLOBAL NOTE
1.400% Senior Notes due 2026
No. [ ]    [Up to] $[    ]
ALLIANT ENERGY FINANCE, LLC
promises to pay to _______ or registered assigns,
[the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Exchange of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto] [the principal sum of _________ DOLLARS] on March 15, 2026.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15, beginning March 15, 2021
Record Dates: March 1 and September 1
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

______________________________
	
		
	1 
	Rule 144A: 01882Y AC0

	 
	Regulation S: U01879 AC6

	 
	 

	2 
	Rule 144 A: US01882YAC03

	 
	Regulation S: USU01879AC62

A-2

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
ALLIANT ENERGY FINANCE, LLC
		
	By:
	___________________________ 
Name:    Barbara P. Tormaschy 
Title:    President and Treasurer

A-3

Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
		
	By:
	___________________________ 
Authorized Signatory

Dated:

A-4

[Back of Note] 
1.400% Senior Notes due 2026
1.    INDENTURE.  This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Issuer, designated as its 1.400% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”) to be issued under an indenture, dated as of November 20, 2020 (the “Indenture”), among Alliant Energy Finance, LLC, as Issuer, Alliant Energy Corporation, as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.  Reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto relevant to the Notes for a complete description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Holders of the Notes.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.
Each Note is subject to, and qualified by, all such terms as set forth in the Indenture, certain of which are summarized herein and each Holder of a Note is referred to the corresponding provisions of the Indenture for a complete statement of such terms.  To the extent that there is any inconsistency between the summary provisions set forth in the Notes and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern.
2.    INTEREST.  The Issuer promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at a rate per annum of 1.400% from November 20, 2020 until maturity.  The Issuer will pay interest on this Note semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning March 15, 2021 or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  The Issuer will make each interest payment to the Holder of record of this Note on the immediately preceding March 1 and September 1 (each, a “Record Date”).  Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be March 15, 2021. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprising twelve 30-day months.  All payments to the Holder of this Note will be made to the Depositary therefor in accordance with its applicable procedures.
3.    METHOD OF PAYMENT.  The Issuer will pay interest on this Note to the Person who is the registered Holder of this Note at the close of business on the Record Date (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if this Note is cancelled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Indenture or, at the option of the Issuer, may be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion), provided that (a) all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, Notes represented by Global Notes registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Holder or Holders thereof and (b) if no notice of wire transfer election is received for such Holder, all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to certificated Notes will be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the Note Register.  Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.  If a payment date is on a Legal Holiday, payment will be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

A-5

4.     RANKING.  The Notes are the Issuer’s direct, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and shall rank equally with all of the Issuer’s other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations.  The Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of the Issuer’s future secured debt. 
5.    PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR.  Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder.  The Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.
6.    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.  Prior to February 15, 2026 (the “Par Call Date”), the Notes shall be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the Issuer’s option at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes and (ii) the sum, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker and delivered to the Trustee, of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) that would have been payable if the Notes matured on the Par Call Date discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus in each case accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, on or after the Par Call Date, the Notes shall be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the Issuer’s option at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming that such Notes matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

A-6

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Issuer.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and MUFG Securities Americas, or their affiliates that are primary U.S. Government Securities dealers, and their respective successors, unless any of them ceases to be a primary dealer in U.S. Government Securities (“Primary Treasury Dealer”), in which case the Issuer shall substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer located in The City of New York; and (2) one other Primary Treasury Dealer located in The City of New York selected by the Issuer.
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding that Redemption Date.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the Redemption Date.
Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without limitation, U.S. federal securities laws), the Issuer or its affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding Notes by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
7.    MANDATORY REDEMPTION; NO SINKING FUND.  The Issuer will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. 
8.    NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  Subject to Section 3.03 of the Indenture, the Issuer shall deliver electronically, mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, notices of redemption at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered or mailed more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with Section 3.03(i), Article VIII or Article XI of the Indenture.
9.    DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE.  The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.  The Issuer shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Notes during a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Notes called for redemption, or (ii) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
10.    PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.  The registered Holder shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.  Only registered Holders shall have rights hereunder.

A-7

11.    AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.  The Indenture, the Guarantee or the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.
12.    DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.  The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture.  The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee with respect to the Notes.  If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes, then the Trustee (at the direction and indemnity of the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes) or the Holders of not less than 33% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes may declare the principal amount of the Notes due and payable immediately by notice in writing to us (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become immediately due and payable.  At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived and the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal (and premium, if any) due otherwise than by acceleration and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee, including reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee.
The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Notes, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, may waive any past default with respect to the Notes, except (i) a default in the payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision which as provided under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note.
13.    AUTHENTICATION.  This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual, facsimile or electronic signature of the Trustee.
14.    GOVERNING LAW.  THE INDENTURE, THIS NOTE, THE GUARANTEE AND ANY DISPUTE, CASE OR CONTROVERSY ARISING THEREUNDER OR RELATING THERETO, WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
15.    CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.  Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

A-8

Alliant Energy Finance, LLC
c/o Alliant Energy Corporation 
4902 N. Biltmore Lane 
Madison, Wisconsin 53718 
Attention: Treasurer 
E-mail: barbaratormaschy@alliantenergy.com
16.    FURTHER ISSUANCES.  The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Indenture.
17.    NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES, SHAREHOLDERS OR MEMBERS.  By accepting a Note, each holder thereof agrees to release from liability the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s past, present and future directors, officers, managers, employees, incorporators or similar founders, shareholders or members, as such, and any of their Affiliates, for any of the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s obligations under the Notes, the Guarantee or this Indenture or any supplemental indenture, as applicable, or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

A-9

ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:    ____________________________________
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
______________________________________________________________________________
     (Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)    
and irrevocably appoint ________________________________________________ to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date:    _______________________
Your Signature: ____________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Signature Guarantee*: ____________
_______
*    Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

A-10

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $[●].  The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
	
									
	Date of Exchange
	 
	Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note
	 
	Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note
	 
	Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase
	 
	Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Custodian

_________
*    This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

A-11

EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Alliant Energy Finance, LLC
c/o Alliant Energy Corporation 
4902 N. Biltmore Lane 
Madison, Wisconsin 53718 
Attention: Treasurer
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. 
2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 700 
Chicago, Illinois 60602 
Attention: Corporate Trust
Re: 1.400% Senior Notes due 2026
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2020 (the “Indenture”), among Alliant Energy Finance, LLC, as Issuer, Alliant Energy Corporation, as Guarantor, and the Trustee.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
_____________ (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Notes or interest in such Notes specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $ ______________ in such Notes or interests (the “Transfer”), __________ to ______ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto.  In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1.    [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT 144A GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A.  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2.    [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE OR RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S.  The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser).  Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

B-1

3.    [ ] CHECK AND COMPLETE IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE RELEVANT DEFINITIVE NOTE PURSUANT TO ANY PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OTHER THAN RULE 144A OR REGULATION S.  The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a)    [ ] such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or
(b)    [ ] such Transfer is being effected to the Issuer or a Subsidiary thereof.
4.    [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFEREE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE OR OF AN UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.
(a)    [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO RULE 144.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b)    [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

B-2

(c)    [ ] CHECK IF TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO OTHER EXEMPTION.  (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.  Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.

B-3

This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer.
[Insert Name of Transferor]
		
	By:
	___________________________ 
Name: 
Title:

Dated: ____________________

B-4

ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1.    The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a)    [ ] a beneficial interest in the:
(i)    [ ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:  ]), or
(ii)    [ ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:  ]), or
(b)    [ ] a Restricted Definitive Note.
2.    After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a)    [ ] a beneficial interest in the:
(i)    [    ] 144A Global Note ([CUSIP:  ]), or
(ii)    [    ] Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP:  ]), or
(iii)    [    ] Unrestricted Global Note ([ ] [ ]), or
(b)    [ ] a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c)    [ ] an Unrestricted Definitive Note, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

B-5

EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Alliant Energy Finance, LLC
c/o Alliant Energy Corporation 
4902 N. Biltmore Lane 
Madison, Wisconsin 53718 
Attention: Treasurer
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. 
2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 700 
Chicago, Illinois 60602 
Attention: Corporate Trust
Re: 1.400% Senior Notes due 2026
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2020 (the “Indenture”), among Alliant Energy Finance, LLC, as Issuer, Alliant Energy Corporation, as Guarantor, and the Trustee.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
_______________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or interest in such Notes specified herein, in the principal amount of $ ______ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”).  In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1)    EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE FOR UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE
a)    [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
b)    [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.

C-1

c)    [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE.  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
d)    [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO UNRESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.  In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2)    EXCHANGE OF RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES FOR RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTES OR BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTES
a)    [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE TO RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.

C-2

b)    [ ] CHECK IF EXCHANGE IS FROM RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE NOTE TO BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN A RESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE.  In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE]:
[ ] 144A Global Note, or
[ ] Regulation S Global Note
with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.  Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer and are dated
[Insert Name of Transferor]
		
	By:
	____________________________ 
Name: 
Title:

C-3

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00317-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00317-of-00352.parquet"}]]