Document:

EXHIBIT
4.4

 

 

 

 

FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

NOVAMED,
INC.,

ISSUER

and

[                        ],

TRUSTEE

INDENTURE

Dated as
of [               ], 200[ ]

Subordinated
Debt Securities

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS(1)

	
  

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Page

  
	
  ARTICLE I

  	
   

  	
  DEFINITIONS

  	
   

  	
  1

  
	
  SECTION 1.01

  	
   

  	
  Definitions of
  Terms

  	
   

  	
  1

  
	
  ARTICLE II

  	
   

  	
  ISSUE, DESCRIPTION,
  TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

  	
   

  	
  5

  
	
  SECTION 2.01

  	
   

  	
  Designation and
  Terms of Securities

  	
   

  	
  5

  
	
  SECTION 2.02

  	
   

  	
  Form of
  Securities and Trustee’s Certificate

  	
   

  	
  6

  
	
  SECTION 2.03

  	
   

  	
  Denominations;
  Provisions for Payment

  	
   

  	
  7

  
	
  SECTION 2.04

  	
   

  	
  Execution and
  Authentications

  	
   

  	
  8

  
	
  SECTION 2.05

  	
   

  	
  Registration of
  Transfer and Exchange

  	
   

  	
  9

  
	
  SECTION 2.06

  	
   

  	
  Temporary
  Securities

  	
   

  	
  10

  
	
  SECTION 2.07

  	
   

  	
  Mutilated,
  Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities

  	
   

  	
  10

  
	
  SECTION 2.08

  	
   

  	
  Cancellation

  	
   

  	
  11

  
	
  SECTION 2.09

  	
   

  	
  Benefits of
  Indenture

  	
   

  	
  11

  
	
  SECTION 2.10

  	
   

  	
  Authenticating
  Agent

  	
   

  	
  12

  
	
  SECTION 2.11

  	
   

  	
  Global
  Securities

  	
   

  	
  12

  
	
  ARTICLE III

  	
   

  	
  REDEMPTION OF
  SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

  	
   

  	
  13

  
	
  SECTION 3.01

  	
   

  	
  Redemption

  	
   

  	
  13

  
	
  SECTION 3.02

  	
   

  	
  Notice of
  Redemption

  	
   

  	
  13

  
	
  SECTION 3.03

  	
   

  	
  Payment Upon
  Redemption

  	
   

  	
  14

  
	
  SECTION 3.04

  	
   

  	
  Sinking Fund

  	
   

  	
  15

  
	
  SECTION 3.05

  	
   

  	
  Satisfaction of
  Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

  	
   

  	
  15

  
	
  SECTION 3.06

  	
   

  	
  Redemption of
  Securities for Sinking Fund

  	
   

  	
  15

  
	
  ARTICLE IV

  	
   

  	
  COVENANTS

  	
   

  	
  16

  
	
  SECTION 4.01

  	
   

  	
  Payment of
  Principal, Premium and Interest

  	
   

  	
  16

  
	
  SECTION 4.02

  	
   

  	
  Maintenance of
  Office or Agency

  	
   

  	
  16

  
	
  SECTION 4.03

  	
   

  	
  Paying Agents

  	
   

  	
  16

  
	
  SECTION 4.04

  	
   

  	
  Appointment to
  Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee

  	
   

  	
  17

  
	
  ARTICLE V

  	
   

  	
  SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS
  AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

  	
   

  	
  18

  
	
  SECTION 5.01

  	
   

  	
  Company to
  Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  18

  
	
  SECTION 5.02

  	
   

  	
  Preservation Of
  Information; Communications With Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  18

  
	
  SECTION 5.03

  	
   

  	
  Reports by the
  Company

  	
   

  	
  18

  
	
  SECTION 5.04

  	
   

  	
  Reports by the
  Trustee

  	
   

  	
  19

  

 

 i
 

 

	
  ARTICLE VI

  	
   

  	
  REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE
  AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

  	
   

  	
  20

  
	
  SECTION 6.01

  	
   

  	
  Events of
  Default

  	
   

  	
  20

  
	
  SECTION 6.02

  	
   

  	
  Suits for
  Enforcement by Trustee

  	
   

  	
  21

  
	
  SECTION 6.03

  	
   

  	
  Application of
  Moneys Collected

  	
   

  	
  22

  
	
  SECTION 6.04

  	
   

  	
  Limitation on
  Suits

  	
   

  	
  23

  
	
  SECTION 6.05

  	
   

  	
  Rights and
  Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver

  	
   

  	
  23

  
	
  SECTION 6.06

  	
   

  	
  Control by
  Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  24

  
	
  SECTION 6.07

  	
   

  	
  Undertaking to
  Pay Costs

  	
   

  	
  24

  
	
  ARTICLE VII

  	
   

  	
  CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

  	
   

  	
  25

  
	
  SECTION 7.01

  	
   

  	
  Certain Duties
  and Responsibilities of Trustee

  	
   

  	
  25

  
	
  SECTION 7.02

  	
   

  	
  Certain Rights
  of Trustee

  	
   

  	
  26

  
	
  SECTION 7.03

  	
   

  	
  Trustee Not
  Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities

  	
   

  	
  27

  
	
  SECTION 7.04

  	
   

  	
  May Hold
  Securities

  	
   

  	
  27

  
	
  SECTION 7.05

  	
   

  	
  Moneys Held in
  Trust

  	
   

  	
  27

  
	
  SECTION 7.06

  	
   

  	
  Compensation and
  Reimbursement

  	
   

  	
  27

  
	
  SECTION 7.07

  	
   

  	
  Reliance on
  Officers’ Certificate

  	
   

  	
  28

  
	
  SECTION 7.08

  	
   

  	
  Disqualification;
  Conflicting Interests

  	
   

  	
  28

  
	
  SECTION 7.09

  	
   

  	
  Corporate
  Trustee Required; Eligibility

  	
   

  	
  28

  
	
  SECTION 7.10

  	
   

  	
  Resignation and
  Removal; Appointment of Successor

  	
   

  	
  29

  
	
  SECTION 7.11

  	
   

  	
  Acceptance of
  Appointment By Successor

  	
   

  	
  30

  
	
  SECTION 7.12

  	
   

  	
  Merger,
  Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

  	
   

  	
  31

  
	
  SECTION 7.13

  	
   

  	
  Preferential
  Collection of Claims Against the Company

  	
   

  	
  31

  
	
  ARTICLE VIII

  	
   

  	
  CONCERNING THE
  SECURITYHOLDERS

  	
   

  	
  32

  
	
  SECTION 8.01

  	
   

  	
  Evidence of
  Action by Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  32

  
	
  SECTION 8.02

  	
   

  	
  Proof of
  Execution by Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  32

  
	
  SECTION 8.03

  	
   

  	
  Who May be
  Deemed Owners

  	
   

  	
  33

  
	
  SECTION 8.04

  	
   

  	
  Certain
  Securities Owned by Company Disregarded

  	
   

  	
  33

  
	
  SECTION 8.05

  	
   

  	
  Actions Binding
  on Future Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  33

  
	
  ARTICLE IX

  	
   

  	
  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

  	
   

  	
  34

  
	
  SECTION 9.01

  	
   

  	
  Supplemental
  Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  34

  
	
  SECTION 9.02

  	
   

  	
  Supplemental
  Indentures With Consent of Securityholders

  	
   

  	
  35

  
	
  SECTION 9.03

  	
   

  	
  Effect of
  Supplemental Indentures

  	
   

  	
  35

  
	
  SECTION 9.04

  	
   

  	
  Securities
  Affected by Supplemental Indentures

  	
   

  	
  35

  
	
  SECTION 9.05

  	
   

  	
  Execution of
  Supplemental Indentures

  	
   

  	
  35

  
	
  ARTICLE X

  	
   

  	
  SUCCESSOR ENTITY

  	
   

  	
  36

  
	
  SECTION 10.01

  	
   

  	
  Company May
  Consolidate, Etc

  	
   

  	
  36

  

 

 ii
 

 

	
  SECTION 10.02

  	
   

  	
  Successor Entity
  Substituted

  	
   

  	
  37

  
	
  SECTION 10.03

  	
   

  	
  Evidence of
  Consolidation, Etc

  	
   

  	
  37

  
	
  ARTICLE XI

  	
   

  	
  SATISFACTION AND
  DISCHARGE

  	
   

  	
  37

  
	
  SECTION 11.01

  	
   

  	
  Satisfaction and
  Discharge of Indenture

  	
   

  	
  37

  
	
  SECTION 11.02

  	
   

  	
  Discharge of
  Obligations

  	
   

  	
  38

  
	
  SECTION 11.03

  	
   

  	
  Deposited Moneys
  to be Held in Trust

  	
   

  	
  38

  
	
  SECTION 11.04

  	
   

  	
  Payment of
  Moneys Held by Paying Agents

  	
   

  	
  38

  
	
  SECTION 11.05

  	
   

  	
  Repayment to
  Company

  	
   

  	
  38

  
	
  ARTICLE XII

  	
   

  	
  IMMUNITY OF
  INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

  	
   

  	
  39

  
	
  SECTION 12.01

  	
   

  	
  No Recourse

  	
   

  	
  39

  
	
  ARTICLE XIII

  	
   

  	
  MISCELLANEOUS
  PROVISIONS

  	
   

  	
  39

  
	
  SECTION 13.01

  	
   

  	
  Effect on
  Successors and Assigns

  	
   

  	
  39

  
	
  SECTION 13.02

  	
   

  	
  Actions by
  Successor

  	
   

  	
  39

  
	
  SECTION 13.03

  	
   

  	
  Notices

  	
   

  	
  40

  
	
  SECTION 13.04

  	
   

  	
  Governing Law

  	
   

  	
  40

  
	
  SECTION 13.05

  	
   

  	
  Compliance
  Certificates and Opinions

  	
   

  	
  40

  
	
  SECTION 13.06

  	
   

  	
  Payments on
  Business Days

  	
   

  	
  40

  
	
  SECTION 13.07

  	
   

  	
  Conflict with
  Trust Indenture Act

  	
   

  	
  41

  
	
  SECTION 13.08

  	
   

  	
  Counterparts

  	
   

  	
  41

  
	
  SECTION 13.09

  	
   

  	
  Separability

  	
   

  	
  41

  
	
  SECTION 13.10

  	
   

  	
  Assignment

  	
   

  	
  41

  
	
  ARTICLE XIV

  	
   

  	
  SUBORDINATION OF
  SECURITIES

  	
   

  	
  41

  
	
  SECTION 14.01

  	
   

  	
  Subordination
  Terms

  	
   

  	
  41

  

 

(1)                                  This
Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have
any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

 iii

INDENTURE, dated as of [      ], 200[ ], between NovaMed, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [        ], as trustee (the “Trustee”):

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the
Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to
provide for the issuance of unsecured subordinated debt securities (hereinafter
referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to
be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture
provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the
certificate of the Trustee;

WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon
which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company
has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a
valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and
the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually
covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the
holders of Securities:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION
1.01                               Definitions
of Terms.

The terms defined in this Section (except as in this
Indenture otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise
requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental
hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall
include the plural as well as the singular. 
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined
in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act
as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.

“Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent
with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed with respect
to all or any series of the Securities by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any
similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of
the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.

 

 1
 

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have
been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect
on the date of such certification.

“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of
Securities, any day other than a day on which Federal or State banking
institutions in New York City, are authorized or obligated by law, executive
order or regulation to close.

“Certificate” means a certificate signed by the
principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal
accounting officer of the Company.  The
Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.05.

“Company” means NovaMed, Inc., a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, subject to
the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the
Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be
principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [                          ], except that
whenever a provision herein refers to an office or agency of the Trustee in New
York City, such office is located, at the date hereof, at [                    ].

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee,
liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“Default” means any event, act or condition that with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any
series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be
issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York,
another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other
applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by
the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.

“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities
of a particular series any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the
period of time, if any, therein designated.

“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of
Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to
the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance
with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee.

“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which
its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled
or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United
States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full
faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either
case, are not callable or redeemable at 

 

 2
 

 

the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also
include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental
Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such
Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of
such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law)
such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable
to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of
principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such
depositary receipt.

“Herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and other words of
similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other subdivision.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally
executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or
more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms
hereof.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any
installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date
specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture
supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an
installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and
payable.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by
the President or a Executive Vice President and by the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer or the Controller or an Assistant Controller or the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that is delivered to the
Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. 
Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in
Section 13.05, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing of
legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is
delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof.  Each such opinion shall include the statements
provided for in Section 13.05, if and to the extent required by the provisions
thereof.

“Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities
of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any
particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities
theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the
Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been
canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of
which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have
been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than
the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the
Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however,
that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior
to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article
Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made
for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for
which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to
the terms of Section 2.07.

 

 3
 

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security
means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as
that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this
definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu
of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same
debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the
Trustee means the President, any Executive Vice President, the Secretary, the
Treasurer, any trust officer, any corporate trust officer or any other officer
or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers,
respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his
or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Securities” means the debt Securities authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered
holder” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or
names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company
kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

“Senior Indebtedness” means indebtedness issued
pursuant to a senior indenture, as supplemented or amended by one or more
indentures supplemental thereto, payment of which shall be senior to the
payment of the Securities issued hereunder, pursuant to Section 14 hereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i)
any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at
the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of
its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority
of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be
owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person
and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which
such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.

“Trustee” means [         ], and, subject to the provisions of
Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any
time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee”
shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a
particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that
series.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, subject to the provisions of Sections 9.01, 9.02 and 10.01,
as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.

“Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person,
means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity
interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for
the election of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than 

 

 4
 

 

shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

ARTICLE
II

ISSUE,
DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, 

REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

SECTION
2.01                               Designation
and Terms of Securities.

(a)           The aggregate principal amount of
Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is
unlimited.  The Securities may be issued
in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of
that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution
of the Company or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto.  Prior to the initial issuance of Securities
of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution,
and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto:

(1)           the title of the
Security of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series
from all other Securities);

(2)           any limit upon the
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);

(3)           the date or dates on
which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable and the place(s)
of payment;

(4)           the rate or rates at
which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of
calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

(5)           the date or dates
from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such
interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest
Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date for the
determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest
Payment Dates;

(6)           the right, if any,
to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;

(7)           the period or
periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions
upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at
the option of the Company;

(8)           the obligation, if
any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to
any sinking fund or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in
satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder
thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which,
and the terms and conditions upon which, 

 

 5
 

 

Securities of the series shall be redeemed or
purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(9)           the form of the
Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of
authentication for such series;

(10)         if other than
denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple
thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be
issuable;

(11)         any and all other
terms with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with
the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any supplemental indenture)
including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States
laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities
of that series;

(12)         whether the
Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the identity of
the Depositary for such series;

(13)         whether the
Securities will be convertible into shares of common stock or other securities
of the Company and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities
will be so convertible, including the conversion price and the conversion
period;

(14)         if other than the
principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of
the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

(15)         the subordination
terms of the Securities of the series; and

(16)         any additional or
different Events of Default or restrictive covenants provided for with respect
to the Securities of the series.

All Securities of any one series shall be
substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise
be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures
supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by
action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of
such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the
Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

Securities of any particular series may be issued at
various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment
of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different
methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on
which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.

SECTION
2.02                               Form
of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.

The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s
certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be
substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more 

 

 6
 

 

indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a
Board Resolution and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such
legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the
Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule
or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to
usage.

SECTION
2.03                               Denominations;
Provisions for Payment.

The Securities shall be issuable as registered
Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or
any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(10).  The Securities of a particular series shall
bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to
that series.  The principal of and the
interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in
case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or
currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for
public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for
that purpose in New York City.  Each
Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.  Interest on the Securities shall be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.

The interest installment on any Security that is
payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name
said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the
close of business on the regular record date for such interest
installment.  In the event that any
Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and
the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any
Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such
Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as
provided in Section 3.03.

Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is
not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for
Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular
record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest
shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or
clause (2) below:

(1)           The Company may make
payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names
such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at
the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner:  the Company shall notify the Trustee in
writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such
Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company
shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause
provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall
fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which
shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the
proposed payment and not less than 

 

 7
 

 

10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice
of the proposed payment.  The Trustee
shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name
and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment
of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed,
first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it
appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10
days prior to such special record date. 
Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the
special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted
Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their
respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.

(2)           The Company may make
payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner
not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such
Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such
exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed
payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed
practicable by the Trustee.

Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or
one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series
of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date”
as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities with respect to
any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day
of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date
established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if
such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the
month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date
established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if
such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such
date is a Business Day.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section,
each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in
exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the
rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such
other Security.

SECTION
2.04                               Execution
and Authentications.

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the
Company by its President, or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, or its
Treasurer, or one of its Assistant Treasurers, or its Secretary, or one of its
Assistant Secretaries, under its corporate seal attested by its Secretary or
one of its Assistant Secretaries. 
Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.  The Company may use the facsimile signature
of any Person who shall have been a President or Executive Vice President
thereof, or of any Person who shall have been a Secretary or Assistant
Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities
shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have
ceased to be the President or a Executive Vice President, or the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, of the Company. 
The seal of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal
and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the
Securities.  The Securities may contain
such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or
usage.  Each Security shall be dated the
date of its authentication by the Trustee.

 

 8

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated
manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating
Agent.  Such signature shall be
conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly
authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.  At any time
and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the
Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the
Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for
the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by its President or
any Executive Vice President and its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and
the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and
deliver such Securities.

In authenticating such Securities and accepting the
additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such
Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section
7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating
that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such
Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will
affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and
this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to
the Trustee.

SECTION
2.05                               Registration
of Transfer and Exchange.

(a)           Securities of any series may be
exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company
designated for such purpose in New York City, for other Securities of such
series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount,
upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any
Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee
shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor
the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making
the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not
contemporaneously outstanding.

(b)           The Company shall keep, or cause to
be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in New York City,
or such other location designated by the Company a register or registers
(herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the
Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and
which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee.  The registrar for the purpose of registering
Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as
authorized by a Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”).

Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the
office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall
execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver
in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of
the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal
amount.

All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange
or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied
(if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or
the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such
holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

 

 9
 

 

(c)           No service charge shall be made for
any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new
Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06,
Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.

(d)           The Company shall not be required (1)
to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period
beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a
notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same
series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (2)
to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or
portions thereof called for redemption. 
The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global
Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.

SECTION
2.06                               Temporary
Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of
any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any
authorized denomination.  Such temporary
Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in
lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and
variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be
determined by the Company.  Every
temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be
authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the
same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such
series.  Without unnecessary delay the
Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and
thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in
exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of
the Company designated for the purpose in New York City, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such
temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive
Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect
that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further
notice from the Company.  Until so
exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the
same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series
authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION
2.07                               Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall
become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the
next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request, the
Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security
of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in
exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in
substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen.  In every case the applicant for a substituted
Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of 

 

 10
 

 

them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss
or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the
applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof.  The Trustee may authenticate any such
substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or
authorization of any officer of the Company. 
Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require
the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the
fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.  In case any Security that has matured or is
about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the
Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the
payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a
mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the
Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save
each of them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to
the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or
theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the
provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual
obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall
be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately
with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued
hereunder.  All Securities shall be held
and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are
exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and
all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or
hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of
negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

SECTION
2.08                               Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment,
redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the
Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or,
if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities
shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by
any of the provisions of this Indenture. 
On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee
shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee.  In the absence of such request the Trustee
may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures
and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company.  If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of
the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or
satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and
until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION
2.09                               Benefits
of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities,
express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other
than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to
the provisions of Article Fourteen, the holders of Senior Indebtedness), any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture,
or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such
covenants, conditions and provisions 

 

 11
 

 

being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and
of the holders of the Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of
Article Fourteen, the holders of Senior Indebtedness).

SECTION
2.10                               Authenticating
Agent.

So long as any of the Securities of any series remain
Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of
Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint.  Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized
to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series
issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so
authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be
valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee
hereunder.  All references in this
Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to
include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series.  Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable
to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and
surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the
laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing
business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under
such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination
by Federal or State authorities.  If at any
time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
these provisions, it shall resign immediately.

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by
giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time (and upon request
by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by
giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the
Company.  Upon resignation, termination
or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may
appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the
Company.  Any successor Authenticating
Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with
all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally
named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.

SECTION
2.11                               Global
Securities.

(a)           If the Company shall establish
pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be
issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee
shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global
Security that (1) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal
to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such
series, (2) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee,
(3) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the
Depositary’s instruction and (4) shall bear a legend substantially to the
following effect:  “Except as otherwise
provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in
whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a
successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

(b)           Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but
not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another 

 

 12
 

 

nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a
successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to
a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c)           If at any time the Depositary for a
series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for
such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the
Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor
Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after
the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the
case may be, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities
of such series and the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.05, the
Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in
definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in
an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global
Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security.  In addition, the Company may at any time
determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a
Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer
apply to the Securities of such series. 
In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.05, the
Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination
by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in
definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in
an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global
Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security.  Upon the exchange of the Global Security for
such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized
denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee.  Such Securities in definitive registered form
issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c)
shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the
Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants
or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. 
The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery
to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

SECTION
3.01                               Redemption.

The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued
hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established
for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

SECTION
3.02                               Notice
of Redemption.

(a)           In case the Company shall desire to
exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the
Securities of any series in accordance with the right reserved so to do, the
Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to
holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class
postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more
than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such
holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register
unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed.  Any notice that is 

 

 13
 

 

mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered
holder receives the notice.  In any case,
failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series
designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice,
shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any
other Securities of such series or any other series.  In the case of any redemption of Securities
prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the
terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall
furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with
any such restriction.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date
fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that
series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price
of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the
Company in New York City, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities,
that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as
specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to
accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.  If less than all the Securities of a series
are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to
be redeemed in whole or in part shall specify the particular Securities to be
so redeemed.  In case any Security is to
be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state
the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state
that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new
Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

(b)           If less than all the Securities of a
series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’
notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate
principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the
Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem
appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection
of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any
integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a
denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall
thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the
Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. 
The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of
instructions signed on its behalf by its President or any Executive Vice
President, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of
the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of
redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the
name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may
deem advisable.  In any case in which
notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the
Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with,
the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register,
transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom,
sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by
mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.

SECTION
3.03                               Payment
Upon Redemption.

(a)           If the giving of notice of redemption
shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of
Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become
due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the
applicable 

 

 14
 

 

redemption
price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and
interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on
and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in
the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any
such Security or portion thereof.  On
presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for
redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities
shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series,
together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if
the date fixed for redemption is an interest payment date, the interest
installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at
the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).

(b)           Upon presentation of any Security of
such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and
the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented
shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new
Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount
equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

SECTION
3.04                               Sinking
Fund.

The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall
be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series,
except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of
such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment
provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as
a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum
amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred
to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. 
If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash
amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in
Section 3.05.  Each sinking fund
payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as
provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

SECTION
3.05                               Satisfaction
of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (a) may deliver Outstanding Securities of
a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (b)
may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at
the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through
the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the
terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of
any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required
to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such
Securities have not been previously so credited.  Such Securities shall be received and
credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in
such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the
amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION
3.06                               Redemption
of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund
payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the
Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the 

 

 15
 

 

next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series
pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be
satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to
Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such
Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered.  Not less than 30 days before
each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to
be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in
Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name
of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section
3.02.  Such notice having been duly
given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in
the manner stated in Section 3.03.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION
4.01                               Payment
of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to
be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities
of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and
established with respect to such Securities.

SECTION
4.02                               Maintenance
of Office or Agency.

So long as any series of the Securities remain
Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in New York
City, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations
as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (a) Securities of
that series may be presented for payment, (b) Securities of that series may be
presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange,
and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities
of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to
continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by
written notice signed by its President or a Executive Vice President and
delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such
purposes or any of them.  If at any time
the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall
fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive
all such presentations, notices and demands.

SECTION
4.03                               Paying
Agents.

(a)           If the Company shall appoint one or
more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the
Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver
to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee,
subject to the provisions of this Section:

(1)           that it will hold
all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such
sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such
Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;

 

 16
 

 

(2)           that it will give
the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of
such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any)
or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and
payable;

(3)           that it will, at any
time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding
paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay
to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and

(4)           that it will perform
all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.

(b)           If the Company shall act as its own
paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before
each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on
Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal
(and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series
until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as
herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any
failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such
action.  Whenever the Company shall have
one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each
due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any
Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to
pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum
to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal,
premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company
will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.

(c)           Notwithstanding anything in this
Section to the contrary, (1) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in
this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (2) the Company
may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to
pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent,
such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those
upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon
such payment by any paying agent to the Trustee, such paying agent shall be
released from all further liability with respect to such money.

SECTION
4.04                               Appointment
to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a
vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in
Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee
hereunder.

 

 17

ARTICLE V

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS 

BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

SECTION
5.01                               Company
to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to
the Trustee (a) on each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a
list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record
date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to
be furnished such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any
respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days
after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form
and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is
furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be
furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

SECTION
5.02                               Preservation
Of Information; Communications With Securityholders.

(a)           The Trustee shall
preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as
to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most
recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and
addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as
Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).

(b)           The Trustee may
destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a
new list so furnished.

(c)           Securityholders may
communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other
Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the
Securities.  The Company, the Trustee,
the Security Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of the
Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

SECTION
5.03                               Reports
by the Company.

(a)           The Company
covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company
is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports
and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions
of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and
regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if
the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant
to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee and the Commission,
in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by
the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents
and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, in
respect of a security listed and registered on a 

 

 18
 

 

national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in
such rules and regulations.

(b)           The Company
covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance
with the rules and regulations prescribed from to time by the Commission, such
additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the
Company with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may
be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

(c)           The Company
covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, or
reputable overnight delivery service that provides for evidence of receipt, to
the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security
Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such
summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required
by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

SECTION
5.04                               Reports
by the Trustee.

(a)           On or before [           ] in each year in which any of the
Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear
upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding [          ], if and to the extent required
under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(b)           The Trustee shall
comply with Sections 313(b), 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(c)           A copy of each such
report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by
the Trustee with the Company, with each stock exchange upon which any
Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission.  The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when
any Securities become listed on any stock exchange.

(d)           If an Event of Default
occurs and is continuing and the Trustee receives actual notice of such Event
of Default, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder notice of the uncured
Event of Default within 90 days after the occurrence thereof.  Except in the case of an Event of Default in
payment of principal of, or interest on, any Securities, or in the payment of
any sinking or purchase fund installment, the Trustee may withhold the notice
if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust
committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith
determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Securityholders.

 19
 

 

ARTICLE VI

REMEDIES OF THE
TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

SECTION
6.01                               Events
of Default.

(a)           Whenever used herein with respect to
Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of
the following events that has occurred and is continuing:

(1)           the Company defaults
in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of
that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such
default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid
extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the
terms of any indenture supplemental hereto, shall not constitute a default in
the payment of interest for this purpose;

(2)           the Company defaults
in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the
Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable
whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any
payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to
that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such
Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto
shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;

(3)           the Company fails to
observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to
that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect
to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a
covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely
for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for
a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure,
requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of
Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by
registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders
of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the
time Outstanding;

(4)           the Company pursuant
to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary
case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the
benefit of its creditors; or

(5)           a court of competent
jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief
against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the
Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the
liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in
effect for 90 days.

(b)           In each and every such case, unless
the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become
due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding
hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by
such Securityholders), may declare the 

 

 20
 

 

principal of
all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon
any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and
payable.

(c)           At any time after the principal of
the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and
before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been
obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding
hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and
annul such declaration and its consequences if: 
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient
to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that
series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Securities of that
series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest
upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment
is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at
the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of
such payment or deposit) and any amount payable to the Trustee under Section
7.06, and (2) any and all other Events of Default under the Indenture with
respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of
that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been
remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.

No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or
shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(d)           In case the Trustee shall have
proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under
this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned
because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have
been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject
to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the Trustee shall be
restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all
rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as
though no such proceedings had been taken.

SECTION
6.02                               Suits
for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a)           If an Event of Default specified in
Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, in its
own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to
institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of
the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to
judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree
against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and
collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by
law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of
that series, wherever situated.

(b)           In case of any receivership,
insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement,
composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or
property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and
take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as
may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and
other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have
the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities 

 

 21
 

 

of a series allowed for the entire amount due and
payable by the Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such
proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by
the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same
after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06;
and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby
authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such
payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to
the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the
Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.06.

(c)           All rights of action and of asserting
claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect
to Securities of a series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or
other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted
by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust,
and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee
of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the
holders of the Securities of such series.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee
may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by
this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall
deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or
in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement
of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the
exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal
or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize
the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any
Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder
thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Securityholder in any such proceeding.

SECTION
6.03                               Application
of Moneys Collected.

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this
Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in
the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of
the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or
interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation
thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if
fully paid:

FIRST:  To the
payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the
Trustee under Section 7.06;

SECOND:  To the
payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required
by Article Fourteen; and

THIRD:  To the
payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for
principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the
benefit of 

 

 22
 

 

which such money has been collected, ratably, without
preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on
such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively.

SECTION
6.04                               Limitation
on Suits.

No holder of any Security of any series shall have any
right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute
any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with
respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or
for any other remedy hereunder, unless (a) such holder previously shall have
given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the
continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying
such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (b) the holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then
Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such
action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (c) such
holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity
as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred
therein or thereby; (d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such
notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such
action, suit or proceeding; and (e) during such 60-day period, the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series shall not have
given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal
of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on
or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of
redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement
of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall
not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.  By accepting a Security hereunder it is
expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every
Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee,
that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right
in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this
Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any
other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or
preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and
common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series.  For the protection and enforcement of the
provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall
be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

SECTION
6.05                               Rights
and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

(a)           All powers and remedies given by this
Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies
available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial
proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the
covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established
with respect to such Securities.

(b)           No delay or omission of the Trustee
or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power
accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid 

 

 23
 

 

shall impair any such right or power, or shall be
construed to be a waiver of any such default or on acquiescence therein; and,
subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this
Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from
time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by
the Securityholders.

SECTION
6.06                               Control
by Securityholders.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in
accordance with Section 8.01, shall have the right to direct the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such
series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with
any rule of law or with this Indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights
of holders of Securities of any other series at the time Outstanding determined
in accordance with Section 8.01.  Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline
to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a
Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding
so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.  The holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding
affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.01, may on behalf of
the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in
the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established
pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences,
except an uncured default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any) or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same
shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration
(unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with
the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)).  Upon any such waiver, the default covered
thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be
restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right
consequent thereon.

SECTION
6.07                               Undertaking
to Pay Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder
of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have
agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the
enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against
the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any
party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit,
and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due
regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such
party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit
instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or
group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any
Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the
respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this
Indenture.

 

 24

ARTICLE
VII

CONCERNING
THE TRUSTEE

SECTION
7.01                                                              Certain
Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

(a)           The Trustee, prior to the occurrence
of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the
curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series
that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the
Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically
set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee.  In case
an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred
(that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to
Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his own affairs.

(b)           No provision of this Indenture shall
be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:

(1)           prior to the
occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series
and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to
that series that may have occurred:

(i)            the duties and
obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series
be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the
Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series
except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically
set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii)           in the absence of
bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the
Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not
they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;

(2)           the Trustee shall
not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible
Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(3)           the Trustee shall
not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities
of that series; and

 25
 

(4)           none of the
provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such
funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to
it.

SECTION
7.02                                                              Certain
Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

(a)           The Trustee may rely and shall be
protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order,
approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b)           Any request, direction, order or
demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a
Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company, by the
President or any Executive Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer thereof (unless other
evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);

(c)           The Trustee may consult with counsel
and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or
suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(d)           The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this
Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders,
pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall
have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing
contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the
Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to
Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a
prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his own affairs;

(e)           The Trustee shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it
to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it
by this Indenture;

(f)            The Trustee shall not be bound to
make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent,
order, approval, bond, security or other papers or documents, unless requested
in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby
(determined as provided in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture,

 26
 

the Trustee
may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as
a condition to so proceeding.  The
reasonable expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or,
if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and

(g)           The Trustee may execute any of the
trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or
by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for
any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed
with due care by it hereunder.

SECTION
7.03                                                              Trustee
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.

(a)           The recitals contained herein and in
the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee
assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.

(b)           The Trustee makes no representations
as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.

(c)           The Trustee shall not be accountable
for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the
proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid
over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or
established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any
moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.

SECTION
7.04                                                              May
Hold Securities.

The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar,
in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or
Security Registrar.

SECTION
7.05                                                              Moneys
Held in Trust.

Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys
received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be
held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee shall be under no liability for
interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree
with the Company to pay thereon.

SECTION
7.06                                                              Compensation
and Reimbursement.

(a)           The Company covenants and agrees to
pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable
compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to
the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), as the Company and the
Trustee may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it
in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and
performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or
reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with
any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of

 27
 

all Persons
not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance
as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. 
The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers,
agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part
of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending
itself against any claim of liability in the premises.

(b)           The obligations of the Company under
this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse
the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute
additional indebtedness hereunder.  Such
additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the
Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as
such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular
Securities.

SECTION
7.07                                                              Reliance
on Officers’ Certificate.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever
in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall
deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to
taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed)
may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate
delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or
bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for
any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of
this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

SECTION
7.08                                                              Disqualification;
Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting
interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of
Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION
7.09                                                              Corporate
Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to
the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or
any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation
or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under
such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and
surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to
supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of
Columbia authority.  If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published. 
The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, serve as
Trustee.  In case at any time the Trustee
shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the

 28
 

provisions of this
Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
specified in Section 7.10.

SECTION
7.10                                                              Resignation
and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a)           The Trustee or any successor
hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of
one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by
transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the
Security Register.  Upon receiving such
notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee
with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate,
executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall
be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor
trustee.  If no successor trustee shall
have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the
mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with
respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who
has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months
may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such
court for the appointment of a successor trustee.  Such court may thereupon after such notice, if
any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

(b)           In case at any time any one of the
following shall occur:

(1)           the Trustee shall
fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after written request
therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide
holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or

(2)           the Trustee shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and
shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any
such Securityholder; or

(3)           the Trustee shall
become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or
commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of
its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall
take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the
purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, the Company may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by
written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors,
one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and
one copy to the successor trustee, or, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is
stayed as provided herein, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder
of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that
holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor
trustee.  Such court may thereupon after
such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee
and appoint a successor trustee.

 29
 

(c)           The holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by
so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee
for such series with the consent of the Company.

(d)           Any resignation or removal of the
Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities
of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become
effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided
in Section 7.11.

(e)           Any successor trustee appointed
pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one
or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one
Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.

SECTION
7.11                                                              Acceptance
of Appointment By Successor.

(a)           In case of the appointment hereunder
of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor
trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and
to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon
the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and
such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall
become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such
retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an
instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers and
trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to
such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder.

(b)           In case of the appointment hereunder
of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not
all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an
indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such
appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary
or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee
all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect
to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such
successor trustee relates, (2) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed
necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those
series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be
vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the
provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate
the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute
such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be
trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or
trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee
shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other
Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental
indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with
respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of
such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise
of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested
in the

 30
 

Trustee under
this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed
or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series
to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of
the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by
such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring
Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to
which the appointment of such successor trustee relates.

(c)           Upon request of any such successor
trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and
certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights,
powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the
case may be.

(d)           No successor trustee shall accept its
appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall
be qualified and eligible under this Article.

(e)           Upon acceptance of appointment by a
successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit
notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the
Security Register.  If the Company fails
to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the
successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be
transmitted at the expense of the Company.

SECTION
7.12                                                              Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged
or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a
party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of the
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such
corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and
eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing
of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.  In case any Securities shall have been
authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor
by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt
such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same
effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION
7.13                                                              Preferential
Collection of Claims Against the Company.

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the
Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section
311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.  A
Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of
the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.

 31

ARTICLE
VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

SECTION
8.01                                                              Evidence
of Action by Securityholders.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the
holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making
of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the
taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such
action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have
joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments
of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in
Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders
of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an
Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination
of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have
no obligation to do so.  If such a record
date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only
the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall
be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether
Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that
series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that
purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the
record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or
consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective
unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture
not later than six months after the record date.

SECTION
8.02                                                              Proof
of Execution by Securityholders.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of
the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require
notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of
any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a)           The fact and date of the execution by
any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner
acceptable to the Trustee.

(b)           The ownership of Securities shall be
proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the
Security Registrar thereof.

(c)           The Trustee may require such
additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem
necessary.

 32
 

SECTION
8.03                                                              Who
May be Deemed Owners.

Prior to the due presentment for registration of
transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any
Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security
shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such
Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any
notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security
Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on
such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee
nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice
to the contrary.

SECTION
8.04                                                              Certain
Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite
aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred
in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of
that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the
Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor
on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the
purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any
such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the
Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.  The Securities so owned that have been
pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this
Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee
is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under
direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other
obligor.  In case of a dispute as to such
right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be
full protection to the Trustee.

SECTION
8.05                                                              Actions
Binding on Future Securityholders.

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to
the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the
holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection
with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the
evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented
to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof
of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns
such Security.  Except as aforesaid any
such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding
upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and
of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer
thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in
regard thereto is made upon such Security. 
Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified
in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding
upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that
series.

 33
 

ARTICLE
IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION
9.01                                                              Supplemental
Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.

In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise
authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time
and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto
(which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in
effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the
following purposes:

(a)           to cure any ambiguity, defect or
inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;

(b)           to comply with Article Ten;

(c)           to provide for uncertificated
Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(d)           to add to the covenants of the
Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and
if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of
Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for
the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred
upon the Company;

(e)           to add to, delete from or revise the
conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms,
purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set
forth;

(f)            to make any change that does not
adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or

(g)           to provide for the issuance of and
establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as
provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required
to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of
Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the
Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any
further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained,
but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental
indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under
this Indenture or otherwise.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the
provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee
without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time
Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

 34
 

SECTION
9.02                                                              Supplemental
Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.

With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section
8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or
indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by Board
Resolutions, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into
an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of
adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the
provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying
in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the
Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each
Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (i) extend the fixed maturity
of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or
reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the
redemption thereof or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the
holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the
Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve
the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be
sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION
9.03                                                              Effect
of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture
shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended
in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights,
obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the
Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall
thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all
respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions
of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the
terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

SECTION
9.04                                                              Securities
Affected by Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series affected by a supplemental
indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental
indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may
bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the
requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any
matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall so determine, new
Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the
Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such
supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the
Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then
Outstanding.

SECTION
9.05                                                              Execution
of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by Board
Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and
upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence

 35
 

of the consent of
Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless
such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in
its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental
indenture.  The Trustee, subject to the
provisions of Section 7.01, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive
evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is
authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that
it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in
the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel need not
be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that
establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01
hereof.

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the
Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a
notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental
indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names
and addresses appear upon the Security Register.  Any failure of the Trustee to mail such
notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect
the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE X

SUCCESSOR
ENTITY

SECTION
10.01                                                       Company
May Consolidate, Etc.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the
Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or
into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or
successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or
successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor
or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other
corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or
successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the
Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger
(in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction), sale,
conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the
principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all
series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor,
and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with
respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the
Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall
conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect)
satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by
the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have
been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.

 36

SECTION
10.02                                                       Successor
Entity Substituted.

(a)           In case of any such consolidation,
merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption
by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to
the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the
Securities of all series Outstanding and the due and punctual performance of
all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture or established with
respect to each series of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 to be
performed by the Company with respect to each series, such successor entity
shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if
it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor
corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this
Indenture and the Securities.

(b)           In case of any such consolidation,
merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in
phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities
thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

(c)           Nothing contained in this Article
shall apply to limit or impose any requirements upon the consolidation or
merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such
transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of
all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated
with the Company).

SECTION
10.03                                                       Evidence
of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section
7.01, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such
consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any
such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE
XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION
11.01                                                       Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture.

If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore
authenticated (other than any Securities that have been destroyed, lost or
stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07) and
Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore
been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company; or (b)
all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their
terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for
redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for
the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to
be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or
Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of
a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or
upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and
interest due or to become due to such date of 

 37
 

maturity or date fixed
for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause
to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the
Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with
respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07,
4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or
redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall
survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company
and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to
such series.

SECTION
11.02                                                       Discharge
of Obligations.

If at any time all such Securities of a particular
series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have
not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid
by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys
or an amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon
redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and
interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for
redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to
be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such
series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the
case may be, are deposited with the Trustee, the obligations of the Company
under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further
effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03,
7.06, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall
mature and be paid.  Thereafter, Sections
7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.

SECTION
11.03                                                       Deposited
Moneys to be Held in Trust.

All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with
the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and
shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying
agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of
the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such
moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.

SECTION
11.04                                                       Payment
of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying
agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company,
be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from
all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

SECTION
11.05                                                       Repayment
to Company.

Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with
any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for
payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of
a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of
such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal
of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively
become due and payable, 

 38
 

shall be repaid to the
Company or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust;
and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all
further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and
the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall
thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for the
payment thereof.

ARTICLE
XII

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

SECTION
12.01                                                       No
Recourse.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or
agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon
or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator,
stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the
Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or
through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether
by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of
any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this
Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate
obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or
is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or
directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor
corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby
authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements
contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom;
and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either
at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all
such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer
or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby
authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements
contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom,
are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a
consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such
Securities.

ARTICLE
XIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION
13.01                                                       Effect
on Successors and Assigns.

All the covenants, stipulations, promises and
agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall
bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION
13.02                                                       Actions
by Successor.

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this
Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board,
committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with
like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any
corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

 39
 

SECTION
13.03                                                       Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein any
notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or
permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities
to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited first class
postage prepaid in a post-office letterbox addressed (until another address is
filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows:  [                        ].  Any notice, election, request or demand by
the Company or any Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to
have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in
writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

SECTION
13.04                                                       Governing
Law.

This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be
a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all
purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.

SECTION
13.05                                                       Compliance
Certificates and Opinions.

(a)           Upon any application or demand by the
Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this
Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate
stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating
to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel
stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have
been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand
as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any
provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand,
no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

(b)           Each certificate or opinion provided
for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance
with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement
that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or
condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination
or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such
Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable
him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in
the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

(c)           The Company shall furnish to the
Trustee, on [                 ] of each
year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal
financial officer or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of
such obligor’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this
Indenture.  For purposes of this
subsection, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder.

SECTION
13.06                                                       Payments
on Business Days.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant
to a Board Resolution, and as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental to this 

 40
 

Indenture, in any case
where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date
of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of
interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of
maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such
nominal date.

SECTION
13.07                                                       Conflict
with Trust Indenture Act.

If and to the extent that any provision of this
Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections
310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.

SECTION
13.08                                                       Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.

SECTION
13.09                                                       Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in
this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall
be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never
been contained herein or therein.

SECTION
13.10                                                       Assignment.

The Indenture is binding upon and inures to the
benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and
assigns.  This Indenture may not
otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

ARTICLE
XIV

SUBORDINATION
OF SECURITIES

SECTION
14.01                                                       Subordination
Terms.

The payment by the Company of the principal of (and premium,
if any) and interest on any series of Securities issued hereunder shall be
subordinated to the extent set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto
relating to such Securities.

 41
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above
written.

	
  

  	
  NOVAMED, INC.

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  [                                    ],

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  as Trustee

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
   

  	
   

  

 

 42Exhibit 10.1

STAPLES, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1.                                       Purpose

The purpose of this Amended and Restated 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of Staples, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the
Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are
expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing such
persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives
and thereby better aligning the interests of such persons with those of the
Company’s stockholders.  Except where the
context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s
present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in
Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”), and any other business
venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability
company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).

2.                                       Eligibility

All of the Company’s employees, officers, directors,
consultants, advisors, and other service providers (including persons who have
entered into an agreement with the Company under which they will be employed by
the Company in the future) are eligible to be granted options, restricted
stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights or other stock-based
awards (each, an “Award”) under the Plan. 
Each person who has been granted an Award under the Plan shall be deemed
a “Participant”.

3.                                       Administration
and Delegation

(a)                                  Administration
by Board of Directors.  The Plan will
be administered by the Board.  The Board
shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall
deem advisable.  The Board may correct
any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or
any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the
Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such
expediency.  All decisions by the Board
shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on
all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award.  No director or person acting pursuant to the
authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination
relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.

(b)                                 Appointment
of Committees.  To the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan
to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”).  All references in the Plan to the “Board”
shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the officers referred to in
Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan
have been delegated to such Committee or officers.

  
 
 

(c)                                  Delegation
to Officers.  To the extent permitted
by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the
Company the power to grant Awards to employees or officers of the Company or
any of its present or future subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other
powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall
fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the
exercise price of such Awards, which may include a formula by which the
exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to
Awards that the officers may grant; provided further, however, that no officer
shall be authorized to grant Awards to himself or herself.

4.                                       Available
for Awards

(a)                                  Number
of Shares.

(1)                                  Subject
to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for up to
62,330,000 shares of common stock, $.0006 par value per share, of the Company
(the “Common Stock”).  For purposes of
counting the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan,
(i) shares of Common Stock covered by independent SARs shall be counted against
the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan; (ii) if
any Award (A) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having
been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the
result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award being repurchased by the
Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase
right) or (B) results in any Common Stock not being issued because the Award
(other than a SAR) is settled for cash, the unused Common Stock covered by such
Award (other than a SAR) shall again be available for the grant of Awards under
the Plan; provided, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as
hereinafter defined), the foregoing shall be subject to any limitations under
the Code; and (iii) shares of Common Stock tendered to the Company by a
Participant to (A) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an
Award or (B) satisfy tax withholding obligations (including shares retained
from the Award creating the tax obligation) shall not be added back to the
number of shares available for the future grant of Awards under the Plan.

(2)                                  In
addition, if any option or restricted stock award granted under the 1992 Plan
expires, is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully
exercised, is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares
of Common Stock subject to such restricted stock award being repurchased by the
Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase
right), then in each such case the unused Common Stock covered by such option
or restricted stock award shall be available for the grant of Awards under the
Plan, subject, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, to any
limitations under the Code; and further provided that shares of Common Stock
tendered to the Company to (A) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of any such option or (B) satisfy tax withholding obligations
(including shares retained from the option or restricted stock award creating
the tax obligation) shall not be added back to the number of shares available
for the future grant of Awards under the Plan and that the aggregate number of shares
of Common Stock available for grant of Awards pursuant to this sentence shall
not exceed 51,000,000.  Shares issued
under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued
shares or treasury shares.

 2
 

(b)                                 Sub-limits.  Subject to adjustment under Section 9,
the following sub-limits on the number of shares of Common Stock subject to
Awards shall apply:

(1)                                  Section
162(m) Per-Participant Limit.  The
maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be
granted to any Participant under the Plan in any calendar year shall be  3,450,000. 
The per-Participant limit described in this Section 4(b)(1) shall be
construed and applied consistently with Section 162(m) of the Code (“Section
162(m)”).

(2)                                  Limit
on Awards other than Options and SARs. 
The maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards other than
Options and SARs may be granted shall be one-half of the total number of shares
of Common Stock covered by the Plan (including any shares that may become
available under this Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) hereof).

(3)                                  Limits
on Awards to Directors.  The maximum
number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted during the term of
the Plan to directors who are not employees of the Company shall be 2,000,000
and the maximum number of shares of Common stock with respect to which Awards
may be granted in any calendar year to any director who is not an employee of
the Company shall be 150,000.

5.                                       Stock
Options

(a)                                  General.  The Board may grant options to purchase
Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common
Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the
conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including
conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it
considers necessary or advisable.  An
Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter
defined) shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option”.

(b)                                 Incentive
Stock Options.  An Option that the
Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of
the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of
Staples, Inc., any of Staples, Inc.’s present or future parent or subsidiary
corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other
entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options
under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently
with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.  The Company shall have no liability to a
Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(c)                                  Exercise
Price.  The Board shall establish the
exercise price at the time each Option is granted and specify it in the
applicable option agreement; provided, however, that the exercise price shall
be not less than 100% of the fair market value (the “Fair Market Value”) of the
Common Stock, as determined by the Board, at the time the Option is granted.

(d)                                 No
Reload Rights.  Options granted under
this Plan shall not contain any provision entitling the optionee to the
automatic grant of additional Options in connection with any exercise of the
original Option.

 3
 

(e)                                  No
Repricing.  Unless such action is
approved by the Company’s stockholders: (i) no outstanding Option granted under
the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that is lower
than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Option
(other than adjustments pursuant to Section 9), and (ii) the Board may not
cancel any outstanding Option and grant in substitution therefor new Options
under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common
Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current
exercise price per share of the cancelled Option.

(f)                                    Duration
of Options.  Each Option shall be
exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board
may specify in the applicable option agreement provided, however, that no
Option will be granted for a term in excess of 10 years.

(g)                                 Exercise
of Option.  Options may be exercised
by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper
person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by
the Company, together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(h) for the
number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares of Common Stock
subject to the Option will be delivered by the Company following exercise
either as soon as practicable or, to the extent permitted by the Company in its
sole discretion, on a deferred basis (with the Company’s obligation to be
evidenced by an instrument providing for future delivery of the deferred shares
at the time or times specified by the Board).

(h)                                 Payment
Upon Exercise.  Common Stock
purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid
for as follows:

(1)                                  in
cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

(2)                                  except
as the Board may, in its sole discretion, otherwise provide in an option
agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a
creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay
the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the
Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional
instructions to a creditworthy broker to promptly pay to the Company the
exercise price and any required tax withholding;

(3)                                  if
provided for in the option agreement or approved by the Company, in its sole
discretion, by delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of shares of
Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value,
provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law,
(ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company was owned by the
Participant for such minimum period of time, if any, as may be established by
the Board in its discretion, and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any
repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;

(4)                                  if
provided for in the option agreement or approved by the Company, in its sole
discretion,  by payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board
may determine, but in no event may such consideration include delivery of a
promissory note of the Participant to the Company; or

(5)                                  by
any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.

 4
 

(i)                                     Substitute
Options.  In connection with a merger
or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the
Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Options in
substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such
entity or an affiliate thereof. 
Substitute Options may be granted pursuant to this Section 5(i) on such
terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any
limitations on Options contained in the other sections of this Section 5
or in Section 2.

(j)                                     Amendment
of Options.  Subject to the
provisions of Section 10(f), the Board may amend an Option to convert it into a
Stock Appreciation Right.

6.                                       Stock
Appreciation Rights

(a)                                  Nature of Stock Appreciation Rights.
A Stock Appreciation Right, or SAR, is an Award entitling the holder on
exercise to receive an amount in cash or Common Stock or a combination thereof
(such form to be determined by the Board) determined in whole or in part by
reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock. SARs may be based solely on appreciation in
the fair market value of Common Stock or on a comparison of such appreciation
with some other measure of market growth such as (but not limited to)
appreciation in a recognized market index. The date as of which such
appreciation or other measure is determined shall be the exercise date unless
another date is specified by the Board.

(b)                                 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with,
or independently of, Options granted under the Plan.

(1)                                  Rules Applicable to Tandem Awards. When Stock Appreciation Rights are
granted in tandem with Options, (a) the Stock Appreciation Right will be
exercisable only at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related
Option is exercisable (except to the extent designated by the Board in
connection with an Acquisition Event or a Change in Control Event) and will be
exercisable in accordance with the procedure required for exercise of the
related Option; (b) the Stock Appreciation Right will terminate and no longer
be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option, except
to the extent designated by the Board in connection with an Acquisition Event or
a Change in Control Event and except that a Stock Appreciation Right granted
with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by an Option will
not be reduced until the number of shares as to which the related Option has
been exercised or has terminated exceeds the number of shares not covered by
the Stock Appreciation Right; (c) the Option will terminate and no longer be
exercisable upon the exercise of the related Stock Appreciation Right; and (d)
the Stock Appreciation Right will be transferable only with the related Option.

(2)                                  Exercise of Independent Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right not granted
in tandem with an Option will become exercisable at such time or times, and on
such conditions, as the Board may specify. The Board may at any time accelerate
the time at which all or any part of the Right may be exercised.

 5
 

(c)          Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by
delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper
person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by
the Company.

7.                                       Restricted
Stock; Restricted Stock Units

(a)                                  Grants.  The Board may grant Awards entitling
recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”), subject to
the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their
issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such
shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions
specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the
end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board
for such Award.  Instead of granting
Awards for Restricted Stock, the Board may grant Awards entitling the recipient
to receive shares of Common Stock to be delivered in the future (“Restricted
Stock Units”) subject to such terms and conditions on the delivery of the
shares of Common Stock as the Board shall determine (each Award for Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units, a “Restricted Stock Award”). The Board may
also permit an exchange of unvested shares of Common Stock that have already
been delivered to a Participant for an instrument evidencing the right to
future delivery of Common Stock at such time or times, and on such conditions,
as the Board shall specify.

(b)                                 Terms
and Conditions.  The Board shall
determine the terms and conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award,
including the conditions for repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if
any.

(c)                                  Limitations
on Vesting.

(1)                                  Restricted
Stock Awards that vest based on the passage of time alone shall be zero percent
vested prior to the first anniversary of the date of grant, no more than
33-1/3% vested after the said first anniversary of the date of grant and before
the second anniversary of the date of grant, and no more than 66-2/3% vested
after the second anniversary of the date of grant and before the third
anniversary of the date of grant. 
Restricted Stock Awards that vest based on performance alone shall not
vest earlier than the first anniversary of the date of grant.  Restricted Stock Awards that vest upon the
passage of time and provide for accelerated vesting based on performance shall
not vest earlier than the first anniversary of the date of grant.  Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of
this Section 7(c)(1), the Board may grant Restricted Stock Awards that are not
subject to any limitations on vesting with respect to up to 5% of the total number
of shares of Common Stock covered by the Plan (excluding any shares that may
become available under this Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) hereof).

(2)                                  Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Plan, the Board may, in its discretion, either at
the time a Restricted Stock Award is made or at any time thereafter, waive its
right to repurchase shares of Common Stock (or waive the forfeiture thereof) or
remove or modify any part or all of the restrictions applicable to the
Restricted Stock Award, provided that the Board may only exercise such rights
in extraordinary circumstances which shall include, without limitation, death
or disability of the Participant; estate planning needs of the Participant; a
merger, consolidation, sale, reorganization, recapitalization, or change in
control of the 

 6
 

Company; or any other nonrecurring significant event affecting the
Company, a Participant or the Plan.

8.                                       Other
Stock-Based Awards

Other Awards of shares of Common Stock and other Awards that are valued
in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of
Common Stock or other property, including without limitation rights to purchase
shares of Common Stock (“Other Stock Unit Awards”), may be granted hereunder to
Participants.  Such Other Stock Unit
Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other
Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a
Participant is otherwise entitled.  Other
Stock Unit Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board
shall determine.  Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the conditions of each Other
Stock Unit Awards, including any purchase price applicable thereto; provided,
however, that the limitations on vesting and exceptions thereto contained in
Section 7(c)(1) of the Plan shall also apply to all Other Stock Unit Awards. 

9.                                       Adjustments
for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events

(a)                                  Changes
in Capitalization.  In the event of
any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar
change in capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Common
Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of
securities available under this Plan, (ii) the sub-limits set forth in Section
4(b), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share
subject to each outstanding Option, (iv) the repurchase price per share subject
to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (v) the terms of each other
outstanding stock-based Award shall be adjusted by the Company in the same
proportion (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable).  If this Section 9(a) applies and Section 9(c)
also applies to any event, Section 9(c) shall be applicable to such event, and
this Section 9(a) shall not be applicable.

(b)                                 Liquidation
or Dissolution.  In the event of a
proposed liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Board shall upon
written notice to the Participants provide that all then unexercised Options
will (i) become exercisable in full as of a specified time at least 10 business
days prior to the effective date of such liquidation or dissolution and (ii)
terminate effective upon such liquidation or dissolution, except to the extent
exercised before such effective date. 
The Board may specify the effect of a liquidation or dissolution on any
Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan at the time of the grant.

(c)                                  Reorganization
Events.

(1)                                  Definition.  A “Reorganization Event” shall mean:  (a) any merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock are converted into or exchanged for the right to receive
cash, securities or other property or (b) any exchange of all of the Common
Stock for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange
transaction.

 7
 

(2)                                  Consequences
of a Reorganization Event on Awards. 
In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board shall take any one
or more of the following actions as to all or any outstanding Awards on such
terms as the Board determines:  (i)
provide that Awards shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards shall
be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate
thereof), (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, provide that the
Participant’s unexercised Options or other unexercised Awards shall become
exercisable in full and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of
such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the Participant within a
specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) in the event of a
Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will
receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in
the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash
payment to a Participant equal to (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to the Participant’s Options or other Awards (to
the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) minus (B)
the aggregate exercise price of all such outstanding Options or other Awards,
in exchange for the termination of such Options or other Awards, (iv) provide
that outstanding Awards shall become exercisable or realizable, or restrictions
applicable to a Restricted Stock Award or other Award shall lapse, in whole or
in part, prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (v) provide that, in
connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall
convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of
the exercise price thereof) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing.  To the extent all or any portion of an Award
becomes exercisable solely as a result of clause (ii) above, the Board may
provide that upon exercise of such Award the Participant shall receive shares
subject to a right of repurchase by the Company or its successor at the Award
exercise price; such repurchase right (A) shall lapse at the same rate as the
Award would have become exercisable under its terms and (B) shall not apply to
any shares subject to the Award that were exercisable under its terms without
regard to clause (ii) above.

10.                                 General
Provisions Applicable to Awards

(a)                                  Transferability
of Awards.  Awards shall not be sold,
assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom
they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the
life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant;
provided, however, that the Board may permit or provide in an Award for the
gratuitous transfer of the Award by the Participant to or for the benefit of
any immediate family member, family trust or family partnership established
solely for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member
thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be
eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock
subject to such Award under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided,
further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such transfer
until such time as the Participant and such permitted transferee shall, as a
condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form
and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall
be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award.  References to a Participant, to the extent
relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

 8
 

(b)                                 Documentation.  Each Award shall be evidenced in such form
(written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine.  Each Award may contain terms and conditions
in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

(c)                                  Board
Discretion.  Except as otherwise
provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in
relation to any other Award.  The terms
of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants
uniformly.

(d)                                 Termination
of Status.  The Board shall determine
the effect on an Award of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave
of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant
and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the
Participant’s legal representative, conservator or guardian may exercise rights
under the Award.

(e)                                  Withholding.  The Company may require each Participant to
pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Company for payment
of, an amount sufficient to pay any taxes, social security contributions, or
other similar amounts required by law to be withheld in connection with an
Award to such Participant.  If provided
for in an Award or approved by the Company, in its sole discretion, a
Participant may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of
shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the
tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, that
except as otherwise provided by the Board, the total tax withholding where
stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s
minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory
withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes,
that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income).  Shares surrendered to satisfy tax withholding
requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled
vesting or other similar requirements. 
The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax
obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant.

(f)                                    Amendment
of Award.  Except as prohibited by
Section 5(e), the Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award,
including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same
or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, converting
an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option and converting an
Option into a SAR, provided that, in each such case, the Participant’s consent
to such action shall be required unless the Board determines that the action,
taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely
affect the Participant.

(g)                                 Conditions
on Delivery of Stock.  The Company
will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the
Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan
until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the
satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel,
all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such
shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any
applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the
Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or
agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements
of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

 9
 

(h)                                 Acceleration.  The Board may at any time provide that any
Award shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or
all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as
the case may be; provided, however, that this sentence shall apply to a
Restricted Stock Award only to the extent consistent with Sections 7(c)(2) and
10(j).

(i)                   Deferral.  The Board may provide in an Award or in an
amendment to an Award that the Participant may elect to defer the delivery of
shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be delivered pursuant to such
Award.  The Board may establish such
conditions on the Participant’s election as it deems appropriate.

(j)                   Performance Conditions.

(1)                                  Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, if the Committee determines at the time a
Restricted Stock Award or an Other Stock Unit Award is granted to a Participant
who is then an officer, that such Participant is, or is likely to be as of the
end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax deduction in
connection with such Award, a Covered Employee (as defined in Section 162(m) of
the Code), then the Committee may provide that this Section 10(j) is applicable
to such Award.

(2)                                  If
a Restricted Stock Award or an Other Stock Unit Award is subject to this
Section 10(j), then the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of
Shares pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement of
one or more objective performance goals established by the Committee, which
shall be based on one or more of the following measures: sales, earnings per
share, return on net assets, return on equity, and customer service
levels.  The Committee may determine that
special one-time or extraordinary gains and/or losses and/or other one-time or
extraordinary events should or should not be included or considered in the
calculation of such measures.  In
addition, customer service target levels will be based on predetermined tests
of customer service levels such as scores on blind test (“mystery”) shopping,
customer comment card statistics, customer relations statistics (e.g., number
of customer complaints), and delivery response levels.  The Committee believes that disclosure of
further detail concerning the performance criteria may be confidential
commercial or business information, the disclosure of which would adversely
affect the Company.  Such performance
goals may vary by Participant and may be different for different Awards.  Such performance goals shall be set by the
Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with
the requirements of, Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision
thereto, and the regulations thereunder.

(3)                                  The
Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards
subject to this Section 10(j) as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure
that such Awards satisfy all requirements for “performance-based compensation”
within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, or any successor
provision thereto.

11.                                 Miscellaneous

(a)                                  No
Right To Employment or Other Status. 
No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the
grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a 

 10
 

Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship
with the Company.  The Company expressly
reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its
relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the
Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.

(b)                                 No
Rights As Stockholder.  Subject to
the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant shall have any rights as
a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with
respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the
Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and
the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to such Option are
adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of
the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option
between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall
be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with
respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise,
notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close
of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

(c)                                  Effective
Date and Term of Plan.  The Plan
shall become effective on the date on which it is approved by stockholders of
the Company and shall remain in full force and effect until terminated by the
Board.  No Awards shall be granted under
the Plan after the completion of ten years from the date on which the Plan is
adopted or was approved by the Company’s stockholders, whichever is earlier,
but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

(d)                                 Amendment
of Plan.  The Board may amend,
suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that
no amendment requiring the approval of the Company’s stockholders under any
applicable tax requirement, including without limitation Sections 162(m) and
422 of the Code, shall become effective until such approval of the Company’s
stockholders is obtained and provided further that without approval of the
Company’s stockholders, no amendment may (i) increase the number of shares
authorized under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section 9),
(ii) materially increase the benefits provided under the Plan,
(iii) materially expand the class of participants eligible to participate
in the Plan, (iv) expand the types of Awards provided under the Plan or (v)
make any other changes which require stockholder approval under the rules of
the Nasdaq National Market, Inc.  No
Award shall be made that is conditioned on the approval of the Company’s
stockholders of any amendment to the Plan.

(e)                                  Provisions
for Foreign Participants.  The Board
may modify the terms and conditions of Awards granted to Participants who are
foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, establish subplans
under the Plan, or adopt such modifications or procedures as the Board may
determine to be necessary or advisable to recognize differences in laws, rules,
regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax,
securities, currency, employee benefit, accounting or other matters.

(f)                                    Compliance
With Code Section 409A.  No Award
shall provide for deferral of compensation that does not comply with Section
409A of the Code, unless the Board, at the time of grant, specifically provides
that the Award is not intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 11
 

(g)                                 Governing
Law.  The provisions of the Plan and
all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable
conflicts of law.

Adopted
by the Board, subject to stockholder approval, on March 2, 2004; approved
by the stockholders on June 17, 2004; 
amended by the Board on September 8, 2004;  amended and restated by the Board, subject to
stockholder approval,  on April 27, 2005;
 approved by the stockholders on June 13,
2005; amended by the Board on September 13, 2005 and March 6, 2007.

 12

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