Document:

FCFS PURCHASE AGREEMENT Exhibit 10.1

Exhibit 10.1

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST, STOCK AND ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS MEMBERSHIP INTEREST, STOCK AND ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), effective as of June 15, 2012 is made by and among Mister Money Investments, Inc. (“MMI”), L. & W. Properties,  LLC,  (“L&W”), Mister Money -- RM, Inc. (“MM--RM”), Mister Money -- KY, Inc. (“MM--KY”), LWC, LLC (“LWC”), and MMRD, LLC (“MMRD”), (hereafter “Sellers,” whether reference is to one or more); Roger Dechairo, Timothy S. Lanham, Wendell G. Lanham, R. Douglas Will, M. Christine Will, R. Tedrow Will, Kathryn I. Will, K. Colette Sawyer, Joshua A. Lanham, Katie Lanham, R. Patrick Will, R. Mathew Will, Jaime B. Will, Ryan Sarmast, Jessica P. Sarmast, Benjamin Zander, and Stacey M. Zander (hereafter “Seller Affiliates,” whether reference is made to one or more); and FCFS CO, Inc. and FCFS KY, Inc.  (hereafter “Purchasers,” whether reference is made to one or more).

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, Sellers desire to sell and Purchasers desire to purchase certain Assets (defined in Article I, Section 1.1) of Sellers used in connection with Sellers’ businesses conducted at the locations listed as “Asset Sale Locations” at Exhibit “A”  (the “Asset Sale Locations”), which business includes making pawn loans, making short-term loans, cashing checks, processing money transfers, selling money orders, buying and selling merchandise, and all other revenue-producing activities (the “Business”).

WHEREAS, MMI is the record and beneficial owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares, and all outstanding options and warrants of MM--KY and MM--RM;

WHEREAS, Once Purchasers buy MM--RM’s Assets (defined in Article I, Section 1.2(a)), Purchasers will buy 100% of the shares of MM--RM (“Shares”) , free and clear of any encumbrances. The purchase price as set forth in Article I, Section 1.3 includes consideration for MM--RM’s Shares.

WHEREAS, Purchasers will buy 100% of the membership interest (“Membership Interest”) of LWC, free and clear of any encumbrances.  The purchase price as set forth in Article I, Section 1.3 includes consideration for LWC’s Membership Interest.

WHEREAS, MM--RM and its Shares and LWC and its Membership Interest are collectively referred to as the “Target Companies’ Interest” and MM--RM and LWC are collectively referred to as the “Target Companies”.

WHEREAS, Timothy S. Lanham, Wendell G. Lanham, R. Douglas Will, M. Christine Will, R. Tedrow Will, Kathryn I. Will, K. Colette Sawyer, Joshua A. Lanham, Katie Lanham, R. Patrick Will, R. Mathew Will, Jaime B. Will, Ryan Sarmast, Jessica P. Sarmast, Benjamin Zander, and Stacey M. Zander own all of the issued and outstanding shares of MMI; and Roger Dechairo and MMI each own 50% of the membership interest in MMRD;

WHEREAS, R. Tedrow Will, Kathryn I. Will, R. Douglas Will, M. Christine Will, Timothy S.  Lanham, Wendell G. Lanham and K. Colette Sawyer own all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of L&W, which owns 100%  of LWC; and 

WHEREAS the Target Companies’ assets and locations and the Asset Sale Locations listed in Exhibit A are collectively referred to as the Locations.  

Capitalized terms not locally defined are defined in Article IX, Section 9.18.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, and on the terms and subject to the conditions in this Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

PURCHASE AND SALE

1.1.

Sale and Purchase of Assets.  Subject to and upon the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, at the Closing (defined in Article II, Section 2.1), Sellers will sell, transfer, assign, convey and deliver to Purchasers all of the following assets of Sellers used in connection with the Business at the Asset Sale Locations, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances, and Purchasers will purchase, accept and acquire from Sellers, the following:

(a)

Intangible Assets.  All of Sellers’ intangible assets relating to Sellers’ Business at the Asset Sale Locations, including, but not limited to Sellers’ right, title and interest in the licenses, and all lists of customers (active and inactive). 

(b) 

Pawn Loans.  All of Sellers’ outstanding pawn loans receivable (including all accrued interest thereon) and all evidence of indebtedness owed to Sellers arising out of the Business conducted at the Asset Sale Locations, together with all pawn merchandise securing same (hereafter, “Pawn Loans”).

(c) 

Inventory.  All of Sellers’ inventory and merchandise at the Asset Sale Locations, including inventory subject to layaway agreements (hereafter, “Inventory”).

(d)

Payday Loans.

  All of Sellers’ outstanding payday or short-term loans receivable, whether delinquent or not,  (including all accrued interest thereon) and all evidence of indebtedness owed to Sellers arising out of the Business conducted at the Asset Sale Locations, together with all checks or other documents securing same (hereafter, “Payday Loans”).

(e) 

Intellectual Property.  All intellectual property of the Business, including, but not limited to trademarks, trade names, marketing materials, slogans, and the exclusive  right to use any websites or domain names used in the Sellers’ Business.

(f)

Records.  All of Sellers’ customer (active and inactive) records, files and papers pertaining to the Business conducted at the Asset Sale Locations, including computer records, customer files, and customer credit histories; and

(g)

Equipment, Fixed Assets and Supplies.  All of Sellers’ furniture, equipment, supplies, safes, fixed assets, signs and leasehold improvements located at the Asset Sale Locations or used in connection with the Business.

(h)

Other Assets.  All other properties, assets and rights, including the contractual agreements listed in Exhibit G of Sellers and which relate to the Business and are located at the Asset Sale Locations.  Only the contractual agreements identified in Exhibit G will be assumed by Purchasers.  

All of the assets described in Subsections (a) through (h) above are collectively referred to as the “Assets”.  The Assets will be allocated between Purchasers in their mutual discretion.

1.2

Sale and Purchase of MM--RM’s Assets and Target Companies’ Interest.

(a)

Sale of Assets of MM--RM.  MM--RM owns pawn shops identified on Exhibit “A” as numbers 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39 41, and 42.  Subject to, and on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, Purchasers will purchase from MM--RM all of the assets (of the type and character of the assets described at 1.1(a)-(h)) of the pawn shops owned by MM--RM, EXCEPT for store identified as #37.  After Purchasers acquire the aforementioned assets, Purchasers will acquire MM--RM’s Shares.   

 

(b)

Sale of Shares of MM--RM.  Once Purchasers have acquired the assets, MMI will sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver to Purchasers, and Purchasers will purchase from MMI, the entire right, title and interest in and to the Shares of MM--RM.  Purchasers will acquire the entire right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares free and clear of all encumbrances of any kind, whatsoever, other than restrictions on subsequent transfers of such interest of the type generally imposed under applicable securities and corporate legal requirements.  The purchase price as set forth in Section 1.3 includes consideration for the Shares of MM-- RM. Purchasers will be successors-in-interest to the contracts, leases and agreements listed on Exhibit “I” which related to the Business at the Target Companies’ Locations. 

(c)

Sale of LWC’s Membership Interest.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions specified in this Agreement, on the Closing Date, L&W will sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver to Purchasers, and Purchasers will purchase from L&W, the entire right, title and interest in and to the Membership Interests of LWC, Purchasers will acquire the entire right, title and interest in and to all of the membership interests free and clear of all encumbrances of any kind, whatsoever, other than restrictions on subsequent transfers of such membership interests of the type generally imposed under applicable securities and corporate legal requirements.  The purchase price as set forth in Section 1.3 includes consideration for the  Membership Interest of LWC. Purchasers will be successors-in-interest to the contracts, leases and agreements listed on Exhibit “I” which related to the Business at the Target Companies’ Locations.

The Target Companies’ Interest will be allocated between Purchasers in their mutual discretion.

1.3.

Purchase Price.  The purchase price (“Purchase Price”) to be paid for the Assets and Target Companies’ Interest will be the sum of twenty-five million, two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($25,250,000), subject to the following potential adjustments:

(a)

The Purchase Price will be increased by 200% of the increase in Pawn Loans at the Immature Locations (identified on Exhibit “A”) from the amount of Pawn Loans as of the close of business on February 29, 2012 and the amount of the Pawn Loans as of the close of business on the day before the Closing Date (defined in Article II, Section 2.1).

(b)

The Purchase Price will be increased by 100% of the increase in Inventory at the Immature Locations from the amount of Inventory as of the close of business on February 29, 2012 and the amount of Inventory as of the close of business on the day before the Closing Date.

(c)

The Purchase Price will be increased by 100% of the increase in Payday Loans at the Immature Locations from the amount of Payday Loans as of the close of business on February 29, 2012 and the amount of the Payday Loans as of the close of business on the day before the Closing Date.

(d)

At the close of business on December 31, 2011, the combined balance for Pawn Loans and Inventory (the “Working Capital Balance”) at the Mature Locations (identified on Exhibit “A”) was $7,584,000 (Pawn Loans of $3,532,000 and Inventory of $4,052,000). The Purchase Price will be increased by 100% of the amount by which the Working Capital Balance as of the close of business on the day before the closing date exceeds $7,963,000. The Purchase Price will be decreased by 100% of the amount by which the Working Capital Balance as of the close of business on the day prior to the closing date is less than $7,205,000. There will be no adjustment if the Working Capital Balance as of the close of business on the day before the closing date is between $7,205,000 and $7,963,000.  Sellers, Seller Affiliates, and Purchasers agree that for the purposes of calculating the Working Capital Balance the Pawn Loans and Inventory balances will be obtained from Sellers’ point of sale system.  

(e)

Sellers and Seller Affiliates agree to sell and Purchasers agree to purchase $10,000 operating cash on hand for each Location identified on Exhibit A.  The total amount of such cash on hand in the Locations as of the opening of business on the Closing Date will be added to the Purchase Price.

(f)

Purchasers have agreed to assume all of the rights and obligations under the currently outstanding yellow pages agreements detailed in Exhibit G with remaining payment obligations of $94,906. In exchange for Purchasers assuming the full yellow pages obligation, Sellers and Seller Affiliates agree to a Purchase Price adjustment of $47,375, which will be applied as a reduction to the Purchase Price. 

  The Purchase Price, as potentially adjusted for items 1.3(a)-(f) above (the “Adjusted Purchase Price”), will be payable in cash denominated in US dollars as described in Article II, Section 2.3.  

1.4.

No Assumption of Liabilities or Obligations.  Except for the Liabilities listed in  Exhibit “B”, Purchasers do not and will not assume or agree to pay, perform or discharge any Liabilities or obligations of any nature or amount whatsoever of Sellers, Seller Affiliates or the Business, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, arising out of claims, actions or events occurring before Closing or any expense, or liability relating to the Assets or the Business transferred to Purchasers arising out of the execution or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  

1.5.

Asset Verification.  Before the Closing Date, Purchasers will verify the existence and authenticity of Inventory, Pawn Loans,  collateral securing Pawn Loans and Payday Loans at the Locations using its own staff. Purchasers, Sellers and Seller Affiliates will cooperate to locate any missing items. 

1.6.

Employee Matters.  Sellers will terminate all employees at the Locations immediately before the Closing.  Purchasers may employ one or more of the terminated employees, and Sellers will encourage terminated employees to accept employment by Purchasers. Any obligation of Sellers and Seller Affiliates with respect to Sellers’ employees (including without limitation obligations for payroll taxes, reporting, and any employment/employee contracts, plans, benefits, programs and Liabilities) accruing before  the Closing will remain the liability of Sellers and Seller Affiliates. Nothing contained in this Agreement will constitute or be construed as a contract of employment between Purchasers and such employees of Sellers, and any employee hired by Purchasers will remain subject to discharge and lay-off by Purchasers at any time. Sellers and Seller Affiliates will pay all salary, wages, commissions, bonuses, vacation pay or other compensation or benefits owed to said employees at the time of Closing, and Purchasers will assume no pre-Closing employee compensation or benefit Liabilities of Sellers and Seller Affiliates.  To limit Purchasers’ liability relating to terminated employees, Sellers agree to use its reasonable efforts to obtain insurance coverage relating to claims that may be made by employees who are terminated and not hired by Purchaser.

1.7

Tax Treatment.   The parties acknowledge and agree that because MMI and L&W  are   “S corporations” (within the meaning of Section 1361(a) of the Code) and each of the Target Companies is a “qualified subchapter S subsidiary” (within the meaning of Section 1361(b)(3)(B) of the Code), the purchase of the Target Companies’ Interest will automatically be treated as a purchase of the assets of the Target Companies (and, therefore, because each of the Target Companies is a “disregarded entity” for Federal and, if applicable, state income tax purposes, a purchase of assets owned by Sellers) by Purchasers for Federal and, if applicable, State income tax purposes pursuant to Example 9 under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1361-5(b)(3), necessitating the allocation of the aggregate of the Adjusted Purchase Price and liabilities of the Target Companies among the assets of the Target Companies in accordance with Section 2.6 or any specific or agreed upon allocation of said price.  

ARTICLE II

CLOSING

2.1

Closing.  The closing of the sale and purchase of the Assets and the Target Companies’ Interest (“Closing”) will occur effective as of the opening of business on June __, 2012 (the “Closing Date”). Accordingly, all business transacted on the Closing Date will belong to and accrue to the benefit of Purchasers.  The Closing may take place by exchange of documents electronically, via overnight courier, facsimile, or messenger, or at such physical location as is mutually agreeable to the parties.  The Closing of this Agreement and the separate Bill of Sale and Assignment relating to the Asset Sale Locations, Sellers’ Business and assignment of the Target Companies’ Interest will be deemed to occur simultaneously.  The transaction contemplated by this Agreement will only be completed upon the execution and transfer to Purchaser of the Bill of Sale and Assignment, assignment of the Target Companies’ Interest, and the payment of the Adjusted Purchase Price to the Sellers.  

2.2

Sellers’ Deliveries.  On the Closing Date, the Sellers will deliver to Purchasers the following:

(1)

A Bill of Sale in both form and substance satisfactory to Purchasers of all the Assets executed by Sellers, and if necessary, by Seller Affiliates.

(2)

Assignments in both form and substance satisfactory to Purchasers of the necessary licenses and permits of Sellers to operate the Business at the Locations executed by Sellers and if necessary, by Seller Affiliates. 

(3)

Releases of any security interests in the Assets (and corresponding UCC-3 Termination Notices, to the extent applicable, each fully authorized by the secured party).

(4)

Assignment of the Target Companies’ Interest, including signed resignations from the Target Companies’ officers, directors and members, and the delivery of MM--RM’s Shares, and duly executed stock powers and certificates for all Shares

(5)

Fully executed Leases satisfactory to Purchasers for the premises at the following Locations:

#21 – 746 N. College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO

#22 – 211 E. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO (E. Colorado Ave)

#24 – 1411 N. Cleveland Avenue, Loveland, CO

#28 – 516 E. Yellowstone Highway, Casper, WY

#30 – 111 W. Monroe Drive, Fort Collins, CO

#34 – 704 Main Street, Longmont, CO

(6)

Assignment of the Leases (and all required consents from the owner for the assignment of the Leases) satisfactory to Purchasers for the premises at the following Locations: 

#23 – 348 Main Street, Security, CO

 

#26 – 2470 Dell Range Blvd, Cheyenne, WY

#27 – 326 West 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE

#29 – 420 E. 29th Street, Pueblo, CO 

#31 – 1006 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, CO 

#32 – 9205 N. Washington Street, Thornton, CO

#37 – 333 E. Bridge Street, Brighton, CO

#38 – 570 N. 3rd Street, Suite C, Laramie, WY

#39 – P.O. Box 772887, 9th Street, Steamboat Springs, CO

#41 – 2406 E. Boulder Street, Suite 10, Colorado Springs, Co

#42 – 5300-A Sheridan Blvd, Arvada, CO

#61 – 1300 Winchester Road, Suite 150, Lexington, KY 

#62 – 407 W. New Circle Road, Lexington, KY 

#64 – 10530 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 

#65 – 5238 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 

#66 – 9808 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 

#71 – 3501 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 

#72 – 4918 Preston Highway, Louisville, KY

2.3

Purchasers’ Deliveries.  On the Closing Date, the Purchasers will deliver the Adjusted Purchase Price less $300,000 (US) to Sellers and any third parties holding notes or debt of Sellers or Seller affiliates with security interests in the Assets by way of wire transfer or ACH as set forth in Exhibit “C”.  Purchasers will withhold the $300,000 as security for payment of amount that may be due arising out of any Seller or Seller Affiliate breach, if any, of any representations, covenants, warranties or agreements included in this Agreement. The $300,000 will not be considered liquidated damages, nor will it be considered a substitute or limitation for Purchasers’ actual damages, if any. Purchasers will remit the $300,000 that was withheld, less the amount for claims for known breaches, to MMI on behalf of all Sellers no later than six months after the Closing Date. Purchasers will have no obligation to allocate or make separate deliveries of any payment among Sellers or Seller Affiliates.  

2.4

License Agreement.  On the Closing Date, Purchasers will deliver to Sellers a fully executed License Agreement, in the form and substance of that attached as Exhibit “D”. 

2.5

Sellers’ Cooperation.  After the Closing Date, and as may be necessary, Sellers and if necessary, Seller Affiliates, agree to execute and deliver to Purchasers such other instruments of transfer reasonably necessary and appropriate to vest in Purchasers good, marketable and indefeasible title to the Assets and the Target Companies’ Interest and to comply with the purposes and intent of this Agreement.  Sellers and Seller Affiliates further agree to cooperate with Purchasers to obtain approval of the issuance to Purchasers of all necessary licenses and permits required to operate the Business of Sellers at the Locations.  

2.6

Adjusted Purchase Price Allocation.  Purchasers and Sellers agree to allocate the Adjusted Purchase Price among the Assets and the Target Companies in substantial accordance with the respective fair market values of such assets, which allocation the parties agree is consistent with the nature of the assets acquired and in conformity with the residual method required by the Treasury Regulations under Section 1060 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Such allocation of the Adjusted Purchase Price will be reported by Purchasers and Sellers on IRS Form 8594, which will be attached to and made part of the Federal and, if applicable, state income tax returns filed by Purchasers and Sellers for their respective taxable years in which the Closing Date occurs, and such tax returns will be prepared and filed in a manner consistent with such allocation. Purchasers and Sellers agree to provide a draft of IRS Form 8594 to the other party at least fifteen (15) days prior to filing with the IRS. Neither Purchasers nor Sellers will take a position on any tax return or in any administrative or judicial proceeding with respect to any such tax return that is inconsistent with such allocation.

ARTICLE III

PURCHASERS’ REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Purchasers represent and warrant that the following are true and correct as of the date hereof:

3.1.

Organization and Good Standing.  Purchasers are corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the States of Colorado and Kentucky, as applicable, with all requisite power and authority to carry on the business in which they are engaged in all the states and local jurisdictions in which they operate, to own the properties they own and to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

3.2.

Authorization and Validity.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other agreements to be executed by Purchasers, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, have been duly authorized by Purchasers.  This Agreement will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Purchasers, enforceable against Purchasers in accordance with their respective terms.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

OF SELLERS AND SELLER AFFILIATES

Sellers and Seller Affiliates jointly and severally represent and warrant to Purchasers that the following are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

4.1.

Organizations and Good Standing.  MMI, MM--RM, and MM--KY are corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado, with all requisite power and authority to carry on the business in which they are engaged in all the states and local jurisdictions in which they operate, to own the properties they own and to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.  MMRD, L&W, and LWC are limited liability companies duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the States of Colorado, Colorado and Kentucky, respectively, with all requisite power and authority to carry on the business in which they are engaged in all the states and local jurisdictions in which they operate, to own the properties they own and to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

4.2

Capitalization of Target Companies.  The entire authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of MM--RM and Membership Interest of LWC are as follows:

MM--RM:

Company/Individual

Authorized Shares  

Shares Issued/Outstanding

Mister Money Investments, Inc.

10,000,000

   10,000

LWC:

Company/Individual 

Interest

  

L&W Properties, a Limited Liability Company

100%

All of the issued and outstanding Shares of MM--RM have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable, and are freely owned by MMI.  None of the Shares have been pledged, hypothecated or encumbered in any way.  There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, or other contracts or commitments that could require MM--RM to issue, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of the capital stock of MM--RM.  There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation, or similar rights with respect to MM--RM.  Likewise, all of the Membership Interest of LWC has been duly authorized, is valid, fully paid, and non-assessable, and is freely owned by L&W and [Seller Affiliates – Sellers to name].  None of the Membership Interest has been pledged, hypothecated or encumbered in any way.  There are no outstanding rights or other contracts or commitments that could require LWC to grant, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its Membership Interest.  

4.3

Ownership.  Sellers are the holders of record and beneficially own, and have good and marketable title to all of the Assets and Target Companies’ Interests, and such assets and interests are free and clear of any encumbrances, restrictions on transfer (other than any restrictions under securities or similar legal requirements), claims, taxes, security interests, options, warrants, rights, contracts, calls, commitments, equities and demands.  The delivery by MMI and L&W of certificates evidencing the Target Companies’ Interest, duly endorsed for transfer or accompanied by transfer powers duly endorsed in blank, will transfer valid title to the Target Companies’ Interest to Purchasers, free and clear of any and all encumbrances whatsoever.

4.4.

Authorization and Validity.  Each of Sellers and Seller Affiliates has the full power and authority to execute and deliver and perform their obligations under this Agreement.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other agreements to be executed by Sellers, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized by Sellers.  This Agreement will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Sellers, enforceable against Sellers in accordance with their respective terms.  Sellers have secured all necessary approvals and consents of third parties to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.5.

Title.  Except as disclosed in Exhibit “E”, Sellers and Seller Affiliates now own the Assets and Target Companies’ Interest, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.  None of the Assets or Target Companies’ Interest are the subject of a consignment by any person or entity other than pawn loans subject to contract and/or redemption.  Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Purchasers will receive good, valid and marketable title to each of the Assets, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and adverse claims except for pawn loan collateral that is subject to redemption.

4.6.

Commitments.  Sellers and Seller Affiliates have not entered into any type of agreements which encumber the Assets except for pawn loans subject to redemption.

4.7.

No Violation, No Conflict, Required Filings and Consents.  Neither the execution and performance of this Agreement or the agreements contemplated in this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will:

(a) result in a violation or breach of any agreement or other instrument under which Sellers or Seller Affiliates are bound or to which any of the Assets or the Target Companies’ Interest are subject, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of such Assets or Target Companies’ Interest; 

(b) violate any applicable law or regulation or any judgment or order of any court or governmental agency.  Sellers have complied in all material respects with all applicable laws, regulations and licensing requirements, and have filed with the proper authorities all necessary statements and reports. Sellers possess all necessary operating licenses, franchises, permits and governmental authorizations, which rights are in full force and effect, and are being transferred hereof free of any claim, encumbrance or detriment;

(c) contravene, conflict with, or result in any violation of (i) any provision of the organizational documents of any Seller or Seller Affiliate, or (ii) any resolution adopted by the board of directors, members, or stockholders of Sellers or Seller Affiliates; and in connection therewith, Sellers and Seller Affiliates hereby waive all pre-emptive or preferential rights or rights of first refusal they may have under Sellers’ or Seller Affiliates’  organizational documents or applicable legal requirements, if any;

(d)  cause Purchasers  to become subject to, or become liable for the payment of any  tax other than sales taxes applicable to the purchase of certain assets in Colorado; or

(e)  result in a violation or breach of any provision, or give any person the right to declare  a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of, or to cancel, terminate, or modify, any Material Contract to which Sellers or Seller Affiliates are  a party.

4.8.

Taxes.  Sellers have duly and timely filed all property, sales tax and all other returns and reports required to be filed by them as of the date hereof by the States of Colorado, Kentucky, Wyoming and Nebraska or any political subdivision thereof and have paid or established adequate reserves for all taxes (including penalties and interest) which have or may become due relating to the Assets, Business and the Locations.  There are no liens for Federal, state or local taxes upon any of the Assets of Sellers.

4.9

Target Companies’ Taxes.

(a)

Each Target Company and each of its predecessors have filed, within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, all returns, declarations, reports, estimates, information returns and statements (“Returns”) heretofore required to be filed under federal, state, local or any foreign laws by such Target Company or such predecessors in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of taxes, and all such Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects.   

(b)

Except as set forth on Exhibit “H”, each Target Company and its Seller has within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, paid (and until the Closing Date will, within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, pay) all Taxes (as defined below) that are due and payable by or with respect to any Target Company or its Seller.

(c)

There are no liens for Taxes upon the assets of any of the Target Companies, Sellers or Seller Affiliates except liens for Taxes not yet due.

(d)

MMI and L&W have made a valid and proper election under section 1362(a) of the Code to be  S corporations, which election is still in full force and effect for Federal and, if applicable, state income tax purposes. 

(e)  

MMI and L&W have duly elected to treat each Target Company as a qualified subchapter S subsidiary, which election remains in full force and effect. 

(f)

Except as set forth in Exhibit “H”, no deficiency for any Taxes has been proposed in writing, asserted in writing or assessed against any of the Target Companies, Sellers or Sellers Affiliates which deficiency has not been resolved and paid in full.  

(g)

There are no outstanding tolling agreements, waivers or comparable consents regarding the application of the statute of limitations with respect to any Taxes or Returns that have been given by any of the Target Companies, their predecessors or Sellers.

(h)

Except as set forth in Exhibit “H”,(which shall set forth the nature of the proceeding, the type of return, the deficiencies proposed or assessed and the amount thereof, and the taxable year in question), no Federal, state, local or foreign audits, investigations or other administrative proceedings or court proceedings are presently pending with regard to any Taxes or Returns of the Target Companies.

(i)

Neither the Target Companies, Sellers nor Seller Affiliates is a party to any tax-sharing or allocation agreement, nor do any of the Target Companies, Sellers or Seller Affiliates owe any amount under any tax-sharing or allocation agreement.

(j)

No amounts payable under any plan, agreement or arrangement on account of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will fail to be deductible for Federal income tax purposes by any of the Target Companies by virtue of Section 280G of the Code.

(k)

Each of the Target Companies and Sellers have complied (and until the Closing Date will comply) in all respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes (including, without limitation, withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441 or 1442 of the Code or similar provisions under any foreign laws) and have, within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, withheld from employee wages and paid over to the proper governmental authorities all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over under all applicable laws.

(l)

None of the Target Companies have ever been (and does not have any liability for unpaid Taxes because it once was) a member of an “affiliated group” within the meaning of Section 1502 of the Code during any part of any consolidated return year within any part of which year any corporation other than such Target Company was also a member of such affiliated group.

(m)

For purposes of this Agreement, “Taxes” will mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments of whatever kind or nature, including, without limitation, all net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupancy or property taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever (together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts) imposed by any taxing authority (domestic or foreign) upon or payable by any of the Target Companies or their predecessors.

4.10

Audits, Investigations and Other Proceedings.  There are no audits, investigations or other proceedings pending or threatened by any tax, regulatory or other authority.  

4.11.

Compliance with Law.  There are no existing violations by Sellers of any applicable Federal, state or local law or regulation that could affect the Assets, Locations, the Target Companies, the Target Companies’ Interest, or the Business. All Pawn Loans and Payday Loans are in compliance with the laws of the appropriate regulating authorities and are documented pursuant to contracts which comply with such laws.

4.12.

Finder’s Fee.  Sellers will be solely responsible for broker or agent fees, or commissions relating to this Agreement, if any.

4.13

MM--RM Agreements.  Except as set forth in Exhibit “I”, MM--RM is not subject to and is not a party to any employment agreement, contract, lease or other agreement which involve payment obligations.  Further, it is not subject to any agreement restricting or limiting said company’s competition or the disclosure of  its information.  

4.14

MM--RM Employees.  MM--RM has furnished to Purchasers a list of each compensation arrangement for each employee or contract worker and furnished to Purchasers a copy of each employee pension plan, employee profit sharing plan and employee welfare benefit plan.  

4.15

LWC Agreements.  Except as set forth in Exhibit “I”, LWC is not subject to and is not a party to any employment agreement, contract, lease or other agreement which involve payment obligations.  Further, it is not subject to any agreement restricting or limiting said company’s competition or the disclosure of its information.  

4.16

LWC Employees.  LWC has furnished to Purchasers a list of each compensation arrangement for each employee or contract worker and furnished to Purchasers a copy of each employee pension plan, employee profit sharing plan and employee welfare benefit plan.  

4.17.

Litigation.  Sellers and Seller Affiliates have no legal action or administrative proceeding or investigation instituted nor are Sellers or Seller Affiliates subject to any litigation or claims or are a party to any decree, judgment, arbitration award or, to the best of their knowledge threatened against or affecting, or that could affect, any of the Assets, the Locations, the Target Companies, the Target Companies’ Interest or the Business.  

4.18.

Operating Licenses.  Sellers maintain in full force and effect all operating licenses and permits necessary in order to operate the Business at the Locations in accordance with applicable Federal, state and local regulations and have not received notice of cancelation or threatened cancellation.  Sellers have complied in full with all applicable Federal, state and local operating licenses relating to the Business and the Locations.  Sellers have delivered to Purchasers true and correct copies of all licenses and permits required to operate the Business.

4.19.

Accuracy of Information Furnished.  All information furnished to Purchasers by Sellers and Seller Affiliates herein or in any exhibit hereto is true, correct and complete in all material respects, including all due diligence material and all information contained therein.  

4.20.

Hazardous Materials.  Sellers have never generated, released, transported, stored, handled, disposed of or contracted for the disposal of any hazardous materials other than minimal amounts used, stored or generated in the Ordinary Course of the Business and in accordance with applicable laws.  To the best of Sellers’ and Seller Affiliates’ knowledge, no employee, contractor or agent of Sellers has been exposed to any hazardous materials in such a manner as to be harmed thereby (which such harm is now known to exist or will be discovered in the future).  Sellers and Seller Affiliates are not aware of and Sellers and Seller Affiliates have not received any notice from any governmental or administrative agency that the Locations are not in compliance with any applicable environmental law(s).

4.21.

Full Disclosure.  No representation or warranty made by Sellers or Seller Affiliates in this Agreement, including the documents, instruments and agreements to be executed and/or delivered by Sellers and Seller Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement, and no statement, certificate or other document or instrument furnished or to be furnished by or on behalf of Sellers or Seller Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact.

4.22.

Performance by Sellers Pending Closing.  Since the execution of the Indication of Interest dated March 27, 2012 and continuing through the Closing Date: 

(a)

Sellers have diligently carried on and operated the Business in the Ordinary Course of Business, consistent with past practice and historical operating norms, to maintain (i) the good will of the Business, (ii) all personal property used in the Business operations in good working order; and (iii)  seasonally normal levels of Pawn Loans and Inventory;

(b)

Sellers have not, directly or indirectly, performed or failed to perform any act that might reasonably be expected to result in the creation or imposition of any lien, claim or encumbrance or debt on any of the Assets or the Target Companies’ Interest;  

(c)

Sellers have not sold, assigned, transferred, leased, subleased, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of any of the Assets or the Target Companies’ Interest, except in the Ordinary Course of Business, and has maintained its Business operations and the Assets substantially intact, including its present operations, physical facilities, working conditions, and relationships with customers, lessors, licensors, suppliers and employees; 

(d)

Sellers have obtained or caused to be obtained all of the consents and approvals of all persons or entities necessary, if any, to assign and transfer to the Purchasers all of the Assets and the Target Companies’ Interest; and 

(e)

Sellers have used their reasonable commercial efforts to take all actions and to do all things necessary, proper or advisable in order to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with its terms and conditions.

4.23

Sellers’ Ownership Interests.  The Seller Affiliates constitute every person or entity owning a direct or indirect, legal or beneficial ownership interest in any of the Sellers.  All Seller Affiliates will benefit from this transaction. 

4.24

Financial Statements.  For purposes of this Agreement and the inducement thereof, Purchasers have relied upon the financial statements as described and listed in Exhibit “F”.  The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, consistently applied, and include all normal, recurring adjustments, including year-end audit adjustments necessary to make the financial statements accurate and not misleading.  

4.25

Intellectual Property.  The only material trademarks used by Sellers or Seller Affiliates to identify themselves is “Mister Money” and Mister Money - USA or a derivative thereof, which is a registered trademark of MMI in the United States.  Sellers and Seller Affiliates have no knowledge that any other person is infringing on the “Mister Money” trade name.

4.26

No Material Adverse Effect.  Since January 1, 2012, the Sellers and Seller Affiliates have conducted their business in the Ordinary Course of Business and there has not been a Material Adverse Effect as defined in Article IX, Section 9.18.

4.27  MM--RM Liabilities.  MM--RM has no liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due), including any liability for taxes, as of the Closing Date, except for the liabilities set forth in Exhibit “J”. MMI will be solely responsible for all payment obligations with respect to liabilities of MM--RM as of the Closing Date.  MMI and its shareholders agree to hold harmless MM--RM, Purchasers, and Purchasers’ affiliates from all loss, cost and expense related to any MM--RM liabilities which are not disclosed on Exhibit “J” (hereafter, “MM--RM Undisclosed Liabilities”, whether reference is made to one or more), to the extent such loss, cost or expense exceeds the sum of $1,000 in the aggregate (the “MM--RM Allowable Undisclosed Liabilities Basket Amount”).  Should MM--RM, Purchasers and/or Purchasers’ affiliates elect (in their sole discretion) to pay any MM--RM Undisclosed Liabilities, or otherwise incur any loss, cost or expense relating to any MM--RM Undisclosed Liabilities, MMI will reimburse Purchasers for all such payments, and all such loss, cost and expense, within ten business days of Purchasers’ written request, to the extent the aggregate of all such payments, loss, cost and expense relating to all MM--RM Undisclosed Liabilities exceed, in the aggregate, the MM--RM Allowable Undisclosed Liabilities Basket Amount.  

4.28  LWC Liabilities.  LWC has no liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due), including any liability for taxes, as of the Closing Date, except for the liabilities set forth in Exhibit “K”.  L&W will be solely responsible for all payment obligations with respect to liabilities of LWC as of the Closing Date.  L&W and its members or managers agree to hold harmless LWC, Purchasers, and Purchasers’ affiliates from all loss, cost and expense related to any LWC liabilities which are not disclosed on Exhibit “K” (hereafter, “LWC Undisclosed Liabilities”, whether reference is made to one or more), to the extent such loss, cost or expense exceeds the sum of $1,000 in the aggregate (the “LWC Allowable Undisclosed Liabilities Basket Amount”).  Should LWC, Purchasers and/or Purchasers’ affiliates elect (in their sole discretion) to pay any LWC Undisclosed Liabilities, or otherwise incur any loss, cost or expense relating to any LWC Undisclosed Liabilities, L&W will reimburse Purchasers for all such payments, and all such loss, cost and expense, within ten business days of Purchasers’ written request, to the extent the aggregate of all such payments, loss, cost and expense relating to all LWC Undisclosed Liabilities exceed, in the aggregate, the LWC Allowable Undisclosed Liabilities Basket Amount.  

ARTICLE V

PURCHASERS’ COVENANTS

Purchasers will retain all pawn books and other records of Sellers (including, but not limited to, all reports and records relating to the respective state or local agencies charged with regulating pawnshop operations, payday or short-term lending and check cashing and the Internal Revenue Service) required to be retained on the business premises by applicable laws. 

ARTICLE VI

SELLERS’ COVENANTS

Sellers agree that:

6.1.

Transitional Use of Point of Sale System.  Until Purchasers have completed the migration of the Business at the Locations to Purchasers’ point of sale system (but for no more than one hundred and twenty (120) days after the Closing Date), Sellers or Seller Affiliates will permit Purchasers to transact business at the Locations using the existing point of sale system. Sellers and/or Seller Affiliates will cooperate with Purchasers to obtain any necessary assignments to enable Purchasers to use the existing point of sale system, if necessary. Sellers and/or Seller Affiliates also agree to assist Purchasers as reasonably requested to gain access to and to analyze, convert, import and/or migrate point of sale data from the Sellers’ systems to the Purchasers’ systems.  

6.2.

Use of Licenses.  Until all licenses and permits needed to operate the Business at the Asset Sale Locations are issued to Purchasers, Sellers and, if necessary, Seller Affiliates will permit, to the extent allowed by law, Purchasers to use the licenses and permits issued to Sellers or Seller Affiliates to operate the Business at the Asset Sale Locations.  Sellers and Seller Affiliates further agree to cooperate with Purchasers in obtaining the issuance to Purchasers of the licenses and all permits required to operate the Business at the Asset Sale Locations.  At the request of Sellers, and upon reasonable notice, Purchasers will permit Sellers to inspect the records of Purchasers required to be maintained under applicable state laws, or the laws of any political subdivision thereunder, attributable to the period during which the licenses and permits of Sellers or Seller Affiliates are used by Purchasers and before such licenses and permits are issued to Purchasers.

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

7.1.

Sellers’ and Seller Affiliates’ Indemnity.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VII, Sellers and Seller Affiliates hereby jointly, severally and unconditionally agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchasers and their respective officers, directors, stockholders, agents, attorneys and affiliates, and subsidiaries from and against all losses, claims, causes of action obligations, demands, assessments, penalties, liabilities, costs, damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses (collectively, “Damages”) asserted against or incurred by Purchasers by reason of or in any manner resulting from:

(a)

A breach by Sellers or Seller Affiliates of any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement or in any agreement executed as a result of or under this Agreement;

(b)

Any and all general Liability or employment Liability claims arising out of or relating to occurrences of any nature relating to the Assets, Locations, Target Companies, Target Companies Interest, or Business before  the Closing, whether any such claims are asserted before or after the Closing;

(c)

Any obligation or Liability under or related to any employee compensation or any employee benefit plans or the termination thereof arising out of or relating to occurrences of any nature relating to the Assets, Locations, Target Companies, Target Companies Interest, or Business before the Closing, whether any such claims are asserted before  or after the Closing;

(d)

Any tax filing or return or payment made, or position taken in the payment or non-payment of any tax, by Sellers or Seller Affiliates which any governmental authority challenges and which results in an assertion of Damages against Purchasers arising out of or relating to occurrences of any nature relating to the Assets, Locations, Target Companies, Target Companies Interest, or Business before the Closing, whether any such claims or payments are asserted before or after the Closing;

(e)

Any failure to comply with all applicable bulk transfer laws or fraudulent or preferential laws of the United States of America or the States of Colorado, Kentucky, Wyoming or Nebraska; 

(f) 

Claims arising from Liabilities or obligations not expressly assumed by Purchasers in this Agreement;

(g)

Any claims and Liabilities relating to counterbuys of Sellers; 

(h)

Claims and Liabilities arising from or in any manner relating to pawn loan collateral missing as of the Closing Date; and/or

(i)

Customer or other third-party claims attributable or relating to events, or acts or omissions of Sellers or Seller Affiliates before the Closing Date, whether any such claims are asserted before or after the Closing Date; and/or 

The foregoing defense and indemnification obligations of Sellers and Seller Affiliates will extend to the actual or alleged negligence of Purchasers, provided the Damages are asserted by reason of or in any manner resulting from the items enumerated (a) – (i) in this Section 7.1 and items (a) – (c) in Section 7.2.

7.2

Tax Indemnity. 

(a)

Sellers will pay, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchasers and each Target Company from and against any and all Taxes of each Target Company with respect to any period (or any portion thereof) up to and including Closing, together with all reasonable legal fees, disbursements and expenses incurred by Purchasers and each Target Company in connection therewith.

(b) 

Sellers and Seller Affiliates will prepare and file all returns of each Target Company (each, a “Return”) which (i) pertain to income tax, are required to be filed after the Closing Date and which relate to any period (or portion thereof) up to and including the Closing Date; and (ii) pertain to any Tax, are required to be filed before the Closing Date and which relate to any period (or portion thereof) up to and including the Closing Date.   Purchaser will  prepare and file all income tax Returns of each Target Company which are required to be filed after the Closing Date and relate to any period (or portion thereof) following the Closing Date.  

 

 

(c)

Purchaser will prepare and file all non-income Tax Returns that relate to a taxable period of a Target Company that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (a “Straddle Period”).  For the purpose of determining the amount of such Tax that relates to the portion of the Straddle Period that begins before and ends on the Closing Date (the “Pre-Closing Period”) and the portion that begins the day after the Closing Date and ends on the last day of such period (the “Post-Closing Period”), (i) sales, use, employment and withholding Taxes and Taxes based upon or related to income or receipts shall be allocated by means of a closing of the books and records of the applicable Target Company as of the Closing Date and (ii) all other Taxes (including, without limitation, personal property and real property Taxes) will be allocated between the Pre-Closing Period and the Post-Closing Period in proportion to the number of days in each such period.

7.3

Defense by Purchasers Indemnitees.  If, in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Article 7, Purchasers as indemnitees will be entitled to defense against a claim, cause of action, assessment or other asserted liability, and if the Sellers or Seller Affiliates fail to provide such defense, the Purchasers as indemnitees will have the right, without prejudice to their right of indemnification hereunder, in its sole discretion, to contest, defend, litigate and/or settle such claim, cause of action, assessment or other asserted liability, at such time and upon such terms as the indemnified parties i.e. Purchasers, deems fair and reasonable, in which event the Sellers and Seller Affiliates will be liable for  all of Purchasers’ (as indemnitees) attorney’s fees and other expenses of defense, plus all amounts, if any, paid in settlement or pursuant to any judgment .

7.4

Certain Tax and Other Matters. 

(a)

If, in connection with the audit by the relevant taxing authority of any Return, a proposed adjustment is asserted in writing by such taxing authority with respect to any Taxes of any of the companies for which the Sellers and Seller Affiliates are required to indemnify Purchasers pursuant to Section 7.2(a) hereof, Purchasers will notify the Sellers of such proposed adjustment within ten (10) days after the receipt thereof.  Upon notice to Purchasers within ten (10) days after receipt of the notice of such proposed adjustment from Purchasers, the Sellers and Seller Affiliates assume (at the Sellers and Seller Affiliates’ own cost and expense) control of and contest and, if necessary in Sellers or Seller Affiliates’ judgment, settle such proposed adjustment.

(b)

Alternatively, if the Sellers and Seller Affiliates’ request, within ten (10) days after receipt of notice of such proposed adjustment from Purchasers, that Purchasers handle the defense of such proposed adjustment, then in that event, Purchasers will be entitled (in their sole discretion) to contest, settle or agree to pay in full such proposed adjustment.  In that case, Sellers and Seller Affiliates will be jointly and severally obligated to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) which Purchasers may incur, as well as all amounts, if any, paid in settlement of or pursuant to a Final Determination with respect to the proposed adjustment.  The Seller and Seller Affiliates will pay to Purchasers all amounts required to be indemnified in respect of a settlement of or a Final Determination of any such proposed adjustment within ten (10) days after written demand to the Sellers therefor, provided such settlement or Final Determination has been reached in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.4.  

(c)

For purposes of this Section 7.4, a “Final Determination” shall mean (i) the entry of a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction at such time as an appeal may no longer be taken from such decision or (ii) the execution of a closing agreement or its equivalent between the particular taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service, as provided in Section 7121 and Section 7122, respectively, of the Code, or a corresponding agreement between the particular taxpayer and the particular state or local taxing authority.

(d)

Purchasers will not (and will not cause or permit any Target Company to) amend, refile or otherwise modify any Return of any Target Company with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof) that ends on or before the Closing Date without the prior written consent of MMI and L&W, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  Any Tax refund (including any interest with respect thereto) relating to any Target Company for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date will be the property of MMI or L&W, and if received by Purchaser or any Target Company, will be promptly paid over to MMI.  

7.5

Access to Certain Information.  Purchasers, Sellers and Seller Affiliates agree to furnish or cause to be furnished to each other (at reasonable times and at no charge) upon request as promptly as practicable such information (including access to books and records) pertinent to each company and assistance relating to each company as is reasonably necessary for the preparation, review and audit of financial statements, the preparation, review, audit and filing of any Tax Return, the preparation for any audit or the prosecution or defense of any claim, suit or proceeding relating to any proposed adjustment or which may result in the Sellers being liable under the indemnification provisions of this Section 7, provided, that access will be limited to items pertaining solely to each Target Company.  The Sellers and Seller Affiliates will grant to Purchasers access to all Tax Returns filed with respect to each Target Company.

7.6.

Purchasers’ Indemnity.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VII, Purchasers hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold Sellers harmless from and against all damages asserted against or incurred by Sellers by reason of or resulting from a breach by Purchasers of any representation, warranty or covenant contained herein or in any agreement executed pursuant hereto.  

7.7.

Remedies.  Sellers, Seller Affiliates and Purchasers will have all remedies specified in this Agreement or available at law or in equity.  The remedies provided in this Article VII will not be exclusive of any other rights or remedies available by one party against the other, either at law or in equity.

ARTICLE VIII

NONCOMPETITION

8.1.

Purchasers for Purposes of Article VIII.  Purchasers for purposes of ARTICLE VIII  includes Purchasers as described in the first paragraph of this Agreement, their parents, successors, subsidiaries, or affiliates, whether now or hereafter owned, operated or managed by Purchasers.  “Consumer Finance Business” is defined as making payday loans, loans secured by personal property, unsecured loans or credit services products to customers through physical storefront locations.  

8.2

Agreement to Not Compete and to Not Solicit.  

(a)

As an inducement to entering into this Agreement, which Purchasers would otherwise not be willing to do, R. Douglas Will, Timothy S. Lanham, K. Colette Sawyer, M. Christine Will, Wendell G. Lanham, R. Tedrow Will, Kathryn I. Will, and MMI (collectively “Will and Lanham”) agree that before May 31, 2017, they will not (1) enter into any agreement with or indirectly solicit employees or representatives of Purchasers for the purpose of causing them to leave Purchasers to take employment with Sellers, Seller Affiliates or any other person or business entity; (2) compete, directly or indirectly, with Purchasers in the operation of a store-based pawn or Consumer Finance Business (collectively, the “Restricted Business”) owned, operated or managed by Purchasers within a 25-mile radius of any such Restricted Business owned, operated or managed by Purchasers, including current and future locations owned, operated or managed by Purchasers and not limited to the locations being acquired pursuant to this Agreement (the “Restricted Area”); (3) act as an officer, director, employee, shareholder, partner, member, agent, associate or principal of any entity engaged in the Restricted Business in the Restricted Area; (4) enter into any agreement, including franchise agreements other than with existing Mister Money franchisees relating to their franchise agreements pertaining to their existing franchise territory, for or to participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of any Restricted Business within the Restricted Area; or (5) solicit customers known to be customers of the Business or Purchasers within the Restricted Area in the Restricted Business, including those known to be past or present customers of the Business. The provision in item (5) is not intended to limit the ability of Will and Lanham to conduct business over the Internet and such Internet business will not be considered soliciting Purchasers’ customers provided that Will and Lanham are not directly soliciting customers (active or inactive) of the Business in such Internet business. Further, this agreement to not compete will not apply to an Internet-based Consumer Finance Business; Internet-based merchandise sales; selling, leasing or licensing software developed for pawn and payday loan operations; consulting to pawn and Consumer Finance Businesses  located no closer than 25-miles from any of the Locations.  Consulting with or for a company that does business on a national or multi-state basis even though it may have stores within the Restricted Area will not be a violation of this Section 8.2. 

(b)

As an inducement to entering into this Agreement, which Purchasers would otherwise not be willing to do, Joshua A. Lanham, Katie Lanham, R. Patrick Will, R. Matthew Will, Jamie B. Will, Ryan Sarmast, Jessica P. Sarmast, Benjamin Zander, and Stacey M. Zander (collectively the “Restricted Parties”) agree that before May 31, 2015, they will not (1) enter into any agreement with or indirectly solicit employees or representatives of Purchasers for the purpose of causing them to leave Purchasers to take employment with Sellers, Seller Affiliates or any other person or business entity; (2) compete, directly or indirectly, with Purchasers in the operation of a Restricted Business owned, operated or managed by Purchasers within a 25-mile radius of any of the Locations. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the Restricted Parties may collectively own and operate up to three (3) store-based pawn businesses with the geographic limitation for these stores being five (5) miles rather than the 25 miles as set forth in Section 8.2(a) (“Restricted Area 2”); or (3) act as an officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, agent, associate or principal of any entity engaged in the Restricted Business in the Restricted Area 2.

(c)

As an inducement to entering into this Agreement, which Purchasers would otherwise not be willing to do,  Roger Dechairo agrees that before May 31, 2016, he will not (1) enter into any agreement with or indirectly solicit employees or representatives of Purchasers for the purpose of causing them to leave Purchasers to take employment with Sellers, Seller Affiliates or any other person or business entity; (2) compete, directly or indirectly, with Purchasers in the operation of a Restricted Business owned, operated or managed by Purchasers within a seven and one-half (7.5) mile radius of the Location located at 704 Main Street, Longmont, CO (“Restricted Area 3”); or (3) act as an officer, director, employee, shareholder, partner, member, agent, associate or principal of any entity engaged in the Restricted Business in the Restricted Area 3.

(d)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Will and Lanham, the Restricted Parties and Roger Dechairo agree to (1) provide in an electronic format as mutually agreed by the parties all lists of customers (active and inactive) of the Business within thirty (30) days after Purchasers convert the last Location to Purchasers’ point of sale system and (2) to not use for any purpose, including solicitation, marketing or advertising, or retain a copy, whether hard copy or in an electronic format, of such lists of customers after providing such lists to Purchasers. To induce Purchasers to enter into this Agreement, Will and Lanham, the Restricted Parties and Roger Dechairo unconditionally represent and warrant to Purchasers and agree that the restrictions in the foregoing provisions are reasonable and that such provisions are enforceable in accordance with their terms.

All parties agree that the provisions of this Article VIII are reasonable and limited as to time, scope and geography.  

8.3.

Breach.  In the event of the breach by Will and Lanham, the Restricted Parties or Roger Dechairo of any of the covenants contained in this Article VIII, it is understood that damages will be difficult to ascertain and Purchasers will be entitled to injunctive relief in addition to any other relief which Purchasers may have under law, this Agreement or any other agreement in connection therewith. In connection with the bringing of any action for the enforcement of this Agreement, Purchasers will be entitled to recover, whether Purchasers seek equitable relief, and regardless of what relief is afforded, such reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses as Purchasers may incur in prosecution of Purchasers’ claim for any breach hereof.  The existence of any claim or cause of action of Will and Lanham, the Restricted Parties or Roger Dechairo against Purchasers, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, will not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Purchasers of the covenants and agreements of Sellers and Seller Affiliates contained in this Article VIII.  Each party that breaches the agreement to not compete and not to solicit provisions of Section 8.2 agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Purchasers of and from all losses, damages, costs and expenses arising out of or attributable to the breach.

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

9.1.

Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by an instrument in writing executed by the party against which enforcement of the amendment, modification or supplement is sought.

9.2.

Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any right created hereby will be assignable by either party hereto, without the written consent of the other parties, which will not be unreasonably withheld.

9.3.

Notice.  Any notice or communication must be in writing and given by depositing the same in the United States mail, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, or by delivering the same in person, addressed to the party to be notified at the following address (or at such other address as may have been designated by written notice):

Sellers and/or Seller Affiliates:

R. Douglas Will

Timothy S. Lanham

2057 Vermont Drive

Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

with a copy to:

Kenneth C. Wolfe

1008 Centre Avenue

Fort Collins, Colorado 80526

Purchasers:

First Cash Financial Services, Inc.

690 East Lamar Blvd., Suite 400

Arlington, Texas 76011

Attn: Rick L. Wessel

Such notice will be deemed received on the date on which it is hand-delivered or on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed.

9.4.

Confidentiality.  The parties will keep this Agreement and its terms confidential except for information which is required by law to be disclosed or press releases which are customary for a publicly traded company.  Confidential information includes, but is not limited to, customer lists and files, prices and costs, business and financial records, surveys, reports, plans, proposals, financial information, information relating to personnel contracts, stock ownership, liabilities and litigation.  

9.5.

Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, the exhibits hereto, the obligations of any party under any agreement executed pursuant to this Agreement, and the Bill of Sale, assignment of Target Companies’ Interest relating to the Locations will collectively be considered the entire agreement of the parties, and will supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

9.6.

Costs, Expenses and Legal Fees.  Each party hereto will bear its own costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in connection with the consummation of this transaction.

9.7.

Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or future laws effective during the term hereof such provision will be fully severable; and the remaining provisions hereof will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected.  Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as part of this Agreement, a provision as similar in its terms to such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid and enforceable.

9.8.

Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.  The representations, warranties and covenants contained herein will survive the Closing for a period of five (5) years and all statements contained in any certificate, exhibit or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of Sellers, Seller Affiliates or Purchasers under this Agreement will be deemed to have been representations and warranties by Sellers and Seller Affiliates, on the one hand, or Purchasers, on the other hand, as the case may be, and will survive the Closing and any investigation made by any party hereto or on its behalf.

9.9.

Governing Law.  This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto will be governed, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. 

9.10.

WAIVER OF RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY; ARBITRATION; VENUE.

A.

EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANYWAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY, "DISPUTES").

B.

EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ALL DISPUTES WILL BE DECIDED BY BINDING ARBITRATION, CONDUCTED IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, BEFORE ONE OR MORE ARBITRATORS (AS DESCRIBED BELOW), UNDER THE THEN CURRENT COMMERCIAL RULES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION. THIS AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE WILL INCLUDE CLAIMS FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.  

C.

PROCEDURE FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.  IN THE EVENT A PARTY SEEKS INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, THE CLAIM WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY EXPEDITED BY THE AAA, WHICH WILL APPOINT A SINGLE, NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF DECIDING SUCH CLAIM. SUCH ARBITRATOR WILL BE A QUALIFIED ATTORNEY IN GOOD STANDING, AND PREFERABLY WILL BE A RETIRED STATE OR FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE.  THE SINGLE ARBITRATOR WILL DECIDE THE CLAIM FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IMMEDIATELY ON HEARING OR RECEIVING THE PARTIES’ SUBMISSIONS (UNLESS, IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE, HE MUST RULE EX PARTE); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE SINGLE ARBITRATOR WILL RULE ON SUCH CLAIMS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF SUBMISSION OF THE CLAIM TO THE AAA.  THE SINGLE ARBITRATOR’S RULING WILL NOT EXTEND BEYOND 14 CALENDAR DAYS AND ON APPLICATION BY THE CLAIMANT, UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 14 DAYS FOLLOWING WHICH, AFTER A HEARING ON THE CLAIM FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION MAY ISSUE PENDING THE AWARD.  ANY RELIEF GRANTED UNDER THIS PROCEDURE FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF WILL BE SPECIFICALLY ENFORCEABLE IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION ON AN EXPEDITED, EX PARTE BASIS AND WILL NOT BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY EVIDENTIARY HEARING OR FURTHER SUBMISSION BY EITHER PARTY, BUT THE COURT, ON APPLICATION TO ENFORCE A TEMPORARY ORDER, WILL ISSUE SUCH ORDERS AS NECESSARY TO ITS ENFORCEMENT.

D.

PROCEDURE AFTER A CLAIM FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF OR WHERE NO CLAIM FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IS MADE.   THE ARBITRATOR WILL BE SELECTED AS FOLLOWS: IN THE EVENT THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION AGREE ON ONE ARBITRATOR, THE ARBITRATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY SUCH ARBITRATOR.  IN THE EVENT THE PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION DO NOT SO AGREE, EACH SIDE (SELLERS AND SELLER AFFILIATES WILL TOGETHER BE CONSIDERED ONE SIDE) WILL SELECT ONE INDEPENDENT, QUALIFIED ARBITRATOR, AND THE TWO ARBITRATORS SO SELECTED WILL SELECT THE THIRD ARBITRATOR.  THE ARBITRATOR(S) ARE HEREIN REFERRED TO AS THE “PANEL.”  EITHER PARTY WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE ANY INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATOR WHO WILL BE EMPLOYED BY OR AFFILIATED WITH A COMPETING ORGANIZATION. 

9.11.

Captions.  The captions in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and will not limit or otherwise effect any of the terms or provisions hereof.

9.12.

Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

9.13.

Taxes.  Purchasers will be liable for and will indemnify Sellers against all sales and use taxes resulting from the transactions contemplated hereby. All sales taxes, income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes and assessments which are past due or have or will become due and payable upon any of the Assets and/or which arise in connection with the operation of the Business at the Locations before the Closing Date will be paid by Sellers or Seller Affiliates together with any penalty or interest thereon. Accordingly, Sellers or Seller Affiliates will pay all sales tax liabilities arising with respect to the period before the Closing Date. Sellers and Seller Affiliates retain all right, title and interest in all tax receivables or refunds attributable to the period before the Closing Date. All sales taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes and assessments which become due and payable upon any of the Assets, and which first arise in connection with the operation of the Locations on or after the Closing Date will be for the account of Purchasers and will be paid by Purchasers, together with any penalty or interest thereon. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Sellers and Seller Affiliates on the one hand, and Purchasers, on the other hand, will be responsible for a pro rata share of personal property taxes and any real property taxes for the taxable period including the Closing Date. The numerator for such calculation will be the number of days the Assets were controlled by Sellers or Seller Affiliates and Purchasers, respectively, and the denominator will be 365.

9.14.

Bulk Transfer Laws.  The parties hereto waive compliance in all respect with all applicable bulk transfer laws, if any. As set forth in Section VII hereof, Sellers and Seller Affiliates jointly and severally hereby agree to indemnify and hold Purchasers harmless of and from any loss, cost, and expense of whatsoever type or nature whenever or however incurred as a result of Sellers or Seller Affiliates not paying Sellers’ or Seller Affiliates’ creditors.

9.15.

Time is of the Essence.  Time is of the essence with respect to all performance obligations under this agreement. 

9.16

No Third Party Beneficiaries.  The covenants contained herein are made solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and successors and assigns of such parties as specified herein, and will not be construed as having been intended to benefit any third party which is not a party to this Agreement. 

9.17

 Exhibits.  All exhibits and annexes, including supporting documentation therein are attached hereto are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.  

9.18

Defined Terms.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the following words and expressions will have the following meanings:

(a)

“Liability” means any liability or obligation (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, whether incurred or consequential and whether due or to become due), including, without limitation, any liability for taxes.

(b)

“Material Contract” means (i) real property leases (ii) contracts of the Sellers or Sellers’ Assets that have a remaining term in excess of twelve (12) months (unless the remaining payments are less than $10,000, and (iii) contracts of the Sellers or Sellers’ Assets that have remaining payments in excess of $25,000.

(c)

“Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of business consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity, timing and frequency).

(d)

“Material Adverse Effect” means any change or effect that would be materially adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, Business, prospects, properties, assets or Liabilities of the Sellers or Seller Affiliates.

(e)

“Person” means an individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, estate, real estate investment trust association or any other entity.

9.19

Costs Paid on Behalf of Other Party. Sellers and Purchasers agree to reimburse the other party for any non-disputed costs paid by such other party on behalf of the reimbursing party within thirty days of the Closing Date, except for prepaid rent, which will be reimbursed on the Closing Date. Specifically, but not intending to limit the scope of this paragraph, Purchasers agree to reimburse Sellers for any prepaid store rent existing as of the Closing Date as well as other costs of services or utilities paid by Sellers on behalf of Purchasers. Rent paid by either party for the month including the Closing Date will be allocated between the parties based upon the number of days the Locations are controlled by the parties. If, for example, the Sellers paid June rent and the Closing Date fell on June 16, the Purchasers would reimburse Sellers for one-half ( 15/30) of June rent. 

ARTICLE X

DESIGNATION OF REPRESENTATION

Sellers and Sellers Affiliates designate R. Douglas Will and Timothy S. Lanham, whether jointly or individually, as their representatives to sign any and all agreements and documents relating to this Agreement.  

[Signature pages follow.]DRI 2012 Ex 4.1

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

Re: $ 80,000,000 3.79% Senior Notes due August 28, 2019
        $ 220,000,000 4.52% Senior Notes due August 28, 2024

______________

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
______________

Dated June 18, 2012

	
					
	Table of Contents
	Page

	Section 1.
	Authorization of Notes
	1
	

	Section 2.
	Sale and Purchase of Notes
	1
	

	Section 3.
	Closing
	2
	

	Section 4.
	Conditions to Closing
	2
	

	 
	Section 4.1
	Representations and Warranties
	2
	

	 
	Section 4.2.
	Performance; No Default
	2
	

	 
	Section 4.3.
	Compliance Certificates
	3
	

	 
	Section 4.4.
	Opinions of Counsel
	3
	

	 
	Section 4.5.
	Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, Etc
	3
	

	 
	Section 4.6.
	Sale of Other Notes
	3
	

	 
	Section 4.7.
	Payment of Special Counsel Fees
	3
	

	 
	Section 4.8.
	Private Placement Number
	4
	

	 
	Section 4.9.
	Changes in Corporate Structure
	4
	

	 
	Section 4.10.
	Funding Instructions
	4
	

	 
	Section 4.11.
	Proceedings and Documents
	4
	

	Section 5.
	Representations and Warranties of the Company
	4
	

	 
	Section 5.1.
	Organization; Power and Authority
	4
	

	 
	Section 5.2.
	Authorization, Etc
	5
	

	 
	Section 5.3.
	Disclosure
	5
	

	 
	Section 5.4.
	Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries
	5
	

	 
	Section 5.5.
	Financial Statements; Material Liabilities
	6
	

	 
	Section 5.6.
	Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc
	6
	

	 
	Section 5.7.
	Governmental Authorizations, Etc
	7
	

	 
	Section 5.8.
	Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders
	7
	

	 
	Section 5.9.
	Taxes
	7
	

	 
	Section 5.10.
	Title to Property; Leases
	8
	

	 
	Section 5.11.
	Licenses, Permits, Etc
	8
	

	 
	Section 5.12.
	Compliance with ERISA
	8
	

	 
	Section 5.13.
	Private Offering by the Company
	9
	

	 
	Section 5.14.
	Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations
	9
	

	 
	Section 5.15.
	Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens
	10
	

	 
	Section 5.16.
	Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc
	10
	

	 
	Section 5.17.
	Status under Certain Statutes
	11
	

	 
	Section 5.18.
	Environmental Matters
	11
	

	Section 6.
	Representations of the Purchasers
	12
	

	 
	Section 6.1.
	Purchase for Investment
	12
	

	 
	Section 6.2.
	Source of Funds
	12
	

	Section 7.
	Information as to Company
	14
	

	 
	Section 7.1.
	Financial Information
	14
	

	 
	Section 7.2.
	Notice of Default or Event of Default
	16
	

	
					
	 
	Section 7.3.
	Other Information
	16
	

	 
	Section 7.4.
	Requested Information
	17
	

	 
	Section 7.5.
	Compliance
	17
	

	 
	Section 7.6.
	Visitation
	18
	

	Section 8.
	Payment and Prepayment of the Notes
	18
	

	 
	Section 8.1.
	Maturity
	18
	

	 
	Section 8.2.
	Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount
	18
	

	 
	Section 8.3.
	Allocation of Partial Prepayments
	19
	

	 
	Section 8.4.
	Maturity; Surrender, Etc.
	19
	

	 
	Section 8.5.
	Purchase of Notes
	19
	

	 
	Section 8.6.
	Make-Whole Amount
	20
	

	 
	Section 8.7
	Change in Control
	21
	

	Section 9.
	Affirmative Covenants.
	22
	

	 
	Section 9.1.
	Compliance with Law
	22
	

	 
	Section 9.2.
	Insurance
	22
	

	 
	Section 9.3.
	Maintenance of Properties
	23
	

	 
	Section 9.4.
	Payment of Taxes and Claims
	23
	

	 
	Section 9.5.
	Corporate Existence, Etc
	23
	

	 
	Section 9.6.
	Books and Records
	23
	

	 
	Section 9.7
	Additional Subsidiary Guarantors
	24
	

	Section 10.
	Negative Covenants.
	24
	

	 
	Section 10.1.
	Transactions with Affiliates
	24
	

	 
	Section 10.2.
	Merger, Consolidation, Etc
	25
	

	 
	Section 10.3.
	Terrorism Sanctions Regulations
	25
	

	 
	Section 10.4.
	Liens
	26
	

	 
	Section 10.5.
	Priority Debt
	27
	

	 
	Section 10.6.
	Financial Covenants.
	28
	

	 
	Section 10.7.
	Sale of Assets, Etc
	30
	

	Section 11.
	Events of Default
	30
	

	Section 12.
	Remedies on Default, Etc
	33
	

	 
	Section 12.1.
	Acceleration
	33
	

	 
	Section 12.2.
	Other Remedies
	33
	

	 
	Section 12.3.
	Rescission
	34
	

	 
	Section 12.4.
	No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, Etc
	34
	

	Section 13.
	Registration; Exchange; Substitution of Notes
	34
	

	 
	Section 13.1.
	Registration of Notes
	34
	

	 
	Section 13.2.
	Transfer and Exchange of Notes
	34
	

	 
	Section 13.3.
	Replacement of Notes
	35
	

	Section 14.
	Payments on Notes
	36
	

	 
	Section 14.1.
	Place of Payment
	36
	

	 
	Section 14.2.
	Home Office Payment
	36
	

	Section 15.
	Expenses, Etc
	36
	

	
					
	 
	Section 15.1.
	Transaction Expenses
	36
	

	 
	Section 15.2.
	Survival
	37
	

	Section 16.
	Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement
	37
	

	Section 17.
	Amendment and Waiver
	37
	

	 
	Section 17.1.
	Requirements
	37
	

	 
	Section 17.2.
	Solicitation of Holders of Notes
	38
	

	 
	Section 17.3.
	Binding Effect, etc
	38
	

	 
	Section 17.4.
	Notes Held by Company, etc
	39
	

	Section 18.
	Notices
	39
	

	Section 19.
	Reproduction of Documents
	40
	

	Section 20.
	Confidential Information
	40
	

	Section 21.
	Substitution of Purchaser
	41
	

	Section 22.
	Miscellaneous
	41
	

	 
	Section 22.1.
	Successors and Assigns
	42
	

	 
	Section 22.2.
	Payments Due on Non-Business Days
	42
	

	 
	Section 22.3.
	Severability
	42
	

	 
	Section 22.4.
	Construction, etc
	42
	

	 
	Section 22.5.
	Counterparts
	42
	

	 
	Section 22.6.
	Governing Law
	42
	

	 
	Section 22.7.
	Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial
	43
	

	 
	Section 22.8.
	Accounting Terms
	43
	

	 
	 
	Signature
	45
	

SCHEDULE A        —    INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS

SCHEDULE B        —    DEFINED TERMS

SCHEDULE 5.3         —    Disclosure Materials

SCHEDULE 5.4         —    Subsidiaries 

SCHEDULE 5.5         —    Financial Statements

SCHEDULE 5.15        —    Indebtedness

SCHEDULE 10.4        —    Liens 

EXHIBIT 1(a)          —    Form of 3.79% Senior Note due August 28, 2019

EXHIBIT 1(b)          —    Form of 4.52% Senior Note due August 28, 2024

EXHIBIT 4.4(a)(i)     —     Form of Opinion of In-House Counsel for the Company 

EXHIBIT 4.4(a)(ii)     —     Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Company 

EXHIBIT 4.4(b)         —    Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
       
    $80,000,000 3.79% Senior Notes due August 28, 2019
    $220,000,000 4.52% Senior Notes due August 28, 2024

June 18, 2012

TO EACH OF THE PURCHASERS LISTED IN
SCHEDULE A HERETO:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), agrees with each of the purchasers whose names appear at the end hereof (each, a “Purchaser” and, collectively, the “Purchasers”) as follows:
		
	SECTION 1.
	AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES    

The Company will authorize the issue and sale of (i) $80,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.79% Senior Notes due August 28, 2019 (the “2019 Notes”) and  (ii)  $220,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.52% Senior Notes due August 28, 2024 (the “2024 Notes” and together with the 2019 Notes, the “Notes”), such term to include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13).  The Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1(a) and Exhibit 1(b), respectively.  Certain capitalized and other terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B; and references to a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement.
		
	SECTION 2.
	SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

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

1

		
	SECTION 3.
	CLOSING.

The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by each Purchaser shall occur at the offices of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, at a closing (the “Closing”) on August 28, 2012 or on such other Business Day thereafter on or prior to September 6, 2012 as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Purchasers.  At the Closing the Company will deliver to each Purchaser the Notes of each series to be purchased by such Purchaser in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $500,000 as such Purchaser may request) of such series dated the date of the Closing and registered in such Purchaser’s name (or in the name of its nominee), against delivery by such Purchaser to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the Company to account number 6355009888 (Darden Restaurants, Inc.) at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 201 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, ABA 121000248, SWIFT WFBIUS6S.  If at the Closing the Company shall fail to tender such Notes to any Purchaser as provided above in this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section 4 shall not have been fulfilled to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, such Purchaser shall, at its election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights such Purchaser may have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.
		
	SECTION 4.
	CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

Each Purchaser’s obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to such Purchaser at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:
Section 4.1.    Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing as if made at such time.
Section 4.2.    Performance; No Default.  The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated by Section 5.14) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited by Section 10 had the provisions of such Section applied since such date.

2

Section 4.3.    Compliance Certificates.
(a)    Officer’s Certificate.  The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.9 have been fulfilled.
(b)    Secretary’s Certificate.  The Company shall have delivered to such Purchaser a certificate of its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, dated the date of Closing, certifying as to the resolutions attached thereto and other corporate proceedings relating to the authorization, execution and delivery of the Notes and this Agreement.
Section 4.4.    Opinions of Counsel.  Such Purchaser shall have received opinions in form and substance satisfactory to such Purchaser, dated the date of the Closing (a) from in-house counsel to the Company, and from Hunton & Williams LLP, special counsel for the Company, substantially in the forms set forth in Exhibit 4.4(a)(i) and Exhibit 4.4(a)(ii), respectively, (and the Company hereby instructs its counsel to deliver such opinions to the Purchasers) and (b) from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, the Purchasers’ special counsel in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.4(b).
Section 4.5.    Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, Etc.  On the date of the Closing such Purchaser’s purchase of Notes shall (a) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which such Purchaser is subject, without recourse to provisions (such as section 1405(a)(8) of the New York Insurance Law) permitting limited investments by insurance companies without restriction as to the character of the particular investment, (b) not violate any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and (c) not subject such Purchaser to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date hereof.  If requested by such Purchaser, such Purchaser shall have received an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as such Purchaser may reasonably specify to enable such Purchaser to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.
Section 4.6.    Sale of Other Notes.      Contemporaneously with the Closing the Company shall sell to each other Purchaser and each other Purchaser shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by it at the Closing as specified in Schedule A.
Section 4.7.    Payment of Special Counsel Fees.  Without limiting the provisions of Section 15.1, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the fees, charges and disbursements of the Purchasers’ special counsel referred to in Section 4.4 to the extent reflected 

3

in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the Closing.
Section 4.8.    Private Placement Number.  A Private Placement Number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the SVO) shall have been obtained for the Notes of each series.
Section 4.9.    Changes in Corporate Structure.  The Company shall not have changed its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable, or been a party to any merger or consolidation or succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.5.  
Section 4.10.    Funding Instructions.  At least three Business Days prior to the date of the Closing, each Purchaser shall have received written instructions signed by a Responsible Officer on letterhead of the Company confirming the information specified in Section 3 including (i) the name and address of the transferee bank, (ii) such transferee bank’s ABA number and (iii) the account name and number into which the purchase price for the Notes is to be deposited.
Section 4.11.    Proceedings and Documents.  All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to such Purchaser and its special counsel, and such Purchaser and its special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents and any such certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Company as to the matters contemplated herein, as such Purchaser or such Purchaser’s special counsel may reasonably request.
		
	SECTION 5.
	REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

The Company represents and warrants to each Purchaser that:
Section 5.1.    Organization; Power and Authority.  The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company has the corporate power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, to transact the business it 

4

transacts and proposes to transact, to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Notes and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.
Section 5.2.    Authorization, Etc.  This Agreement and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 5.3.    Disclosure.  The Company, through its agents, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, has delivered to each Purchaser a copy of a Private Placement Memorandum, dated May 2012 (the “Memorandum”), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.  The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  This Agreement, the Memorandum, the Exchange Act reports and the documents, certificates or other writings delivered to the Purchasers by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and identified in Schedule 5.3, and the Exchange Act reports and financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5 (this Agreement, the Memorandum and such reports, documents, certificates or other writings and such financial statements delivered to each Purchaser prior to May 24, 2012 being referred to, collectively, as the “Disclosure Documents”), taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.  Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, since May 29, 2011, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no fact known to the Company that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Disclosure Documents.
Section 5.4.    Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries.  (a) Schedule 5.4 contains a complete and correct list of the Company’s Material Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Material Subsidiary, the correct name thereof and the jurisdiction of its organization.  Each Material Subsidiary of the Company has been duly formed and is validly existing as a legal entity in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business and is duly qualified as a foreign legal entity to 

5

transact business, as described in the Disclosure Documents and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed on Schedule 5.4, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of, or equity interest in, as applicable, each such Material Subsidiary has been duly authorized and is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through Material Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. 
 (b)    No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any legal, regulatory, contractual or other restriction (other than the agreements listed on Schedule 5.4 and customary limitations imposed by corporate law or similar statutes) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.
Section 5.5.    Financial Statements; Material Liabilities.  The financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.5 (including in each case the related schedules and notes), fairly present, and at the Closing Date any annual and quarterly financial statements subsequently filed with the Company’s periodic reports filed under the Exchange Act or otherwise provided pursuant to Section 7.1 will fairly present, in each case in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates specified in such financial statements and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments).   The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any Material liabilities that are not disclosed on such financial statements or otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Documents.
Section 5.6.    Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc.  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary 

6

or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, except, in each case (other than with respect to any such charter, by-laws, articles, memorandum of association or other organizational documents), as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. 
Section 5.7.    Governmental Authorizations, Etc.  No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Notes.
Section 5.8.    Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders      (a) There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any property of the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b)    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including without limitation Environmental Laws or the USA Patriot Act) of any Governmental Authority, which default or violation, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.9.    Taxes.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount, applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.  The Company knows of no basis for any other tax or assessment that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of Federal, state or other taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate.  The Federal income tax liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been finally determined (whether by reason of completed audits or the statute of limitations having run) for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended May 30, 2010.

7

Section 5.10.    Title to Property; Leases.  The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 5.5 or purported to have been acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement.  All leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects. 
Section 5.11.    Licenses, Permits, Etc.  (a) The Company and its Material Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, proprietary software, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others.
(b)    To the best knowledge of the Company, no product or service of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries infringes in any material respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent, copyright, proprietary software, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned by any other Person.
(c)    To the best knowledge of the Company, there is no Material violation by any Person of any right of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries with respect to any patent, copyright, proprietary software, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.12.    Compliance with ERISA.  (a)  The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions or to section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the Code or section 4068 of ERISA, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.
(b)    The present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Plans (other than Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan’s most recently ended plan year 

8

for which data is available on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, did not exceed the aggregate current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities by more than $23 million in the case of any single Plan and by more than $23 million in the aggregate for all Plans (determined as of the end of the plan year ended April 30, 2011, the most recent date for which this information is available).  The term “benefit liabilities” has the meaning specified in section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “current value” and “present value” have the meaning specified in section 3 of ERISA.
(c)    The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.
(d)    The net unfunded expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by section 4980B of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not Material.
(e)    The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes hereunder will not involve any transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code.  The representation by the Company to each Purchaser in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of such Purchaser’s representation in Section 6.2 as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser.
Section 5.13.    Private Offering by the Company.  Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Notes or any similar securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any person other than the Purchasers and not more than 60 other Institutional Investors, each of which has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment.  Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the registration requirements of any securities or blue sky laws of any applicable jurisdiction.
Section 5.14.    Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.  The Company will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Notes as set forth in Section I. D. “Executive Summary—Summary of Proposed Offering” of the Memorandum.  No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes 

9

hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220).  Margin stock does not constitute more than 2% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 2% of the value of such assets.  As used in this Section, the terms “margin stock” and “purpose of buying or carrying” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.
Section 5.15.    Existing Indebtedness; Future Liens.  (a) The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 29, 2011 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date, since which date there has been no Material change in the amounts, interest rates, sinking funds, installment payments or maturities of the Indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries except as described in the Disclosure Documents.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Indebtedness to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.
(b)    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by Section 10.4.
(c)    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary, any agreement relating thereto or any other agreement (including, but not limited to, its charter or other organizational document) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the incurring of, Indebtedness of the Company, except as specifically indicated in Schedule 5.15.
(d)    The Notes will rank pari passu in right of repayment with the Company’s other unsecured senior indebtedness.
Section 5.16.    Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc.  (a) Neither the Company nor any Affiliate is (i) a Person whose name appears on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and 

10

Blocked Persons published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury (“OFAC”) or a Person that is otherwise subject to an OFAC Sanctions Program (an “OFAC Listed Person”) or (ii) a department, agency or instrumentality of, or is otherwise controlled by or acting on behalf of, directly or indirectly, (x) any OFAC Listed Person or (y) any Person, entity, organization, foreign country or regime that is subject to any OFAC Sanctions Program (each OFAC Listed Person and each other Person, entity, organization and government of a country described in clause (ii), a “Blocked Person”).
(b)    No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder constitutes or will constitute funds obtained on behalf of any Blocked Person or will otherwise be used, directly by the Company or indirectly through any Affiliate, in connection with any investment in, or any transactions or dealings with, any Blocked Person.
(c)    To the Company’s actual knowledge after making due inquiry, neither the Company nor any Affiliate (i) is under investigation by any Governmental Authority for, or has been charged with, or convicted of, money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorist‐related activities or other money laundering predicate crimes under any applicable law (collectively, “Anti‐Money Laundering Laws”), (ii) has been assessed civil penalties under any Anti‐Money Laundering Laws or (iii) has had any of its funds seized or forfeited in an action under any Anti‐Money Laundering Laws.  The Company has taken reasonable measures appropriate to the circumstances (in any event as required by applicable law) to ensure that the Company and each Affiliate is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current and future Anti‐Money Laundering Laws.
(d)    No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any improper payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, official of any public international organization or any one else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of any applicable laws.  The Company has taken reasonable measures appropriate to the circumstances (in any event as required by applicable law) to ensure that the Company and each Affiliate is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current and future anti‐corruption laws and regulations.
Section 5.17.    Status under Certain Statutes.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, as amended, the ICC Termination Act of 1995, as amended, or the Federal Power Act, as amended.
Section 5.18.    Environmental Matters.  (a) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has 

11

knowledge of any claim or has received any notice of any claim, and no proceeding has been instituted raising any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or other assets, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any Environmental Laws, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. 
(b)    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any facts which would give rise to any claim, public or private, of violation of Environmental Laws or damage to the environment emanating from, occurring on or in any way related to real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or to other assets or their use, except, in each case, such as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c)    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has stored any Hazardous Materials on real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them and has not disposed of any Hazardous Materials in a manner contrary to any Environmental Laws in each case in any manner that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(d)    All buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
		
	SECTION 6.
	REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

Section 6.1.    Purchase for Investment.  Each Purchaser severally represents that it is purchasing the Notes for its own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by such Purchaser or for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of such Purchaser’s or their property shall at all times be within such Purchaser’s or their control.  Each Purchaser understands that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Notes.
Section 6.2.    Source of Funds.  Each Purchaser severally represents that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “Source”) to be used by such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser hereunder:

12

(a)    the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption (“PTE”) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC Annual Statement”)) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile; or
(b)    the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or
(c)    the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1 or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or
(d)    the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”)) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (within the meaning of Part VI of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Section VI(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section VI(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such 

13

investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (d); or
(e)    the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption”)) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM Exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(d) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (e); or
(f)    the Source is a governmental plan; or
(g)    the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (g); or
(h)    the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.
As used in this Section 6.2, the terms “employee benefit plan,” “governmental plan,” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in section 3 of ERISA.
		
	SECTION 7.
	INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY.

Section 7.1.        Financial Information.  The Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:
(a)    Quarterly Statements — within 60 days (or such shorter period as is 15 days greater than the period applicable to the filing of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10‐Q (the “Form 10‐Q”) with the SEC regardless of whether the Company is subject to the filing requirements thereof) after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

14

(i)    a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter, and
(ii)    consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, provided that delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Company’s Form 10‐Q prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the SEC shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(a), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10‐Q if it shall have timely made such Form 10‐Q available on “EDGAR” and on its home page on the worldwide web (at the date of this Agreement located at:  http//www.darden.com) (such availability being referred to as “Electronic Delivery”);
(b)    Annual Statements — within 105 days (or such shorter period as is 15 days greater than the period applicable to the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‐K (the “Form 10‐K”) with the SEC regardless of whether the Company is subject to the filing requirements thereof) after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, duplicate copies of
(i)    a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year, and
(ii)    consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by an opinion thereon of independent public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their results of operations and cash flows 

15

and have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances,
provided that the delivery within the time period specified above of the Company’s Form 10‐K for such fiscal year (together with the Company’s annual report to shareholders, if any, prepared pursuant to Rule 14a‐3 under the Exchange Act) prepared in accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the SEC, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(b), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10‐K if it shall have timely made Electronic Delivery thereof.
Section 7.2.    Notice of Default or Event of Default.    The Company shall deliver to each holder of the Notes that is an Institutional Investor promptly, and in any event within five days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in Section 11(f), a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 7.3.    Other Information.    If the Company (or any successor thereto) shall no longer file annual, quarterly  and other periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company shall transmit to each holder of the Notes that is an Institutional Investor:
(a)    ERISA Matters — promptly, and in any event within five days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of any of the following, a written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any, that the Company or an ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto:
(i)    with respect to any Plan, any reportable event, as defined in section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, for which notice thereof has not been waived pursuant to such regulations as in effect on the date hereof; or
(ii)    the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a  Multi employer Plan that such action has been taken by the PBGC with respect to such Multi employer 

16

Plan; or
(iii)    any event, transaction or condition that could result in the incurrence of any liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or such penalty or excise tax provisions, if such liability or Lien, taken together with any other such liabilities or Liens then existing, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(b)    Notices from Governmental Authority — promptly, and in any event within 30 days of receipt thereof, copies of any notice to the Company or any Subsidiary from any Federal or state Governmental Authority relating to any order, ruling, statute or other law or regulation that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 7.4. Requested Information.    The Company shall provide each holder of the Notes that is an Institutional Holder with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Notes as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.
Section 7.5.    Compliance    .  Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year and within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company, the Company shall deliver to the holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:
(a)    Covenant Compliance — a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth the information (including detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of Section 10.6 during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including with respect to such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Section, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and
(b)    Event of Default — a statement that such Senior Financial Officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made, under his or her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being 

17

furnished to the date of the certificate and that such review shall not have disclosed the existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists (including, without limitation, any such event or condition resulting from the failure of the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company shall have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 7.6.    Visitation.  The Company shall permit the representatives of each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:
(a)    No Default — if no Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of such holder and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to visit the principal executive office of the Company, to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with the Company’s officers, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) its independent public accountants, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) to visit the other offices and properties of the Company and each Subsidiary, in each case no more than once per calendar year as may be reasonably requested in writing; and
(b)    Default — if a Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of the Company to visit and inspect any of the offices or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, to examine all their respective books of account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries), all at such times and as often as may be requested.
		
	SECTION 8.
	PAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

Section 8.1.    Maturity.  As provided therein, the entire unpaid principal balance of the Notes of each series shall be due and payable on the stated maturity date thereof.
Section 8.2.    Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount.  The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, the Notes of any series, in an amount not less than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, and the Make-Whole Amount determined for the prepayment date with respect 

18

to such principal amount, together with interest accrued to the date of prepayment.  The Company will give each holder of Notes of such series to be prepaid written notice of each optional prepayment under this Section 8.2 not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment.  Each such notice shall specify such date (which shall be a Business Day), the aggregate principal amount of such Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each such Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with Section 8.3), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation.  Two Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of such Notes a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified prepayment date.
Section 8.3.    Allocation of Partial Prepayments.  In the case of each partial prepayment of the Notes of any series, the principal amount of such Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes of such series at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.
Section 8.4.    Maturity; Surrender, Etc.      In the case of each prepayment of Notes of any series pursuant to this Section 8, the principal amount of each such Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment (which shall be a Business Day), together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any.  From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue.  Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note.
Section 8.5.    Purchase of Notes.  The Company will not and will not permit any Affiliate to purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes of any series except (i) upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such Notes or (ii) pursuant to a written offer to purchase any Notes of such series made by the Company or an Affiliate pro rata to the holders of the Notes of such series upon the same terms and conditions.  The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment or prepayment of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

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Section 8.6.    Make-Whole Amount.
“Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero.  For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:
“Called Principal” means, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.
“Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on such Note is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.
“Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, 0.50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” (or such other display as may replace Page PX1) on Bloomberg Financial Markets for the most recently issued actively traded on the run U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable (including by way of interpolation), the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (or any comparable successor publication) for U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date.  
In the case of each determination under clause (i) or clause (ii), as the case may be, of the preceding paragraph, such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the applicable U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than such Remaining Average Life and (2) the applicable U.S. Treasury 

20

security with the maturity closest to and less than such Remaining Average Life.  The Reinvestment Yield shall be rounded to the number of decimal places as appears in the interest rate of the applicable Note.
“Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.
“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of such Note, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 12.1.
“Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.
Section 8.7    Change in Control    
(a)    Notice of Change in Control.  The Company will, within 15 days after any Responsible Officer has knowledge of the occurrence of any Change in Control, give written notice of such Change in Control to each holder of Notes.  In the case that a Change in Control has occurred, such notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay Notes as described in subparagraph (b) of this Section 8.7.
(b)    Offer to Prepay Notes.  An offer to prepay Notes contemplated by subparagraph (a) of this Section 8.7 shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and subject to this Section 8.7, all, but not less than all, the Notes held by each holder (in this case only, “holder” in respect of any Note registered in the name of a nominee for a disclosed beneficial owner shall mean such beneficial owner) on a date specified in such offer (the “Proposed Prepayment Date”) that is not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days after the date of such offer (if the Proposed Prepayment Date 

21

shall not be specified in such offer, the Proposed Prepayment Date shall be the 60th day after the date of such offer).
(c)    Acceptance; Rejection.  A holder of Notes may accept the offer to prepay made pursuant to this Section 8.7 by causing a notice of such acceptance to be delivered to the Company at least five Business Days prior to the Proposed Prepayment Date. A failure by a holder of Notes to respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this Section 8.7 shall be deemed to constitute a rejection of such offer by such holder.
(d)    Prepayment.  Prepayment of the Notes to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 8.7 shall be at 100% of the principal amount of such Notes being prepaid, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of prepayment.  The prepayment shall be made on the Proposed Prepayment Date.
(e)    Effect on Required Payments.  The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable to an offer to purchase contemplated by this Section 8.7.
		
	SECTION 9.
	AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.    

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:
Section 9.1.    Compliance with Law.  Without limiting Section 10.3, the Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, ERISA, the USA Patriot Act and Environmental Laws, and will obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 9.2.    Insurance.  The Company will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, 

22

on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles, co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves are maintained with respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.
Section 9.3.    Maintenance of Properties.  The Company will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this Section shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Company has concluded that such discontinuance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 9.4.    Payment of Taxes and Claims.  The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, file all tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent the same have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Company or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Company or a Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the Company or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes, assessments, charges, levies and claims in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
Section 9.5.    Corporate Existence, Etc.  Subject to Section 10.2, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.  Subject to Sections 10.2 and 10.7, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of each of its Subsidiaries (unless merged into the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) and all rights and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, right or franchise could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 
Section 9.6.    Books and Records.  The Company will, and will cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account to allow preparation by the Company 

23

of financial statements in conformity with GAAP.
Section 9.7.    Additional Subsidiary Guarantors.  The Company will cause any Subsidiary which is a party to the Bank Credit Agreement, or otherwise guarantees Indebtedness in respect of the Bank Credit Agreement (a “Subsidiary Guarantor”), to enter into a Guarantee (a “Subsidiary Guarantee”) similarly guaranteeing the Company’s obligations under the Notes, and deliver to each of the holders of the Notes (concurrently with the incurrence of any such obligation with respect to the Bank Credit Agreement) the following items:
(a)    such Subsidiary Guarantee;
(b)    a certificate signed by an authorized Responsible Officer of the Company making representations and warranties to the effect of those contained in Sections 5.2, 5.4, 5.6 and 5.7, with respect to such Subsidiary and the Subsidiary Guarantee, as applicable; and
(c)    an opinion of counsel (who may be in-house counsel for the Company) addressed to each of the holders of the Notes reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that the Subsidiary Guarantee by such Person has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and that such Subsidiary Guarantee constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of such Person enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as an enforcement of such terms may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.
The holders of the Notes agree to discharge and release any Subsidiary Guarantor from any Subsidiary Guarantee upon the written request of the Company, provided that (i) such Subsidiary Guarantor has been released and discharged (or will be released and discharged concurrently with the release of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee) as an obligor and/or guarantor under and in respect of the Bank Credit Agreement and the Company so certifies to the holders of the Notes in a certificate of a Responsible Officer, (ii) at the time of such release and discharge, the Company shall deliver a certificate of a Responsible Officer to the holders of the Notes stating that no Default or Event of Default exists and, (iii) if any fee or other form of consideration is given to any holder of Indebtedness of the Company for the purpose of such release, holders of the Notes shall receive equivalent consideration. 
		
	SECTION 10.
	NEGATIVE COVENANTS.    

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:
Section 10.1.    Transactions with Affiliates.  The Company will not and will not permit 

24

any Subsidiary to enter into directly or indirectly any transaction or group of related transactions (including without limitation the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (other than the Company or another Subsidiary), except in the ordinary course and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.
Section 10.2.    Merger, Consolidation, Etc.  The Company will not consolidate with or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person unless:
(a)    the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as an entirety, as the case may be (the “Successor”), shall be a solvent corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof (including the District of Columbia), and, if the Company is not such Successor, (i) such Successor shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement and the Notes and (ii) such Successor shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel, or other independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; and 
(b)    immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
No such conveyance, transfer or lease of substantially all of the assets of the Company shall have the effect of releasing the Company or any successor corporation or limited liability company that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Section 10.2 from its liability under this Agreement or the Notes.
Section 10.3.    Terrorism Sanctions Regulations.  The Company will not and will not permit any Affiliate to (a) become a Blocked Person or (b) have any investments in or engage in any dealings or transactions with any Blocked Person except in accordance with applicable law and in a manner where such investments, transactions or dealings would not cause the purchase, holding or receipt of any payment or exercise of any rights in respect of any Note by the holder thereof to 

25

be in violation of any laws or regulations administered by OFAC.
Section 10.4.    Liens. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a)    Liens existing on the Signing Date and to the extent any such Liens secure Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $1,000,000 individually, such Liens are listed on Schedule 10.4;
(b)    Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies not yet due which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty, or to the extent non-payment thereof is permitted under Section 9.4;
(c)    carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, processors’ landlords’ or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations which are not delinquent by more than 60 days or which have been bonded for the full amount or, which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary;
(d)    pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;
(e)    deposits to secure the performance of bids, tenders, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(f)    zoning restrictions, easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;
(g)    Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 11(i);

26

(h)    any interest or title of a lessor under any lease;
(i)    licenses, leases or subleases granted to other Persons not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries;
(j)    Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to bankers’ liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided that (A) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board and (B) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide collateral for debt for borrowed money owed to the depository institution;
(k)    purchase money Liens and Liens securing Capital Leases; provided that the Lien attaches only to the asset being purchased or leased and does not exceed 100% of the purchase price or fair market value of such asset;
(l)    Liens on assets of Persons which become Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement; provided that such Liens existed at the time of such Persons became Subsidiaries and were not created in anticipation thereof;
(m)    extensions, renewals or replacements, in whole or in part, of any Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (a), (k) and (l); provided that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby and not otherwise authorized by this Section 10.4 shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness, plus any premium or fee payable in connection with any such extension, renewal or replacement, so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement;
(n)    other Liens on assets or other properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that the aggregate Indebtedness secured by such other Liens (exclusive of Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by clauses (a) through (m) of this Section 10.4) shall not exceed an amount equal to 20% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth; and provided, further that no Liens under this Section 10.4(n) shall secure the obligations under any Bank Credit Agreement unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured in a manner satisfactory to the Required Holders.
Section 10.5.    Priority Debt. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its 

27

Subsidiaries to, incur any Indebtedness if at the time of such incurrence, and as a result of such incurrence, Priority Debt would exceed 20% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.
Section 10.6.    Financial Covenants    
(a)    Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio.  The Company will not permit the Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be greater than 0.75 to 1.00, as such ratio may be adjusted pursuant to Section 10.6(b) below; provided, however, that notwithstanding any such adjustment, the Company will not permit the Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be greater than 0.80 to 1.00.
(b)    Most Favored Lender. 
(i)    If at any time after the Signing Date the Company is party to any Bank Credit Agreement that shall contain any financial covenant that relates specifically to one or more numerical measures of the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (however expressed and whether stated as a ratio, as a fixed threshold, as an event of default, or otherwise) (or any thereof shall be amended, restated or otherwise modified) and such financial covenant is not contained in this Agreement or would be more beneficial to the holders of the Notes than any analogous covenant contained in this Section 10.6 or incorporated into this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.6(b) (any such financial covenant, a “Financial Covenant”), then a Senior Financial Officer shall promptly (but in any event within ten Business Days from the occurrence thereof) provide written notice thereof to the holders of Notes, which notice shall refer specifically to this Section 10.6(b) and shall describe in reasonable detail such Financial Covenant and the relevant ratios or thresholds contained therein.  Thereupon, unless waived in writing by the Required Holders, such Financial Covenant shall be deemed automatically incorporated by reference into this Agreement, mutatis mutandis, as if set forth fully herein, without any further action required on the part of any Person, effective as of the date when such Financial Covenant became effective under such Bank Credit Agreement.  Any Financial Covenant incorporated into this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.6(b) shall automatically without any action required to be taken by the Company or any holder of any Note (i) be subject to any subsequent waiver of the correlative covenant to such Financial Covenant under the applicable Bank Credit Agreement for the same time period as waived thereunder, (ii) be deemed amended, restated or otherwise modified in this Agreement to the same effect as the correlative covenant to such Financial Covenant shall be amended, restated or otherwise modified under the applicable Bank Credit Agreement 

28

and (iii) be deemed deleted from this Agreement at such time as the correlative covenant to such Financial Covenant shall be deleted from the applicable Bank Credit Agreement or at such time as the applicable Bank Credit Agreement shall be terminated and, in the case of any such termination, no amounts of principal or interest shall be outstanding thereunder (and in any such case under clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, a Senior Financial Officer shall promptly (but in any event within five Business Days from the occurrence thereof) provide written notice thereof to the holders of Notes, which notice shall refer specifically to this Section 10.6(b) and shall describe in reasonable detail the relevant waiver, amendment, restatement, modification or deletion of such Financial Covenant, it being understood that the failure to deliver any such notice shall not affect any such waiver, amendment,  restatement, modification or deletion of such Financial Covenant). In addition, subject to the proviso in Section 10.6(a), if the Company’s Bank Credit Agreements permit the Company’s Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio to be greater than 0.75 to 1.00 (the “Required Ratio Maximum”), upon five Business Days’ prior notice by a Senior Financial Officer to the holders of the Notes, which notice shall refer specifically to this Section 10.6(b) and shall describe in reasonable detail the proposed covenant change, the covenant in Section 10.6(a) shall be automatically amended to permit the Required Ratio Maximum to be as great as such greater ratio; provided, that, in no event shall the Company permit the Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be greater than 0.80 to 1.00.
(ii)    To the extent that the Company shall directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, by way of fee, additional interest or otherwise, as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any financier under any Bank Credit Agreement of any waiver, amendment, restatement, modification or deletion of any Financial Covenant or any increase in the Required Ratio Maximum at a time when any default or event of default shall exist under such Bank Credit Agreement, the Company shall pay such remuneration, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding (based on the principal amount outstanding under such Bank Credit Agreement and the respective outstanding principal amounts of Notes of each such holder at such time).
(iii)    In determining whether a breach of any Financial Covenant incorporated by reference into this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.6(b) shall constitute an Event of Default, the period of grace (if any) applicable to such Financial Covenant in the applicable Bank Credit Agreement shall apply.  Certificates delivered to the holders of Notes pursuant to Section 7.5(a) of this Agreement shall include the information (including reasonably detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance, during the fiscal period covered by the applicable financial statements described in such 

29

Section 7.5(a), with each Financial Covenant incorporated by reference into this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.6(b) as such Financial Covenant may be waived, amended, restated, modified, deleted or terminated.
Section 10.7.    Sale of Assets, Etc. Except as permitted under Section 10.2, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Asset Disposition unless:
(a)    in the good faith opinion of the Company, the Asset Disposition is in exchange for consideration having a Fair Market Value at least equal to that of the property exchanged and is in the best interest of the Company or such Subsidiary;
(b)    immediately after giving effect to the Asset Disposition, no Default or Event of Default would exist; and
(c)    immediately after giving effect to the Asset Disposition, the Disposition Value of all property that was the subject of any Asset Disposition occurring in the then current fiscal year of the Company would not exceed 30% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the then most recently ended fiscal year of the Company.
		
	SECTION 11.
	EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

An “Event of Default” shall exist if any of the following conditions or events shall occur and be continuing:
(a)    the Company defaults in the payment of any principal or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise; or
(b)    the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than five Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or
(c)    the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in (i) Section 10.2, Section 10.4, Section 10.5, Section 10.6 (including any Financial Covenant incorporated herein by reference) or Section 10.7 or (ii) Section 7.2, and in the case of (ii), such failure continues for ten or more days; or
(d)    the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained 

30

herein (other than those referred to in Sections 11(a), (b) and (c)) and such default is not remedied within 30 days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer obtaining actual knowledge of such default and (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such default from any holder of a Note (any such written notice to be identified as a “notice of default” and to refer specifically to this Section 11(d)); or
(e)    any representation or warranty made in writing by or on behalf of the Company or by any officer of the Company in this Agreement or in any writing furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby proves to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on the date as of which made; or
(f)    (i) the Company or any Subsidiary is in default (as principal or as guarantor or other surety) in the payment of any principal of or premium or make-whole amount or interest on any Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of at least $50,000,000 beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary is in default in the performance of or compliance with any term of any evidence of any Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of at least $50,000,000 or of any mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating thereto or any other condition exists, and as a consequence of such default or condition such Indebtedness has become, or has been declared (or one or more Persons are entitled to declare such Indebtedness to be), due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment, provided, however, that an Event of Default under this clause (ii) caused by the occurrence of a default with respect to such Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of at least $50,000,000 shall be cured for purposes of this Agreement (x) upon the party asserting such default waiving such default, (y) upon the Company or such Subsidiary curing such default if, at the time of such waiver or such cure, the Required Holders have not exercised any rights or remedies with respect to an Event of Default under this clause (ii) or (z) upon the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s otherwise making adequate provision for the payment of such Indebtedness that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount of at least $50,000,000 in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holders prior to the exercise of any remedies by the Required Holders with respect thereto under this clause (ii); or
(g)    the Company or any Subsidiary (i) is generally not paying, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iv) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, (v) is 

31

adjudicated as insolvent or to be liquidated, or (vi) takes corporate action for the purpose of any of the foregoing; or
(h)    a court or Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization or any other petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any such petition shall be filed against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and such petition shall not be dismissed within 60 days; or
(i)    a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within 60 days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within 60 days after the expiration of such stay; or
(j)    if (i) any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standards of ERISA or the Code for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standards or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under section 412 of the Code, (ii) a notice of intent to terminate any Plan shall have been or is reasonably expected to be filed with the PBGC or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings under ERISA section 4042 to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or the PBGC shall have notified the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that a Plan may become a subject of any such proceedings, (iii) the aggregate “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (within the meaning of section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) under all Plans, determined in accordance with Title IV of ERISA, shall exceed $50,000,000, (iv) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, (v) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate withdraws from any Multiemployer Plan, or (vi) the Company or any Subsidiary establishes or amends any employee welfare benefit plan that provides post-employment welfare benefits in a manner that would increase the liability of the Company or any Subsidiary thereunder; and any such event or events described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, either individually or together with any other such event or events, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
As used in Section 11(j), the terms “employee benefit plan” and “employee welfare benefit plan” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in section 3 of ERISA.

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	SECTION 12.
	REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

Section 12.1.    Acceleration.  (a)  If an Event of Default with respect to the Company described in Section 11(g) or (h) (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) of Section 11(g) or described in clause (vi) of Section 11(g) by virtue of the fact that such clause encompasses clause (i) of Section 11(g)) has occurred, all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable.
(b)    If any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Required Holders may at any time at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.
(c)    If any Event of Default described in Section 11(a) or (b) has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of Notes at the time outstanding affected by such Event of Default may at any time, at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes held by it or them to be immediately due and payable.
Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under this Section 12.1, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including, but not limited to, interest accrued thereon at the applicable Default Rate) and (y) the Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived.  The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Company in the event that the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default, is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.
Section 12.2.    Other Remedies.  If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared immediately due and payable under Section 12.1, the holder of any Note at the time outstanding may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

33

Section 12.3.    Rescission.  At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1(b) or (c), the Required Holders, by written notice to the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid all overdue interest on the Notes, all principal of and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on any Notes that are due and payable and are unpaid other than by reason of such declaration, and all interest on such overdue principal and Make-Whole Amount, if any, and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any overdue interest in respect of the Notes, at the applicable Default Rate, (b) neither the Company nor any other Person shall have paid any amounts which have become due solely by reason of such declaration, (c) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section 17, and (d) no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes.  No rescission and annulment under this Section 12.3 will extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 12.4.    No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, Etc.  No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies.  No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.  Without limiting the obligations of the Company under Section 15, the Company will pay to the holder of each Note on demand such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all costs and expenses of such holder incurred in any enforcement or collection under this Section 12, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses and disbursements.
		
	SECTION 13.
	REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

Section 13.1.    Registration of Notes    .  The Company shall keep at its principal executive office a register for the registration and registration of transfers of Notes.  The name and address of each holder of one or more Notes, each transfer thereof and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such register.  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary.  The Company shall give to any holder of a Note that is an Institutional Investor promptly upon request therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.
Section 13.2.    Transfer and Exchange of Notes.  Upon surrender of any Note to the 

34

Company at the address and to the attention of the designated officer (all as specified in Section 18(iii)), for registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered holder of such Note or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the relevant name, address and other information for notices of each transferee of such Note or part thereof), within ten Business Days thereafter, the Company shall execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder thereof) of the applicable series in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note.  Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may request and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1(a) or 1(b), as applicable.  Each such new Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.  The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such transfer of Notes.  Notes shall not be transferred in denominations of less than $500,000, provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes of any series, one Note of such series may be in a denomination of less than $500,000.  Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have made the representation set forth in Section 6.2.
Section 13.3.    Replacement of Notes.  Upon receipt by the Company at the address and to the attention of the designated officer (all as specified in Section 18(iii)) of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which evidence shall be, in the case of an Institutional Investor, notice from such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation), and
(a)    in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (provided that if the holder of such Note is, or is a nominee for, an original Purchaser or another holder of a Note with a minimum net worth of at least $50,000,000 or a Qualified Institutional Buyer, such Person’s own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be satisfactory), or
(b)    in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation thereof,
within ten Business Days thereafter, the Company at its own expense shall execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Note of the applicable series, dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

35

		
	SECTION 14.
	PAYMENTS ON NOTES    .

Section 14.1.    Place of Payment.  Subject to Section 14.2, payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in New York, New York at the principal office of U.S.Bank, N.A. in such jurisdiction.  The Company may at any time, by notice to each holder of a Note, change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment shall be either the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction or the principal office of a bank or trust company in such jurisdiction.
Section 14.2.    Home Office Payment.  So long as any Purchaser or its nominee shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in Section 14.1 or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below such Purchaser’s name in Schedule A, or by such other method or at such other address as such Purchaser shall have from time to time specified to the Company in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of any Note, such Purchaser shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal executive office or at the place of payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to Section 14.1.  Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by a Purchaser or its nominee, such Purchaser will, at its election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to Section 13.2.  The Company will afford the benefits of this Section 14.2 to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by a Purchaser under this Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as the Purchasers have made in this Section 14.2.
		
	SECTION 15.
	EXPENSES, ETC    .

Section 15.1.    Transaction Expenses.  Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company will pay all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees of a special counsel and, if reasonably required by the Required Holders, local or other counsel) incurred by the Purchasers and each other holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement or the Notes (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including, without limitation: (a) the costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement or the Notes or 

36

in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement or the Notes, or by reason of being a holder of any Note and (b) the costs and expenses, including financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Notes.  The Company will pay, and will save each Purchaser and each other holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses, if any, of brokers and finders (other than those, if any, retained by a Purchaser or other holder in connection with its purchase of the Notes).
Section 15.2.    Survival.  The obligations of the Company under this Section 15 will survive the payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, and the termination of this Agreement.
		
	SECTION 16.
	SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the purchase or transfer by any Purchaser of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of such Purchaser or any other holder of a Note.  All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement  shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under this Agreement.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between each Purchaser and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.
		
	SECTION 17.
	AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.  

Section 17.1.    Requirements    .  This Agreement and the Notes may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof or of the Notes of any series may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 21 hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be effective as to any Purchaser unless consented to by such Purchaser in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to acceleration or rescission, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method 

37

of computation of interest or of the Make-Whole Amount on, the Notes, (ii) change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (iii) amend any of Sections 8, 11(a), 11(b), 12, 17 or 20.
Section 17.2.    Solicitation of Holders of Notes.
(a)    Solicitation.  The Company will provide each holder of the Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes.  The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section 17 to each holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.
(b)    Payment.  The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security or provide other credit support, to any holder of Notes of any series as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes of such series of any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof or of the Notes unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted or other credit support concurrently provided, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes of such series then outstanding even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.
(c)    Consent in Contemplation of Transfer.      Any consent made pursuant to this Section 17 by a holder of Notes that has transferred or has agreed to transfer its Notes to the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the Company and has provided or has agreed to provide such written consent as a condition to such transfer shall be void and of no force or effect except solely as to such holder, and any amendments effected or waivers granted or to be effected or granted that would not have been or would not be so effected or granted but for such consent (and the consents of all other holders of Notes that were acquired under the same or similar conditions) shall be void and of no force or effect except solely as to such holder.
Section 17.3.    Binding Effect, etc.  Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section 17 applies equally to all holders of Notes of the applicable series and is binding upon them and upon each future holder of any Note of such series and upon the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver.  No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default 

38

not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon.  No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note.  As used herein, the term “this Agreement” and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.
Section 17.4.    Notes Held by Company, etc.  Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes of any series then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.
		
	SECTION 18.
	NOTICES.

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or (c) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid).  Any such notice must be sent:
(i)    if to any Purchaser or its nominee, to such Purchaser or nominee at the address specified for such communications in Schedule A, or at such other address as such Purchaser or nominee shall have specified to the Company in writing,
(ii)    if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or
(iii)    if to the Company, to Darden Restaurants, Inc. at  1000 Darden Center Drive, Orlando, Florida 32837, attention of William R. White, III, Senior Vice President and Treasurer (telecopy: 407-241-6560), with a copy to Hunton & Williams LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, attention of Dee Ann Dorsey, Esq., or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.
Notices under this Section 18 will be deemed given only when actually received.

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	SECTION 19.
	REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by any Purchaser at the Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to any Purchaser, may be reproduced by such Purchaser by any photographic, photostatic, electronic, digital, or other similar process and such Purchaser may destroy any original document so reproduced.  The Company agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by such Purchaser in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.  This Section 19 shall not prohibit the Company or any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction.
		
	SECTION 20.
	CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

For the purposes of this Section 20, “Confidential Information” means information delivered to any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by such Purchaser as being confidential information of the Company or such Subsidiary, provided that such term does not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to such Purchaser prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by such Purchaser or any person acting on such Purchaser’s behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to such Purchaser other than through disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to such Purchaser under Section 7.1 that are otherwise publicly available.  Each Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by such Purchaser in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Purchaser, provided that such Purchaser may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, trustees and affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the investment represented by its Notes), (ii) its financial advisors and other professional advisors who agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section 20, (iii) any other holder of any Note, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which it sells or offers to sell such Note or any part thereof or any participation therein (if such Person has 

40

agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (v) any Person from which it offers to purchase any security of the Company (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Purchaser, (vii) the NAIC or the SVO or, in each case, any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about such Purchaser’s investment portfolio, or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Purchaser, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which such Purchaser is a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent such Purchaser may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under such Purchaser’s Notes and this Agreement.  Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section 20 as though it were a party to this Agreement.  On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section 20.
		
	SECTION 21.
	SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

Each Purchaser shall have the right to substitute any one of its Affiliates as the purchaser of the Notes that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall be signed by both such Purchaser and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s agreement to be bound by this Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by such Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations set forth in Section 6.  Upon receipt of such notice, any reference to such Purchaser in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of such original Purchaser.  In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a Purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to such original Purchaser all of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice of such transfer, any reference to such Affiliate as a “Purchaser” in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), shall no longer be deemed to refer to such Affiliate, but shall refer to such original Purchaser, and such original Purchaser shall again have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.
		
	SECTION 22.
	MISCELLANEOUS.

41

Section 22.1.    Successors and Assigns.  All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.
Section 22.2.    Payments Due on Non-Business Days.  Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding (but without limiting the requirement in Section 8.4 that the notice of any optional prepayment specify a Business Day as the date fixed for such prepayment), any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day; provided that if the maturity date of any Note is a date other than a Business Day, the payment otherwise due on such maturity date shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and shall include the additional days elapsed in the computation of interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.
Section 22.3.    Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 22.4.    Construction, etc.  Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant.  Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.
For the avoidance of doubt, all Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a part hereof.
Section 22.5.    Counterparts    .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.  Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.
Section 22.6.    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in 

42

accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York excluding choice‐of‐law principles of the law of such State that would permit the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.
Section 22.7.    Jurisdiction and Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.  (a) The Company irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(b)    The Company consents to process being served by or on behalf of any holder of Notes in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 22.7(a) by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to it at its address specified in Section 18 or at such other address of which such holder shall then have been notified pursuant to said Section.  The Company agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to it.  Notices hereunder shall be conclusively presumed received as evidenced by a delivery receipt furnished by the United States Postal Service or any reputable commercial delivery service.
(c)    Nothing in this Section 22.7 shall affect the right of any holder of a Note to serve process in any manner permitted by law, or limit any right that the holders of any of the Notes may have to bring proceedings against the Company in the courts of any appropriate jurisdiction or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction.
(d)    THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BROUGHT ON OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH.
Section 22.8.    Accounting Terms.    All accounting terms used herein which are not expressly defined in this Agreement have the meanings respectively given to them in accordance with GAAP.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, (i) all computations made pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) all financial statements shall 

43

be prepared in accordance with GAAP.
For purposes of determining compliance with the covenants contained in this Agreement, any election by the Company to measure an item of Indebtedness using fair value (as permitted by Accounting Standard Codification Topic No. 825-10-25 – Fair Value Option or any similar accounting standard) shall be disregarded and such determination shall be made as if such election had not been made.

*    *    *    *    *

If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of agreement on a counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon this Agreement shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company.

Very truly yours,

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

By: /s/ William R. White, III    
Name:    William R. White, III
Title:       Senior Vice President and Treasurer

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This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

By:    /s/ Nichol M. Merritt______________
Name: Nichol M. Merritt
Title: Director

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ David A. Barras________________
Name: David A. Barras
Title: Its Authorized Representative

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR ITS GROUP ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNT

By:    /s/ David A. Barras________________
Name: David A. Barras
Title: Its Authorized Representative

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

NORTHWESTERN LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ David A. Barras________________
Name: David A. Barras
Title: Its Authorized Representative

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

THE GUARDIAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA

By:    /s/ Barry Scheinholtz___________________
Name: Barry Scheinholtz
Title: Senior Director, Private Placements

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:      /s/ Violet Osterberg________________
Name: Violet Osterberg
Title: Assistant Vice President

By:      /s/ Peter S. Fiek___________________
Name: Peter S. Fiek
Title: Assistant Secretary

PACIFIC LIFE & ANNUITY COMPANY

By:      /s/ Peter S. Fiek___________________
Name: Peter S. Fiek
Title: Assistant Vice President

By:      /s/ Violet Osterberg________________
Name: Violet Osterberg
Title: Assistant Secretary

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

CMFG Life Insurance Company
CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc.
By:    MEMBERS Capital Advisors, Inc.
acting as Investment Advisor

By:    /s/ Allen R. Cantrell_________________
Name: Allen R. Cantrell                            
Title: Managing Director, Investments

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA

By:    /s/ W. Kenny Massey_____________
Name: W. Kenny Massey
Title: President & CEO

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

VANTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
FARM BUREAU GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF MICHIGAN
FARM BUREAU LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF MICHIGAN
FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF MICHIGAN
MTL INSURANCE COMPANY
CATHOLIC UNITED FINANCIAL
AMERICAN FIDELITY ASSURANCE COMPANY
AMERICAN REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY

BY: ADVANTUS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

By:    /s/ Gregory Ortquist_________________
Name: Gregory Ortquist
Title: Vice President

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

UNITED OF OMAHA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ Justin P. Kavan_________________
Name: Justin P. Kavan
Title: Vice President

MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE 
COMPANY

By:    /s/ Justin P. Kavan_________________
Name: Justin P. Kavan
Title: Vice President

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

PHOENIX LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ Paul M. Chute_________________
Name: Paul M. Chute
Title: Senior Managing Director, 
Private Placements

PHL VARIABLE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ Christopher M. Wilkos__________
Name: Christopher M. Wilkos
Title: Executive Vice President

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE SOUTHWEST

By:    /s/ R. Scott Higgins_______________
Name: R. Scott Higgins
Title: Senior Vice President
Sentinel Asset Management

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

THE OHIO NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OHIO NATIONAL LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION

By:    /s/ Jed R. Martin__________________
Name: Jed R. Martin
Title: Vice President, Private Placement

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

PPM AMERICA, INC., AS ATTORNEY IN FACT, ON BEHALF OF JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ Luke S. Stifflear__________________
Name: Luke S. Stifflear
Title: Senior Managing Director

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

ACACIA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
AMERITAS LIFE INSURANCE CORP. 
THE UNION CENTRAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

		
	By:
	SUMMIT INVESTMENT ADVISORS INC., AS AGENT

By:    /s/ Andrew S. White_________________
Name: Andrew S. White
Title:  Managing Director – Private   Placements
 

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

COUNTRY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
COUNTRY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ John Jacobs______________________
Name: John Jacobs
Title: Director-Fixed Income

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

ASSURITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ Victor Weber___________________
Name: Victor Weber
Title: Senior Director - Investments

This Agreement is hereby
accepted and agreed to as 
of the date thereof.

SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ David Divine______________
Name: David Divine
Title: Portfolio Manager

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS

	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
8500 Andrew Carnegie Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-1
	None               $100,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds through the Automated Clearing House System to:

     Intentionally Omitted
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Intentionally Omitted

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted

	 

	All other communications:

Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
8500 Andrew Carnegie Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
Attention: Global Private Markets
Telephone:    (704) 988-4349 (Ho Young Lee)
(704) 988-1000 (General Number)
Facsimile:    (704) 988-4916
Email:    hlee@tiaa-cref.org
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None.
Taxpayer I.D. Number:  Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-1

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.
	$38,000,000               None

	720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-1
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact our Treasury & Investment Operations Department to securely obtain wire transfer instructions for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for its Group Annuity Separate Account.
E-mail:  payments@northwesternmutual.com
Phone: (414) 665-1679
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-2

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention: Investment Operations
E-mail: payments@northwesternmutual.com
Phone: (414) 665-1679

Delivery of the Notes:

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention:  Stephanie Lyons

	 

	All other communications:

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention: Securities Department
E-mail: privateinvest@westernmutual.com
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-3

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for its Group Annuity Separate Account
	$1,500,000                   None

	720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-2
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact our Treasury & Investment Operations Department to securely obtain wire transfer instructions for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for its Group Annuity Separate Account.
E-mail:  payments@northwesternmutual.com
Phone: (414) 665-1679
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.
	 

A-4

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
for its Group Annuity Separate Account
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention: Investment Operations
E-mail: payments@northwesternmutual.com
Phone: (414) 665-1679

Delivery of the Notes:

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention:  Stephanie Lyons

	 

	All other communications:

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
for its Group Annuity Separate Account
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention: Securities Department
E-mail: privateinvest@northwesternmutual.com

Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-5

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company
	$2,500,000                 None

	720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-3
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact our Treasury & Investment Operations Department to securely obtain wire transfer instructions for Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company for its Group Annuity Separate Account.
E-mail:  payments@northwesternmutual.com
Phone: (414) 665-1679
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-6

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention: Investment Operations
E-mail: payments@northwesternmutual.com
Phone: (414) 665-1679

Delivery of the Notes:

The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention:  Stephanie Lyons

	 

	All other communications:

Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Attention: Securities Department
E-mail: privateinvest@northwesternmutual.com
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-7

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
	None                  $30,000,000

	7 Hanover Square
New York, NY 10004-2616

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-2
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

JP Morgan Chase
FED ABA #021000021
Chase/NYC/CTR/BNF
A/C 900-9-000200
Reference A/C #G05978, Guardian Life, CUSIP # 237194 A#2, Darden Restaurants, Inc.  
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-8

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
7 Hanover Square
New York, NY 10004-2616
Attn:  Barry Scheinholtz
Investment Department  9-A
FAX #  (212) 919-2658
bscheinholtz@glic.com

Delivery of the Notes:

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
4 Chase Metrotech Center
3rd Floor
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11245-0001
Attention: Physical Receive Dept. 
Reference A/C #G05978, Guardian Life

	 

	All other communications:

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
7 Hanover Square
New York, NY 10004-2616
Attn:  Barry Scheinholtz
Investment Department  9-A
FAX #  (212) 919-2658
bscheinholtz@glic.com
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None.
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 13-5123390
	 

A-9

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
700 Newport Center Drive, 3rd Floor
Newport Beach, CA 92660

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-3
                                             R-4

	    None                   $5,000,000 
                                $5,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Mellon Trust of New England
ABA# 011001234
DDA  0000125261
Attn: MBS Income CC: 1253
A/C Name: General Account/PLCF18101302
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-10

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:
         Mellon Trust
Attn: Pacific Life Accounting Team
One Mellon Bank Center
Room 0930
Pittsburgh, PA 15259

with a copy to 

Pacific Life Insurance Company
Attn: IM—Cash Team
700 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660-6397
         Fax: 949-718-5845

Delivery of the Notes:

Mellon Securities Trust Company
One Wall Street
3rd Floor –Receive Window C
New York, NY 10286
Robert Ferraro (212) 635-1299
A/C Name: General Account
A/C #: PLCF18101302

	 

	All other communications:

Pacific Life Insurance Company
Attn: IM—Credit Analysis
700 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660-6397
         Fax: 949-219-5406
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Mac & Co. as nominee for Pacific Life Insurance Company
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 95-1079000
	 

A-11

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	PACIFIC LIFE & ANNUITY COMPANY
700 Newport Center Drive, 3rd Floor
Newport Beach, CA 92660

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-5
                                             R-6

	    None                    $5,000,000 
                                 $5,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Mellon Trust of New England
ABA# 011001234
DDA 125261
Attn: MBS Income CC: 1253
A/C Name: Pacific Life & Annuity Company/PLCF18116102
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-12

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:
Mellon Trust
Attn: Pacific Life Accounting Team
One Mellon Bank Center
Room 0930
Pittsburgh, PA 15259

with a copy to 

Pacific Life Insurance Company
Attn: IMD—Cash Team
700 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660-6397
          Fax: 949-718-5845  

Delivery of the Notes:

Mellon Securities Trust Company
One Wall Street
3rd Floor –Receive Window C
New York, NY 10286
Robert Ferraro (212) 635-1299
A/C Name: Pacific Life & Annuity Company
A/C #: PLCF18116102

	 

	All other communications:

Pacific Life Insurance Company
Attn: IM—Credit Analysis
700 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660-6397
         Fax: 949-219-5406
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Mac & Co., as nominee for Pacific Life & Annuity Company 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 95-3769814
	 

A-13

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	CMFG Life Insurance Company
	None                $13,000,000

	5910 Mineral Point Road
Madison, WI 53705-4456

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-7
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

ABA: 011000028
Bank: State Street Bank
Account Name: CMFG Life Insurance Company
DDA #: 1662-544-4
REFERENCE FUND: ZT1E (Must be first 4 digits of reference section / Can include Nominee name here)
Nominee Name: TURNKEYS + CO*
CMFG Life Insurance Company TAX ID#: 39-0230590
TURNKEYS + CO TAX ID#: 03-0400481
UK Passport Treaty #: 13/C/312672/DTTP
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-14

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:
Members Capital Advisors, Inc.
Attn.: Private Placements
5910 Mineral Point Road
Madison, WI 53705-4456

Delivery of the Notes:

STATE STREET BANK
DTC/NEW YORK WINDOW
ATTN: ROBERT MENDEZ
55 WATER STREET
PLAZA LEVEL - 3RD FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10041
PH: 617/985-1914

	 

	All other communications:

Members Capital Advisors, Inc.
Attn.: Private Placements
5910 Mineral Point Road
Madison, WI 53705-4456
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Turnkeys & Co
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 03-0400481
	 

A-15

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	CMFG Insurance Society, Inc.
	None                   $2,000,000

	5910 Mineral Point Road
Madison, WI 53705-4456

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-8
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

PH: 617/985-1914
ABA: 011000028
Bank: State Street Bank
Account Name: CUMIS INSURANCE SOCIETY, INC.
DDA #: 1658-736-2
REFERENCE FUND: ZT1i (Must be first 4 digits of reference section / Can include Nominee name here)
Nominee Name: TURNJETTY + CO*
CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc. TAX ID#: 39-0972608
TURNJETTY + CO TAX ID#: 02-0558136
UK Passport Treaty #: 13/C/62382/DTTP
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-16

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Members Capital Advisors, Inc.
Attn.: Private Placements
5910 Mineral Point Road
Madison, WI 53705-4456

Delivery of the Notes:

STATE STREET BANK
DTC/NEW YORK WINDOW
ATTN: ROBERT MENDEZ
55 WATER STREET
PLAZA LEVEL - 3RD FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10041

	 

	All other communications:

Members Capital Advisors, Inc.
Attn.: Private Placements
5910 Mineral Point Road
Madison, WI 53705-4456
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Turnjetty & Co
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 02-0558136
	 

A-17

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
1701 First Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-4
2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-9
	$4,000,000        $1,0000,000

	

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

The Northern Trust Company
50 South LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60675
ABA No. 071-000-152
Account Name:  Modern Woodmen of America
Account No. 84352
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-18

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Modern Woodmen of America
Attn:  Investment Accounting Department
1701 First Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201
Fax:  (309) 793-5688

Delivery of the Notes:

Aaron Birkland
Modern Woodmen of America
1701 First Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201

	 

	All other communications:

Modern Woodmen of America
Attn:  Investment Department
1701 First Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201
investments@modern-woodmen.org
Fax:  (309) 793-5574
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None.
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 36-1493430
	 

A-19

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	VANTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-10
	None                  $2,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501

with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-20

	
		
	All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

  Vantis Life Insurance Company
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted

	 

	

Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-21

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	FARM BUREAU GENERAL INSURANCE 
COMPANY OF MICHIGAN 
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-11

	None                    $1,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

        Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-22

	
		
	All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

  Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Michigan
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted 
	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-23

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	FARM BUREAU LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF MICHIGAN 
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-12
	None                   $4,000,000

	

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-24

	
		
	

All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

  Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company of Michigan
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted 
	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-25

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE 
COMPANY OF MICHIGAN 
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-13

	None                 $1,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501
    
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-26

	
		
	All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

  Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company of Michigan
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted 
	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-27

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	MTL INSURANCE COMPANY 
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-14

	None                 $1,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501

A-28

	
		
	All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

  MTL Insurance Company
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted 
	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-29

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	CATHOLIC UNITED FINANCIAL
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-15

	None                   $1,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-30

	
		
	All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

  Catholic United Financial 
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted 
	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted 
	 

A-31

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	AMERICAN FIDELITY ASSURANCE CO.
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-5

	$2,250,000                   None

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-32

	
		
	All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

  American Fidelity Assurance Co.
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted 

	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted
	 

A-33

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	AMERICAN REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY
c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
400 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55101

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-6

	$750,000                    None

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Please contact Advantus Operations to securely obtain wire transfer instructions.
E-mail: AdvantusPrivates@advantuscapital.com
Phone: 651-665-5501
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-34

	
		
	All notices and communications:

All notices and statements should be sent electronically via Email to: privateplacements@advantuscapital.com.  If Email is unavailable or if the Email is returned for any reason (including receipt of a message that the Email is undeliverable), such notice and statements should be sent to the following address:

 American Republic Insurance Company
   c/o Advantus Capital Management, Inc.
   400 Robert Street North
   St. Paul, MN  55101
 Attn: Client Administrator

Delivery of the Notes:

Intentionally Omitted 
	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: Intentionally Omitted 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: Intentionally Omitted    
	 

A-35

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE COMPANY
	None                    $3,000,000

	Mutual of Omaha Plaza
Omaha,  NE  68175-1011

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-16

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
  ABA #021000021 
  Private Income Processing
  For credit to:
Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company
Account #900-9000200
a/c:  G07096 
Cusip/PPN: 237194 A#2
Interest Amount:
Principal Amount:
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-36

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
14201 Dallas Parkway – 13th Floor
Dallas, TX  75254-2917
Attn:  Income Processing    
a/c:  G07096

Delivery of the Notes:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
4 Chase Metrotech Center, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY  11245-0001
Attention:  Physical Receive Department 
Account # G07096

	 

	All other communications:

4 - Investment Accounting
Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company
Mutual of Omaha Plaza
Omaha,  NE  68175-1011

Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None.
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 47-0246511
	 

A-37

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	UNITED OF OMAHA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
	None                    $7,000,000

	Mutual of Omaha Plaza
Omaha,  NE  68175-1011

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-17

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
ABA #021000021 
Private Income Processing
For credit to:
United of Omaha Life Insurance Company 
Account #900-9000200
a/c:  G07097 
Cusip/PPN: 237194 A#2
Interest Amount:
Principal Amount:
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-38

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
14201 Dallas Parkway – 13th Floor
Dallas, TX  75254-2917
Attn:  Income Processing    
a/c:  G07097

Delivery of the Notes:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
4 Chase Metrotech Center, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY  11245-0001
Attention:  Physical Receive Department 
Account # G07097

	 

	All other communications:

4 - Investment Accounting
United of Omaha Life Insurance Company
Mutual of Omaha Plaza
Omaha,  NE  68175-1011
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None.
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 47- 0322111
	 

A-39

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Phoenix Life Insurance Company
	None                    $3,000,000

	One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-18

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company - $3,000,000 JP Morgan Chase New York, NY ABA 021 000 021 Account Name:  Income Processing Account Number:  900 9000 200
Reference:  Phoenix Life Insurance, G05123, Darden Restaurants
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-40

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company
One American Row
Private Placement Department   H-2W
Hartford, CT  06102

Delivery of the Notes:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company
Attn:  Brad Buck
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

	 

	All other communications:
    
Phoenix Life Insurance Company
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102
Attention:  Brad Buck
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 06-0493340
	 

A-41

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Phoenix Life Insurance Company
	None                   $1,000,000

	One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-19

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company - $1,000,000 JP Morgan Chase New York, NY ABA 021 000 021 Account Name:  Income Processing Account Number:  900 9000 200
Reference:  Phoenix Life Insurance, G09516, Darden Restaurants
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-42

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

  Phoenix Life Insurance Company
  One American Row
  Private Placement Department   H-2W
Hartford, CT  06102

Delivery of the Notes:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company
Attn:  Brad Buck
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

	 

	All other communications:

    Phoenix Life Insurance Company
    One American Row
    Hartford, CT  06102
    Attention:  Brad Buck
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None.
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 06-0493340
	 

A-43

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Phoenix Life Insurance Company
	None                   $1,000,000

	One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-20
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company - $1,000,000 JP Morgan Chase New York, NY ABA 021 000 021 Account Name:  Income Processing Account Number:  900 9000 200
Reference:  Phoenix Life Insurance, G05689, Darden Restaurants
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 Phoenix Life Insurance Company
 One American Row
 Attn:  Brad Buck
 Hartford, CT  06102

Delivery of the Notes:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company
Attn:  Brad Buck
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

	 

A-44

	
		
	All other communications:

      Phoenix Life Insurance Company
      One American Row
      Hartford, CT  06102
      Private Placement Department   H-2W
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 06-0493340
	 

A-45

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	PHL Variable Insurance Company
	None                  $1,000,000

	One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-21

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

PHL Variable Insurance Company - $1,000,000 JP Morgan Chase New York, NY ABA 021 000 021 Account Name:  Income Processing Account Number:  900 9000 200
Reference:  Phoenix Variable, G09389, Darden Restaurants
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

 Phoenix Life Insurance Company
Attn:  Brad Buck
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

Delivery of the Notes:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company
Attn:  Brad Buck
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

	 

A-46

	
		
	All other communications:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102
Private Placement Department   H-2W
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 06-1045829
	 

A-47

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	PHL Variable Insurance Company
	None                    $4,000,000

	One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-22
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

PHL Variable Insurance Company - $4,000,000 JP Morgan Chase New York, NY ABA 021 000 021 Account Name:  Income Processing Account Number:  900 9000 200
Reference:  Phoenix Variable, G11923, Darden Restaurants
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

  Phoenix Life Insurance Company
  One American Row
  Private Placement Department   H-2W
Hartford, CT  06102

Delivery of the Notes:

Phoenix Life Insurance Company
Attn:  Brad Buck
One American Row
Hartford, CT  06102

	 

A-48

	
		
	All other communications:

 Phoenix Life Insurance Company
 One American Row
 Hartford, CT  06102
 Attention:  Brad Buck
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 06-1045829
	 

A-49

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE SOUTHWEST
c/o National Life Insurance Company
National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604

	$8,000,000                  None

	2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-7

All payments by \wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

JP MORGAN CHASE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10010
ABA #:  021000021
ACCT #:  G06475
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

National Life Insurance Company
National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604
Attention: Private Placements

Delivery of the Notes:

National Life Insurance Company
National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604
Attention: R. Scott Higgins

	 

A-50

	
		
	All other communications:

National Life Insurance Company
National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05604
Attention: Private Placements
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 75-0953004
	 

A-51

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	The Ohio National Life Insurance Company
	None                  $5,000,000

	Post Office Box 237
Cincinnati, OH 45201

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-23

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

U.S. Bank N.A. (ABA #042-000013)
5th & Walnut Streets
Cincinnati, OH 45202
For credit to The Ohio National Life
Insurance Company's Account No. 910-275-7
 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

THE OHIO NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Post Office Box 237
Cincinnati, OH 45201

Delivery of the Notes:

The Ohio National Life Insurance Company
One Financial Way
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Attention: Investment Department

	 

A-52

	
		
	All other communications:

The Ohio National Life Insurance Company
One Financial Way
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Attention: Investment Department
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 31-0397080

	 

A-53

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation
	None                  $3,000,000

	Post Office Box 237
Cincinnati, OH 45201

2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-24
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

U.S. Bank N.A. (ABA #042-000013)
5th & Walnut Streets
Cincinnati, OH 45202
For credit to Ohio National Life
Assurance Corporation's Account No. 865-215-8
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

OHIO NATIONAL LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION
Post Office Box 237
Cincinnati, OH 45201

Delivery of the Notes:

Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation
One Financial Way
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Attention: Investment Department

	 

A-54

	
		
	All other communications:

Ohio National Life Assurance Corporation
One Financial Way
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Attention: Investment Department
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None
Taxpayer I.D. Number: No.: 31-0962495
	 

A-55

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Jackson National Life Insurance Company
	$8,000,000                   None

	One Corporate Way
Lansing, MI  4895

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-8

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

The Bank of New York
ABA # 021-000-018
BNF Account #: IOC566
FBO: JNL A/C # 187242
Ref: CUSIP / PPN, Description, and Breakdown (P&I)
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-56

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Jackson National Life Insurance Company
C/O The Bank of New York
Attn: P&I Department
P. O. Box 19266
Newark, New Jersey 07195
Phone: (718) 315-3035, Fax: (718) 315-3076

Delivery of the Notes:

The Bank of New York
Special Processing – Window A
One Wall Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10286
Ref: JNL – JNL ELI, A/C # 187242 

	 

	All other communications:

PPM America, Inc.    
225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1200
Chicago, IL 60606-1228
Attn: Private Placements – Luke Stifflear

With a copy to:

Jackson National Life Insurance Company 
One Corporate Way
Lansing, MI  48951
Attn: Investment Accounting – Mark Stewart
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 38-1659835
	 

A-57

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
	$2,000,000              $500,000

	390 North Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68505

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-9
2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-25

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:
JPMorgan Chase Bank
ABA #021-000-021
DDA Clearing Account:  9009002859
Further Credit - Custody Fund P72220 for  Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Reference:     CUSIP;  Issue name and source/application of funds (P&I, etc.) 
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-58

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Summit Investment Partners
390 North Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68505
        
Delivery of the Notes:

  JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
4 Chase Metrotech Center, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY  11245-0001
ATTN:  Physical Receive Department
REF:  Account P72220
REF:  Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.

	 

	All other communications:

Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.
Summit Investment Partners
390 North Cotner Blvd.
      Lincoln, NE 68505
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: CUDD & CO. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 47-0098400
	 

A-59

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Acacia Life Insurance Company
	$1,000,000               $500,000

	390 North Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 685

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-10
2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-26

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

JPMorgan Chase Bank
ABA #021-000-021
DDA Clearing Account:  9009002859        
Further Credit - Custody Fund P72216 for Acacia Life Insurance Company
Reference: CUSIP; Issue name and source/application of funds (P&I, etc.)     
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-60

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

  Acacia Life Insurance Company
Summit Investment Partners
390 North Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68505
        

Delivery of the Notes:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
4 Chase Metrotech Center, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY  11245-0001
ATTN:  Physical Receive Department
REF:  Account P72216
  REF:  Acacia Life Insurance Corp

	 

	All other communications:

  Acacia Life Insurance Company
Summit Investment Partners
390 North Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68505
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: CUDD & CO
Taxpayer I.D. Number:53-0022880
	 

A-61

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	The Union Central Life Insurance Company
	$3,000,000                $1,000,000

	c/o Summit Investment Advisors, Inc.
390 North Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 685

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-11
2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-27
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:
    
JPMorgan Chase Bank
  ABA #021-000-021
  DDA Clearing Account:  9009002859
  Further Credit – Custody Fund P72228 (The    Union Central     Life Insurance                                                  Company)                    Reference:  CUSIP;  Issue name and source/application of funds
 Reference:  CUSIP;  Issue name and   source/application of funds
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-62

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

The Union Central Life Insurance Company
1876 Waycross Rd
Cincinnati, Ohio 45240
Attention: Treasury Department

Delivery of the Notes:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
4 Chase Metrotech Center, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY  11245-0001
ATTN:  Physical Receive Department
REF:  Account P72228
REF:  The Union Central Life Insurance Company

	 

	All other communications:

The Union Central Life Insurance Company
c/o Summit Investment Partners
390 North Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, NE 68505

Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: CUDD & CO
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 31-0472910
	 

A-63

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Country Mutual Insurance Company
	$2,000,000             None

	1705 N Towanda Avenue 
Bloomington, IL  61702

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-12
All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Northern Trust  Chgo/Trust
ABA Number 071000152
Wire Account Number 5186041000
For Further Credit to: 26-02698
Account Name:  Country Mutual Insurance Company
Representing P & I on (list security) [BANK]                            
         with sufficient information to identify the source and               application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Country Mutual Insurance Company
Attention:  Investment Accounting 
1705 N Towanda Avenue 
Bloomington, IL  61702
Tel:  (309) 821-6348

Delivery of the Notes:

The Northern Trust Company
Trade Securities Processing
C1N
801 South Canal Street
Attn: 26-02698/Country Mutual Insurance Company
Chicago, IL 60607
Include Acct # and Name in cover letter as well.

	 

A-64

	
		
	All other communications:

Country Mutual Insurance Company
Attention:  Investments 
1705 N Towanda Avenue
Bloomington, IL  61702
Tel:  (309) 821-6260
Fax:  (309) 821-6301
PrivatePlacements@countryfinancial.com
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 37-0807507

	 

A-65

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Country Life Insurance Company
	$2,000,000            $2,000,000

	1705 N Towanda Avenue 
Bloomington, IL  61702

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-13
2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-28

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

Northern Trust  Chgo/Trust
ABA Number 071000152
Wire Account Number 5186041000
For Further Credit to: 26-02712
Account Name:  Country Life Insurance Company
Representing P & I on (list security) [BANK]
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-66

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Country Life Insurance Company
Attention:  Investment Accounting 
1705 N Towanda Avenue 
Bloomington, IL  61702
Tel:  (309) 821-6348

Delivery of the Notes:

The Northern Trust Company
Trade Securities Processing
C1N
801 South Canal Street
Attn: 26-02712/Country Life Insurance Company
Chicago, IL 60607
Include Acct # and Name in cover letter as well.

	 

	All other communications: 

Country Life Insurance Company
Attention:  Investments 
1705 N Towanda Avenue
Bloomington, IL  61702
Tel:  (309) 821-6260
Fax:  (309) 821-6301
PrivatePlacements@countryfinancial.com
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 37-0808781
	 

A-67

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	ASSURITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
2000 Q Street
Lincoln, NE 68503

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-14
2024 Notes – Bond No.:      R-29

	$2,000,000          $3,000,000

	All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:

US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 
13th & M Streets
Lincoln NE 68508    
ABA No. 104000029
Account of:   Assurity Life Insurance Company
General Fund Account:  1-494-0092-9092
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:
    
Assurity Life Insurance Company
2000 Q Street
Lincoln, NE  68503
Attention: Investment Division
Fax:    (402) 458-2170
Phone:  (402) 437-3682

Delivery of the Notes:

Assurity Life Insurance Company
2000 Q Street
Lincoln, NE 68503
Attention:  Victor Weber
	 

A-68

	
		
	

All other communications:
Assurity Life Insurance Company
2000 Q Street
P.O. Box 82533
Lincoln, NE 68501-2533
Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 38-1843471
	 

A-69

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
1000 DARDEN CENTER DRIVE
ORLANDO, FLORIDA 32837 
 
INFORMATION RELATING TO PURCHASERS
	
		
	Name and Address of Purchaser
	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
NOTES TO BE PURCHASED
2019 Notes            2024 Notes

	Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
	$3,000,000                 None

	1401 Livingston Lane
Jackson, MS  39213
Attn:  Investment Department

2019 Notes – Bond No.:      R-15

All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA   02101
ABA #011000028
For further credit to:    Southern Farm Bureau Life          Insurance Company, DDA #59848127
Account #EQ83
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.

	 

A-70

	
		
	All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:

Investment Department
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
P. O. Box 78
Jackson, MS  39205
Attn:  Investment Department

or by overnight delivery to:
1401 Livingston Lane
Jackson, MS  39213

Delivery of the Notes:

Shirley Anderson
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
1401 Livingston Lane
Jackson, MS 39213

	 

	Name of Nominee in which Notes are to be issued: None. 
Taxpayer I.D. Number: 64-0283583
	 

A-71

DEFINED TERMS
As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Section hereof following such term:
 “Affiliate” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person, and, with respect to the Company, shall include any Person beneficially owning or holding, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests of the Company or any Subsidiary or any Person of which the Company and its Subsidiaries beneficially own or hold, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests.  As used in this definition, “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company.
 “Asset Disposition” means any Transfer except :
(a)    any
(i)        Transfer from a Subsidiary to the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; 
(ii)        Transfer from the Company to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; and
(iii)    Transfer from the Company to a Subsidiary (other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) or from a Subsidiary to another Subsidiary, which in either case is for Fair Market Value,
so long as immediately before and immediately after the consummation of any such Transfer and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(b)    any Transfer made in the ordinary course of business and involving only property that is either (i) inventory held for sale or (ii) equipment, fixtures, supplies or materials no longer required in the operation of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that is obsolete.

“Bank Credit Agreement” means the $750,000,000 Credit Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2011, among the Company, certain lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and any replacement or successor agreement or agreements thereto, and any other bank credit facility of the Company providing for borrowings by or other extensions of credit to the Company of at least $200,000,000.
“Blocked Person” is defined in Section 5.16(a).
“Business Day” means (a) for the purposes of Section 8.6 only, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed, and (b) for the purposes of any other provision of this Agreement, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are required or authorized to be closed.
“Capital Lease” means, at any time, a lease with respect to which the lessee is required concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability in accordance with GAAP.
“Change in Control” means, an event or series of events by which:
(a)    any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” within the meaning of the Exchange Act, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the outstanding equity securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Company; or
(b)    during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be occupied by individuals who were not (i) members of the Board of Directors of the Company on the first day of such period, (ii) elected or nominated by the Board of Directors of the Company or (iii) elected or nominated by directors elected or nominated as referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above.
“Closing” is defined in Section 3.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

“Company” means Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation or any successor that becomes such in the manner prescribed in Section 10.2.
“Confidential Information” is defined in Section 20.
“Consolidated Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, at any date of determination, the aggregate capitalized amount of obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries under Capital Leases on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Indebtedness” means, at any date of determination, Indebtedness of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries on such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Operating Lease Obligations” means, at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of lease and rental commitments (in the minimum amount required by the applicable lease or rental agreements) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, on a consolidated basis (such consolidation to be in accordance with GAAP), which are not classified as Consolidated Capitalized Lease Obligations hereunder.
“Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” means at any date Stockholders’ Equity minus the Intangible Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means the net book value of all assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Debt” means, at any date of determination, the sum of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness on such date plus (b) Excess Letter of Credit Obligations on such date plus (c) the product of (i) 6.25 multiplied by (ii) Consolidated Operating Lease Obligations on such date.
“Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt to (b) the sum of (i) Stockholders’ Equity plus (ii) Consolidated Total Debt.
 “Default” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which would, with 

the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means, with respect to the Notes of any series, that rate of interest that is 2% per annum above the rate of interest stated in clause (a) of the first paragraph of the Notes of such series.
“Disclosure Document” is defined in Section 5.3.
“Disposition Value” means, at any time, with respect to any property
(a)    in the case of property that does not constitute Subsidiary Stock, the book value thereof, valued at the time of such disposition in good faith by the Company, and
(b)    in the case of property that constitutes Subsidiary Stock, an amount equal to that percentage of book value of the assets of the Subsidiary that issued such stock as is equal to the percentage that the book value of such Subsidiary Stock represents of the book value of all of the outstanding capital stock of such Subsidiary (assuming, in making such calculations, that all Securities convertible into such capital stock are so converted and giving full effect to all transactions that would occur or be required in connection with such conversion) determined at the time of the disposition thereof, in good faith by the Company.
“Electronic Delivery” is defined in Section 7.1(a).
“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to those related to Hazardous Materials.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect. 
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business  (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Company under section 414 of the Code.
“Event of Default” is defined in Section 11.

“Excess Letter of Credit Obligations” means, at any time, the amount by which (a) all unpaid reimbursement obligations and all amounts available to be drawn under all letters of credit (including under its primary credit facility) of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis exceed (b) $150,000,000. 
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
“Fair Market Value” means, at any time and with respect to any property, the sale value of such property that would be realized in an arm's-length sale at such time between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller (neither being under a compulsion to buy or sell).
“Financial Covenant” is defined in Section 10.6(b).
 “Form 10-K” is defined in Section 7.1(b).
“Form 10-Q” is defined in Section 7.1(a).
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means
(a)    the government of
(i)        the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or
(ii)        any other jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or
(b)    any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.
“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such 

Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness, or (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Hazardous Material” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes or other substances that might pose a hazard to health and safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law including, but not limited to, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum, petroleum products, lead based paint, radon gas or similar restricted, prohibited or penalized substances.
“holder” means, with respect to any Note the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 13.1.
“Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including obligations under the Bank Credit Agreement and obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments), (b) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (c) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (d) all Consolidated Capitalized Lease Obligations, (e) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (d) above of Persons other than the Company or any Subsidiary (the amount of such Guarantees to be determined in accordance with GAAP), and (f) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (e) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Company or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Company or any such Subsidiary.
“Institutional Investor” means (a) any Purchaser of a Note, (b) any holder of a Note holding (together with one or more of its affiliates) more than 5% of the aggregate principal amount of the 

Notes then outstanding, (c) any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form, and (d) any Related Fund of any holder of any Note.
“Intangible Asset” means any assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are considered to be intangible assets under GAAP, including customer lists, goodwill, computer software, copyrights, trade names, trademarks, patents, franchises, licenses, unamortized deferred charges, unamortized debt discount and capitalized research and development costs.
“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements).
“Make-Whole Amount” is defined in Section 8.6.
“Material” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties, or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes.
“Material Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Company listed in Schedule 5.4 as a “Material Subsidiary,” and each other Subsidiary that the Company includes in Exhibit 21 of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601(b)(21) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.
“Memorandum” is defined in Section 5.3.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).
“NAIC” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor 

thereto.
“Notes” is defined in Section 1.
“OFAC” is defined in Section 5.16(a). 
“OFAC Sanctions Program” means all laws, regulations, Executive Orders and any economic or trade sanction that OFAC is responsible for administering and enforcing, including, without limitation 31 CFR Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended, along with any enabling legislation; the Bank Secrecy Act; Trading with the Enemy Act; and any similar laws, regulations or orders adopted by any State within the United States.  A list of economic and trade sanctions administered by OFAC may be found at http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other officer of the Company whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any successor thereto.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, business entity or Governmental Authority.
“Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title I of ERISA that is or, within the preceding five years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five years, have been made or required to be made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.
“Preferred Stock” means any class of capital stock of a Person that is preferred over any other class of capital stock (or similar equity interests) of such Person as to the payment of dividends or the payment of any amount upon liquidation or dissolution of such Person.
“Priority Debt” means, without duplication, the sum of (a) all Indebtedness of the Company secured by any Lien (other than Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by clauses (a) through (m) of Section 10.4) with respect to any property owned by the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries and (b) all Indebtedness of Subsidiaries (except (i) Indebtedness held by the Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and (ii) Subsidiary Guarantees delivered by a Subsidiary pursuant to Section 9.7 

of this Agreement, and so long as such Subsidiary Guarantees are in effect, the Guarantees by such Subsidiary with respect to the Bank Credit Agreement giving rise to the obligation to deliver such Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to Section 9.7).
 “property” or “properties” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal property of any kind, tangible or intangible, choate or inchoate.
“PTE” is defined in Section 6.2(a).
“Purchaser” is defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Qualified Institutional Buyer” means any Person who is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of such term as set forth in Rule 144A(a)(1) under the Securities Act.
“Related Fund” means, with respect to any holder of any Note, any fund or entity that (i) invests in Securities or bank loans, and (ii) is advised or managed by such holder, the same investment advisor as such holder or by an affiliate of such holder or such investment advisor.
“Required Holders” means, at any time, with respect to each series of Notes, the holders of more than 50% in principal amount of the Notes of each series at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates).
“Responsible Officer” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Company with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this Agreement.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or any successor thereto.
“Securities” or “Security” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2(1) of the Securities Act. 
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.
“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or comptroller of the Company.

“Signing Date” means the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties to this Agreement.
“Stockholder’s Equity” means, at any time, the shareholders’ equity of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP. 
“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any other Person in which such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting interests to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or Persons performing similar functions) of such second Person, and any partnership or joint venture if more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership or joint venture can and does ordinarily take major business actions without the prior approval of such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries).  Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Subsidiary Guarantee” is defined in Section 9.7.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” is defined in Section 9.7.
"Subsidiary Stock" means, with respect to any Person, the stock (or any options or warrants to purchase stock or other Securities exchangeable for or convertible into stock) of any Subsidiary of such Person.
“SVO” means the Securities Valuation Office of the NAIC or any successor to such Office.
 “Transfer” means, with respect to any Person, any transaction in which such Person sells, conveys, transfers or leases (as lessor) any of its property, including, without limitation, Subsidiary Stock. 
“USA Patriot Act” means United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means as of any date a Subsidiary of a Person with respect to which all the outstanding equity securities entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors or managers (or other persons performing similar function) of such Subsidiary (other than director’s qualifying shares or similar equity interests, shares or interests held by other Persons in connection with requirements under liquor licensing laws or regulations and preferred equity interests in real estate investment trusts that are otherwise wholly-owned) are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by such Person on such date.

Disclosure Materials

		
	1. 
	Private Placement Memorandum dated May 2012

2.         Financial Statements referred to in Schedule 5.5

3.         Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

4.         Quarterly Reports of the Company on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended August 28,     2011, November 27, 2011 and February 26, 2012.

		
	5. 
	Current Reports of the Company on Form 8-K filed September 28, 2011, October 3, 2011, October 11, 2011 and October 12, 2011. 

Subsidiaries 

Material Subsidiaries:

		
	1.
	GMRI, Inc., a Florida corporation.

2.    RARE Hospitality International, Inc., a Georgia corporation.

3.    RARE Hospitality Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

4.    N and D Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation.

5.    Darden SW LLC, a Florida limited liability company.

6.     Florida SE, Inc., a Florida corporation.

Restrictions on Subsidiary dividends:

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”) owns all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of two Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - Darden Realty, Inc. and GMRI Realty, Inc. - but does not own all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock of these two entities.   

The holders of shares of GMRI Realty, Inc. Preferred Stock, par value $500 per share, are entitled pursuant to that company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to receive cash dividends at the rate of 8% per share per annum in preference and in priority over dividends upon that company’s Common Stock.

The holders of shares of Darden Realty, Inc. Class A Preferred Stock, par value $500 per share, are entitled pursuant to that company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to receive annual cash dividends at the rate of 8% per share per annum in preference and in priority over dividends upon that company’s Common Stock.

The holders of shares of Darden Realty, Inc. , Class B Preferred Stock, par value $1,000 per share, are entitled pursuant to that company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to receive quarterly cash dividends at the rate of 8% per share per annum in preference and in priority over dividends upon that company’s Common Stock.

Financial Statements

Financial statements (including the notes and schedules thereto) contained in the Annual Report of the Company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011
Financial statements (including the notes and schedules thereto) contained in the Quarterly Reports of the Company on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended August 28, 2011, November 27, 2011 and February 26, 2012. 

Indebtedness

Instruments or agreements limiting Indebtedness:

Section 7.08 of the $750,000,000 Credit Agreement dated as of October 3, 2011 among the Company, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent contains a covenant restricting the Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio (in such case as defined therein), and Section 7.01 contains a limitation on Liens (as defined therein).
Section 6.3(a) of the Loan Agreement dated as of July 15, 1996 between the Company and Wachovia Bank, National Association (successor to Wachovia Bank of Georgia), as amended by a First Amendment thereto dated October 16, 2006 and a Second Amendment thereto dated October 1, 2007, contains a covenant restricting the Consolidated Total Debt to Capitalization Ratio (as defined therein), and Section 6.3(b) contains a limitation on Liens (as defined therein).
Section 1008 of the Indenture dated as of January 1, 1996, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, formerly known as Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association), contains restrictions on Liens (as defined therein), and Section 1009 contains restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions (as defined therein).  

Liens

Darden Realty, Inc. holds the following promissory notes aggregating $700,000,000: 
$11,000,000 owing from RARE Hospitality International, Inc. (RHI) secured by mortgage on certain RHI properties, 6.2% note dated 10-16-07 due 10-16-22 
$327,000,000 owing from RHI, secured by mortgage on certain RHI properties    
6.2% note dated 10-16-07 due 10-16-22 
$28,000,000 owing from RARE Hospitality Management, Inc. (RHM), secured by mortgage on certain RHM properties, 6.2% note dated 10-16-07 due 10-16-22    
$90,000,000 owing from Capital Grille Holdings, Inc. (CGH) secured by mortgage on certain CGH properties, 6.2% note dated 10-16-07 due 10-16-22 
$244,000,000 owning from GMRI, Inc., secured by mortgage on certain GMRI, Inc. properties 6.2% note dated 5-26-08 due 5-26-22  
 
GMRI Realty, Inc. holds the following promissory note:
$63,510,375 owing from GMRI, Inc. secured by mortgage on certain GMRI, Inc. properties 6% note dated 12-31-10 due in installments, with final installment due 12-31-22

[FORM OF NOTE]
DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
3.79% SENIOR NOTE DUE AUGUST 28, 2019
No. [_____]    [Date]
$[_______]    PPN: [237194 A@4]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. (herein called the “Company”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida, hereby promises to pay to [____________], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [_____________________] DOLLARS (or so much thereof as shall not have been prepaid) on August 28, 2019, with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30‐day months) (a) on the unpaid balance hereof at the rate of 3.79% per annum from the date hereof, payable semiannually, on the February 28th and August 28th in each year, commencing with the February 28 or August 28 next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law, on any overdue payment of interest and, during the continuance of an Event of Default, on such unpaid balance and on any overdue payment of any Make‐Whole Amount, at a rate per annum from time to time equal to 5.79%, payable semiannually as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand).
Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at U.S.Bank, N.A. or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement referred to below.
This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated June 18, 2012 (as from time to time amended, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof.  Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, to have (i) agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 20 of the Note Purchase Agreement and (ii) made the representation set forth in Section 6.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement.  Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement.

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee.  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
 This Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, but not otherwise. This Note may also be subject to prepayment upon a Change in Control, in either case, subject to the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreement.
This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the Company and the holder of this Note shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would permit the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

By     
[Title]

[FORM OF NOTE]
DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.
4.52% SENIOR NOTE DUE AUGUST 28, 2024
No. [_____]    [Date]
$[_______]    PPN: [237194 A#2]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC. (herein called the “Company”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida, hereby promises to pay to [____________], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [_____________________] DOLLARS (or so much thereof as shall not have been prepaid) on August 28, 2024, with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30‐day months) (a) on the unpaid balance hereof at the rate of 4.52% per annum from the date hereof, payable semiannually, on the February 28th and the August 28th in each year, commencing with the February 28 or August 28 next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law, on any overdue payment of interest and, during the continuance of an Event of Default, on such unpaid balance and on any overdue payment of any Make‐Whole Amount, at a rate per annum from time to time equal to 6.52%, payable semiannually as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand).
Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at U.S.Bank, N.A. or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement referred to below.
This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated June 18, 2012 (as from time to time amended, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof.  Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, to have (i) agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 20 of the Note Purchase Agreement and (ii) made the representation set forth in Section 6.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement.  Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Note shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement.

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee.  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
This Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, but not otherwise. This Note may also be subject to prepayment upon a Change in Control, in either case, subject to the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreement.
This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the Company and the holder of this Note shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would permit the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC.

By     
[Title]

FORM OF OPINION OF IN-HOUSE COUNSEL 
TO THE COMPANY

[Letterhead of Darden Restaurants, Inc.] 
[Date]

To each of the Purchasers named 
on Schedule A hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am Senior Associate General Counsel of Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), and am familiar with its business and affairs.  I am delivering this opinion in connection with the issuance of $80,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.79% Senior Notes due August 28, 2019 and $220,000,000  aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.52% Senior Notes due August 28, 2024 (collectively, the “Notes”) pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated June 18, 2012 between the Company and you (the “Agreement”).  This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 4.4(a) of the Agreement.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
In connection with rendering this opinion, I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments and have considered such other matters and questions of law as I have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of this opinion.
In rendering my opinions set forth below, I have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to me as copies.  I have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties.  As to certain questions of fact material to my opinion, I have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials delivered to you in connection herewith.
Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
1.The Company is a validly formed and existing corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the state of Florida.

2.The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Memorandum and to enter into and perform its obligations under, or as contemplated under, the Agreement.
3.The Material Subsidiaries have the corporate power and authority, or in the case of Darden SW LLC, the limited liability company power and authority, to own, lease and operate their properties and to conduct their business as described in the Memorandum.
4.The execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Notes and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder do not and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or instrument, known to me, to which the Material Subsidiaries are a party, except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or bylaws or, in the case of Darden SW LLC, the articles of organization or operating agreement, of any Material Subsidiaries or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree, known to me, of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Material Subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or operations.
5.There is not pending or threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation to which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries thereof is a party which questions the validity of the Agreement, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder.
The opinion set forth in paragraph 1 above with respect to the good standing and existence of the Company is based solely on a certificate from the Department of State of the State of Florida dated __________ __, 2012.
My opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of Florida and the federal laws of the United States of America.  I call your attention to the fact that the Notes state that they are governed by New York law.  I further call your attention to the fact that RARE Hospitality International, Inc. is a Georgia corporation and RARE Hospitality Management, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. 
This letter is being furnished to you solely for your benefit as it relates to the Agreement and may not be relied upon by, nor may copies be delivered to, any other person without my prior written consent except that (a) I authorize each institutional accredited investor that becomes a holder of any Note under (and to the extent permitted by) the Agreement to rely on my opinion in this letter as of the original date of this letter, subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, and (b) a copy of this letter may be furnished by you to, but not relied upon by (i) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and any state, federal or provincial authority or independent banking or insurance board or body having regulatory jurisdiction over the Purchasers in the exercise of their regulatory due diligence and (ii) any institutional accredited investor that is potential purchaser of any Note in connection with its investment due diligence.

Very truly yours,

FORM OF OPINION OF SPECIAL COUNSEL 
TO THE COMPANY 

	
					
	

	

	 
	HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP
200 PARK AVENUE 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10166-0005

TEL    212 • 309 • 1000 
FAX    212 • 309 • 1100
	 

	

[Date]

	

	 
	 
	 

Darden Restaurants, Inc. 
$80,000,000 3.79% Senior Notes due August 28, 2019
$220,000,000 4.52% Senior Notes due August 29, 2024

To each of the Purchasers named 
on Schedule A hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of $80,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.79% Senior Notes due August 28, 2019 and $220,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.52% Senior Notes due August 28, 2024 (collectively, the “Notes”), pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated June 18, 2012 (the “Agreement”), between the Company and you.  This opinion is furnished to you at the request of the Company pursuant to Section 4.4(a) of the Agreement.  Capitalized terms used in this letter and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.

In connection with the foregoing, we have examined the following documents:
(i)the Agreement;
(ii)a specimen of the Notes;

(iii)the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the “Articles”),     as certified by an Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the date hereof; 
(iv)the Bylaws of the Company, as amended (the “Bylaws”), as certified by an     Assistant Secretary of the Company as of the date hereof; and 
(v)resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on     ____________, as certified by an Assistant Secretary of the Company as of     the date hereof.

In addition to our examination of the documents referred to above, we also have examined originals or reproductions or certified copies of certain corporate records of the Company, and certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.  In these examinations and for purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed without verification (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such documents, (iii) the genuineness of all signatures not witnessed by us, (iv) the legal capacity of all natural persons, and (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all parties and the validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof (other than the authorization, execution and delivery of documents by the Company and the validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof upon the Company). 
As to factual matters, we have relied upon representations included in the Agreement, upon certificates of officers of the Company, and upon certificates of public officials. 

Based solely upon the foregoing and without further investigation, we are of the opinion that:

(1)    The Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitutes the valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms under New York law, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or general principles of equity, whether considered at law or in equity. 
(2)    The Notes have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and assuming delivery against payment of the consideration therefor by you as provided in the Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under New York law, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or general principles of equity, whether considered at law or in equity. 
(3)    The execution and delivery of the Agreement and the Notes and the performance by the Company its obligations thereunder do not and will not (a) violate any of the provisions of the Articles or Bylaws of the Company, (b) violate any law of the State of New York or any Federal law of the United States of America, or (c)  result in a breach of, or constitute a default under any indenture, deed of trust, contract or other instrument to which the Company is a party and which is identified in the Company’s most recent 

Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated therein by reference.
(4)    No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement or the offer, issuance, sale and delivery of the Notes, except such as may be required under the state securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and sale of the Notes (as to which we express no opinion).
(5)    The Company is not an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(6)    The issuance and sale of the Notes and the application by the Company of the proceeds of the sale of the Notes, as described in the Agreement and the Memorandum, will not violate Regulation U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 
(7)    No registration of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is required for the purchase of the Notes by you in the manner contemplated by the Agreement and the Memorandum.
(8)    In reliance upon the representations and warranties made by the Company and the Purchasers in the Agreement, it is not necessary in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes to qualify an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
To the extent that the foregoing opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law provisions of the Agreement, we have, in rendering such opinion, relied solely upon New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401 and have assumed that the Agreement was not entered into with a view to violate the laws of the jurisdiction in which such contract is to be performed.  Further, such opinion is subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be limited by important public policies of a more-interested jurisdiction. We express no opinion regarding whether a court other than a court of or in the State of New York would give effect to a choice of New York law.
We do not purport to express an opinion on any laws other than the laws of the State of New York, the State of Florida and the Federal laws of the United States of America.  

This opinion is rendered to you solely in connection with the Agreement and may not be used or relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose, nor may this opinion or any copies thereof be filed with a government agency, quoted, cited or otherwise referred to without our prior written consent except that (a) we authorize each institutional accredited investor that becomes a holder of any Note under (and to the extent permitted by) the Agreement to rely on our opinion in this letter as of the original date of this letter, subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, and (b) a copy of this letter may be furnished by you to, but not relied upon by, (i) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and any state, federal or provincial authority or independent banking or insurance board or body having regulatory jurisdiction over the Purchasers in the exercise of their regulatory due diligence and (ii) any institutional accredited investor that is potential purchaser of any Note in connection with its investment due diligence. This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to advise you of facts or circumstances that hereafter come to our attention, or of changes in law that hereafter occur, which could affect the views contained herein.

Very truly yours,

FORM OF OPINION OF SPECIAL COUNSEL 
TO THE PURCHASERS

[Form of Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP]
[Date] 
TO THE PURCHASERS NAMED ON SCHEDULE A
ATTACHED HERETO (COLLECTIVELY, THE “PURCHASERS”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to the Purchasers in connection with your several purchases from Darden Restaurants, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement dated June 18, 2012 between each of you and the Company (the “Agreement”) of (a) $80,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.79% Senior Notes due August 28, 2019 (the “2019 Notes”) and (b) $220,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.52% Senior Notes due August 28, 2024 (together with the 2019 Notes, the “Notes”).  The Notes are being issued pursuant to the Agreement. This letter is being delivered pursuant to Section 4.4(b) of the Agreement. 
We have reviewed the Agreement, the Notes, and such other agreements, documents, records, certificates and materials, and have satisfied ourselves as to such other matters, as we have considered relevant or necessary for purposes of this letter. 
In such review, we have assumed the accuracy and completeness of all agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials submitted to us, the conformity with the originals of all such materials submitted to us as copies (whether or not certified and including facsimiles), the authenticity of the originals of such materials and all materials submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all natural persons. In delivering this letter, we have relied, without independent verification, as to factual matters, on certificates and other written or oral statements of governmental and other public officials and of officers and other representatives of the Company, on representations made by the Company in the Agreement and on representations of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acting as placement agents of the Company with respect to the Notes, including the statements contained in such placement agents’ offeree letter dated June 12, 2012 and addressed to us (“Offeree Letter”).  
On the basis of the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1.  The Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. 

2. The Notes, upon execution and authentication thereof in accordance with the Agreement and payment therefor pursuant to the Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
3.  The offer, sale and delivery of the Notes by the Company to you in accordance with the Agreement do not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933 or the qualification of any indenture of the Company under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. 
Our opinions in paragraphs 1 and 2 above are subject to and limited by the effect of (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, receivership, conservatorship, arrangement, moratorium and other similar laws affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally, (b) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (c) requirements of reasonableness, good faith, materiality and fair dealing and the discretion of the court before which any matter may be brought, (d) generally applicable rules of law that may permit a party who has materially failed to render or offer performance required by the contract to cure that failure unless (i) permitting a cure would unreasonably hinder the aggrieved party from making substitute arrangements for performance or (ii) it was important in the circumstances to the aggrieved party that performance occur by the date stated in the contract, (e) in the case of waivers and exculpatory provisions, public policy and (f) generally applicable rules of law that may, where less than all of the Agreement may be unenforceable, limit the enforceability of the balance of the Agreement to circumstances in which the unenforceable portion is not an essential part of the agreed exchange.
With respect to our opinions in paragraphs 1 and 2 above, we have assumed that (a) the Company is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the law of the State of Florida and has the corporate power, and has duly taken all necessary corporate action (including any necessary stockholder action) to authorize it, to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, and has duly executed and delivered, the Agreement and the Notes, (b) the Notes are valid under the law of the State of Florida, (c) the execution and delivery of, and the performance of the Company’s obligations under, the Agreement and the Notes by the Company do not and will not (i) violate the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company or the Bylaws, as amended, of the Company, (ii) require any Governmental Approval or (iii) violate or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, (A) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in the Agreement) is a party or by which the Company or any Affiliate or any of its properties may be bound, (B) any Governmental Approval, (C) any order, decision, judgment or decree that may be applicable to the Company or any Affiliate or any of its properties or (D) any law (other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America), (d) the Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of you and is the valid and legally binding agreements of and enforceable against each of you under all applicable law, (e) there are no agreements, understandings or negotiations between the parties not set forth in the Agreement or the Notes that would modify the terms thereof or the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder and (f) all parties to the transaction contemplated by the Agreement and the Notes will act in accordance with, and will refrain from taking any action that is forbidden by, the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the Notes. As used in this paragraph, “Governmental Approval” means any authorization, consent, approval or license (or the like) of, exemption (or the like) from, registration or filing (or the like) with, or report or notice (or the like) to, any governmental unit, agency, commission, department or other authority that may be applicable to the 

Company or any Affiliate or any of its properties.
With respect to our opinion in paragraph 3 above, (a) we have assumed that the representations in the Offeree Letter(s) and your representations and warranties in the Agreement are true and that each of you is an institutional investor that is an “accredited investor,” as such term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933 (an “Institutional Accredited Investor”), (b) we have assumed that all offers and sales of the Notes have been made in accordance with the private placement procedures for offerings of this type, including procedures reasonably designed to ensure that such offers and sales are made only to Institutional Accredited Investors, (c) we have assumed the absence of any general solicitation or general advertising in the United States of America in connection with the offering of the Notes, (d) we do not express any opinion with respect to any sale of the Notes subsequent to your purchases thereof pursuant to the Agreement and (e) we do not express any opinion with respect to the effect of any antifraud provision of the U.S. federal securities laws on the transaction contemplated by the Agreement.  
We express no opinion with respect to (a) laws and regulations relating to Federal Reserve Board margin regulations, (b) any provisions in the Agreement (i) that purport to waive inconvenient forum, (ii) that purport to prevent oral modification or waivers or (iii) pursuant to which the Company purports to waive the right to a jury trial insofar as such provision is sought to be enforced in a federal court, (c) the first sentence of Section 22.7(a) of the Agreement insofar as it relates to federal courts (except as to the personal jurisdiction thereof) or (d) the enforceability of the forum selection clause contained in the Agreement in a federal court.
Our opinions set forth in this letter are limited to the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America, in each case as in effect on the date hereof, and we express no opinion as to the law of any other jurisdiction.  We have no responsibility or obligation to update this letter or to take into account changes in law, facts or any other developments of which we may later become aware.
This letter is delivered only to you by us as special counsel to the Purchasers solely for your benefit in connection with the transaction contemplated by the Agreement and may not be used, circulated, furnished, quoted or otherwise referred to or relied upon for any other purpose or by any other person or entity (including by any person or entity that purchases any of the Notes from any of you) without our prior written consent, except that (a) we authorize each Institutional Accredited Investor that becomes a holder of any Note under (and to the extent permitted by) the Agreement to rely on our opinion in this letter as of the original date of this letter, subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, and (b) a copy of this letter may be furnished by you to, but not relied upon by, (i) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and any state, federal or provincial authority or independent banking or insurance board or body having regulatory jurisdiction over you in the exercise of their regulatory due diligence and (ii) any Institutional Accredited Investor that is a potential purchaser of any Note in connection with its investment due diligence.
Very truly yours,

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