Document:

exv10w1

 

Exhibit 10.1

The
Detroit Edison Company

2000 2nd Avenue 

Detroit, Michigan 48226

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Re:
	 	$100,000,000 2005 Series C 5.19% Senior Notes
	 

	 	 	 	Due
October 1, 2023

Dated as of July 22, 2005

To the Purchasers listed in

      the attached Schedule A:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The Detroit Edison Company, a Michigan corporation (the “Company”), agrees with the
institutional investors listed in the attached Schedule A (the “Purchasers”) to this Note Purchase
Agreement (this “Agreement”) as follows:

Section 1. Authorization of Notes.

     Section 1.1. Authorization of the Notes. The Company will authorize the issue and sale of
$100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 2005 Series C 5.19% Senior Notes due October 1, 2023
(the “Notes”). The term “Notes” shall include any such notes issued in substitution therefor
pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture (as hereinafter
defined) and the Collateral Trust Indenture (as hereinafter defined). The Notes shall be
substantially in the form set out in Exhibit A to the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, with such
changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by the Purchasers and the Company. Certain
capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Collateral Trust
Indenture and the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise defined in Schedule B to this
Agreement or the context hereof shall otherwise require; and references to a “Schedule” or an
“Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.

     Section 1.2. Description of the Notes. The Notes shall be dated the date of issue, shall bear
interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) on the unpaid principal
balance thereof from the date of issuance at the rate of 5.19% per annum, payable on each Interest
Payment Date, commencing with the first Interest Payment Date occurring after the date hereof,
until such principal sum shall have become due and payable (whether at maturity, upon notice of
redemption or otherwise) and interest (so computed) on any overdue principal and premium (as
provided herein and in the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture) and, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, on any overdue interest, from the due date thereof (whether by acceleration or
otherwise) at the rate of 5.19% per annum until paid, and shall have such other characteristics as
set forth in the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture.

 

 

Section 2. Sale and Purchase of Notes.

     Section 2.1. Sale and Purchase of the Notes. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Company will issue and sell to each Purchaser and each Purchaser will purchase from
the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section 3, Notes in the principal amount specified
opposite such Purchaser’s name in Schedule A to this Agreement at the purchase price of 100% of the
principal amount thereof. The obligations of each Purchaser hereunder are several and not joint
obligations and each Purchaser shall have no obligation and no liability to any Person for the
performance or nonperformance by any other Purchaser hereunder.

     Section 2.2. Security for the Notes. The Notes are to be issued under and in accordance with
a Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated on or about September 15, 2005 (the “Seventeenth
Supplemental Indenture”) between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association,
a trust company organized and existing under the laws of the United States, in its capacity as
trustee (together with any successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Trustee”), which shall be
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture is
a supplement to the Collateral Trust Indenture dated as of June 30, 1993 between the Company and
the Trustee, as the successor trustee thereunder, as amended and supplemented from time to time
(the “Collateral Trust Indenture”). Prior to the Release Date (as defined in the Seventeenth
Supplemental Indenture), the payment of all amounts due with respect to the Notes will be secured
by the Pledged Bonds to be issued under and in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
Supplemental to Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated on or about September 15, 2005 (the “Supplement to
Mortgage Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee, which Supplement to Mortgage Indenture
shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Supplement to Mortgage
Indenture is a supplement to a Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of October 1, 1924 between the
Company and the Trustee, as the successor trustee thereunder, as amended and supplemented from time
to time (the “Mortgage Indenture”).

Section 3. Closing.

     The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by each Purchaser shall occur at the
offices of Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, at 10:00 a.m.,
Central time, at a closing (the “Closing”) on September 29, 2005 or on such other Business Day
thereafter on or prior to September 30, 2005 as may be agreed upon by the Company and the
Purchasers. At the Closing, the Company shall cause to be duly executed, authenticated and
delivered to each Purchaser the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser in the form of a single
Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $100,000 as such Purchaser may
request) dated the date of the Closing and registered in such Purchaser’s name (or in the name of
such Purchaser’s nominee), against delivery by such Purchaser to the Company or its order of
immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of
immediately available funds for the account of the Company to the bank account of the Company
specified in the funding instructions letter provided pursuant to Section 4.14 of this Agreement.
If at the Closing the Company shall fail to tender such Notes to any Purchaser as provided above in
this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section 4

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shall not have been fulfilled to
any Purchaser’s satisfaction, such Purchaser shall, at such Purchaser’s election, be relieved of
all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights such Purchaser may
have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

Section 4. Conditions to Closing.

          The obligation of each Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to such
Purchaser at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, prior to
or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

     Section 4.1. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the
Company in this Agreement and the other Note Documents to which the Company is party shall be
correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

     Section 4.2. Performance; No Default. The Company shall have performed and complied with all
agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement and each other Note Document to which it is
party required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving
effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as
contemplated by Section 5.14), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.

     Section 4.3. Compliance Certificates.

          (a) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer’s
Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections
4.1, 4.2 and 4.9 have been fulfilled.

          (b) Secretary’s Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser a certificate
certifying as to the resolutions attached thereto and other corporate proceedings relating to the
authorization, execution and delivery of the Notes, this Agreement and the other Note Documents to
which it is party.

     Section 4.4. Opinions of Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received opinions in form and
substance satisfactory to such Purchaser, dated the date of the Closing (a) from Thomas A. Hughes,
Esq., General Counsel for the Company, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(a) and
covering such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated hereby as such Purchaser or
such Purchaser’s counsel may reasonably request (and the Company hereby instructs its counsel to
deliver such opinion to such Purchaser) and (b) from Chapman and Cutler LLP, special counsel for
the Purchasers in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit
4.4(b) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as such Purchaser may
reasonably request.

     Section 4.5. Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, Etc. On the date of the Closing each
purchase of Notes shall (i) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which
each Purchaser is subject, without recourse to provisions (such as Section 1405(a)(8) of the New
York Insurance Law) permitting limited investments by insurance companies without

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restriction as to
the character of the particular investment, (ii) not violate any applicable law or regulation
(including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System) and (iii) not subject any Purchaser to any tax, penalty or liability under or
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date
hereof (excluding any of the foregoing which are of general application to the business of a
Purchaser). If requested by any Purchaser, such Purchaser shall have received an Officer’s
Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as such Purchaser may reasonably specify to
enable such Purchaser to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

     Section 4.6. Related Transactions. The Company shall have consummated the sale of the entire
principal amount of the Notes scheduled to be sold on the date of Closing to the Purchasers,
pursuant to this Agreement and the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture; provided that if the
condition set forth in this Section 4.6 is not satisfied as a result of the failure of any
Purchaser to purchase any Notes that it is obligated to purchase under this Agreement, then another
Institutional Investor approved by the Company may purchase the Notes scheduled to be purchased by
the defaulting Purchaser on the date of Closing and any such purchase shall be deemed to satisfy
the requirement of this Section 4.6.

     Section 4.7. Payment of Special Counsel Fees. Without limiting the provisions of Section
12.1, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the fees, charges and disbursements of
Purchasers’ special counsel referred to in Section 4.4(b) to the extent reflected in a statement of
such counsel rendered to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the Closing.

     Section 4.8. Private Placement Number. A Private Placement Number issued by Standard & Poor’s
CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the Securities Valuation Office of the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners) shall have been obtained for the Notes.

     Section 4.9. Changes in Corporate Structure. The Company shall not have changed its
jurisdiction of incorporation or been a party to any merger or consolidation and shall not have
succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time
following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.5 (other than
the merger of a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company into the Company).

     Section 4.10. Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture. The Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture
shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee and shall
constitute the legal, valid and binding contract and agreement of each such Person.

     Section 4.11. Supplement to Mortgage Indenture. The Supplement to Mortgage Indenture shall
have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee and shall
constitute the legal, valid and binding contract and agreement of each such Person.

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     Section 4.12. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes. The Note or Notes to be
purchased by such Purchaser shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
and duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to such Purchaser.

     Section 4.13. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Pledged Bonds. The Pledged Bond or
Pledged Bonds shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and shall have been pledged to the Trustee under the
Collateral Trust Indenture and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding contract and agreement
of the Company.

     Section 4.14. Recording and Filing. The Supplement to Mortgage Indenture and the Mortgage
Indenture, as the case may be, shall have been duly recorded (or delivered for recordation) as an
indenture on real property and duly filed or recorded (or delivered for filing or recordation) as a
security interest in personal property, as the case may be, so as to constitute a valid, perfected
first lien on all of the Company’s property covered by such Note Documents, all in accordance with
applicable law, and the Company shall have caused satisfactory evidence thereof to be furnished to
the Purchasers and their special counsel.

     Section 4.15. Approvals. The Company shall have furnished to such Purchaser and such
Purchaser’s special counsel true and correct copies of all certificates, approvals, authorizations
and consents necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement,
the Notes, the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture and the other Note Documents including, without
limitation, the consents and approvals referred to in Section 5.7 of this Agreement and in the
Collateral Trust Indenture, if any.

     Section 4.16. Funding Instructions. At least three Business Days prior to the date of the
Closing, the Purchasers shall have received written instructions executed by a Responsible Officer
of the Company directing the manner of the payment of the purchase price of the Notes and setting
forth (a) the name and address of the transferee bank, (ii) such transferee bank’s ABA number,
(iii) the account name and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to be deposited,
and (iv) the name and telephone number of the account representative responsible for verifying
receipt of such funds.

     Section 4.17. Proceedings and Documents. All corporate and other proceedings in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to
such transactions shall be satisfactory to such Purchaser and such Purchaser’s special counsel, and
such Purchaser and such Purchaser’s special counsel shall have received all such counterpart
originals or certified or other copies of such documents, and any such certificate of a Responsible
Officer of the Company as to the matters contemplated herein, as such Purchaser or such Purchaser’s
special counsel may reasonably request.

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Section 5. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

          The Company represents and warrants to each Purchaser as of the date hereof that:

     Section 5.1. Organization; Power and Authority. The Company is a corporation duly organized
and validly existing under the laws of the State of Michigan, and is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by
law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing
could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own or hold under lease the
properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it transacts and
proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Notes and any other Note Document
and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

     Section 5.2. Authorization, Etc. This Agreement, the Notes and any other Note Document to
which the Company is party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Company, and this Agreement and each such other Note Document to which the Company is party
constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

     Section 5.3. Disclosure. The documents, certificates or other writings delivered to such
Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Since December
31, 2004, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business, properties
or prospects of the Company except changes that individually or in the aggregate could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Company
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth
herein or in the other documents, certificates and other writings delivered to such Purchaser by or
on behalf of the Company specifically for use in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.

     Section 5.4. Subsidiaries. The Company does not have any Subsidiary which if combined with all
other Subsidiaries of the Company would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.

     Section 5.5. Financial Statements. The Company has delivered to each Purchaser copies of the
financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.5. All of said
financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and notes) fairly present in all
material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the
respective dates specified in such Schedule and the consolidated results of their operations and
cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with

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GAAP
consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto
(subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments).

     Section 5.6. Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Notes and any other Note Document to which the
Company is party will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under,
or result in the creation of any Lien (other than the Lien of the Mortgage Indenture and the
Collateral Trust Indenture and supplements thereto) in respect of any property of the Company
under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate
charter or by-laws, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is bound or by which
the Company or any of its properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a
breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of
any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or (iii) violate any
provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to
the Company.

     Section 5.7. Governmental Authorizations, Etc. No consent, approval or authorization of, or
registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority (other than those obtained by
the Company on or prior to the date hereof) is required in connection with the execution, delivery
or performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Note Document to which the
Company is party other than the order of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dated May 12,
2005 in Docket No. ES05-24-000 which is final and not subject to appeal, a Report of Securities
Issued filed pursuant thereto, and such other consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations,
filings or declarations as to which the failure to obtain the same has not resulted in and could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.8. Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders. (a) There are no
actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or
affecting the Company or any property of the Company in any court or before any arbitrator of any
kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

          (b) The Company is not in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is
a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator
or Governmental Authority or in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation
(including without limitation Environmental Laws) of any Governmental Authority, which default or
violation, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.9. Taxes. The Company has filed all state and Federal tax returns that are required
to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such
returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon it or its properties, assets, income or
franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they
have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not
individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount, applicability

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or validity of which is
currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the
Company has established reserves in accordance with GAAP. The Company knows of no basis for any
other tax or assessment that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All
necessary charges, accruals and reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP on the books
of the Company in respect of Federal and state taxes. The Federal income tax liability of the
Company has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service and paid for all fiscal years up to and
including the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.

     Section 5.10. Title to Property; Leases. The Company has good and marketable title to all
properties standing of record in its name (which includes, without limitation, all of those
properties, except pollution control facilities standing in the names of certain municipalities
which are being purchased by the Company pursuant to installment sales contracts and the undivided
ownership interest of Michigan Public Power Agency in a portion of the Belle River Power Plant,
which constitute or on which there are erected its principal plants, generating stations and
substations and on which its general office and service buildings are constructed and all other
important parcels of real estate) and improvements thereon, subject to the lien of the Mortgage
Indenture and to minor exceptions and minor defects, irregularities and deficiencies which, in the
opinion of the Company, do not materially impair the use of such property for the purpose for which
it is held by the Company, and the Company has adequate rights to maintain and operate such of its
distribution facilities as are located on public or other property not owned by the Company. All
leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full
force and effect in all material respects.

     Section 5.11. Licenses, Permits, Etc. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.11,

          (a) the Company owns or possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents,
copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in
the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others;

          (b) to the best knowledge of the Company, no product of the Company infringes in any material
respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent, copyright, service mark, trademark,
trade name or other right owned by any other Person; and

          (c) to the best knowledge of the Company, there is no Material violation by any Person of any
right of the Company with respect to any patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or
other right owned or used by the Company.

     Section 5.12. Compliance with ERISA. (a) To the best knowledge of the Company, the
Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all
applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any ERISA
Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise
tax provisions of the Code relating to their Plans, and no event, transaction or condition has
occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such
liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on

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any of the
rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to
Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions or to Section 401(a)(29) or
Section 412 of the Code, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in
the aggregate Material.

          (b) The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Plans (other than
Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan’s most recently ended plan year on the
basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such Plan’s most recent
actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Plan
allocable to such benefit liabilities. The term “benefit liabilities” has the meaning specified in
Section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “current value” and “present value” have the meanings specified
in Section 3 of ERISA.

          (c) The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not
subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of
Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

          (d) The expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the
Company’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board
Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by
Section 4980B of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries will not have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company.

          (e) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes
hereunder will not involve any transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of Section 406 of
ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to Section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of
the Code. The representation by the Company in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(e) is made
in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of each Purchaser’s representation in Section 6.2 as
to the sources of the funds to be used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by
such Purchaser.

     Section 5.13. Private Offering by the Company. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its
behalf has offered the Notes or any similar unregistered securities (other than $400,000,000
aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes issued in February, 2005) for sale to, or
solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect
thereof with, any person other than the Purchasers and not more than thirty-three (33) other
Institutional Investors, each of which has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment.
Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would
subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the
Securities Act.

     Section 5.14. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. The Company will apply the proceeds of the
sale of the Notes to repay existing Indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. No part of
the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for the
purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221), or for the

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purpose of buying or carrying or
trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of
Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of
Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than 2% of the
value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have
any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 2% of the value of such assets.
As used in this Section, the terms “margin stock” and “purpose of buying or carrying” shall have
the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

     Section 5.15. Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens. (a) The Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness
of the Company as of December 31, 2004, since which date there has been no Material increase in the
amount of the Indebtedness of the Company (excluding Indebtedness issued for the purpose of
refunding obligations of the Company outstanding on December 31, 2004). The Company is not in
default and no waiver of default is currently in effect in the payment of any principal or interest
on any Indebtedness of the Company and no event or condition exists with respect to any
Indebtedness of the Company that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both,
would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its
stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

          (b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.15, the Company has not agreed or consented to cause or
permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by the Seventeenth
Supplemental Indenture and the Collateral Trust Indenture.

     Section 5.16. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc. Neither the sale of the Notes by the
Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act,
as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury
Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive
order relating thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (a)
is or will become a person whose property or interests in property are blocked pursuant to Section
1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions
with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism) (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001) or
(b) engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions, or be otherwise associated, with any
such person. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with
Title III of Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept
and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds from the sale of the
Notes hereunder and the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture will be used, directly or indirectly,
for any payment to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political
party, candidate for political office or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to
obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United
States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

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     Section 5.17. Status under Certain Statutes. (a) The Company is not an “investment company”
registered or required to registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (b) The Company is not a “holding company” but is an “affiliate” of a “holding company”
(within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the “1935
Act”)), which holding company is exempt from the provisions of the 1935 Act, other than Section
9(a)(2) thereof, pursuant to Section 3(a)(1) thereof.

     Section 5.18. Environmental Matters. The Company (i) is in compliance with any and all
applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of
human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received (or has pending) all permits, licenses or
other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and
(iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval,
except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits,
licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits,
licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.

     Section 5.19. Lien of Mortgage. The Mortgage Indenture is a first lien (subject to no prior
liens, charges, encumbrances or security interests, except current taxes and assessments not yet
due and minor encumbrances which do not materially impair the use of such property for the purpose
for which it is held by the Company) duly filed and recorded, on substantially all of the Company’s
tangible properties and franchises (other than items purchased for resale in the ordinary course of
business) and (subject to the necessity for particular filings and recordings in the case of
certain personal property such as railroad rolling stock) will constitute a like lien on any such
properties hereafter acquired by the Company except that any such after-acquired property will be
subject to prior liens and encumbrances, if any, existing when acquired by the Company, except that
the Mortgage Indenture will not become a lien upon after-acquired real property in a new county
until it has been duly filed and recorded and except that the Mortgage Indenture may not be
effective as to property acquired subsequent to the filing of a case with respect to the Company
under the Bankruptcy Code (defined as Title 11, United States Code, Section 1 et seq., as amended).

     Section 5.20. Pledged Bonds. The Pledged Bonds have been duly authorized and established in
conformity with the provisions of the Mortgage Indenture and, when the Pledged Bonds have been
executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage Indenture and pledged
to the Trustee as contemplated by the Collateral Trust Indenture, the Pledged Bonds will be
entitled to the benefits of the Mortgage Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as the enforceability thereof
may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles
of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law). The payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes are secured by
the related Pledged Bonds; assuming that the

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Trustee holds the Pledged Bonds as provided in the
Collateral Trust Indenture, the Collateral Trust Indenture creates a valid and perfected first
priority security interest in the Pledged Bonds.

Section 6. Representations of the Purchaser.

     Section 6.1. Purchase for Investment. Each Purchaser represents that it is purchasing the
Notes for its own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by it or for the account
of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided
that the disposition of such Purchaser’s or such pension or trust fund’s property shall at all
times be within such Purchaser’s or such pension and trust fund’s control. Each Purchaser
understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only
if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration
is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is
required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Notes.

     Section 6.2. Source of Funds. Each Purchaser severally represents that at least one of the
following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “Source”) to be
used by such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser
hereunder:

     (a) the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the
United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption (“PTE”) 95-60) in
respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life
insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the
“NAIC Annual Statement”)) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any
employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the
general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans
maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the
same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves
and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus
surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of
domicile; or

     (b) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such
Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to
any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate
account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are
not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

     (c) the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the
meaning of PTE 90-1 or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE
91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this
clause (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or
employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled
separate account or collective investment fund; or

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     (d) the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (within the meaning of Part
V(b) of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”)) managed by a “qualified professional asset
manager” or “QPAM” (within the meaning of Part V(a) of the QPAM Exemption), no employee
benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the
assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or
by an affiliate (within the meaning of Part V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer
or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total
client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM
Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the QPAM
(applying the definition of “control” in Part V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more
interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee
benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the
Company in writing pursuant to this clause (d); or

     (e) the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Part IV(h) of
PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption”)) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within
the meaning of Part IV(a) of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h)
of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or
controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Part IV(d) of the INHAM
Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and
(ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have
been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (e); or

     (f) the Source is a governmental plan; or

     (g) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust
fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to
the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (g); or

     (h) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan
exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

     If any Purchaser or any subsequent transferee of the Notes indicates that such Purchaser or
such transferee is relying on any representation contained in paragraph (c), (d) or (g) above, the
Company shall deliver on the date of Closing and on the date of any applicable transfer a
certificate, which shall either state that (i) it is neither a party in interest nor a
“disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended), with respect to any plan identified pursuant to paragraphs (c) or (g) above, or (ii) with
respect to any plan identified pursuant to paragraph (d) above, neither it nor any “affiliate” (as
defined in Part V(c) of the QPAM Exemption) has at such time, and during the immediately preceding
one year, exercised the authority to appoint or terminate said QPAM as manager of any plan
identified in writing pursuant to paragraph (d) above or to negotiate the terms of said QPAM’s
management agreement on behalf of any such identified plan. As used in this Section 6.2, the

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terms
“employee benefit plan”, “governmental plan”, “party in interest” and “separate account” shall have
the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

Section 7. Information as to Company.

          The Company will comply with the reporting provisions of the Collateral Trust Indenture,
including without limitation Section 804 (financial reports) and Section 1108 (annual no default
certificate).

Section 8. Payments on Notes.

     Section 8.1. Place of Payment. Subject to Section 8.2, payments of principal, Make-Whole
Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in accordance with
the terms and provisions of the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture and the Collateral Trust
Indenture.

     Section 8.2. Home Office Payment. So long as any Purchaser or its nominee shall be the holder
of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in Section 8.1 or in such Note to the contrary,
the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will pay all sums becoming due on such Note
for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified
for such purpose for such Purchaser in Schedule A to this Agreement, or by such other method or at
such other address as such Purchaser shall have from time to time specified to the Company or the
Paying Agent in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the
making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently
with or reasonably promptly after payment or redemption in full of any Note, such Purchaser shall
surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at
its principal executive office or to the Trustee at its principal corporate trust office. Prior to
any sale or other disposition of any Note held by any Purchaser or its nominee such Purchaser will,
at its election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to
which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company or the Trustee in
exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 of the Collateral Trust Indenture. The
Company will afford the benefits of this Section 8.2 to any Institutional Investor that is the
direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by a Purchaser under the Seventeenth
Supplemental Indenture and this Agreement and has made the same agreement relating to such Note as
such Purchaser has made in this Section 8.2.

Section 9. Expenses, Etc.

     Section 9.1. Transaction Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
consummated, the Company will pay (and indemnify the Purchasers against) all reasonable costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees of a single special counsel for all of the
Purchasers and, if reasonably required and disclosed to the Company, a single local counsel in any
relevant jurisdiction hired for all of the Purchasers) incurred by the Purchasers, in connection
with such transactions (including in connection with the filing or recordation of all

-14-

 

financing
statements and instruments as may be required by the Purchasers or the Trustee in connection with
this Agreement or any Note Document, including, without limitation, all documentary stamps,
recordation and transfer taxes and other costs and taxes incident to recordation of any document or
instrument in connection herewith). The Company will pay, and will save each Purchaser harmless
from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses, if any, of brokers and finders (other
than those retained by the Purchasers). The Company agrees to save harmless and indemnify each
Purchaser from and against any liability resulting from the failure to reimburse such Purchaser for
any required documentary stamps, recordation and transfer taxes, recording costs, or any other
expenses incurred by such Purchaser in connection with this Agreement which are required by the
terms of this Agreement to be paid or reimbursed by the Company.

     Section 9.2. Survival. The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 will survive the
payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement, the Notes or any other Note Document, and the termination of this Agreement.

Section 10. Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement.

          All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Note Documents, the purchase or transfer by any
Purchaser of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may
be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time
by or on behalf of such Purchaser or any other holder of a Note. All statements contained in any
certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement
or the other Note Documents shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under
this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement, the Notes and the other Note
Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between the Purchasers and the Company and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

Section 11. Amendment and Waiver.

     Section 11.1. Requirements. In addition to and not in limitation of any rights of a Holder of
a Security to amend or waive any provision of the Collateral Trust Indenture, or consent to an
amendment or waiver thereof, this Agreement may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof
may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of
the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the
provisions of Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will
be effective as to any Purchaser unless consented to by such Purchaser in writing, and (b) no such
amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time
outstanding affected thereby amend any of Sections 11 or 14.

     Section 11.2. Solicitation of Holders of Notes.

          (a) Solicitation. The Company will provide each holder of the Notes (irrespective of the
amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of

-15-

 

the
date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with
respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or
of the Note Documents. The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each
amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11 to each holder
of outstanding Notes promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or
receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

          (b) Payment. The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any
remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any
security, to any holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by
any holder of Notes of any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless
such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted, on the same terms,
ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding even if such holder did not consent to such waiver
or amendment.

     Section 11.3. Binding Effect, Etc. Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this
Section 11 applies equally to all holders of Notes and is binding upon them and upon each future
holder of any Note and upon the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to
indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any
obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or
impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of
any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a
waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein, the term “this Agreement” and
references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or
supplemented.

     Section 11.4. Notes Held by Company, Etc. Solely for the purpose of determining whether the
holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding
approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the
Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon
the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall
be deemed not to be outstanding.

Section 12. Notices.

          All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by
telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized
overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by registered or certified mail with return
receipt requested (postage prepaid), or (c) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with
charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

          (i) if to a Purchaser or its nominee, to such Purchaser or its nominee at the address
specified for such communications in Schedule A to this Agreement, or at such other address
as such Purchaser or its nominee shall have specified to the Company in writing,

-16-

 

     (ii) if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other
holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or

     (iii) if to the Company, to the Company at its address set forth at the beginning
hereof to the attention of General Counsel (Fax No. (313) 235-8500), or at such other
address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.

Notices under this Section 12 will be deemed given only when actually received.

Section 13. Reproduction of Documents.

     This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a)
consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by any
Purchaser at the Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates
and other information previously or hereafter furnished to any Purchaser, may be reproduced by any
Person who is a party to or recipient of any such document by any photographic, photostatic,
microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other similar process and such Person may destroy
any original document so reproduced. The Company and each Purchaser agrees and stipulates that, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as
the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in
existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by such Person in the regular course of
business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall
likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section 13 shall not prohibit the Company, a Purchaser or
any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could
contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such
reproduction.

Section 14. Confidential Information.

     For the purposes of this Section 14, “Confidential Information” means information delivered to
any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions
contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was
clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by such Purchaser as
being confidential information of the Company or such Subsidiary, provided that such term does not
include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to such Purchaser prior to the
time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by such
Purchaser or any person acting on such Purchaser’s behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to such
Purchaser other than through disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary or (d) constitutes
financial statements delivered to such Purchaser that are otherwise publicly available. Each
Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with
procedures adopted by such Purchaser in good faith to protect confidential information of third
parties delivered to such Purchaser, provided that such Purchaser may deliver or disclose
Confidential Information to (i) such Purchaser’s directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents,
attorneys and affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of
the investment represented by such Purchaser’s Notes), (ii) such Purchaser’s financial advisors and
other professional advisors who

-17-

 

 agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information
substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section 14, (iii) any other holder of any Note,
(iv) any Institutional Investor to which such Purchaser sells or offers to sell such Note or any
part thereof or any participation therein (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its
receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 14), (v) any
Person from which such Purchaser offers to purchase any security of the Company (if such Person has
agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the
provisions of this Section 14), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction
over such Purchaser, (vii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar
organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about
such Purchaser’s investment portfolio or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or
disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation
or order applicable to such Purchaser, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y)
in connection with any litigation to which such Purchaser is a party or (z) if an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, to the extent such Purchaser may reasonably determine such delivery
and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the
rights and remedies under such Purchaser’s Notes and this Agreement. Each holder of a Note, by its
acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the
benefits of this Section 14 as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by
the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be
delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that
is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the
Company embodying the provisions of this Section 14.

Section 15. Miscellaneous.

     Section 15.1. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and other agreements contained in this
Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their
respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note)
whether so expressed or not.

     Section 15.2. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by
law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

     Section 15.3. Construction. Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent express
provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that
compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to
excuse compliance with any other covenant. Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken
by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable
whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

     Section 15.4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one

-18-

 

instrument. Each
counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together
signed by all, of the parties hereto.

     Section 15.5. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York
excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of
the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

-19-

 

     The execution hereof by the Purchasers shall constitute a contract among the Company and the
Purchasers for the uses and purposes hereinabove set forth.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Very truly yours,
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	The Detroit Edison Company
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By
	 	/s/ Paul A. Stadnikia
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Name: Paul A. Stadnikia
	 

	 	 	 	Title:   Assistant Treasurer

-20-

 

The foregoing is hereby agreed to as of the date thereof.

[Purchaser Signature Blocks]

-21-

 

Information Relating to Purchasers

[Information Relating to Purchasers]

Schedule A

(to Note Purchase Agreement)

 

 

Defined Terms

     As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth
in the Section hereof following such term:

     “Affiliate” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, (a) any other Person that at
such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by,
or is under common Control with, such first Person, and (b) any Person beneficially owning or
holding, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests of such
first Person or any corporation of which such first Person beneficially owns or holds, in the
aggregate, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests. As used
in this definition, “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any
reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company.

     “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial
banks in New York, New York or Detroit, Michigan are required or authorized to be closed.

     “Closing” is defined in Section 3.

     “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

     “Collateral Trust Indenture” is defined in Section 2.2 hereto.

     “Company” means The Detroit Edison Company, a Michigan corporation.

     “Confidential Information” is defined in Section 14.

     “Default” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which would, with the
lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

     “Environmental Laws” is defined in Section 5.18.

     “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

     “ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as
a single employer together with the Company under section 414 of the Code.

     “Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in the Collateral Trust Indenture.

     “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Schedule B

(to Note Purchase Agreement)

 

 

     “GAAP” or “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” shall mean the convention, rules and
procedures which define accepted accounting practices applicable to businesses similar to that of
the Company.

     “Governmental Authority” means

          (a) the government of

          (i) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision
thereof, or

          (ii) any jurisdiction in which the Company conducts all or any part of its
business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company, or

     (b) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

     “Holder” has the meaning set forth in the Collateral Trust Indenture.

     “Indebtedness” means all indebtedness of the Company which is required to be included on the
consolidated balance sheet of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP.

     “Institutional Investor” means (a) any original Purchaser of a Note, (b) any holder of a Note
holding more than $1,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and (c)
any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension
plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar
financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form.

     “Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security
interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other
secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or
capital lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case
of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements).

     “Make-Whole Amount” is defined in Exhibit A to the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture.

     “Material” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial
condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     “Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations,
affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, the Collateral Trust Indenture, the Supplement to Mortgage
Indenture, the Mortgage Indenture, the Pledged Bonds and the Notes, or (c) the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement, the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture,

B-2

 

the Collateral Trust
Indenture, the Supplement to Mortgage Indenture, the Mortgage Indenture, the Pledged Bonds and the
Notes.

     “Mortgage Indenture” is defined in Section 2.2 hereto.

     “Multiemployer Plan” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in
section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

     “Note Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Notes, the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture,
the Collateral Trust Indenture, the Security Documents and all other instruments, certificates,
documents and other writings now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Company pursuant to or
in connection with any of the foregoing.

     “Notes” is defined in Section 1.

     “Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other
officer of the Company whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.

     “Paying Agent” has the meaning set forth in the Collateral Trust Indenture.

     “PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any
successor thereto.

     “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
association, trust, unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.

     “Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) that is or,
within the preceding five years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are
or, within the preceding five years, have been made or required to be made, by the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.

     “Pledged Bonds” means the bonds of the Company being issued under and pursuant to the
Supplement to Mortgage Indenture to the Trustee for the equal and ratable benefit of the Purchasers
and the other holders of Notes, as security for the payment and performance of all of the Company’s
obligations in respect of the Notes, as more particularly described in the Seventeenth Supplemental
Indenture.

     “property” or “properties” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal
property of any kind, tangible or intangible, choate or inchoate.

     “Purchasers” means the Purchasers named in Schedule A hereto.

     “QPAM Exemption” means Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-14 issued by the United
States Department of Labor.

B-3

 

     “Required Holders” means, at any time, the Holders of more than 50% in principal amount of the
Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its
Affiliates).

     “Responsible Officer” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Company
with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this Agreement.

     “Securities” has the meaning set forth in the Collateral Trust Indenture.

     “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

     “Security Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Mortgage Indenture, the Supplement to
Mortgage Indenture, the Pledged Bonds and any and all additional security documents and all
financing statements, assignments, pledges, lien entry forms, notices, documents and other writings
executed and delivered from time to time in favor of the Trustee, for the equal and ratable benefit
of the holders of the Notes and the other Holders of the outstanding Securities, in order to secure
the obligations of the Company under and in respect of such outstanding Securities and any and all
amendments, supplements and other modifications thereto.

     “Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer,
treasurer or controller of the Company.

     “Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture” is defined in Section 2.2 hereto.

     “Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company which constitutes a “significant
subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the rules and regulations of the
Securities Act.

     “Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity in
which such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its
Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting interests to enable it or them (as a group)
ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or Persons
performing similar functions) of such entity, and any partnership or joint venture if more than a
50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such Person or one or more of its
Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership or joint
venture can and does ordinarily take major business actions without the prior approval of such
Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries). Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any
reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.

     “Supplement to Mortgage Indenture” is defined in Section 2.2 hereto.

B-4

 

Financial Statements

     Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2005

Schedule 5.5.

(to Note Purchase Agreement)

 

 

Licenses, Permits, Etc.

None

Schedule 5.11

(to Note Purchase Agreement)

 

 

Liens

None

Schedule 5.15

(to Note Purchase Agreement)<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                            LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
                       NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                        GRANT NUMBER N <<OPTION NUMBER>>

         THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into on this <<DAY>> day of
<<MONTH>>, <<YEAR>>, by and between LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (the
"Corporation"), and <<OPTIONEE>> (the "Optionee"), in connection with the grant
of an Option under the LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") that was made on <<DATE OF GRANT>> (the "Date of Grant").

         The Corporation established the Plan effective November 5, 1998. The
Optionee is an employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and is
eligible to receive this option under the terms of the Plan. The Corporation
desires to encourage the Optionee to own Stock for the purposes stated in
Article 1 of the Plan. The Corporation intends that the Option to acquire common
stock of the Corporation granted to the Optionee pursuant to this Agreement be
treated as an Nonqualified Option under the Plan. In consideration of the
foregoing, the parties have entered into this Agreement to govern the terms of
the Option granted by the Corporation pursuant to the authority specified under
the Plan:

         1. Grant of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Corporation has granted to Optionee an Option to purchase from the
Corporation <<SHARES>> shares of Stock at a price of <<PRICE>> per share. This
price is subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.2 of the Plan. This
Option expires at the close of business on <<EXPIRATION DATE>>, unless it
expires sooner pursuant to Paragraph 6. Upon expiration, the Option (to the
extent not previously exercised) shall be cancelled and shall be of no further
force or effect. Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 6 or in the Plan,
this Option is exercisable at any time prior to the date it expires with respect
to the number of shares of Stock shown in the schedule below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   On and After                   Shares Subject to Exercise
                   ------------                   --------------------------
<S>                                             <C>
                 <<VEST DATE 1>>                      <<SHARE 1>> SHARES
                 <<VEST DATE 2>>                ADDITIONAL <<SHARE 2>> SHARES
                 <<VEST DATE 3>>                ADDITIONAL <<SHARE 3>> SHARES
                 <<VEST DATE 4>>                ADDITIONAL <<SHARE 4>> SHARES
</TABLE>

         2. Method of Exercise. The exercise of this Option is subject to the
Optionee's execution of a written shareholders agreement that generally applies
to some or all of the shareholders of the Corporation, payment of the exercise
price stated in Paragraph 1, and making arrangement for any required tax
withholdings in a method that is acceptable to the Corporation or the Committee.
Payment of the exercise price for the Option Shares shall be made (i) in cash or
by cash equivalent, (ii) by delivery of Common Stock that has been held by the
Optionee for at least six months, (iii) with the assistance of a broker
(reasonably acceptable to the Corporation) through a credit transaction
involving Shares to be acquired on exercise, as permitted under Regulation T of
the Federal Reserve Board, or (iv) by a combination of the foregoing. In
addition, at the time of exercise, as a condition of delivery of the Option
Shares, the Optionee shall remit to the

<PAGE>

Corporation all required federal, state and local withholding tax amounts in any
manner permitted for the payment of the exercise price as provided above. The
Optionee may exercise this Option in whole or in part, from time to time, with
respect to the number of whole shares of Stock that can be purchased at such
time in accordance with Paragraph 1, by actual delivery of written notice to the
Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with procedures that are established
from time to time by the Committee. Information regarding such procedures shall
be made available to the Optionee upon request.

         3. Restriction on Transfer of Option. The Option may not be
transferred, pledged, assigned, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of in any way
by the Optionee, except by (i) will or by the laws of descent and distribution
or (ii) to a "family member" (as defined below), provided that such transfer is
made for estate planning, tax planning, donative purposes or pursuant to a
domestic relations order, and no consideration (other than nominal
consideration) is received by the Optionee. In the event an Optionee becomes
legally incapacitated, the Option shall be exercisable by his legal guardian,
committee or legal representative. If the Optionee dies, the Option shall
thereafter be exercisable by the Optionee's executors or administrators. The
Option shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any
attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of
the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution,
attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null and void and
without effect.

                  (a) For purposes hereof, a "family member" shall mean any
child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former
spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive
relationships, any person sharing the employee's household (other than a tenant
or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the
beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the employee)
control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons
(or the employee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests.

                  (b) No transfer of an Option by the Optionee by will or by
laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind the Corporation
unless the Corporation shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and
an authenticated copy of the will and/or such other evidence as the Board may
deem necessary to establish the validity of the transfer. During the lifetime of
an Optionee, except as provided above, the Option shall be exercisable only by
the Optionee, except that, in the case of an Optionee who is legally
incapacitated, the Option shall be exercisable by the Optionee's guardian or
legal representative. In the event of any transfer of an Option to a family
member in accordance with the provisions of this Paragraph 3, such family member
shall thereafter have all rights that would otherwise be held by such Optionee
(or by such Optionee's guardian, legal representative or beneficiary), except as
otherwise provided herein. The Option shall not be subject to execution,
attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge,
hypothecation or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions
hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the
Option, shall be null and void and without effect.

                                       2

<PAGE>

         4. Status of Optionee.

                  (a) The Optionee shall not have any privileges of a
stockholder of the Corporation with respect to any Option Shares subject to (but
not yet acquired upon valid exercise of) the Option, nor shall the Corporation
have any obligation to issue any dividends or otherwise afford, with respect to
such Option Shares, any rights to which holders of Common Stock are entitled,
until the date of the issuance to the Optionee of a stock certificate evidencing
such shares.

                  (b) Nothing in this Award Agreement or the Option shall confer
upon the Optionee any right to continue as an employee of the Corporation or to
interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation to terminate the
Optionee's employment at any time.

         5. Adjustments. If at any time while the Option is outstanding, there
shall occur any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split,
reverse stock split, or other distribution with respect to the shares of Common
Stock, or other change the Corporation's capital or debt structure affecting the
Common Stock, including merger, consolidation, conveyance of any or all assets,
dissolution, liquidation, windup or other reorganization, the number and kind of
Option Shares and/or the exercise price of such Option Shares shall be adjusted
in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

         6. Termination of Service. If Optionee's employment with the
Corporation (including any parent or subsidiary, as defined under section 424 of
the Code) is terminated for any reason prior to the occurrence of any otherwise
applicable vesting date provided in Paragraph 1, the Optionee shall forfeit his
interest in the Option to the extent that it has not yet become vested and
exercisable, but shall have the right to exercise the vested portion of the
Option until the expiration of the Option Term or, if sooner, through the
appropriate period specified below:

                  (a) If Optionee's employment is terminated for any reason
other than cause (as defined below), death, Disability (as defined below) or
retirement (as defined below), the Optionee shall retain the right to exercise
the Option, to the extent exercisable on the date of such termination, for three
months after the effective date of such termination, and thereupon the Option
shall expire.

                  (b) If Optionee's employment is terminated due to death or
Disability (as defined below), the Optionee shall retain the right to exercise
the Option, to the extent exercisable on the date of such termination, for one
year after the effective date of such termination of service, and thereupon the
Option shall expire. For purposes hereof, "Disability" shall mean the inability
of the Optionee, after reasonable accommodation, to perform Optionee's required
duties for a period equal to or in excess of the waiting period under the
Corporation's long term disability insurance policy, as determined in good faith
by the Board.

                  (c) In the event the Optionee's employment shall terminate by
retirement (i.e., termination after the Optionee has attained age 65, or has
attained age 55 with 10 years of service), the Option may be exercised within 36
months after the Optionee's retirement, to the extent exercisable on the date of
Option's retirement, and thereupon the Option shall expire.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                  (d) If Optionee's service as an employee is terminated by the
Corporation for Cause (as defined below), any Option that is vested as of such
termination date shall remain exercisable for 30 calendar days following such
termination. For purposes hereof, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the conviction of the
Optionee of a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof,
whether or not appeal is taken, as determined by the Board of Directors in good
faith; (ii) the conviction of the Optionee for a violation of criminal law
involving the Corporation and its business that materially damages the
Corporation as determined by the Board in good faith; (iii) the willful
misconduct of the Optionee, or the willful or continued failure by the Optionee
(except in the case of a Disability) to substantially perform his duties
hereunder, in either case which has a material adverse effect on the Corporation
as determined by the Board in good faith; (iv) the willful fraud or material
dishonesty of the Optionee in connection with the performance of the Optionee's
duties to the Corporation and involving the finances of the Corporation as
determined by the Board in good faith; (v) the Optionee's repeated use of
alcohol in a manner which in the opinion of the Board materially impairs the
ability of the Optionee to effectively perform the Optionee's duties and
obligations owed to the Corporation, or the illegal use, possession, or sale of,
or impaired performance due to the illegal use of, controlled substances; or
(vi) a violation of the Corporation's policies on sexual or other illegal
harassment of a Corporation employee by the Optionee as determined by the Board
in good faith; provided, however, in no event shall the Optionee's employment be
considered to have been terminated for "Cause" unless and until the Optionee
receives written notice from the Corporation stating the acts or omissions
constituting Cause and the Optionee has the opportunity to cure to the
Corporation's satisfaction any such acts or omissions (in the case of (iii), (v)
or (vi) above) within 30 days of the Optionee's receipt of such notice.

         7. Investment Representation. Upon the exercise of the Option at a time
when there is not in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933 relating to the Option Shares, the Optionee hereby represents and warrants,
and by virtue of such exercise shall be deemed to represent and warrant, to the
Corporation that the Option Shares shall be acquired for investment and not with
a view to the distribution thereof, and not with any present intention of
distributing the same, and the Optionee shall provide the Corporation with such
further representations and warranties as the Corporation may require in order
to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state securities, blue sky and
other laws. No Option Shares shall be purchased upon the exercise of the Option
unless and until the Corporation and/or the Optionee shall have complied with
all applicable federal or state registration, listing and/or qualification
requirements and all other requirements of law or of any regulatory agencies
having jurisdiction, unless the Committee has received evidence satisfactory to
it that the Optionee may acquire such shares pursuant to an exemption from
registration under the applicable securities laws. Any determination in this
connection by the Committee shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The
Corporation reserves the right to legend any certificate for shares of Common
Stock, conditioning sales of such shares upon compliance with applicable federal
and state securities laws and regulations.

         8. Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, as
defined in Section 12.2 of the Plan, this Option shall be subject to the
following, notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained in Section 12.1 of
the Plan:

                                       4
<PAGE>

                  (a) In the event that any surviving corporation or entity or
acquiring corporation or entity in a Change in Control, or affiliate of such
corporation or entity, assumes this Option at the time of the Change in Control,
or substitutes Awards with similar stock awards (including an award to acquire
the same consideration paid to the stockholders in the transaction described in
Section 12 for those outstanding under the Plan), and the employment of the
Participant is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason within 18 months
after the effective date of the Change in Control event, this Option shall
become fully vested and exercisable to the extent not previously forfeited. The
terms "Cause" and "Good Reason" shall have the same meanings as the same or
similar terms in any written employment agreement between the Participant and
the Corporation or Subsidiary. In the absence of such a written agreement, such
terms shall be defined as follows for purposes of this Paragraph 8:

                           (1) "Cause" means involuntary termination of
                   employment due to: (i) conviction of a crime of moral
                   turpitude that adversely affects the reasonable business
                   interests of the Corporation, (ii) commission of an act of
                   fraud, embezzlement, or material dishonesty against the
                   Corporation or any Subsidiary, or (iii) intentional neglect
                   of the responsibilities of employment, and such neglect
                   remains uncorrected for more than 30 days following written
                   notice from the Corporation detailing the acts of neglect.

                           (2) "Good Reason" means voluntary termination of
                  employment by the Participant because the terms of employment
                  are modified so that the position is not substantially
                  equivalent to the position held immediately prior to the time
                  of the Change in Control. A position is "substantially
                  equivalent" if it is the same or better than the position to
                  which it is being compared. A position is not substantially
                  equivalent unless (i) the cash compensation offered is the
                  same or higher than that earned immediately prior to the
                  Change in Control, (ii) deferred compensation, incentive and
                  equity compensation, and health and welfare benefits are, in
                  the aggregate, similar to those provided immediately prior to
                  the Change in Control, and (iii) the position does not require
                  the Participant to relocate or to commute more than 30 miles
                  each way to the place of employment. The Participant's right
                  to voluntarily terminate employment for "Good Reason" expires
                  180 days after beginning employment in the position that is
                  not "substantially equivalent" to the Participant's prior
                  position.

                  (b) In the event that this Option is not assumed as a result
of the Change in Control, as provided in Paragraph 8(a), then (i) this Options
shall, immediately prior to the Change in Control event, become fully vested to
the extent not previously forfeited and, to the extent not exercised, shall be
terminated upon the completion of the transaction that is the Change in Control
event.

                  (c) Notwithstanding the provisions herein regarding the
acceleration of the right to exercise this Option upon a Change in Control, a
portion of the acceleration of vesting described in this Paragraph 8 shall not
occur with respect to this Option to the extent such acceleration of vesting
would cause the Optionee or holder of such Option to realize less income, net of
taxes, after deducting the amount of excise taxes that would be imposed pursuant
to

                                       5
<PAGE>

section 4999 of the Code, than if accelerated vesting of that portion of the
Option did not occur. This limitation shall not apply to the extent that the
shareholders of the Corporation or the acquirer approve the acceleration of
vesting hereunder in a manner that satisfies section 280G(b)(5)(B) of the Code,
or to the extent that the Optionee is a party to an agreement in which the
Optionee is fully indemnified or otherwise held harmless for the taxes that
result from section 4999 of the Code.

                  (d) Except as modified by this Paragraph 8, the provisions of
Article 12 of the Plan shall otherwise apply to this Option upon the occurrence
of a Change in Control.

         9. Committee Authority. Any question concerning the interpretation of
this Agreement, any adjustments required to be made under the Plan and any
controversy that may arise under the Plan or this Agreement shall be determined
by the Committee in its sole discretion. Such decision by the Committee shall be
final and binding.

         10. Plan Controls. The terms of this Agreement are governed by the
terms of the Plan, as it exists on the date of this Agreement and as the Plan is
amended from time to time. A copy of the Plan, and any amendments thereto, has
been delivered or made available to the Optionee and shall be deemed to be a
part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of the Agreement and the provisions of the Plan,
the terms of the Plan shall control, except as expressly stated otherwise. For
purposes of this Agreement, the defined terms in the Plan shall have the same
meaning in this Agreement, except where the context otherwise requires. The
terms "Article" or "Section" generally refer to provisions within the Plan. The
term "Paragraph" generally refers to a provision of this Agreement.

         11. Notices. Any notice hereunder by the Optionee shall be given to the
Corporation in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly given only upon
receipt thereof at the Corporation's office at 103 Powell Court, Suite 200,
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, or at such other address as the Corporation may
designate by notice to the Optionee. Any notice hereunder by the Corporation
shall be given to the Optionee in writing and such notice shall be deemed duly
given only upon receipt thereof at such address as the Optionee may have on file
with the Corporation.

         12. Information Confidential. As partial consideration for granting of
this Option, the Optionee agrees that he or she will keep confidential all
information and knowledge that the Optionee has relating to the manner and
amount of his or her participation in the Plan; provided, however, that such
information may be disclosed as required by law and may be given in confidence
to the Optionee's spouse, tax and financial advisors, or to a financial
institution to the extent that such information is necessary to secure a loan.

         13. Governing Law. This Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to
the choice of law principles thereof.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be
executed and the Participant has set his hand hereto, to be effective on the
Date of Grant of the Option, as defined herein.

                                       LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.

                                       By:
                                              -----------------------------

                                       Title:
                                              -----------------------------

                                       OPTIONEE

                                       ------------------------------------
                                       <<OPTIONEE>>

                                       7

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