Document:

Exhibit 10.31

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 1, 2011, is between SUNSHINE SILVER MINES CORPORATION (the “Company”) and Philip Pyle (the “Executive” and together with the Company, the “Parties”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS:

 

The Parties wish to enter into the arrangements set forth herein with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and covenants contained herein, the Parties agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.               Employment and Term.  The Company agrees to, and does hereby, employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to, and does hereby accept, such employment, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.  The Executive’s employment will begin on June 1, 2011 (the “Start Date”) and continue at will, which means that the Executive or the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time for any reason, or for no reason, with or without cause (the “Term”).  If the Company terminates this Agreement and the Executive’s employment, the Company shall provide the Executive with notice and reason for the termination within ten (10) calendar days of the effective date of such termination.

 

2.               Position and Duties.

 

(a)         During the Term, the Company shall employ the Executive as Vice President Exploration.  The Executive shall perform the duties and have the responsibilities customarily associated with the position of Vice President Exploration, which shall include, without limitation, overseeing all exploration activities by the Company, working closely with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and having ultimate responsibility for the strategic design, implementation and management of an effective exploration function.

 

(b)         The Executive will be based in Houston Texas but required to work, as needed, at the various Company exploration projects and in the Company’s corporate office in Denver Colorado.

 

(c)          The Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company.

 

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(d)         The Executive acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Executive owes the Company a duty of loyalty as a fiduciary of the Company, and (ii) the obligations described in this Agreement are in addition to, and not in lieu of, the obligations the Executive owes the Company under the common law.

 

3.               Base Salary, Bonus, Equity/Options, and Benefits.

 

(a)         Base Salary.  During the Term, the Executive’s base salary shall be $200,000.00 per annum (“Base Salary”), which salary shall be payable in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices.  The Base Salary will be subject to review on an annual basis and may be adjusted in accordance with the procedures set forth by the Company’s Compensation Committee.

 

(b)         Annual Bonus.  During the Term, provided that the Executive is employed by the Company on December 31st of the applicable year, the Executive will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan pursuant to which (i) at the end of 2011, he will be entitled to receive an annual target bonus in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of his Base Salary and up to one-hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary upon achievement by the Executive and the Company of certain targets as determined solely in the discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee, (the “Annual Bonus”).  The Annual Bonus actually paid, if any, will depend on the actual performance of the Company and the Executive as determined by the Compensation Committee.  In all events the Annual Bonus, if earned, will be paid no later than March 15th following the applicable year for which it is earned.

 

(c)          Options.

 

(i)            Stock Option grants shall vest in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the applicable grant date (each, a “Vesting Date”), provided in each case that the Executive is employed by the Company on the applicable Vesting Date.  The Stock Options shall have a ten-year term (subject to earlier termination upon termination of employment as described herein and in the applicable option agreement) and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan and option agreements, all of which shall be consistent with the Executive’s rights set forth in this Section 3(c).  The Executive may receive additional stock option or other equity compensation grants in the future in the sole discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee.

 

(d)         Employee Benefits.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s various employee benefit plans that are, from time to time, made generally available to the Company’s employees, as such plans are established and pursuant to the terms and conditions of such plans.  The Executive acknowledges that the Company is in the process of implementing employee benefit plans and that such plans, including the following, are expected to be available during May 2011 or shortly thereafter: group health, vision and dental plan; short-term and long-term disability plan; life insurance plan; and 401(k) plan.

 

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(e)          Vacation.  The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation time per calendar year, pro-rated for any partial year of employment.  Recognizing that during 2011 the Executive has been working in a similar function as a consultant, the Company will convey the entire four (4) week entitlement in accordance with the Company’s vacation time policy.

 

(f)           Expense Reimbursement.  The Executive shall receive reimbursement for direct and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, according to the policies of the Company.  All requests for reimbursement of business-related expenses shall be subject to the Company’s travel policy and requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of expenses.

 

4.               Compensation Upon Termination, Resignation, Disability or Death.

 

(a)         Termination without Cause.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, the Company shall pay the Executive any Base Salary and Annual Bonus from the preceding calendar year to the extent accrued but unpaid as of the effective date of the Executive’s termination; accrued but unused vacation in accordance with Company policy; and all business expenses that were incurred and not reimbursed but eligible for reimbursement (collectively, the “‘Accrued Obligations”).  In addition, the Executive will be entitled to a prorated amount of the current calendar year Annual Bonus, with payment of such prorated Annual Bonus to be made at the same time as annual bonuses are made to other executives of the Company in the ordinary course (but in no event later than March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the termination occurs (the “Pro Rata Bonus”).  In addition, subject to Section 19, the Company will pay the Executive an amount equal to twelve (12) months of the Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination, payable in a lump sum within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of termination.  Provided the Executive timely elects continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall also pay, on the Executive’s behalf, the portion of monthly premiums for the Executive’s group health insurance, including coverage for the Executive’s dependents, that the Company paid immediately prior to the date of termination, during the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination, subject to the Executive’s continued eligibility for COBRA coverage.  The Company will pay for such COBRA coverage for eligible dependents only for those dependents who were enrolled immediately prior to the date of termination.  The Executive will continue to be required to pay that portion of the premium for the Executive’s health coverage, including coverage for the Executive’s eligible dependents, that the Executive was required to pay as an active employee immediately prior to the date of termination.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that under applicable guidance the reimbursement of COBRA premiums causes the Company’s group health plan to violate any applicable nondiscrimination rule, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith a mutually agreeable alternative arrangement.  Upon termination under this Section 4(a), (i) the Stock Options shall cease vesting and (ii) all vested Stock Options shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (x) the date one hundred

 

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eighty (180) calendar days following termination of employment or (y) the expiration of the original option term.

 

(b)         Resignation for Good Reason.  If the Executive resigns for Good Reason, the Company shall pay the Executive the same sums and in the same manner, and his rights to the Stock Options shall be the same, as to which the Executive would be entitled if he had been terminated by the Company without Cause, as set forth in subsection (a) above.  The Executive shall provide 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company of his decision to resign for Good Reason.

 

(c)          Termination for Cause.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations.  Upon termination under this Section 4(c), any outstanding Stock Options shall cease to be exercisable and will be forfeited.

 

(d)         Resignation without Good Reason.  If the Executive resigns without Good Reason, the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations.  The Executive shall provide 60 days’ prior written notice to the Company of his decision to resign without Good Reason.  The Stock Options, to the extent exercisable at the Executive’s termination of employment, shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the date thirty (30) calendar days following termination of employment under this Section 4(d) or (ii) the expiration of the original option term.

 

(e)          Disability.  Subject to any state or federal law or regulation governing employees with disabilities, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment upon the Disability of the Executive.  In the event the Executive is terminated under this Section 4(e), the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus.  In addition, in such event, the Company shall cause Executive to fully vest in all Stock Options referred to in Section 3(c) of this Agreement, and such Stock Options shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the date one (I) year following termination of employment under this Section 4(e) or (ii) the expiration of the original option term.

 

(f)           Death.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated due to the Executive’s death, the Company shall pay the Executive’s estate the Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus.  In addition, in such event, the Company shall cause Executive’s estate to fully vest in all Stock Options referred to in Section 3(c) of this Agreement, and such Stock Options shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the date one (I) year following termination of employment under this Section 4(f) or (ii) the expiration of the original option term.

 

(g)          For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(i)            “Cause” means the Executive’s (a) conviction of, guilty plea to or confession of guilt of, or plea of nolo contendere to a felony, or an act involving moral turpitude which could have a material adverse effect on the Company; (b) willful dishonesty, fraud or conduct that constitutes a felony or an act involving moral turpitude or a breach of fiduciary duty or any material misrepresentation in connection with the

 

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Executive’s employment; (c) action that exposes the Company to a material risk of legal liability or public disgrace or disrepute including, without limitation, violation of any law, rule or regulation that could expose the Company to a material legal or monetary fine or penalty; (d) neglect of his duties or substantial failure to perform duties as reasonably directed by the Board of Directors; (e) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to Company affairs or the Executive’s obligations hereunder; or (f) any other material breach of this or any other agreement with the Company or any material Company policy, which breach is not cured within at least fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt by the Executive of written notice from the Company of such breach, but only if such breach is able to be cured during such fifteen (15) calendar day period.

 

(ii)         “Good Reason” means: (a) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary, except where such reduction occurs as part of an across-the-board reduction in salary affecting all senior executives of the Company; or (b) any other action or inaction by the Company that constitutes a material breach of this Agreement.  The foregoing shall constitute Good Reason only if (i) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of any event(s) alleged to constitute Good Reason within ninety (90) calendar days of the initial occurrence of the event, with such notice providing a detailed description of the circumstances constituting Good Reason (a “Good Reason Notice”), (ii) any such breach is not remedied or cured within fifteen (15) calendar days after the Company’s receipt of a written Good Reason Notice from the Executive (the “Cure Period”) and (iii) the Executive actually terminates employment within thirty (30) calendar days following the expiration of the Cure Period.

 

(iii)      “Disability” shall mean that the Executive is disabled within the meaning of the Company’s group long-term disability insurance policy.  If no long term disability insurance is in place, then Disability shall mean that the Executive, due to illness, accident, or other physical or mental incapacity, has been substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement for a period of at least six (6) consecutive months during the Term as established by the written opinion of a licensed independent physician selected by the Company.

 

(h)         Deemed Resignation.  Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company and the Executive prior to the termination of the Executive’s employment, any termination of the Executive’s employment shall constitute an automatic resignation of the Executive as an officer of the Company and each affiliate of the Company, and an automatic resignation of the Executive from the board of directors or similar governing body of the Company or any affiliate of the Company and from the board of directors or similar governing body of any corporation, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company or any affiliate holds an equity interest and with respect to which board or similar governing body the Executive serves as the Company’s or such affiliate’s designee or other representative.

 

(i)            Clawback.  The Executive agrees and acknowledges that any and all compensation the Executive receives pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to clawback by the Company in the event of a financial restatement or in such other circumstances as may be required by applicable law or as may be provided in any

 

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clawback policy that is adopted by the Company and is generally applicable to senior executives of the Company.

 

5.               Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation.

 

(a)         For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means (i) communications, data, formulae and related concepts, business plans (both current and under development), profit and loss statements, spreadsheets, contact or distribution lists, non-public personnel lists, promotion and marketing programs, trade secrets, or any other confidential or proprietary business information relating to development programs, costs, revenues, marketing, trading, investments, sales activities, promotions, credit and financial data, financing methods, research, plans or the business and affairs of the Company; (ii) any other information which is to be treated as confidential or non-public because of any duty of confidentiality owed by the Company to a third party; and (iii) any other information which the Company shall, in the ordinary course, use and not release externally, except subject to restrictions on use and disclosure.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information does not include information that (A) is or becomes generally publicly available other than as a result, directly or indirectly, of the Executive’s disclosure or (B) is or becomes available to the Executive on a non-confidential basis from a source other than through the Company or its representatives, provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company or otherwise prohibited from transmitting the information to the Executive by a contractual or legal obligation.

 

(b)         The Executive acknowledges the trade secret status of the Confidential Information and that the Confidential Information constitutes a protectable business interest of the Company.  The Executive agrees (i) not to use or allow or help another to use or access (whether for compensation or not) any Confidential Information for himself or others (other than the Company); and (ii) not to take any Company material or reproductions (including but not limited to writings, correspondence, notes, drafts, records, invoices, technical and business policies, computer programs or disks) thereof from the Company’s offices at any time during or after the Executive’s employment by the Company, except as required in the execution of the Executive’s duties to the Company and then conditioned upon the prompt return of all originals and reproductions thereof (in whatever form).

 

(c)          During the Term and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, on behalf of himself or any other person or entity, without the prior written consent of the Company solicit or induce any employee of or consultant or service provider to the Company (each, a “Service Provider”) to leave the employ of or cease performing services for the Company, or engage in any plan or coordinate with any Service Provider to leave the employ of or cease performing services for the Company, or hire, participate with or attempt to participate with in any venture for any purpose any Service Provider or any Service Provider who has left the employment of or ceased to perform services for the Company within one year of the termination of such Service Provider’s services for the Company.

 

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(d)         The Executive acknowledges that any breach of his obligations under this Section 5 cannot be adequately compensated by damages in an action at law and may cause the Company great and irreparable injury and damage.  Accordingly, in the event that the Executive breaches or threatens to breach any provisions of this Section 5, then in addition to any other rights which the Company may have, the Company shall be entitled, without the necessity of (i) proving irreparable harm, (ii) establishing that monetary damages are inadequate or (iii) posting any bond or other security with respect thereto, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief to redress any breach, and no proof of special damages shall be necessary for the enforcement of or for any action for breach of the Executive’s obligations.  In the event that a proceeding is brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Section 5, the Executive shall not urge as a defense that there is an adequate remedy at law nor shall the Company be prevented from seeking any other remedies which may be available.  Nothing contained in this Section 5(d) shall be construed as a waiver by the Company of any other rights, including, without limitation, rights to damages or profits.

 

(e)          The Executive agrees that the period during which the covenants contained in this Section 5 shall be effective shall be computed by excluding from such computation any time during which the Executive is in violation of any provision of this Section 5.

 

(f)           The Company and the Executive agree that it was their intent to enter into a valid and enforceable agreement.  The Executive and the Company thereby acknowledge the reasonableness of the restrictions set forth in this Section 5, including the reasonableness of the duration as to time and the scope of activity restrained.  The Executive agrees that if any covenant contained in Section 5 of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to contain limitations as to time or scope of activity that are not reasonable and impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill or other business interests of the Company, then the court shall reform the covenant to the extent necessary to cause the limitations contained in the covenant as to time and scope of activity to be restrained to be reasonable and to impose a restraint that is not greater than necessary to protect the goodwill and other business interests of the Company and to enforce the covenants as reformed.

 

(g)          If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, the Executive agrees to advise the Company of the name of the Executive’s new employer.  The Executive further agrees that the Company may notify any person or entity employing the Executive or evidencing an intention of employing the Executive of the existence and provisions of this Agreement.

 

6.               The Executive’s Representations.  The Executive represents to the Company that:

 

(a)         the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Executive is a party or by which he is bound;

 

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(b)         upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be the valid and binding obligation of the Executive, enforceable against him in accordance with its terms;

 

(c)          as of the Start Date, the Executive will not be a party to any agreement with any person, other than an agreement with the Company, restricting the use of another person’s confidential information or restricting the Executive from providing future employment, consulting or other service;

 

(d)         no prior or pending litigation, arbitration, investigation or other proceeding of any kind will prevent or hinder the Executive from performing his duties under this Agreement; and

 

(e)          the Executive has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding his rights and obligations under this Agreement and that he fully understands the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

7.               Change in Control.

 

(a)         Definitions.

 

(i)            For purposes of this Section 7, “Change in Control” means (I) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or any other corporate reorganization, in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, own less than a controlling interest in the surviving entity immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization; (II) any transaction or series of related transactions in which control of the Company is acquired by a person or group of persons acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or any successor provisions thereto; or (III) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; provided that in no event will a Change in Control include any of the following transactions: (A) any consolidation, merger or similar transaction effected exclusively to change the domicile of the Company; (B) any transaction or series of transactions in which voting securities of the Company are issued principally for bona fide financing purposes or any successor or indebtedness or equity securities of the Company are cancelled or converted or a combination thereof, including, without limitation, an initial public offering or other offering of the Company’s capital stock; (C) any acquisition of such voting power by an individual or entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company; or (D) any transaction where control of the Company, the surviving parent entity or the entity to which all or substantially all of the Company’s assets are transferred in the transaction or series of transactions is controlled directly or indirectly by one or more Kaplan Parties.

 

(ii)         “Kaplan Party” means (a) Thomas S. Kaplan or Dafna Recanati Kaplan; (b) any spouse, parent, sibling or descendant (including by adoption) of either of the persons referred to in clause (a) above; (c) any trust created for the benefit of any of

 

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the persons described in clauses (a) or (b) above or any trust for the benefit of such trust; or (d) any person controlled by one or more of the persons referred to in clauses (a), (b) or (c)above.

 

(iii)      “Control” (including its correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means, with respect to any person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person, whether through the beneficial ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

(b)         Change in Control Severance Benefits.  If there is a Change in Control, and within one (1) year of such Change in Control, the Executive’s employment is terminated under the circumstances described in Sections 4(a) through 4(f) above, the Executive shall be entitled to the following: (I) if such termination is a termination by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 4(a) or the Executive resigns for Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(b), the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus and, in addition, subject to the provisions of Section 19, (A) an amount equal to twenty-four (24) months of the Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect on the date of termination or resignation, payable in a lump sum within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of termination or resignation; and (B) provided the Executive timely elects continuation coverage under COBRA, the Company shall also pay, on the Executive’s behalf, the portion of monthly premiums for the Executive’s group health insurance, including coverage for the Executive’s dependents, that the Company paid immediately prior to the date of termination or resignation, during the eighteen (18) month period following the date of termination or resignation, subject to the Executive’s continued eligibility for COBRA coverage.  The Company will pay for such COBRA coverage for eligible dependents only for those dependents who were enrolled immediately prior to the date of termination or resignation.  The Executive will continue to be required to pay that portion of the premium for the Executive’s health coverage, including coverage for the Executive’s eligible dependents, that the Executive was required to pay as an active employee immediately prior to the date of termination or resignation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that under applicable guidance the reimbursement of COBRA premiums causes the Company’s group health plan to violate any applicable nondiscrimination rule, the parties agree to negotiate in good faith a mutually agreeable alternative arrangement; and (]I) if such termination is a termination or resignation under the circumstances described in Sections 4(c), 4(d), 4(e) or 4(f), the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits for which the Executive is eligible under such sections.

 

(c)          Termination Preceding Change in Control.  Notwithstanding the provisions of the above subsection 7(b), if the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause within three (3) months preceding the occurrence of a Change in Control and such termination without Cause occurred in anticipation of a Change in Control at the request of the acquirer, the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits described in the above subsection 7(b)(I).

 

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8.               Taxes.  Tue Company shall be entitled to withhold from any payment or benefit provided under this Agreement an amount sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

 

9.               Notices.  Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight courier service or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

 

Notices to the Executive:

 

Philip Pyle
 [***]
 [***]

 

Notices to the Company:

 

Sunshine Silver Mines Corporation
 370 17th Street, Suite 3800
 Denver, CO 80202
 USA
 Attention: Roger Johnson

 

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.  Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.

 

10.        Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

11.        Complete Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the agreements referred to herein in Section 3(c), contains the entire agreement of the Parties hereto with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with the Company and activities following termination.  This Agreement supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, between the Parties with respect to the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with the Company and activities following termination.  This Agreement may not be changed or modified except by an instrument in writing, signed by the Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company.

 

12.        Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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13.        Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive, the Company and their respective heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators, successors and assigns, except that the Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

14.        Choice of Law.  All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Yok and the federal laws of the United States of America, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America.

 

15.        Dispute Resolution and Arbitration.  Subject to Section 5(d), the Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement promptly by negotiation.  If the matter has not been resolved within thirty (30) calendar days of a Party’s request for negotiation, either Party may initiate proceedings or arbitration only as provided herein.  Subject to Section 5(d), if any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination or validity thereof has not been resolved by negotiation, such dispute shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the then current rules of JAMS by a single independent and impartial arbitrator who is located in Denver, Colorado.  The arbitrator selected must have an expertise in the matter(s) in dispute.  Each party shall bear his/its own fees and costs; the fees, costs and all administrative expenses of arbitration shall be borne equally by the Company and the Executive.  The Parties understand and agree that the arbitration is subject to the rules of JAMS; that the arbitrator’s decision and award shall be final and binding as to all claims that were, or could have been, raised in arbitration; and that judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having competent jurisdiction.  Any award rendered hereunder may include an award of attorneys’ fees and costs but shall not include punitive damages.  The statute of limitations of the state of New York applicable to the commencement of a lawsuit shall apply to the commencement of an arbitration.

 

16.        Amendment and Waiver.  The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and the Executive, and no course of conduct or course of dealing or failure or delay by any party hereto in enforcing or exercising any of the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or be deemed to be an implied waiver of any provision of this Agreement.

 

17.        Survival.  In the event of the Executive’s termination of, or resignation from, employment, Sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive and continue in full force to the extent necessary to enforce their terms.

 

18.        Jobs Act Compliance.

 

(a)         This Agreement is intended to provide payments that are exempt from or compliant with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and related regulations and Treasury pronouncements (“Section 409A”), and the Agreement shall be interpreted accordingly.  Each payment under this

 

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Agreement is intended to be excepted from Section 409A, including, but not limited to, by compliance with the short-term deferral exception as specified in Treasury Regulation § l.409A-l(b)(4), and the provisions of this Agreement will be administered, interpreted and construed accordingly (or disregarded to the extent such provision cannot be so administered, interpreted, or construed).

 

(b)         All reimbursements or provision of in-kind benefits pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with Treasury Regulation§ l.409A-3(i)(I)(iv) such that the reimbursement or provision will be deemed payable at a specified time or on a fixed schedule relative to a _permissible payment event.  Specifically, the amount reimbursed or in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement during the Executive’s taxable year may not affect the amounts reimbursed or provided in any other taxable year (except that total reimbursements may be limited by a lifetime maximum under a group health plan), the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, and the right to reimbursement or provision of in-kind benefit is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(c)          For all purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be considered to have terminated employment with the Company when the Executive incurs a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2XA)(i).

 

(d)         Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the parties agree that any benefit or benefits under this Agreement that the Company determines are subject to the suspension period under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B) shall not be paid or commence until the first business day next following the earlier of (i) the date that is six months and one day following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, (ii) the date of the Executive’s death or (iii) such earlier date as complies with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

19.        Release.  Any and all amounts payable and benefits or additional rights provided pursuant to Sections 4 and 7, other than (i) compensation accrued but unpaid as of the effective date of the Executive’s termination; (ii) accrued but unused vacation in accordance with Company policy; and (iii) all business expenses that were incurred but not reimbursed, shall only be payable if the Executive executes and delivers to the Company, within 60 days after termination of employment, in the Company’s standard form, a general release of all claims of the Executive up to the date of such release.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

	
SUNSHINE SILVER MINES CORPORATION
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ Stephen A. Orr
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Stephen A. Orr
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Executive Chairman
    	
 
    

 

	
/s/ Philip Pyle
    	
 
    
	
Philip Pyle — the Executive
    	
 
    

 

13Document

Exhibit 4.1

DTE ENERGY COMPANY
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
TRUSTEE
__________________________
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2020
__________________________
SUPPLEMENTING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED INDENTURE
DATED AS OF APRIL 9, 2001
PROVIDING FOR
2020 SERIES G 4.375% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2080

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of the 1st day of September, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), between DTE Energy Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (the “Company”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor trustee (the “Trustee”);
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of April 9, 2001 (the “Original Indenture”), as amended, supplemented or modified, including by this Supplemental Indenture (as so amended, supplemented or modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its debt securities; and
WHEREAS, the Company now desires to provide for the issuance of a series of its unsecured, subordinated debt securities pursuant to the Original Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Company, in the exercise of the power and authority conferred upon and reserved to it under the provisions of the Original Indenture, including Section 901 thereof, and pursuant to appropriate resolutions of the Board of Directors, has duly determined to make, execute and deliver to the Trustee this Supplemental Indenture to the Original Indenture as permitted by Section 201 and Section 301 of the Original Indenture in order to establish the form or terms of, and to provide for the creation and issue of, a series of its debt securities under the Original Indenture, which shall be known as the “2020 Series G 4.375% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2080” (the “Debentures”); and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make such debt securities, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent and issued upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter and in the Original Indenture set forth against payment therefor, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company and to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement of the Company, have been done;
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH that, in order to establish the terms of a series of debt securities, and for and in consideration of the premises and of the covenants contained in the Original Indenture and in this Supplemental Indenture and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1.

Definitions and Other
Provisions of General Application
cw.Definitions. Each capitalized term that is used herein and is defined in the Original Indenture shall have the meaning specified in the Original Indenture unless such term is 

otherwise defined herein. The following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in state of New York are required or authorized by law or executive order to be closed.
“Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person organized as a Corporation, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interest in (however designated) corporate stock, and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not organized as a Corporation, the partnership, membership or other equity interests or participations in such Person.
“Compound Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 205(a).
“Coupon Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 204(a).
“Deferred Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 205(a).
“DTC” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(b).
“Extension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 205(a).
“Global Debentures” has the meaning set forth in Section 203(a).
“Indebtedness ranking equally with the Debentures” means Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of issuance of the Debentures or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, to the extent the Indebtedness specifically by its terms ranks equally with and not prior to the Debentures in the right of payment upon the happening of the dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company. The securing of any Indebtedness otherwise constituting Indebtedness ranking equally with the Debentures will not prevent the Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness ranking equally with the Debentures.
“Indebtedness ranking junior to the Debentures” means any Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of issuance of the Debentures or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, to the extent the Indebtedness by its terms ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to
i.the Debentures, and
ii.any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the Debentures,
in right of payment upon the happening of the dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company. The securing of any Indebtedness otherwise constituting Indebtedness ranking junior to the Debentures will not prevent the Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness ranking junior to the Debentures.
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“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.
“Redemption Date” means the date set for Debentures to be redeemed pursuant to the provisions of Section 301 or 302, as applicable.
“Rights Plan” means a plan of the Company providing for the issuance by the Company to all holders of its Common Stock of rights entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or any class or series of preferred stock, which rights (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock, (ii) are not exercisable and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock, in each case until the occurrence of a specified event or events.
“Senior Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of issuance of the Debentures or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, except Indebtedness ranking equally with the Debentures or Indebtedness ranking junior to the Debentures; provided, however, that “Senior Indebtedness” of the Company does not include (a) obligations to trade creditors or (b) any indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries.  Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Debentures will continue to be Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Debentures and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
“Tax Event” means receipt by the Company of an opinion of nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of: 
(i)any amendment to, change or announced proposed change in the laws or regulations of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities affecting taxation,
(ii)any amendment to or change in an interpretation or application of such laws or regulations by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, or 
(iii)any official administration interpretation or official administration pronouncement that provides for a position with respect to those laws or regulations that differs from the generally accepted position on the date the junior subordinated debentures are issued,
which amendment or change becomes effective or proposed change, pronouncement, interpretation, action or decision is announced on or after September 22, 2020, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable on the Debentures is not or within 90 days of the date of the opinion would not be deductible, in whole or in part, by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes. 
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SECTION 102.  Section References. Each reference to a particular section set forth in this Supplemental Indenture shall, unless the context otherwise requires, refer to this Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE 2.

Title and Terms of the Securities; Stated Maturity
gs.Title of the Securities; Stated Maturity. This Supplemental Indenture hereby establishes a series of Securities, which shall be known as the Company’s “2020 Series G 4.375% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2080” (referred to herein as the “Debentures”). For purposes of the Original Indenture, the Debentures shall constitute a single series of Securities. The Stated Maturity on which the principal of the Debentures shall be due and payable will be October 15, 2080. 
In the event that the Stated Maturity or any Redemption Date is not a Business Day, then payment of the principal or Redemption Price, respectively, payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date that such principal or Redemption Price otherwise would have been payable.
gt.Variations from the Original Indenture; Ranking.  Notwithstanding the provisions of the Original Indenture, the Debentures shall be subordinated to Senior Indebtedness as and to the extent provided in Article Five of this Supplemental Indenture. The provisions relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance in Section 403 of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Debentures. Section 1009 of the Original Indenture shall not be applicable to the Debentures.
1.With respect to the Debentures issued under this Supplemental Indenture, Section 501 of the Original Indenture is hereby replaced in its entirety as follows:
“Event of Default” means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
i.default in the payment of any interest upon the Debentures when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days, except during an Extension Period in accordance with Section 205; or
ii.default in the payment of the principal of the Debentures when they become due and payable at their Maturity; 
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iii.the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or (B) a decree or order appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
iv.the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action.
With respect to the Debentures, (i) references elsewhere in the Original Indenture to Section 501(6) or (7) shall be deemed to be Section 501(3) or (4), respectively, as restated above, and (ii) the provisions of Section 502 of the Original Indenture, without limitation, shall be subject to the subordination provisions relating to the Debentures. With respect to the Debentures, a failure to comply with covenants under the Original Indenture does not constitute an Event of Default.
2.The following shall be additional covenants of the Company with respect to the Debentures:
The Company covenants and agrees with each holder of Debentures that neither it nor its majority owned subsidiaries shall
1.declare or pay any dividends or distributions on the Company’s Capital Stock (which includes the Company’s common stock and preferred stock);
2.redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to any of the Company’s Capital Stock;
3.make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any indebtedness of the Company that ranks equally with or junior in right of payment to the Debentures; or
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4.make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of the indebtedness of any Subsidiary thereof or any other party if such guarantee ranks equally with or junior in right of payment to the Debentures
(other than (a) dividends or distributions payable solely in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock of the Company, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a Rights Plan, (c) the issuance of any Capital Stock of the Company under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights distributed pursuant to a Rights Plan, (d) reclassification of the Company’s Capital Stock or the exchange or the conversion of one class or series of the Company’s Capital Stock for another class or series of the Company’s Capital Stock, (e) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s Capital Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Capital Stock or the security being converted or exchanged, and (f) purchases of Common Stock related to the issuance of Common Stock or rights under any of the Company’s benefit plans for its directors, officers, employees, consultants or advisors or any of the Company’s dividend reinvestment plans);
if at such time (x) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default under the Debentures or any event of which the Company has actual knowledge that is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would be an Event of Default under the Debentures, and the Company has not taken reasonable steps to cure such Event of Default or (y) the Company shall have given notice of its election to begin an Extension Period as provided in Section 205 and shall not have rescinded such notice or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing.
3.Subject to the provisions of Article Five, the Debentures will rank equally with the Company’s 2012 Series C 5.25% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2062, 2016 Series B 5.375% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2076, 2016 Series F 6.00% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2076, 2017 Series E 5.25% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2077 and other Indebtedness ranking equally with the Debentures that we may issue from time to time.
gs.Amount, Form and Denominations; DTC.
1.The aggregate principal amount of Debentures that may be issued under this Supplemental Indenture is limited to $230,000,000, which amount shall be as set forth in any written Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Debentures (except as provided in Section 301(2) of the Original Indenture). The Debentures shall be issuable only in fully registered form and, as permitted by Section 301 and Section 302 of the Original Indenture, issuable, transferable, exchangeable or redeemable in denominations of $25 and integral multiples thereof. The Debentures will initially be issued in global form (the “Global Debentures”) under a book-entry system, registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as depository (“DTC”), or its nominee, which is hereby designated as “Depositary” under the Indenture.
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2.Further to Section 305 of the Original Indenture, any Global Debentures shall be exchangeable for Debentures registered in the name of, and a transfer of a Global Debenture may be registered to, any Person other than the Depositary for such Debenture or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Debenture or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either such case, the Company does not appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days thereafter, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such Global Debenture shall be so exchangeable and the transfer thereof so registrable or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures. Upon the occurrence in respect of a Global Debenture of any or more of the conditions specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence, such Global Debenture may be exchanged for Debentures registered in the name of, and the transfer of such Global Debenture may be registered to, such Persons (including Persons other than the Depositary and its nominees) as such Depositary, in the case of an exchange, and the Company, in the case of a transfer, shall direct. 
3.Each Debenture issued hereunder shall provide that the Company and, by its acceptance of a Debenture or a beneficial interest therein, the holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Debenture agree that for United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such Debenture constitute indebtedness, and agree to treat the Debenture as indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes.
4.The Debentures shall have such other terms and provisions as are set forth in the form of Debenture attached hereto as Exhibit A (all of which incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Supplemental Indenture as if set forth in full at this place).
gs.Interest.
1.Each Debenture will bear interest at the rate of 4.375% per annum (the “Coupon Rate”) from and including the original date of issuance until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on any overdue installment of interest at the Coupon Rate, compounded quarterly, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on January 15, 2021 to the Person in whose name such Debenture or any predecessor Debenture is registered at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date, which will be the date fifteen calendar days immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, except as otherwise provided pursuant to the provisions of Section 205 below.
2.Subject to Section 205, any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holders on the Regular Record Date, and may either be paid to the person in whose name the Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed 
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by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Holders of this series of Debentures not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debentures may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Original Indenture. The principal of and the interest on the Debentures shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at the close of business on the Regular Record Date at such address as shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, if a Global Debenture is held in book-entry form through the facilities of the Depositary, payments on the Global Debenture will be made to the Depositary or its nominee in accordance with arrangements then in effect between the Trustee and the Depositary.
3.The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in the following sentence, the amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full quarterly period for which interest is computed, will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date that such interest otherwise would have been payable.
4.Maturity or redemption of a Debenture shall cause interest to cease to accrue on such Debenture subject to the Company’s obligation to pay interest on overdue amounts in accordance with Section 503 of the Original Indenture and the terms of this Supplemental Indenture and the Debentures.
gs.Extension of Interest Payment Period.
1.So long as no Event of Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period of such Debentures not exceeding 40 consecutive quarters (an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable; except that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity. To the extent permitted by applicable law, interest, the payment of which has been deferred because of the extension of the interest payment period pursuant to this Section 205, will bear interest thereon at an annual rate of 4.375% compounded quarterly for each quarter of the Extension Period (“Compound Interest”). At the end of the Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest accrued and unpaid on the Debentures, 
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including any Compound Interest (together, “Deferred Interest”) that shall be payable to the Holders in whose names the Debentures are registered in the Security Register on the record date for the first Interest Payment Date after the end of the Extension Period. Before the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may shorten or further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such further extensions thereof shall not exceed 40 consecutive quarters, or extend beyond the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, if earlier, of the Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest then due, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but the Company may prepay at any time all or any portion of the interest accrued during an Extension Period.
2.The Company shall give the Holders of the Debentures and the Trustee written notice of its selection of such Extension Period or any shortening or extension thereof at least ten Business Days before the earlier of (x) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or (y) if the Debentures are then listed, the date the Company is required to give notice to the NYSE or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to Holders of the Debentures of the record date or the Interest Payment Date. The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be counted as one of the 40 quarters permitted in the maximum Extension Period permitted under paragraph (a).
ARTICLE 3.

Redemption of the Debentures
ko.Optional Redemption at Par.
The Debentures are redeemable prior to the Stated Maturity at the option of the Company in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after October 15, 2025 at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compound Interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
kp.Optional Redemption Following a Tax Event or a Rating Agency Event.
(a)     The Debentures are redeemable at any time prior to October 15, 2025, in whole but not in part, within 90 days following the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compound Interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
The Company’s right to redeem the Debentures under the preceding paragraph shall be subject to the condition that if at the time there is available to the Company the opportunity to eliminate a Tax Event, within 90 days following the occurrence and continuation of such Tax Event, by taking some ministerial action (“Ministerial Action”), such as filing a form or making an election, or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure that will have no adverse effect 
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on the Company and will involve no material cost, the Company shall pursue such measures in lieu of redemption; provided further, that the Company shall have no right to redeem the Debentures while the Company is pursuing any such Ministerial Action.

(b)    The Debentures are redeemable prior to the Stated Maturity at the option of the Company prior to October 15, 2025, in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal process instituted by the Company following the occurrence and continuation of a Rating Agency Event, at a Redemption Price equal to 102% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compound Interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
“Rating Agency Event” means a change in the methodology published by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act that currently publishes a rating for the Company in assigning equity credit to securities such as the Debentures, as such methodology was in effect on September 22, 2020 (the “current criteria”), which change results in a lower equity credit being assigned by such rating agency to the Debentures as of the date of such change than the equity credit that would have been assigned to the Debentures as of the date of such change by such rating agency pursuant to its current criteria. 
(c)    The Trustee may rely on an Officer’s Certificate stating that a Tax Event or Rating Agency Event, as the case may be, has occurred and shall have no responsibility to monitor or determine whether or not such an event has occurred.
kq.Redemption Procedures.
Notice of any redemption will be transmitted at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Debentures to be prepaid at its registered address. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date interest shall cease to accrue on such Debentures called for redemption. If the Debentures are only partially redeemed pursuant to Section 301, the Debentures will be redeemed by lot or by any other method utilized by the Trustee; provided that if, at the time of redemption, the Debentures are registered as a Global Debenture, the Depositary shall determine, in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of such Debentures held by each Depositary participant to be redeemed. The Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on the date of such redemption or at such earlier time as the Company determines; provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the date such Redemption Price is to be paid.
kr.No Sinking Fund.
The Debentures are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
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ARTICLE 4.

Covenant to List on Exchange
ok.Listing on an Exchange.
The Company will use its best efforts to list the Debentures on the NYSE. If approved for listing, trading on the NYSE is expected to commence within 30 days after the Debentures are first issued.
ARTICLE 5.

Subordination of Debentures
sg.Debentures Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness. The Company for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Debentures issued, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, by its acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of principal of and interest on each and all of the Debentures is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter in this Article set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company.
sh.Payments to Securityholders.  (i) In the event and during the continuation of any default beyond any grace period in the payment of principal of or interest on or any other monetary amounts due in respect of any Senior Indebtedness, or in the event that any other event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred and be continuing and shall have resulted in such Senior Indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable and the Trustee has received written notice from the Company, from holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee, representative or agent therefor, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured, waived or remedied or shall have ceased to exist and such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled or all amounts due on such Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash or other permitted consideration, or otherwise provided for, then no payment of the principal of or interest on the Debentures shall be made by the Company.
i.Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, due upon all Senior Indebtedness shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money or money’s worth in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made on account of the principal of or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the Debentures, and upon any such dissolution, 
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winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Debentures under the terms of this Supplemental Indenture would be entitled, except for the provisions hereof, shall (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred by the provisions hereof upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Debentures and the Holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law), be paid by the Company or any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders of the Debentures if received by them, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to each such holder on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holder) or their representatives, to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness (including interest thereon) in full, in money or money’s worth, in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the holders of the indebtedness evidenced by the Debentures. The consolidation of the Company with, or a merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided in Section 801 of the Original Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 502(a).
1.In the event that any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character not permitted by Section 502(a), whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of Debentures before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision made for such payment, in accordance with its terms, upon written notice to the Trustee or, as the case may be, such Holder, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the Trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 606 of the Original Indenture. In addition, nothing in this Article shall prevent the Company from making or the Trustee from receiving or applying any payment in connection with the redemption of the Debentures if the first publication of notice of such redemption (whether by mail or otherwise in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture) has been made, and the Trustee has received such payment from the Company, prior to the occurrence of any of the contingencies specified in this Section 502.
sg.Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness. From and after the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Debentures (together with the 
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holders of any other indebtedness of the Company which is subordinate in right of payment to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, which is not subordinate in right of payment to the Debentures and which by its terms grants such right of subrogation to the holder thereof) shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of assets or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the Debentures shall be paid in full, and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no such payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of assets or securities, which otherwise would have been payable or distributable to Holders of the Debentures, shall, as between the Company, its creditors (other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness), and the Holders of the Debentures, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Debentures, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand, and nothing contained herein is intended to or shall impair as between the Company, its creditors (other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness), and the Holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Debentures the principal of and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company (other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness), nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the Holders of Debentures from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default hereunder with respect to the Debentures subject to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, under Section 502, to receive cash, property or securities of the Company otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or the Holders of the Debentures or to a representative of such Holders, on their behalf.
Upon any distribution or payment in connection with any proceedings or sale referred to in Section 502(a), the Trustee and each Holder of the Debentures then Outstanding, shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution or payment to the Trustee or such Holder for the purpose of ascertaining the holders of Senior Indebtedness entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the amount of such Senior Indebtedness or the amount payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.
sh.No Impairment of Subordination. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Supplemental Indenture or the Debentures shall prevent at any time the Company from making payments at any time of principal of or interest on the Debentures, except under the conditions described in Section 502 or during the pendency of any proceedings or sale therein referred to.
si.Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder of Debentures by his acceptance thereof, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment, authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the 
13

subordination provisions in this Article and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
No rights of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Debentures then Outstanding, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by any such holder, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Supplemental Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders of the Debentures, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Debentures and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article or the obligations of the Holders of the Debentures to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.
sj.Notice to Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment of money to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article, unless and until the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor at least two Business Days prior to such payment date; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist.
The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such 
14

Person under this Article, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
sk.Reliance on Certificate of Liquidating Agent. Upon any payment or distribution referred to in this Article, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debentures shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which a dissolution, winding up or total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Debentures, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.
sl.Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of the Debentures or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.
sm.Priority of Senior Indebtedness Upon Maturity. Upon the maturity of the principal of any Senior Indebtedness by lapse of time, acceleration or otherwise, all matured principal of Senior Indebtedness and interest and premium, if any, thereon shall first be paid in full before any payment of principal or premium or interest, if any, is made upon the Debentures or before any Debentures can be acquired by the Company.
sn.Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
so.Article Applicable to Paying Agent. In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that this Section shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if it or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.
sp.Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired. No right of any present or future holder of Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination herein shall at any time or in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by 
15

any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of the Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.
ARTICLE 6.

Miscellaneous Provisions
The Trustee makes no undertaking or representations in respect of, and shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for and in respect of, the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof by the Company or for or in respect of the recitals and statements contained herein, all of which recitals and statements are made solely by the Company.
Except as expressly amended hereby, the Original Indenture shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof and the Original Indenture is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Original Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
This Supplemental Indenture and the Debentures shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
This 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. Execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture may be effected via electronic signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture  to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
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DTE ENERGY COMPANY

By:/s/Jeffrey A. Jewell              
Name: Jeffrey A. Jewell
Title: Vice President, Treasurer 
    and Chief Risk Officer
ATTEST:

By:/s/Lisa A. Muschong        
    Name:    Lisa A. Muschong
    Title:     Vice President, Corporate Secretary 
            and Chief of Staff

17

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:/s/Shannon Matthews            
Name: Shannon Matthews
Title: Vice President

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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE
THIS DEBENTURE IS A GLOBAL DEBENTURE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR DEBENTURES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS DEBENTURE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”), TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY DTC OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR OF DTC OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR. UNLESS THIS DEBENTURE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY DEBENTURE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL, INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
Cusip No.: 233331 826    $__________
No. R-
DTE ENERGY COMPANY
2020 Series G 4.375% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2080
DTE ENERGY COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein referred to as the “Company”, 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 $_____________ on October 15, 2080 (“Stated Maturity”), unless previously redeemed, and to pay interest at the rate of 4.375% per annum on said principal sum from the date of issuance until the principal of this Debenture becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum during such overdue period. Interest on this Debenture will be payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing January 15, 2021.
The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year and, for any period shorter than a full quarterly interest period, will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. In the event that the Stated Maturity, any Redemption Date, or any date on which interest is payable on this Debenture is not a Business Day, then payment of the amount payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment 
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in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day without reduction in the amount due to such early payment, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. Payments of interest may be deferred by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Article Two of the Supplemental Indenture (as defined herein) to the Indenture (as defined herein). The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date with respect to this Debenture will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holders on such Regular Record Date, and may either be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Holders of this series of Debentures not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debentures may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, the principal of and the interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at the close of business on the Regular Record Date at such address as shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, if this Debenture is a Global Debenture and is held in book-entry form through the facilities of the Depositary, payments on this Debenture will be made to the Depositary or its nominee in accordance with arrangements then in effect between the Trustee and the Depositary.
All references in this Debenture to interest shall include Compound Interest, if any.
This Debenture is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Company, designated as the “2020 Series G 4.375% Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2080” (the “Debentures”), limited to an aggregate principal amount of $230,000,000 (except for Debentures authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Debentures), all issued under and pursuant to an Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of April 9, 2001, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 1, 2020, with respect to the Debentures (the “Supplemental Indenture”), as further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (as so amended, supplemented or modified, the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein referred to as the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the registered Holders of the Debentures and of the terms upon which the Debentures are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.
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Payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each registered Holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee as his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each registered Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Holder upon said provisions.
The Company and, by its acceptance of this Debenture or a beneficial interest herein, the registered Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, this Debenture agree that for United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that this Debenture constitute indebtedness, and the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, this Debenture agrees to treat this Debenture as indebtedness for United States federal income tax purposes.
This Debenture is not subject to repayment at the option of the Holder hereof. Except as provided below, this Debenture is not redeemable by the Company prior to maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund.
This Debenture shall be redeemable prior to its Stated Maturity at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after October 15, 2025 at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compound Interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption. 
This Debenture shall be redeemable prior to its Stated Maturity at the option of the Company at any time prior to October 15, 2025 in whole but not in part, within 90 days following the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compound Interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
This Debenture shall also be redeemable prior to its Stated Maturity at the option of the Company prior to October 15, 2025 in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal process instituted by the Company following the occurrence and continuation of a Rating Agency Event, at a Redemption Price equal to 102% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compound Interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption.
Notice of any redemption will be transmitted at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to the Holder hereof at its registered address. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the principal amount of this Debenture called for redemption.
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If money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price with respect to the principal amount of and accrued interest on the principal amount of this Debenture to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Trustee on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, then on or after such date, interest will cease to accrue on the principal amount of this Debenture called for redemption.
If the Debentures are only partially redeemed by the Company, the Debentures will be redeemed by lot or by any other method utilized by the Trustee and in accordance with the Indenture; provided that if, at the time of redemption, the Debentures are registered as a Global Debenture, the Depositary shall determine in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of such Debentures held by each Debenture Holder to be redeemed.
In the event of redemption of this Debenture in part only, a new Debenture or Debentures of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the registered Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The provisions relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance in the Indenture in Section 403 thereof shall not apply to this Debenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Debentures under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of all Debentures issued under the Indenture at the time outstanding and affected thereby; provided, however, that no such amendment shall without the consent of the Holder of each Debenture so affected, among other things (i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on any Debentures of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture or (iii) modify any of the subordination provisions contained herein in a manner adverse to the Holder hereof. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting (i) the registered Holders of at least 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of the registered Holders of the Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and (ii) the registered Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of the registered Holders of the Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such registered Holder and upon all future registered Holders and owners of this Debenture and of any Debenture issued in exchange hereof or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or 
A-4

otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debenture.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Debenture at the time and place and at the 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 Debenture is registrable in the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debenture for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any interest on this Debenture are payable or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, duly endorsed by or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar or any transfer agent duly executed by the registered Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debentures 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. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
The Debentures of this series are issuable only in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. This Global Debenture is exchangeable for Debentures in definitive form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture. Debentures of this series so issued are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Debentures of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Debentures of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the registered Holder surrendering the same.
As set forth in, and subject to the provisions of, the Indenture, no registered owner of any Debenture will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless (i) such registered owner shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debentures of this series, (ii) the registered owners of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debentures of this series shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, (iii) the Trustee shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days and (iv) the Trustee shall not have received from the registered owners of a 
A-5

majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures of this series a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the registered owner hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any interest on this Debenture on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or a duly appointed Authentication Agent referred to herein, this Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
The Indenture and this Debenture shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
All terms used in this Debenture which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be duly executed.
A-6

DTE ENERGY COMPANY

By____________________________
Name: 
Title:
Date: 

Attest:

By____________________________
Corporate Secretary

A-7

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Debentures of the series of Debentures described in the within mentioned Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
  as Trustee

By__________________________
  Authorized Signatory
Date:
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
A-8

			
	(Please insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Assignee)

			
	(Please print or type name and address, including zip code of assignee)

the within Debenture and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing such person attorneys to transfer the within Debenture on the books of the Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:________________________
NOTICE:  The signature of this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Debenture in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever and NOTICE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a financial institution that is a member of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”), the Stock Exchange, Inc.  Medallion Signature Program (“MSP”).  When assignment is made by a guardian, trustee, executor or administrator, an officer of a corporation, or anyone in a representative capacity, proof of his or her authority to act must accompany this Debenture.

A-9

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