Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.1
CFO CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS CFO CONSULTING AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and effective as of August 3, 2016 (the "Effective Date"), by and between General Cable Corporation (the "Company"), and Kreidler Advisory Services LLC ("Consultant").
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain Consultant to act as the Company's interim principal financial officer (as defined in the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), and Consultant desires to serve in that capacity;
WHEREAS, in that role Consultant will serve as the Company's Interim Chief Financial Officer and will perform all functions related thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and obligations herein, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1.             Consulting Services.  
     (a)      During the term of this Agreement, Consultant will provide the Services (as defined below), as the Company's Interim Chief Financial Officer.  The Services under this Agreement will all be performed by Robert C. Kreidler and may not be delegated to other persons, including other employees of Consultant.  Consultant will provide the Services a minimum of three (3) full business days per week, working at least three (3) business days per work week at the Company's headquarters in Highland Heights, KY, or occasionally at such other locations designated by Company as business needs may dictate.  Consultant's exact schedule and the days on which he works will be mutually agreed upon by him and the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).  The Consultant will perform all duties and fulfill the responsibilities typically completed or required of a Chief Financial Officer of a public company in the United States, including, but not limited to, oversight of the Company's accounting and finance organization (including Treasury and Tax functions), financial and accounting compliance functions, preparing the Company's financial statements and signing the Company's reports to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (for instance on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K), communicating with shareholders, assisting in financing or other strategic transactions, coordinating with the Company’s independent public accountants with respect to quarterly reviews and annual audits, coordinating with the Chairman of the Audit Committee and providing all information necessary, appropriate or required for the Audit Committee, and such other duties reasonably requested by the Company’s corporate officers or Board of Directors, consistent with the position of Chief Financial Officer (the “Services”).  Consultant shall exercise reasonable skill and care in providing the Services hereunder, and shall perform the Services in a professional manner, consistent with industry standards. 
     (b)       If and to the extent requested by the Company’s CEO or Board of Directors, following the termination of this Agreement, Consultant will provide such assistance and certifications as may be requested or necessary in order to enable the Company to make timely filing of its next succeeding quarterly or annual report on Form 10-Q or 10-K, respectively, required to be filed by the Company following the termination of this Agreement.  To the extent that Consultant is requested to provide such assistance and certifications, Consultant shall be compensated at the same rate as for the Services as described herein, pro-rated based on the time spent in so doing, and for purposes of this Agreement, such additional assistance and services shall be deemed to be part of the Services hereunder.  
     (c)      Consultant will report directly to the CEO, and/or to any other party designated by the CEO.  Consultant's Services will begin the week of August 8, 2016.
2.             Consultant's Fees and Expenses.   
(a)      During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay Consultant a fee of $25,000 for each full week that Consultant provides Services. Payments for Services shall be made to Consultant on a bi-weekly basis within 

one week after the receipt of an invoice from the Consultant.  With regard to any partial weeks, Consultant shall be paid a pro-rata fee based on a 24-hour work week.
(b)      During the term of this Agreement, Consultant shall bill and the Company shall reimburse the Consultant for all reasonable and approved out-of-pocket expenses which are incurred in connection with the performance of the Services hereunder, including, but not limited to, commuting and housing costs each week, consistent with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy.
(c)      The Consultant is solely responsible for the payment of all income, social security, employment-related, or other taxes incurred as a result of the performance of the Services by Consultant under this Agreement and for all obligations, reports, and timely notifications relating to such taxes. The Company shall have no obligation to pay or withhold any sums for such taxes.
3.    Term & Termination.   This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until terminated as set forth below. 
     (a)      Termination for Convenience.  Consultant may terminate this Agreement at any time for any or for no reason by giving the Company thirty (30) days' prior written notice of termination; the Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for any or for no reason by giving Consultant five (5) days’ prior written notice of termination.
     (b)      Termination for Cause.  The Company may immediately terminate Consultant’s engagement for Cause upon written notice of termination to Consultant, with the particular Cause being specified in such notice.   “Cause” means any of the following in the Company's judgment: (a) Consultant’s conduct, failure or omission which has, or may have, an adverse effect on the Company; (b) Consultant’s act or acts amounting to gross negligence or willful misconduct to the detriment of the Company; (c) Consultant’s fraud or embezzlement of funds or property; or (d) Consultant’s breach of any covenant or agreement in Section 4 or 5 of this Agreement. 
4.    Work Product.  All Work Product (defined below) shall be work made for hire by Consultant and owned by the Company.   If any of the Work Product may not, by operation of law or otherwise, be considered work made for hire by Consultant for the Company, or if ownership of all right, title, and interest to the legal rights therein shall not otherwise vest exclusively in the Company, Consultant hereby assigns to the Company, and upon the future creation thereof automatically assign to the Company, without further consideration, the ownership of all Work Product.  The Company shall have the right to obtain and hold in its own name copyrights, patents, registrations, and any other protection available in the Work Product.  Consultant agrees to perform, during or after termination of Consultant’s engagement, such further acts as may be necessary or desirable to transfer, perfect, and defend the Company’s ownership of the Work Product as requested by the Company.   For purposes of this letter, “Work Product” means the data, materials, formulas, research, documentation, computer programs, communication systems, audio systems, system designs, inventions (whether or not patentable), and all works of authorship, including all worldwide rights therein under patent, copyright, trade secret, confidential information, moral rights and other property rights, created or developed in whole or in part by Consultant, while engaged by the Company and its affiliates, within the scope of Consultant’s engagement or that otherwise relates in any manner to the business or projected business of the Company and its affiliates.
5.    Confidentiality/ Non-Disparagement/ Non-Solicitation/ Non-Competition/ Company Policies. 
(a)    The Consultant acknowledges that during the engagement he will have access to and become acquainted with various confidential or proprietary information, including pending or potential transactions, financial information concerning the Company, its business plans, personnel and strategies, trade secrets, inventions, innovations, processes, information, records and specifications owned or licensed by the Company and/or used by the Company in connection with the operation of its business including, without limitation, the Company’s business and product processes, methods, customer lists, accounts and procedures. The Consultant agrees that Consultant will not disclose any of the aforesaid confidential or proprietary information, directly or indirectly, or use any of them in any manner, either during the term of this Agreement or at any time thereafter, except as required in the course of this engagement with the Company.  To the extent permitted by law and subject to Section 10 below, upon receipt of any subpoena, 

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court order, or other legal process compelling the disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, Consultant agrees to give prompt written notice to the Company so as to permit the Company to protect its interests in confidentiality to the fullest extent possible.  All files, records, documents, blueprints, specifications, information, letters, notes, media lists, original artwork/creative, notebooks, and similar items relating to the business of the Company, whether prepared by the Consultant or otherwise coming into Consultant’s possession, shall remain the exclusive property of the Company.  Consultant shall not retain any copies of the foregoing without the Company’s prior written permission. Upon the termination of this Agreement, or whenever requested by the Company, Consultant shall immediately deliver to the Company all such files, records, documents, specifications, information, and other items in Consultant’s possession or under Consultant’s control.  
(b)    Consultant agrees that for so long as Consultant is engaged by the Company or any of its affiliates hereunder and for a period of three years after the date Consultant ceases to be engaged by the Company and its affiliates for any reason, Consultant will not disparage the Company or its officers, directors, or affiliates in any way, or through any medium. Consultant agrees to provide full cooperation and assistance in assisting the Company to investigate such statements if the Company reasonably believes that Consultant is the source of any such statements.  The foregoing shall not apply to statutorily privileged statements made to governmental or law enforcement agencies. 
(c)    Consultant agrees that for so long as Consultant is engaged by the Company or any of its affiliates hereunder and for a period of 12 months after the date Consultant ceases to be engaged by the Company and its affiliates for any reason, neither Consultant nor any company or other entity controlled by Consultant (whether currently existing or hereafter acquired or formed) shall, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, (i) solicit or induce, or attempt to solicit or induce, any person who accepts employment with the Company and its affiliates to leave the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates for any reason whatsoever, or (ii) hire or employ any person who accepts employment with the Company and its affiliates.
(d)    Consultant agrees that for so long as Consultant is engaged by the Company or any of its affiliates hereunder, neither Consultant nor any company or other entity controlled by Consultant (whether currently existing or hereafter acquired or formed) shall, directly or indirectly, in any capacity, engage in any employment or business activity for a company that competes with the business of the Company and its affiliates, in any country in which the Company or any of its affiliates does business.  Consultant agrees that, given the nature of the business of the Company and its affiliates and Consultant’s position, the foregoing geographic scope is appropriate and reasonable.
(e)    Consultant agrees that Consultant will comply with the Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and Insider Trading Policy, and Consultant will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations in the performance of the Services.
6.     Conflicts of Interest. The Consultant represents that Consultant is free to enter into this Agreement and that this engagement does not violate the terms of any agreement between the Consultant and any third party. Further, the Consultant, in rendering Consultant’s duties, shall not utilize any invention, discovery, development, improvement, innovation, or trade secret in which Consultant does not have a proprietary interest. 
7.    Indemnification and D&O Insurance. The Company agrees to defend, indemnify (including, without limitation, by providing for the advancement of expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and hold harmless Consultant for any and all acts taken or omitted to be taken by Consultant hereunder (except for bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct) as if Consultant was an officer of the Company to the extent provided in the charter and bylaws of the Company in accordance with the same terms, conditions, limitations, standards, duties, rights and obligations as are applicable to an officer. The provisions of this Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
8.    Independent Consultant. This Agreement shall not render Consultant an employee, partner, agent of, or joint venturer with the Company for any purpose. Consultant is and will remain an independent contractor in his relationship to the Company. The Company shall not be responsible for withholding taxes with respect to the Consultant’s compensation hereunder.  Consultant shall have no claim against the Company hereunder or otherwise for vacation pay, sick leave, retirement benefits, social security, worker’s compensation, health or disability benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, or employee benefits of any kind.

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9.    Remedies. Consultant acknowledges that breach of the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 would result in irreparable injury and permanent damage to the Company and its affiliates, which prohibitions or restrictions Consultant acknowledges are both reasonable and necessary under the circumstances, singularly and in the aggregate, to protect the interests of the Company and its affiliates.  Consultant recognizes and agrees that the ascertainment of damages in the event of a breach of Sections 4 and 5 would be difficult, and that money damages alone would be an inadequate remedy for the injuries and damages that would be suffered by the Company and its affiliates from breach by Consultant.  Consultant therefore agrees: (i) that, in the event of a breach of Sections 4 or 5,  the Company, in addition to and without limiting any of the remedies or rights that it may have at law or in equity or pursuant to this Agreement, shall have the right to injunctive relief or other similar remedy to specifically enforce the provisions hereof; and (ii) to waive and not to (A) assert any defense to the effect that the Company has an adequate remedy at law with respect to any such breach, (B) require that the Company submit proof of the economic value of any trade secret, or (C) require that the Company post a bond or any other security.  Nothing contained herein shall preclude the Company from seeking monetary damages of any kind, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and other expenses, in a court of law.  Consultant and the Company agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Campbell County, KY for all matters arising under this Agreement.  
10.    Reports to Government Entities. Nothing in this Agreement shall restrict or prohibit Consultant from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General (collectively, the “Regulators”), or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation.  Please take notice that federal law provides criminal and civil immunity to federal and state claims for trade secret misappropriation to individuals who disclose a trade secret to their attorney, a court, or a government official in certain, confidential circumstances that are set forth at 18 U.S.C. §§ 1833(b)(1) and 1833(b)(2), related to the reporting or investigation of a suspected violation of the law, or in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of the law.  Consultant does not need the prior authorization of the Company to engage in such communications with the Regulators, respond to such inquiries from the Regulators, provide confidential information or documents to the Regulators, or make any such reports or disclosures to the Regulators.  Consultant is not required to notify the Company that Consultant has engaged in such communications with the Regulators.
11.    Successors and Assigns.  All of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, if any, successors, and permitted assigns.
12.    Choice of Law. The laws of the state of Kentucky shall govern the validity of this Agreement, the construction of its terms and the interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties hereto.  
13.    Arbitration. Except as provided in Section 9, any controversies arising out of the terms of this Agreement or its interpretation shall be settled in Campbell County, KY in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, and the judgment upon award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.  
14.    Headings. Section headings are not to be considered a part of this Agreement and are not intended to be a full and accurate description of the contents hereof.
15.    Waiver. Waiver by one party hereto of breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other shall not operate or be construed as a continuing waiver.
16.    Assignment. The Consultant shall not assign any of his rights under this Agreement, or delegate the performance of any of his duties hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Company.
17.    Notices. Any and all notices, demands, or other communications required or desired to be given hereunder by any party shall be in writing and shall be validly given or made to another party if personally served, or if deposited 

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in the United States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. If such notice or demand is served personally, notice shall be deemed constructively made at the time of such personal service. If such notice, demand or other communication is given by mail, such notice shall be conclusively deemed given five days after deposit thereof in the United States mail addressed to the party to whom such notice, demand or other communication is to be given as follows:
	
		
	If to the Consultant:
	Kreidler Advisory Services

	 
	Robert C. Kreidler

	 
	1760 Tamarack Trail

	 
	Skaneateles, NY  13152

	 
	 

	If to the Company:
	General Cable Corporation

	 
	Attention: SVP & General Counsel

	 
	4 Tesseneer Rd.

	 
	Highland Heights, KY 41076

Any party hereto may change its address for purposes of this paragraph by written notice given in the manner provided above.
18.    Modification or Amendment. No amendment, change or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing signed by the parties hereto.
19.    Entire Understanding. This document and any exhibit attached constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties, and any and all prior agreements, understandings, and representations are hereby terminated and canceled in their entirety and are of no further force and effect.
20.    Unenforceability of Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, is held to be invalid and unenforceable, then the remainder of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.
21.    Survival.  The covenants and agreements of the Consultant contained Sections 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13 above shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above. The parties hereto agree that facsimile signatures shall be as effective as if originals.
 
	
					
	General Cable Corporation
	 
	Kreidler Advisory Services

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	By:
	/s/ Michael T. McDonnell
	 
	By:
	/s/ Robert C. Kreidler

	 
	Michael T. McDonnell
	 
	 
	Robert C. Kreidler

	Title:
	President and CEO
	 
	Title:
	Principal

                    

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE BY ROBERT C. KREIDLER
The undersigned acknowledges that he will be performing the Services described in the foregoing Agreement for Kreidler Advisory Services LLC and, as a result, he hereby agrees, in his individual capacity, to all of the covenants and agreements contained in the Agreement, and all references to covenants and agreements by “Consultant” in the Agreement shall include the undersigned individually.
	
		
	/s/ Robert C. Kreidler
	 

	Robert C. Kreidler
	 

	 
	 

6Exhibit 4.1

 

THIRTY-FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 dated as of November 3, 2016

 

This Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the 3rd day of November, 2016 between CMS Energy Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (hereinafter called the “Issuer”) and having its principal office at One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation (hereinafter called the “Trustee”) and having its Corporate Trust Office at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Trustee (ultimate successor to NBD Bank, National Association) entered into an Indenture, dated as of September 15, 1992 (the “Original Indenture”), pursuant to which one or more series of debt securities of the Issuer (the “Securities”) may be issued from time to time; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 2.3 of the Original Indenture permits the terms of any series of Securities to be established in an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 8.1(e) of the Original Indenture provides that a supplemental indenture may be entered into by the Issuer and the Trustee without the consent of any Holders (as defined in the Original Indenture) of the Securities to establish the form and terms of the Securities of any series; and

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has requested the Trustee to join with it in the execution and delivery of this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture in order to supplement and amend the Original Indenture by, among other things, establishing the form and terms of a series of Securities to be known as the Issuer’s “2.95% Senior Notes due 2027” (the “New Notes”), providing for the issuance of the New Notes and amending and adding certain provisions thereof for the benefit of the Holders of the New Notes; and

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Trustee desire to enter into this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture for the purposes set forth in Section 2.3 and Section 8.1(e) of the Original Indenture as referred to above; and

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has furnished the Trustee with a copy of the resolutions of its Board of Directors certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary authorizing the execution of this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Issuer and the Trustee and a valid supplement to the Original Indenture have been done;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the New Notes to be issued hereunder by Holders thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the New Notes, as follows:

 

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ARTICLE I
 STANDARD PROVISIONS; DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01.  Standard Provisions.  The Original Indenture together with this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture and all previous indentures supplemental thereto entered into pursuant to the applicable terms thereof are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Indenture.”  All capitalized terms which are used herein and not otherwise defined herein are defined in the Original Indenture and are used herein with the same meanings as in the Original Indenture.

 

SECTION 1.02.  Definitions.

 

(a)           The following terms have the meanings set forth in the Sections hereof set forth below:

 

	
Term
    	
 
    	
Section
    
	
Applicable Premium
    	
 
    	
2.04
    
	
Depositary
    	
 
    	
Article VIII
    
	
DTC
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
Events of Default
    	
 
    	
5.01
    
	
Global Note
    	
 
    	
Article VIII
    
	
Indenture
    	
 
    	
1.01; 2.04
    
	
Interest Payment Date
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
Issuer
    	
 
    	
Preamble; 2.03
    
	
Lien
    	
 
    	
3.02
    
	
New Notes
    	
 
    	
Recitals; 2.04
    
	
Original Indenture
    	
 
    	
Recitals
    
	
Original Issue Date
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
Par Call Date
    	
 
    	
2.04
    
	
Place of Payment
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
Record Date
    	
 
    	
2.03
    
	
Securities
    	
 
    	
Recitals
    
	
Stated Maturity
    	
 
    	
2.01(a); 2.03
    
	
Treasury Rate
    	
 
    	
2.04
    
	
Trustee
    	
 
    	
Preamble; 2.04
    

 

(b)           Section 1.1 of the Original Indenture is amended to insert the new definitions solely applicable to the New Notes and to replace, solely with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), any existing definitions (as applicable) in the Original Indenture, in the appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:

 

“Business Day” means any day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are not authorized or required by law or regulation to close.

 

“Capital Lease Obligation” of a Person means any obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on the face of a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; the amount of such

 

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obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty; and such obligation shall be deemed secured by a Lien on any property or assets to which such lease relates.

 

“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) corporate stock, including any Preferred Stock or Letter Stock.

 

“Consolidated Assets” means, at any date of determination, the aggregate assets of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, for any period, the aggregate amount of liabilities of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after (i) eliminating all inter-company items between the Issuer and any Consolidated Subsidiary and (ii) deducting all current maturities of long-term Indebtedness, all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, for any period, the total amount of assets (less accumulated depreciation or amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) as set forth on the most recently available quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and after giving effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom, to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of: (i) Consolidated Current Liabilities; (ii) minority interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; (iii) excess of cost over fair value of assets of businesses acquired, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors as evidenced by resolutions of the Board of Directors; (iv) any revaluation or other write-up in value of assets subsequent to December 31, 1996, as a result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (v) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items; (vi) treasury stock; and (vii) any cash set apart and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current Liabilities.

 

“Consolidated Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary whose accounts are or are required to be consolidated with the accounts of the Issuer in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Consumers” means Consumers Energy Company, a Michigan corporation and wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

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“Enterprises” means CMS Enterprises Company, a Michigan corporation and wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Issuer.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor legislation.

 

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication:

 

(i)            the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;

 

(ii)           all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(iii)          all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);

 

(iv)          all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, bankers’ acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (i) through (iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit);

 

(v)           all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and

 

(vi)          all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured.

 

“Letter Stock”, as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is intended to reflect the separate performance of certain of the businesses or operations conducted by such corporation or any of its subsidiaries.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Issuer to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the New Notes on behalf of the Issuer.  Initially, the Paying Agent shall be the Trustee.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

 

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“Predecessor New Note” of any particular New Note means every previous New Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular New Note; and, for the purposes of the definition, any New Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.9 of the Original Indenture in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen New Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen New Note.

 

“Preferred Stock”, as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) that is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (other than Consumers and its Subsidiaries) of the Issuer which, as of the date of the Issuer’s most recent quarterly consolidated balance sheet, constituted at least 10% of the total Consolidated Assets of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and any other Subsidiary which from time to time is designated a Restricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors; provided that no Subsidiary may be designated a Restricted Subsidiary if, immediately after giving effect thereto, an Event of Default or event that, with the lapse of time or giving of notice or both, would constitute an Event of Default would exist, and (i) any such Subsidiary so designated as a Restricted Subsidiary must be organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, (ii) more than 80% of the Voting Stock of such Subsidiary must be owned of record and beneficially by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) such Restricted Subsidiary must be a Consolidated Subsidiary.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor legislation.

 

“Support Obligations” means, for any Person, without duplication, any financial obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or otherwise supporting any debt or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such debt, (ii) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such debt of the payment of such debt, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital, available cash or other financial statement condition of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such debt, (iv) to provide equity capital under or in respect of equity subscription arrangements (to the extent that such obligation to provide equity capital does not otherwise constitute debt), or (v) to perform, or arrange for the performance of, any non-monetary obligations or non-funded debt payment obligations of the primary obligor.

 

“Voting Stock” means securities of any class or classes the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for corporate directors (or persons performing similar functions).

 

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ARTICLE II
 DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE NEW NOTES; FORMS

 

SECTION 2.01.  Establishment of Series.

 

(a)           There is hereby created a series of Securities to be known and designated as the “2.95% Senior Notes due 2027” to be issued in aggregate principal amount of $275,000,000.  Additional Securities, without limitation as to amount, having substantially the same terms as the New Notes (except a different issue date, a different issue price and bearing interest from the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the New Notes, and, if no interest has been paid, from November 3, 2016), may also be issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture without the consent of the existing Holders of the New Notes; provided, that such additional Securities must be part of the same issue as the New Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes or, if they are not part of the same issue for such purposes, such additional Securities must be issued with a separate CUSIP number.  Such additional Securities shall be part of the same series as the New Notes.  The “Stated Maturity” of the New Notes is February 15, 2027; the principal amount of the New Notes shall be payable on such date unless the New Notes are earlier redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

(b)           The New Notes will bear interest from the Original Issue Date, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, at the rate of 2.95% per annum stated therein until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment.  Interest will be payable semi-annually on each Interest Payment Date and at Maturity, as provided in the form of the New Note in Section 2.03 and Section 2.04 hereof.

 

(c)           The Record Date referred to in Section 2.3(f)(4) of the Original Indenture for the payment of the interest on any New Note payable on any Interest Payment Date (other than on the Stated Maturity) shall be the February 1 and August 1 next preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) except that interest payable on the Stated Maturity shall be paid to the Person to whom the principal amount is paid.

 

(d)           The payment of the principal of, and premium (if any) and interest on, the New Notes shall not be secured by a security interest in any property.

 

(e)           The New Notes shall be redeemable at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such New Notes being redeemed plus, in the case of any redemption prior to the Par Call Date (as defined in Section 2.04 hereof), the Applicable Premium, if any, thereon at the time of redemption, together with (at any time) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the redemption date.  In no event will the redemption price ever be less than 100% of the principal amount of the New Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the redemption date.  Notwithstanding Section 11.2 of the Indenture, notice of the foregoing redemption occurring prior to the Par Call Date need not set forth the redemption price therefor but only the manner of calculation thereof.  The Issuer shall give the Trustee notice of the redemption price for any redemption occurring prior to the Par Call Date promptly after the calculation thereof and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.

 

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(f)            The New Notes shall not be convertible.

 

(g)           The New Notes will not be subordinated to the payment of Senior Debt.

 

(h)           The Issuer will not pay any additional amounts on the New Notes held by a Person who is not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in respect of any tax, assessment or government charge withheld or deducted.

 

(i)            The events specified in Events of Default with respect to the New Notes shall include the events specified in Article V hereof.  In addition to the covenants set forth in Article Three of the Original Indenture, the Holders of the New Notes shall have the benefit of the covenants of the Issuer set forth in Article III hereof.  The provisions of Section 9.1 and Section 9.2 of the Original Indenture shall be amended and restated solely with respect to the New Notes as specified in Article IV hereof.

 

(j)            The New Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(k)           The provisions of Article VI, Article VII and Article VIII hereof shall apply to the New Notes as specified therein.

 

SECTION 2.02.  Forms Generally.  The New Notes and Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article II, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such New Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

 

The definitive New Notes shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such New Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

 

SECTION 2.03.  Form of Face of New Note.

 

THIS SECURITY IS A REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY.  THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY.

 

Unless this Global Note is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to CMS Energy Corporation or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name

 

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of a nominee of DTC or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to such nominee of DTC or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof has an interest herein.

 

CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
 2.95% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2027

 

	
No. 1
    	
$275,000,000
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
CUSIP No.: 125896BR0
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ISIN No.: US125896BR00
    	
 
    

 

CMS Energy Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “Issuer”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of Two Hundred Seventy-Five Million Dollars on February 15, 2027 (“Stated Maturity”) and to pay interest thereon from November 3, 2016 (the “Original Issue Date”) or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 in each year, commencing on February 15, 2017 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), to the Persons in whose names the New Notes are registered at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the February 1 and August 1 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (each a “Record Date”), and on the Stated Maturity, to the Person to whom the principal amount is paid, at the rate of 2.95% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.  The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this New Note (or one or more Predecessor New Notes) is registered at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a subsequent record date (which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of New Notes not less than 15 calendar days preceding such subsequent Record Date.

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this New Note will be made at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in New York, New York (the “Place of Payment”), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Issuer payment of interest (other than interest payable at Maturity) may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account designated by such Person not later than ten days prior to the date of such payment.

 

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Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this New Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this New Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

 

	
Dated:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Its:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Its:
    	
 
    

 

SECTION 2.04.  Form of Reverse of New Note.

 

This 2.95% Senior Note due 2027 is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer (herein called the “New Notes”), issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of September 15, 1992 (as supplemented by the Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 3, 2016 and as further amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation (ultimate successor to NBD Bank, National Association), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Trustee, and the Holders of the New Notes and of the terms upon which the New Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This New Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, issued in an initial aggregate principal amount of $275,000,000.  Additional Securities, without limitation as to amount, having substantially the same terms as the New Notes (except a different issue date, a different issue price and bearing interest from the last Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the New Notes, and, if no interest has been paid, from November 3, 2016), may also be issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture without the consent of the existing Holders of the New Notes; provided, that such additional Securities must be part of the same issue as the New Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes or, if they are not part of the same issue for such purposes, such additional Securities must be issued with a separate CUSIP number.  Such additional Securities shall be part of the same series as the New Notes.

 

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No sinking fund is provided for the New Notes.

 

The New Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice as provided in the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such New Notes being redeemed plus, in the case of any redemption prior to the Par Call Date (as defined below), the Applicable Premium, if any, thereon at the time of redemption, together with (at any time) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such redemption date will be payable to the Holder of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Date referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.  In no event will the redemption price ever be less than 100% of the principal amount of the New Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the redemption date.

 

The following definitions are used to determine the Applicable Premium:

 

“Par Call Date” means November 15, 2026.

 

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to a New Note (or portion thereof) being redeemed at any time prior to the Par Call Date, the excess of (i) the present value at the redemption date of (A) the principal amount of such New Note (or portion thereof) being redeemed as though such New Note (or portion thereof) matured on the Par Call Date plus (B) all remaining scheduled interest payments on such New Note (or portion thereof) after such redemption date that would be due if such New Note matured on the Par Call Date (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any portion of such payments of interest accrued to such redemption date), which present value shall be computed by the Issuer using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, over (ii) the principal amount of such New Note (or portion thereof) being redeemed at such time.  For purposes of this definition, the present values of the interest and principal payments will be determined in accordance with generally accepted principles of financial analysis.

 

“Treasury Rate” means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the redemption date or, in the case of defeasance, prior to the date of deposit (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the then remaining average life to stated maturity of the New Notes being redeemed (assuming for this purpose that such New Notes matured on the Par Call Date); provided, however, that if the average life to stated maturity of the New Notes being redeemed is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by the Issuer by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given.

 

If less than all of the New Notes are to be redeemed and (i) the New Notes are in global form, interests in the New Notes to be redeemed shall be selected for redemption by DTC in accordance with DTC’s standard procedures therefor and (ii) the New Notes are in definitive

 

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form, the New Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by lot.  Notice of redemption shall be delivered not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Holders of the New Notes to be redeemed (which, as long as the New Notes are held in the book-entry only system, will be DTC (or its nominee) or a successor depositary (or the successor’s nominee)); provided, however, that the failure to duly deliver such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of any proceedings for the redemption of the New Notes as to which there shall have been no such failure or defect.  On and after the date fixed for redemption (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of the New Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed at the applicable redemption price, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, such date), interest on the New Notes or the portions thereof so called for redemption shall cease to accrue.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to this New Note shall occur and be continuing, the principal of this New Note may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any New Note shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or this New Note) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, redemption date or Stated Maturity or at Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Issuer upon written request any money or property held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the New Notes that remains unclaimed for two years, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such return, shall at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or mail to each such Holder notice that such money or property remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed money or property then remaining shall be returned to the Issuer.  After return to the Issuer, Holders entitled to the money or property must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.

 

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (i) the entire indebtedness of this New Note or (ii) certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this New Note, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth therein.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of all outstanding New Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of Securities of all series (including the New Notes) then outstanding and affected (voting as one class).

 

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The Indenture permits the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of all series at the time outstanding with respect to which a default shall have occurred and be continuing (voting as one class) to waive on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Securities of such series any past default by the Issuer, provided that no such waiver may be made with respect to a default in the payment of the principal of or the interest on any Security of such series, the default in the payment of the redemption price with respect to the New Notes, or the default by the Issuer in respect of certain covenants or provisions of the Indenture, the modification or amendment of which must be consented to by the Holder of each outstanding Security of each series affected.

 

As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any New Note will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each affected series (voting as one class) shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each affected series (voting as one class) a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or any interest on this New Note on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this New Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this New Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this New Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this New Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Issuer in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this New Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new New Notes of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The New Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, New Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of New Notes and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

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The Issuer shall not be required to (i) issue, exchange or register the transfer of this New Note for a period of 15 days next preceding the mailing of the notice of redemption of New Notes or (ii) exchange or register the transfer of any New Note or any portion thereof selected, called or being called for redemption, except in the case of any New Note to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.

 

Prior to due presentment of this New Note for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this New Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this New Note be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

All terms used in this New Note without definition which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.  In case of any conflict between this New Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control.

 

SECTION 2.05.  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.  The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

	
 
    	
THE BANK OF NEW YORK   MELLON,
    
	
 
    	
as   Trustee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Its:
    	
Authorized Officer
    

 

SECTION 2.06.  Rights of Trustee.  The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice, or be charged with knowledge, of any event requiring notice under the Indenture unless the Trustee shall have received from the Issuer or other requisite party such notice in writing.

 

ARTICLE III
  ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER
 WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW NOTES

 

SECTION 3.01.  Existence.  So long as any of the New Notes are outstanding, subject to Article Nine of the Original Indenture, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

 

SECTION 3.02.  Limitation on Certain Liens.  So long as any of the New Notes are outstanding, the Issuer shall not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien, mortgage, pledge, security interest, conditional sale, title retention agreement or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of arrangement intended or having the effect of conferring upon a creditor of the Issuer or any Subsidiary a preferential interest (a “Lien”) upon or with respect to any of its property of any character, including without limitation any shares of Capital Stock of Consumers or Enterprises, without making effective provision whereby the New Notes shall (so long as any such other creditor shall be so secured) be equally and ratably

 

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secured (along with any other creditor similarly entitled to be secured) by a direct Lien on all property subject to such Lien, provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

 

(i)            Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies to the extent not past due;

 

(ii)           pledges or deposits to secure (A) obligations under workmen’s compensation laws or similar legislation, (B) statutory obligations of the Issuer or (C) Support Obligations;

 

(iii)          Liens imposed by law, such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s and repairmen’s Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations which are not overdue or which have been fully bonded and are being contested in good faith;

 

(iv)          purchase money Liens upon or in property acquired and held by the Issuer in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of any such property to be subject to such Liens, or Liens existing on any such property at the time of acquisition, or extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or a lesser amount, provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property other than the property being acquired and no such extension, renewal or replacement shall extend to or cover property not theretofore subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced, and provided, further, that the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness at any one time outstanding secured by Liens permitted by this Section 3.02(iv) shall not exceed $10,000,000; and

 

(v)           Liens not otherwise permitted by Section 3.02(i) through Section 3.02(iv) hereof securing Indebtedness of the Issuer; provided that on the date such Liens are created, and after giving effect to such Indebtedness, the aggregate principal amount at maturity of all of the secured Indebtedness of the Issuer at such date shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such date.

 

SECTION 3.03.  Reporting.  For purposes of Section 4.3(a) of the Original Indenture solely with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), the Trustee agrees that documents filed by the Issuer with the Commission via the Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will constitute filing of the same with the Trustee as of the time such documents are so filed.

 

ARTICLE IV
 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND TRANSFER OF PROPERTY

 

SECTION 4.01.  Limitation on Consolidation, Merger and Transfer.  Section 9.1 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated solely with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities) as follows, and all references in the Original Indenture to Section 9.1 thereof and to the provisions specified therein shall, with respect to the

 

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New Notes, be deemed to be references to this Section 4.01 and to the provisions specified herein, respectively.

 

“Nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the New Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Issuer with or into any other Person or Persons (whether or not affiliated with the Issuer), or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Issuer or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any conveyance, transfer or lease of the property of the Issuer as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Issuer); provided, however, that:

 

(a)           in case the Issuer shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person, the entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties and assets of the Issuer as an entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation or a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental to the Indenture, executed by the successor Person and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the New Notes and the performance of every obligation in the Indenture and the outstanding New Notes on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed;

 

(b)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default or event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(c)           either the Issuer or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with the provisions of the Indenture and all conditions precedent therein relating to such transaction.”

 

SECTION 4.02.  Successor Person Substituted for the Issuer.  Section 9.2 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated solely with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities) as follows, and all references in the Original Indenture to Section 9.2 thereof and to the provisions specified therein shall, with respect to the New Notes, be deemed to be references to this Section 4.02 and to the provisions specified herein, respectively.

 

“Upon any consolidation by the Issuer with or merger of the Issuer into any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Issuer substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 4.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named

 

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as the Issuer herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the New Notes.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the New Notes thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.”

 

ARTICLE V
 ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 WITH RESPECT TO THE NEW NOTES

 

SECTION 5.01.  Definition.  All of the events specified in Section 5.1(a) through Section 5.1(h) of the Original Indenture shall be “Events of Default” with respect to the New Notes.

 

SECTION 5.02.  Amendments to Section 5.1 of the Original Indenture.  Solely for the purpose of determining Events of Default with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), Section 5.1(e), Section 5.1(f) and Section 5.1(h) of the Original Indenture shall be amended such that each and every reference in Section 5.1(e) and Section 5.1(f) and the first two references in Section 5.1(h) of the Original Indenture to the Issuer shall be deemed to mean either the Issuer or Consumers.

 

SECTION 5.03.  Additional Events of Default.  Solely for the purpose of determining Events of Default with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), an Event of Default shall also include default in the Issuer’s obligation to redeem the New Notes after exercising its redemption option pursuant to this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.04.  Additional Waivers of Past Defaults.  In addition to those matters set forth in Section 5.10 of the Original Indenture, solely with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), approval of the Holders of each outstanding New Note shall be required to waive any default in any payment of the redemption price with respect to any New Note.

 

ARTICLE VI
 DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE AND DEFEASANCE

 

All of the provisions of Article Ten of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the New Notes.  Upon satisfaction by the Issuer of the requirements of Section 10.1(C) of the Original Indenture, in connection with any covenant defeasance (as provided in Section 10.1(C) of the Original Indenture), the Issuer shall be released from its obligations under Article Three and Article Nine of the Original Indenture and under Article III and Article IV hereof with respect to the New Notes and the omission to comply with such obligations under such Articles upon such covenant defeasance shall not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to the New Notes.

 

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ARTICLE VII
 MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

 

SECTION 7.01.  Without Consent of Holders.  In addition to any permitted amendment or supplement to the Indenture pursuant to Section 8.1(a), Section 8.1(b), Section 8.1(c), Section 8.1(e) and Section 8.1(f) of the Original Indenture, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture (to the extent applicable to the New Notes) or the New Notes without notice to or the consent of any Holder, to:

 

(a)                                 surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer;

 

(b)                                 comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and

 

(c)                                  add guarantees of obligations under the New Notes.

 

In addition, Section 8.1(d) of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated solely with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities) as follows, and all references in the Original Indenture to Section 8.1(d) thereof shall, with respect to the New Notes, be deemed to be references to the following provisions of this Section 7.01:

 

“(d)(1)            cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any inconsistent or otherwise defective provision contained in the Indenture; provided that such modification or amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the New Notes in any material respect; provided, further, that any amendment made solely to conform the provisions of the Indenture and the form or terms of the New Notes to the section entitled “Description of the Notes” as set forth in the final prospectus supplement related to the offering and sale of the New Notes dated October 31, 2016 will not be deemed to adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the New Notes;

 

(d)(2)                  make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture that the Issuer may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not be inconsistent with provisions of the Indenture; provided, that such change or modification does not, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the New Notes in any material respect;”

 

SECTION 7.02.  With Consent of Holders.  In addition to those matters set forth in Section 8.2 of the Original Indenture, solely with respect to the New Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), no amendment or supplemental indenture to the Indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each New Note affected thereby:

 

(a)                                 reduce the redemption price of the New Notes;

 

(b)                                 change the terms applicable to redemption of the New Notes in a manner adverse to the Holder; or

 

(c)                                  change the Issuer’s obligation to maintain an office or agency in New York, New York.

 

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ARTICLE VIII
 GLOBAL NOTES

 

The New Notes will be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes.  “Global Note” means a registered New Note evidencing one or more New Notes issued to a depositary (the “Depositary”) or its nominee, in accordance with this Article VIII and bearing the legend prescribed in this Article VIII.  The Issuer hereby designates The Depository Trust Company as the Depositary.  The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Article VIII and the Issuer Order with respect to the New Notes, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Notes in temporary or permanent form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes to be represented by such Global Note or Global Notes, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless this Global Note is presented by an authorized representative of the Depositary to the Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of a nominee of the Depositary or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary (and any payment is made to such nominee of the Depositary or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof has an interest herein.”

 

Notwithstanding Section 2.8 of the Original Indenture, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for New Notes in definitive form, a Global Note representing one or more New Notes may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for New Notes or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

If at any time the Depositary for the New Notes is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the New Notes, defaults in the performance of its duties as Depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the New Notes.  If a successor Depositary for the New Notes is not appointed by the Issuer by the earlier of (x) 90 days from the date the Issuer receives notice to the effect that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to act, or the Issuer determines that the Depositary is unable to act, or (y) the effectiveness of the Depositary’s resignation or failure to fulfill its duties as Depositary, the Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive New Notes, will authenticate and deliver New Notes in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Note or Global Notes representing such New Notes in exchange for such Global Note or Global Notes.

 

If the Issuer so specifies with respect to any New Notes, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note representing the New Notes may, on terms acceptable to the Issuer and the Depositary for the Global Note, receive individual New Notes in exchange for the beneficial interest.  In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be entitled

 

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to physical delivery in definitive form of New Notes represented by the Global Note equal in principal amount to the beneficial interest, and to have the New Notes registered in its name.  New Notes so issued in definitive form will be issued as registered New Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in $1,000 integral multiples, unless otherwise specified by the Issuer.

 

Upon the exchange of a Global Note for New Notes in definitive form, such Global Note shall be cancelled by the Trustee.  New Notes in definitive form issued in exchange for a Global Note pursuant to this Article VIII shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Note, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or Security Registrar.  The Trustee shall deliver such New Notes to the Persons in whose names such New Notes are so registered.

 

ARTICLE IX
 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

This Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture is a supplement to the Original Indenture.  As supplemented by this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified, approved and confirmed, and the Original Indenture and this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

ARTICLE X
 INAPPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE

 

The New Notes shall not constitute Subordinated Securities and the provisions of Article Twelve of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.

 

TESTIMONIUM

 

This Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first written above.

 

	
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By: 
    	
/s/   Srikanth Maddipati
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Srikanth Maddipati
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Vice President and   Treasurer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attest: 
    	
/s/   Melissa M. Gleespen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Melissa M. Gleespen
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Vice President,   Corporate Secretary
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
and Chief Compliance   Officer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
THE   BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
    	
 
    
	
as   Trustee
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/   Laurence J. O’Brien
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Laurence J. O’Brien
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attest: 
    	
/s/   John D. Bowman
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
John D. Bowman
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Vice President
    	
 
    

 

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