Document:

exv4w1

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

CLECO POWER LLC

(Successor to Cleco Utility Group Inc., formerly Central Louisiana Electric Company, Inc.)

TO

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Successor to The Bank of New York, successor to Bankers Trust Company),

as Trustee

 

NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

DATED AS OF JUNE 3, 2008

 

Supplementing the Indenture

dated as of October 1, 1988

 

 

 

          NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of June 3, 2008, between CLECO POWER LLC (successor to
Cleco Utility Group Inc., formerly Central Louisiana Electric Company, Inc.), a Louisiana limited
liability company (the “Company”), having its principal office at 2030 Donahue Ferry Road,
Pineville, Louisiana 71360-5226, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. (successor to The
Bank of New York, successor to Bankers Trust Company), a national banking association organized
under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust
Office at 601 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 (the “Ninth Supplemental
Indenture”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

          Central Louisiana Electric Company, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, executed and delivered its
Indenture dated as of October 1, 1988 to Bankers Trust Company, as trustee (the “Original
Indenture” and, as previously and hereby supplemented and amended, the “Indenture”), to
provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness, in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth therein.

          Cleco Utility Group Inc. (formerly Central Louisiana Electric Company, Inc.) (“Utility
Group”) executed and delivered to the Trustee a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
December 1, 2000 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”) to the Original Indenture, as
permitted by Section 901(8) of the Original Indenture, in order to amend the Original Indenture in
certain respects to clarify that Utility Group could consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all
or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any limited liability company.

          Pursuant to that certain Joint Agreement of Merger of Utility Group with and into Cleco Power
LLC effective December 31, 2000, Utility Group merged with and into the Company, and the Company
was vested with all rights, privileges and franchises of Utility Group and became responsible for
all liabilities and obligations of Utility Group.

          The Company, as successor to Utility Group, executed and delivered to the Trustee a Second
Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 1, 2001 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”) to
the Original Indenture as supplemented and modified by the First Supplemental Indenture, in
accordance with Section 901(1) thereof, in order to evidence and confirm its succession to Utility
Group and its assumption of the covenants therein contained and the Securities.

          The Company executed and delivered to the Trustee a Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of
April 26, 2001 to the Original Indenture, a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 1,
2002 to the Original Indenture, a Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2002 to the
Original Indenture, a Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 28, 2003 to the Original
Indenture, a Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 6, 2005 to the Original Indenture and
an Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 30, 2005 to the Original Indenture, in each
case as supplemented and modified by the supplemental indentures entered into prior thereto and
providing for the creation and issue of an additional series of securities as provided therein.

1

 

          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(6) thereof, and pursuant to
appropriate resolutions of the Board of Directors, has duly determined to make, execute and deliver
to the Trustee this Ninth Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture in accordance with Sections 201,
301 and 303 of the Original Indenture in order to establish the form or terms of, and to provide
for the creation and issue of, an additional series of Securities under the Original Indenture in
the aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000.

          All things necessary to make this Ninth Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company have been done.

          NOW, THEREFORE, THIS NINTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

          For and in consideration of the premises and of the covenants contained in the Indenture and
in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal
and proportionate benefit of all the Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.01. Additional Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein shall have the
meanings specified herein or in the Indenture, as the case may be. Unless otherwise indicated,
section references herein shall be to the sections of the Indenture.

     For all purposes of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture:

     “Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which
is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
obligated by law to close.

     “Certificated Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(b) hereof.

     “Comparable Treasury Issue” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.

     “Comparable Treasury Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.

     “Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the office of the Trustee located
at The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., 601 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana
70130; telecopier: (504) 565-5501.

     “Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03 hereof.

     “Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(c) hereof.

2

 

     “Defeasance” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02 hereof.

     “Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole
or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under
the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities.

     “Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities
of any series and bears the legend set forth in the Form of Note as Exhibit A hereto.

     “Holder,” as used in this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, means the Person in
whose name a Note is registered in the Security Register.

     “Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.

     “Independent Investment Banker” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01
hereof.

     “Interest Payment Dates” means June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing
on December 15, 2008.

     “Maturity Date” means, with respect to a Note, the date on which the principal
of such Note becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at Stated
Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, upon redemption by the Company as referred to in
Article Three hereof or otherwise.

     “Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 hereof.

     “Original Issue Date” means June 3, 2008.

     “Participant” means an institution that has one or more accounts with the
Depositary or a nominee thereof.

     “Primary Treasury Dealer” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.

     “Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.

     “Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.

     “Regular Record Date” means, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the
close of business on June 1 or December 1, as the case may be, next preceding the applicable
Interest Payment Date.

     “Reference Treasury Dealer” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.

     “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” has the meaning set forth in Section
3.01 hereof.

     “Ninth Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning set forth in the introductory
paragraph hereof.

3

 

     “Specimen Note” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08 hereof.

     “Stated Maturity” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03 hereof.

     “Treasury Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01 hereof.

     “U.S. Government Obligation” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a)
hereof.

ARTICLE TWO

ESTABLISHMENT OF 6.65% NOTES DUE 2018

     Section 2.01. Title of the Securities. The title of the Securities established by this
Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall be “6.65% Notes due 2018” of the Company (the “Notes”).

     Section 2.02. Limitation on Aggregate Principal Amount. The aggregate principal amount of
the Notes shall be limited to $250,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate
principal amount may in the future be increased without the consent of the Holders pursuant to the
provisions of the Indenture.

     Section 2.03. Stated Maturity. The Notes shall mature and the principal amount thereof
shall be due and payable, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on June 15, 2018
(the “Stated Maturity”).

     Section 2.04. Interest and Interest Rates.

     (a) Each Note shall bear interest at the rate of 6.65% per annum, from and including
the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for (or from, and including, the Original Issue Date if no interest has been paid
or duly provided for), to, but excluding, the Maturity Date. The initial date on which
interest will be paid for the Notes will be December 15, 2008 and the payment on such date
will include all accrued interest from the Original Issue Date.

     (b) The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for any partial period
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days
elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on a
Note is not a Business Day, then payment of the 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) with the same force and effect as if made on the date
the payment was originally payable.

     (c) The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the
close of business on the applicable Regular Record Date, except that interest payable on the
Maturity Date as provided herein shall be paid to the Holder to whom principal is payable in
accordance with Section 2.05 hereof. Any such interest not

4

 

so punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith
cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may be paid by the
Company, at its election in each case (i) in accordance with the provisions of Section
307(1) of the Original Indenture to the Persons in whose name such Notes are registered at
the close of business on a Special Record Date or (ii) be paid in any other lawful manner
not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation
system, if any, on which the Notes may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be
required by such exchange or quotation system, if, after notice is given by the Company to
the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

     Section 2.05. Place and Manner of Payment of Principal and Interest.

     (a) The Trustee shall initially serve as the Paying Agent for the Notes. Payment of
the principal of and any interest on the Notes due on the Maturity Date shall be made in
immediately available funds in such coin and currency of the United States of America as at
the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debt upon presentation
and surrender of the applicable Note at the office or agency maintained by the Company for
that purpose, initially the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or at such other paying
agency as the Company may determine; provided, however, that if the Maturity Date falls on
or after an Interest Payment Date then the Holders presenting and surrendering Notes on such
Maturity Date will only be entitled to interest accruing on or after such Interest Payment
Date.

     (b) Payment of interest due on any Interest Payment Date other than on the Maturity
Date will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or, at the option of the
Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address
shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer of immediately available
funds at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may
be designated in wire transfer instructions received in writing by the Trustee at least
fifteen (15) days prior to such Interest Payment Date. Any such wire transfer instructions
received by the Trustee shall remain in effect until revoked by such Holder.

     Section 2.06. Place of Registration or Exchange; Notices and Demands with Respect to Notes.
The place where the Holders of the Notes may present the Notes for registration of transfer or
exchange and may make notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes shall be
the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

     Section 2.07. Sinking Fund Obligations. The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund,
but may be redeemable as and to the extent provided in Article Three of this Ninth Supplemental
Indenture.

     Section 2.08. Form of Securities. The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered
form, without coupons. The Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more
Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. Global Securities shall
not be deemed to be temporary Securities in global form for purposes of

5

 

Section 304 of the Original Indenture. A beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security representing
the Notes will not be considered the Holder thereof for any purpose of the Indenture. Except as
may otherwise be provided in an Officers’ Certificate or Company Order subsequently delivered to
the Trustee, the Notes will be issuable in denominations of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof
that is an integral multiple of $1,000.

          The Notes shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “Specimen
Note”).

     Section 2.09. Global Securities.

     (a) The Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities. The Global Securities shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository
Trust Company, New York, New York, which shall act initially as Depositary with respect to
the Notes, or any other duly appointed depositary (the “Depositary”). The Notes
shall be issued only as fully registered securities in the name of the Depositary’s nominee,
Cede & Co. In addition to any other legend permitted pursuant to the provisions of the
Indenture, each Global Security shall bear legends in substantially the following form:

          “THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER
REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK) OR OTHER DULY APPOINTED DEPOSITORY (THE “DEPOSITARY”). UNLESS AND UNTIL
IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE
TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR OTHER DULY APPOINTED
DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE
DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO
A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

          “Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository
Trust Company, a New York corporation, to the issuer hereof or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede
& Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as
is requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company), ANY TRANSFER,
PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch
as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.”

     (b) Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for one or more Notes in
certificated form (each a “Certificated Note”), a Global Security representing all
or a portion of the Notes may not be transferred except as a whole (i) by the Depositary to
a nominee of such Depositary, (ii) by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or

6

 

another nominee of such Depositary or (iii) by such Depositary or any such nominee to a
successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Certificated Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer or exchange at the office or agency provided for in
the Indenture, as supplemented and amended.

     (c) If at any time the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable
to continue as Depositary or if at any time the Depositary shall no longer be a clearing
agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable
statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary. If a successor
Depositary is not appointed by the Company within sixty (60) days after the Company receives
such notice or becomes aware of such condition, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee,
upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Certificated Notes,
shall authenticate and deliver Certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to
the principal amount of the Global Security or Notes held by the Depositary in exchange
therefor.

     (d) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that all or any
portion, in authorized denominations, of the Notes issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Notes. In such event,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of Certificated Notes, shall authenticate and deliver
Certificated Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such
Global Security or Notes in exchange therefor.

     (e) Except as may be otherwise provided in an Officers’ Certificate or Company Order
subsequently delivered to the Trustee and except as specifically provided in Section 2.09(c)
or 2.09(d) hereof, interests in the Notes represented by a Global Security will not be
exchangeable for and will otherwise not be issuable in the form of Certificated Notes.
Upon the occurrence in respect of any Global Security of any one or more of the conditions
specified in Section 2.09(c) or 2.09(d) hereof or as may otherwise be provided in an
Officers’ Certificate or Company Order subsequently delivered to the Trustee, such Global
Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee and Certificated Notes issued in exchange for a
Global Security shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as
the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or
indirect Participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. Unless otherwise specified
in such instructions, the Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Notes to the Persons in
which names such Certificated Notes are so registered. If the Certificated Notes are so
delivered, the Company may make such changes to the form of such Notes as are necessary or
appropriate to allow for the issuance of such Certificated Notes. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Indenture, unless otherwise provided in an Officers’ Certificate or Company
Order subsequently delivered to the Trustee, any Note authenticated and delivered upon
registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, any Global Security shall
also be a Global Security and shall bear the legends specified in Section 2.09(a) hereof,
except for any transfer of a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.09.

7

 

     Section 2.10. Security Registrar. The Trustee shall initially serve as the Security
Registrar for the Notes.

     Section 2.11. Transfer. No service charge will be made for the registration of transfer or
exchange of Notes; provided, however, that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange.
The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes
during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of the
mailing of a notice pursuant to Section 1104 of the Original Indenture identifying the certificate
numbers of the Notes to be called for redemption, and ending at the close of business on the day of
the mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Notes theretofore selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note redeemed in part.

ARTICLE THREE

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES

     Section 3.01. Redemption Price. The Company shall have the right to redeem the Notes as a
whole or in part, at its option, at any time and from time to time, at a price (“Redemption
Price”) equal to the greater of:

     (a) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, and

     (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest on such Notes (exclusive of unpaid interest to the date of redemption
(“Redemption Date”)) discounted to the Redemption Date semiannually (assuming a
360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below),
plus 40 basis points,

plus, in either case (a) or (b), accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to (but excluding) the
Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the
semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (as defined below),
assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal
amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price (as defined below) for such Redemption Date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an
Independent Investment Banker (as defined below) as having a maturity comparable to the remaining
term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance
with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable
maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

“Independent Investment Banker” means an independent investment banking institution of
national standing appointed by the Company. If the Company fails to appoint such an independent
investment banking institution at least thirty (30) Business Days prior to a Redemption Date, or if
the institution appointed by the Company is unwilling or unable to select

8

 

the Comparable Treasury Issue, the selection shall be made by BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC or,
if it is unwilling or unable to make the selection, by an independent investment banking
institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (i) the average of
the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations (as defined below) for such Redemption Date, after
excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Trustee
obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such
quotations.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury
Dealer (as defined below) and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of
the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage
of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00
p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means five primary U.S. Government securities dealers in the
United States (“Primary Treasury Dealer”) appointed by the Company in connection with the
redemption; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury
Dealer, the Company shall replace that former dealer with another Primary Treasury Dealer.

     Section 3.02. Partial Redemption. If the Notes are redeemed in part pursuant to this
Article Three, the Notes shall be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by any other method that the
Trustee deems fair and appropriate. Such partially redeemed Notes shall be surrendered at any
office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 of the
Original Indenture, initially the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, with, if the Company or
the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her
attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder, without charge, a new Registered Security of authorized
denominations for the principal amount for the unredeemed portion pursuant to Section 1107 of the
Original Indenture.

     Section 3.03. Notice of Optional Redemption. If the Company elects to exercise its right
to redeem all or some of the Notes pursuant to this Article Three, the Company or, at the Company’s
request, the Trustee, shall mail a written notice of such redemption to each Holder of any Note
that is to be redeemed not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the
Redemption Date.

     Section 3.04. No Limitation on Purchase of Notes by the Company. Subject to the foregoing
and to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), the
Company and its affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding Notes by
tender, in the open market or by private agreement.

9

 

ARTICLE FOUR

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     Section 4.01. Election by Company. The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to
have Section 4.02 or 4.03 hereof applied to any or all of the Notes, upon compliance with the
conditions set forth below in this Article Four. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board
Resolution or in another manner contemplated by the Indenture, as supplemented hereby, with respect
to such Notes.

     Section 4.02. Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise of its option to have this Section
4.02 applied to any Notes, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations
with respect to such Notes as provided in this Article Four on and after the date the conditions
set forth in Section 4.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this
purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the
entire indebtedness represented by such Notes and to have satisfied all its other obligations under
such Notes and the Indenture, insofar as such Notes are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense
of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following,
which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders
of such Notes to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 4.04 hereof and as more
fully set forth in such section, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on such Notes
when payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 304,
305, 306, 1002 and 1003 of the Original Indenture, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and
immunities of the Trustee under the Indenture and (d) this Article Four. Subject to compliance
with this Article Four, the Company may exercise its option to have this Section 4.02 applied to
any Notes notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option to have Section 4.03 hereof applied to
such Notes.

     Section 4.03. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise of its option to have this
Section 4.03 applied to any Notes, (a) the Company shall be released from its obligations under
Article Eight of the Original Indenture, Sections 1007 and 1009 of the Original Indenture and any
covenants for the benefit of the Holders of such Notes provided pursuant to Sections 301(17),
Section 901(2) and 901(6) of the Original Indenture and (b) the occurrence of any event specified
in Sections 501(4) (with respect to Article Eight of the Original Indenture, Sections 1007, 1009
and/or to any such covenants provided pursuant to Sections 301(17), 901(2) or 901(6)), and 501(8)
of the Original Indenture shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case
with respect to such Notes as provided in this Section 4.03 on and after the date the conditions
set forth in Section 4.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”).
For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Notes, the Company may
omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set
forth in any such specified section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 501(4) of
the Original Indenture), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere in the
Indenture or herein to any such section or by reason of any reference in any such section to any
other provision in the Indenture, herein or in any other document, but the remainder of the
Indenture, as supplemented hereby, and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby.

10

 

     Section 4.04. Conditions for Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of Notes. The following
shall be the conditions to the application of Section 4.02 or Section 4.03 hereof to any Notes:

     (a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the
Trustee (or another trustee that satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 609 of
the Original Indenture and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article Four
applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments,
specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders
of such Notes, (1) money in an amount, or (2) U.S. Government Obligations (as defined below)
which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in
accordance with their terms will provide, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in each case
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge,
and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and
discharge, the principal of and interest on such Notes on the Stated Maturity, in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture, and such Notes. As used herein, “U.S. Government
Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States
of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting
as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is
unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of
America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of
the issuer thereof, and (y) any depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section
3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any U.S.
Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the
account of the holder of such depository receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of
principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held,
provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any
deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount
received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific
payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depository receipt.

     (b) In the event of an election to have Section 4.02 hereof apply to any Notes, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the
Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a
ruling or (2) since the date of this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, there has been a change
in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case (1) or (2) to the effect that, and
based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Notes will not recognize
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and
discharge to be effected with respect to such Notes and will be subject to federal income
tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if
such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

11

 

     (c) In the event of an election to have Section 4.03 hereof apply to any Notes, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
Holders of such Notes will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Notes and
will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same
times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

     (d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the
effect that such Notes, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a
result of such deposit.

     (e) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event
of Default with respect to such Notes shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of
such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(6) and (7) of the
Original Indenture, at any time on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day after the date of
such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until
after such sixtieth (60th) day).

     (f) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a
conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Notes are
in default within the meaning of such Act).

     (g) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation
of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is
a party or by which it is bound.

     (h) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from
such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from
registration thereunder.

     (i) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such
Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

     Section 4.05. Acknowledgement of Defeasance. Subject to Section 4.07 below and after the
Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each
stating that all conditions precedent referred to in Section 4.04 hereof, as the case may be,
relating to the defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, have been complied with,
the Trustee upon request of the Company shall acknowledge in writing the defeasance or the
satisfaction and discharge, as the case may be, of the Indenture, and the discharge of the
Company’s obligations under the Indenture.

     Section 4.06. Trustee Obligations. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of
Section 1003 of the Original Indenture, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the
proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of
this Section and Section 4.07 hereof, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to

12

 

collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof in respect of any Notes
shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes
and the Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the
Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes,
of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and interest, but money so held
in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

          The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed
on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof or
the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge
which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Notes.

          Anything in this Article Four to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or
pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations
held by it as provided in Section 4.04 hereof with respect to any Notes which, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification
thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required
to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect
to such Notes.

     Section 4.07. Reinstatement of Note Obligations. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is
unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article Four with respect to any Notes by reason
of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise
prohibiting such application, then the obligations under the Indenture, and such Notes from which
the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 4.02 or 4.03 hereof shall be
revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Four with respect
to such Notes, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held
in trust pursuant to Section 4.06 hereof with respect to such Notes in accordance with this Article
Four; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or interest on any
such Note following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the
rights (if any) of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money so held in
trust.

ARTICLE FIVE

MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 5.01. One Instrument. As supplemented by this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the
Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.

     Section 5.02. No Additional Duties. Except as expressly set forth in this Ninth
Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee assumes no duties, responsibilities or liabilities by reason of
this Ninth Supplemental Indenture, other than as set forth in the Indenture, as fully as if said
terms and conditions were herein set forth at length.

13

 

     Section 5.03. Counterparts. This Ninth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original; but
such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

     Section 5.04. Governing Law. This Ninth Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to
be performed in such state.

14

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Ninth Supplemental Indenture to be executed in
its limited liability company name and its limited liability company seal to be hereunto affixed
and attested by its duly authorized officers, all as of the date first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	CLECO POWER LLC	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	[SEAL]
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Charles A. Mannix	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Vice President — Tax & Treasurer	 	 
	ATTEST:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Judy P. Miller	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Corporate Secretary	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Signed, sealed, acknowledged and delivered	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	by CLECO POWER LLC, in the presence of:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

[Signatures continued on next page.]

 

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustee has caused this Ninth Supplemental Indenture to be executed in
its corporate name and attested by its duly authorized officers, all as of the date first above
written.

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

	 	 	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Denis L. Milliner	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Vice President	 	 
	ATTEST:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Byron P. Poydras	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Vice President	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Signed, acknowledged and delivered	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	by THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	COMPANY, N.A. in the presence of:	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

 

 

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF                                         

          BE IT KNOWN, that on this                      day of June, 2008, before me, the undersigned authority, duly
commissioned, qualified and sworn within and for the State and Parish aforesaid, personally came
and appeared:

	 	1.	 	Charles A. Mannix
	 
	 	2.	 	Judy P. Miller

to me known to be the identical persons who executed the above and foregoing instrument, who
declared and acknowledged to me, Notary, in the presence of the undersigned competent witnesses,
that they are respectively (1) the Vice President — Tax & Treasurer and (2) the Corporate
Secretary of Cleco Power LLC (the “Company”); that the seal impressed beside their
respective signatures on the foregoing Ninth Supplemental Indenture is the official seal of the
Company; that the aforesaid instrument was signed and sealed by them, on behalf of the Company by
authority of a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Managers of the Company on March 17, 2006;
and that the above named persons acknowledge said instrument to be the free act and deed of the
Company.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	1.	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Charles A. Mannix	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Vice President — Tax & Treasurer	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	2.	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Judy P. Miller	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Corporate Secretary	 	 
	WITNESSES:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

 

Notary Public

 

 

STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF ORLEANS

          BE IT KNOWN, that on this                      day of June, 2008, before me, the undersigned authority, duly
commissioned, qualified and sworn within and for the State and Parish aforesaid, personally came
and appeared:

	 	1.	 	Denis L. Milliner
	 
	 	2.	 	Byron P. Poydras

to me known to be the identical persons who executed the above and foregoing instrument, who
declared and acknowledged to me, Notary, in the presence of the undersigned competent witnesses,
that they are respectively (1) the Vice President and (2) the Vice President of The Bank of New
York Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”); that the aforesaid instrument was signed by them
on behalf of the Trustee by authority of its By-laws; and that the above named persons acknowledge
said instrument to be the free act and deed of the Trustee.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	1.	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Denis L. Milliner	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Vice President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	2.	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Byron P. Poydras	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Vice President	 	 
	WITNESSES:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

 

Notary Public

 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF 6.65% NOTE

Exhibit A

Page 1

 

 

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[If Global Security, insert — THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55
WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) OR OTHER DULY APPOINTED DEPOSITORY (THE “DEPOSITARY”). UNLESS
AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE
TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR OTHER DULY APPOINTED DEPOSITARY TO
A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE
OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE
OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company, a New York corporation, to the issuer hereof or its agent for registration of transfer,
exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such
other name as is requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (and any
payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede &
Co., has an interest herein.]

			
	 	 	 
	NO. ___
	 	CUSIP NO. 185508 AF5

CLECO POWER LLC

6.65% NOTE

DUE JUNE 15, 2018

	 	 	 
	Principal Amount:
	 	$250,000,000
	 
	 	 
	Regular Record Date:
	 	June 1 or December 1, as the case may be, next preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date
	 
	 	 
	Original Issue Date:
	 	June 3, 2008
	 
	 	 
	Stated Maturity:
	 	June 15, 2018
	 
	 	 
	Interest Payment Dates:
	 	June 15 and December 15, commencing December 15, 2008
	 
	 	 
	Interest Rate:
	 	6.65% per annum
	 
	 	 
	Authorized Denomination:
	 	$1,000 and integral multiples in excess thereof

Exhibit A

Page 2

 

 

          CLECO POWER LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (the “Company”, which term includes any
successor entity under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to ______, or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      ($     )
on the Stated Maturity shown above (or upon any earlier date of redemption or acceleration of
maturity) (each such date being hereinafter referred to as the “Maturity Date”) and to pay
interest thereon, from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from, and including, the Original Issue Date if no
interest has been paid or duly provided for), to, but excluding, the Maturity Date, semiannually in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date as specified above, commencing on December 15, 2008 at the
rate per annum shown above until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and on
any overdue principal and on any overdue installment of interest. Capitalized terms used herein
shall have the meanings specified in the Indenture or the Ninth Supplemental Indenture (each as
defined on the reverse hereof), as the case may be.

          The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name this 6.65% Note due June 15, 2018 (this “Note,” and
collectively, the “Notes”) is registered at the close of business on the applicable Regular Record
Date, except that interest payable on the Maturity Date as provided herein shall be paid to the
Holder to whom principal is payable in accordance with Section 2.05 of the Ninth Supplemental
Indenture. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted
Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder hereof on such Regular Record Date
and may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case (i) in accordance with the provisions
of Section 307(1) of the Indenture to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close
of business on a Special Record Date or (ii) be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent
with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any, on which
the Notes may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or
quotation system, if, after notice is given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment
pursuant to clause 2.04(c)(ii) of the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, such payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

          Interest payments on this Note will include interest accrued to, but excluding, the respective
Interest Payment Dates or the Maturity Date. Interest payments for this Note shall be computed and
paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for
any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the
days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this
Note is not a Business Day (as defined below), then payment of the 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) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the
payment was originally payable. A ‘Business Day,’ means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized
or obligated by law to close.

          The Trustee shall initially serve as the Paying Agent for the Notes. Payment of the principal
of and any interest on this Note due on the Maturity Date shall be made in immediately available
funds in such coin and currency of the United States of America as at the

Exhibit A

Page 3

 

time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debt upon presentation and
surrender of this Note at the office or agency maintained by the Company for that purpose,
initially the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or at such other paying agency as the Company
may determine; provided, however, that if the Maturity Date falls on or after an Interest Payment
Date then the Holder presenting and surrendering this Note on such Maturity Date will only be
entitled to interest accruing on or after such Interest Payment Date.

          Payment of interest due on any Interest Payment Date other than on the Maturity Date will be
made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or, at the option of the Company, (i) by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security
Register or (ii) by wire transfer of immediately available funds at such place and to such account
at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in wire transfer instructions
received in writing by the Trustee at least fifteen (15) days prior to such Interest Payment Date.
Any such wire transfer instructions received by the Trustee shall remain in effect until revoked by
such Holder.

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

          Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual
signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.

Exhibit A

Page 4

 

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

Dated: __________ ___, 2___

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	CLECO POWER LLC

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	  	 
	 

(Seal of CLECO POWER LLC appears here)

Attest:

                                                            

Name:  

Title:  

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated: __________ ___, 2___

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

 	 
	 	By:  	 	 
	 	 	Authorized Signatory 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

Exhibit A

Page 5

 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

          This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, issued and issuable in
one or more series under the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1988 (as previously and hereby
supplemented and amended, the “Indenture”), between the Company (successor to Cleco Utility
Group Inc., formerly Central Louisiana Electric Company, Inc.) and The Bank of New York Trust
Company, N.A. (successor to The Bank of New York, successor to Bankers Trust Company), as trustee
(the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture
and all indentures incidental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective
rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the
Holders of the Notes issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Notes are, and are to be,
authenticated and delivered. This Note is designated on the face hereof as 6.65% Notes due June
15, 2018 (the “Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000; provided,
however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount may in the future be increased without the
consent of the Holders of the Notes pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.

          The Company shall have the right, subject to the terms and conditions of the Ninth
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2008, between the Company and the Trustee (the
“Ninth Supplemental Indenture”), to redeem this Note, as a whole or in part, at its option,
at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of:

     (a) 100% of the principal amount of this Note, and

     (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest on this Note (exclusive of unpaid interest to the Redemption Date) discounted to
the Redemption Date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate, plus 40 basis points,

plus, in either case (a) or (b), accrued and unpaid interest on this Note to (but excluding) the
Redemption Date, all as more fully provided in the Ninth Supplemental Indenture.

          If the Company elects to exercise its right to redeem all or part of this Note, the Company
or, at the Company’s request, the Trustee, will mail a written notice of such redemption to the
Holder hereof not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption
Date. In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes for the unredeemed
portion will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof pursuant to the
terms of Section 3.02 of the Ninth Supplemental Indenture. The Notes will not have a sinking fund.

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

          If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing under the Indenture, the principal of the
Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions
provided in the Indenture.

Exhibit A

Page 6

 

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

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and
the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the
Notes at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Notes affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions
permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, on behalf of the
Holders of all such Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Notes, in certain instances, to waive, on behalf of all of the Holders of
Notes, certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Note and other Notes issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in
exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon
this Note.

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

          The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and
any integral multiple thereof.

          As provided in the Ninth Supplemental Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein and
herein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register upon surrender
of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained for
that purpose. Every Note presented for registration of transfer shall (if so required by the
Company or the Security Registrar) be duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the
Holder hereof or by his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new
Notes having the same terms and provisions, of Authorized Denominations and for the same aggregate
principal amount, will be issued by the Company to the designated transferee or transferees. No
service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange of this Note,
provided, however, that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange.

          The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes
during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of the
mailing of the notice of redemption pursuant to the Indenture identifying the certificate numbers
of the Notes to be called for redemption, and ending at the close of business on the day of the
mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Notes theretofore

Exhibit A

Page 7

 

selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note
redeemed in part.

          As provided in the Ninth Supplemental Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein and
herein set forth, this Note is exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of
different authorized denominations but otherwise having the same terms and provisions, as requested
by the Holder hereof surrendering the same.

          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if (x) the Depositary at any time notifies the
Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or if at any time the Depositary
shall no longer be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary is not appointed by
the Company within sixty (60) days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such
condition, or (y) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect
that this Note shall be exchangeable for certificates issued in definitive form (“Certificated
Notes”), this Note shall be exchangeable for Certificated Notes of like tenor and of an equal
aggregate principal amount, in authorized denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
Such Certificated Notes shall be registered in such name or names as the Depositary, pursuant to
instructions from its direct or indirect Participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee.
Unless otherwise specified in such instructions, the Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Notes
to the Persons in which names such Certificated Notes are so registered. If Certificated Notes are
so delivered, the Company may make such changes to the form of this Note as are necessary or
appropriate to allow for the issuance of such Certificated Notes.

          THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

Exhibit A

Page 8

 

[If not Global Security, insert —

ABBREVIATIONS

          The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Note, shall be
construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	TEN COM

	 	-
	 	as tenants in common	 	 
	TEN ENT

	 	-
	 	as tenants by the entireties	 	 
	JT TEN

	 	-
	 	as joint tenants with right of
survivorship and not as tenants in
common
	UNIF GIFT MIN ACT

	 	-
	 	                     Custodian                     	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	(Cust)                               (Minor)	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

(State)
	 	 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

Exhibit A

Page 9

 

ASSIGNMENT

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR

OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

                                                                     
             

                                                                     
             

      

(Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee)

      

This Note and all rights thereunder hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

      

Attorney to transfer this Note on the books of the Trustee, with full power of substitution in the
premises.

Dated:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Notice: The signature(s) on this Assignment
must correspond with the name(s) as written
upon the face of this Note in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever.]

Exhibit A

Page 10exv4w1

Exhibit 4.1

AMENDMENT TO PREFERRED SHARES RIGHTS AGREEMENT

OF

CELEBRATE EXPRESS, INC.

     This Amendment To the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement (this “Amendment”) by
and between Celebrate Express, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”) and American
Stock Transfer and Trust Company (the “Rights Agent”) is made as of this 23rd day of May,
2008.

     Whereas, the Company and the Rights Agent entered into a certain Preferred Shares
Rights Agreement on July 25, 2006 (the “Agreement”);

     Whereas, Section 27 of the Agreement provides that the Company may from time to time
amend any provision of the Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights (as therein
defined) in order to make any provision with respect to the Rights which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable, each such amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and
the Rights Agent;

     Whereas, at the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders held on October 18, 2007, the
shareholders were presented with a proposal to ratify the Agreement and, at the aforementioned
annual meeting, the shareholders did not approve Proposal 6, Ratification of the Company’s
Shareholder Rights Plan and, therefore, pursuant to Section 27 of the Agreement, the Company may
amend the Agreement without the approval of any holders of preferred shares rights in order to
“shorten or lengthen any time period” under the Agreement;

     Whereas, at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”)
held on March 20, 2008, the Board approved an amendment to the Agreement to shorten the time period
of the Agreement from August 7, 2016 to April 15, 2008; and

     Whereas, the Company believes it is desirable to amend the Agreement as set forth
below.

     Now, therefore, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1. Amendment of the Agreement. Except as otherwise explicitly provided in
this Amendment, the Agreement will remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

 

 

     2. Modification to the Agreement. Section 1(k) of the Agreement is hereby amended to
read in its entirety as follows (with the new language appearing in underlined italics):

          “(k) “Final Expiration Date” shall mean April 15, 2008.”

     3. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Originally executed counterparts may be delivered by facsimile and any such delivery shall be valid
for all purposes as delivery of a manual signature and equally admissible in any legal proceedings
to which any party is a party.

     4. Entire Understanding. This Amendment shall supersede and replace any prior
agreement or amendment relating to the amendment of Section 1(k) of the Agreement.

     5. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed under the laws of
the State of Washington as applied to agreements among Washington residents entered into and to be
performed entirely within Washington; except that all provisions regarding the rights, duties and
obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.

     6. Severability. If one or more provisions of this Amendment are held to be
unenforceable under applicable law, portions of such provisions, or such provisions in their
entirety, to the extent necessary, shall be severed from this Amendment, and the balance of the
Amendment shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in
accordance with its terms.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

     In Witness Whereof, the parties have executed this Amendment to Preferred Shares
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	CELEBRATE EXPRESS, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Kristopher S. Galvin
 

Kristopher S. Galvin
	 	 
	 

	 	Chief Financial Officer & Secretary	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Address: 11232 120th Ave. NE, Suite 204

               Kirkland, WA 98033	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	AMERICAN SECURITIES TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Herbert J. Lemmer
 

(Signature)
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By: Herbert J. Lemmer	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	(print)	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Its: Vice President	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	(print)	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Address:

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00143-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00143-of-00352.parquet"}]]