Exhibit 1.1
$300,000,000
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
6.25% Senior Notes due 2020
Underwriting Agreement
January 11, 2010
To the Representatives named in
Schedule I
hereto
of the Underwriters named in
Schedule II
hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
CMS Energy Corporation, a Michigan corporation (the
Company
), proposes to issue and
sell to the several Underwriters (as defined in Section 12 hereof) an aggregate of $300,000,000 in
principal amount of its 6.25% Senior Notes due 2020 (the
Securities
), subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein. The Underwriters have designated the Representatives (as
defined in Section 12 hereof) to execute this Agreement on their behalf and to act for them in the
manner provided in this Agreement. The Securities are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of
the Indenture dated as of September 15, 1992 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon
(ultimate successor to NBD Bank, National Association), as trustee (the
Trustee
), as
supplemented and amended by various supplemental indentures and as to be supplemented by the
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of January 14, 2010 (the
Supplemental
Indenture
), establishing the terms of the Securities (as so supplemented, the
Indenture
).
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission
), in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the
Act
), a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-153353), including
a prospectus relating to the Securities, and such registration statement has become effective under
the Act. The registration statement, at the time it became effective or, if any post-effective
amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission, at the time the most recent post-effective
amendment thereto became effective, and as it may have been thereafter amended to the date of this
Agreement (including the documents then incorporated by reference therein), is herein referred to
as the
Registration Statement
. The Registration Statement at the time it originally
became effective is referred to hereinafter as the
Original Registration Statement
. If
the Company has filed, or will file, an abbreviated registration statement to register additional
Securities pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act (the
Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement
), then any reference herein to the term
Registration Statement
shall be
deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The prospectus forming a part of the
Registration Statement at the time the Registration Statement became effective (including the
documents then incorporated by reference therein) is herein referred to as the
Basic
Prospectus
;
provided
, that, in the event that the Basic Prospectus shall have been
amended or revised prior to the execution of this Agreement, or if the Company shall have
supplemented the Basic Prospectus by filing any
documents pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the
Exchange Act
), after the time the Registration Statement became effective and prior
to the execution of this Agreement, which documents are deemed to be incorporated in the Basic
Prospectus, the term
Basic Prospectus
shall also mean such prospectus as so amended,
revised or supplemented. The Basic Prospectus, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to
the time when sales of the Securities were first made or such other time as agreed by the Company
and the Representatives (the
Time of Sale
), is hereinafter referred to, together with any
issuer free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) relating to the Securities
(each, an
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
) and other documents listed in
Schedule
III
hereto under the heading Information Constituting Part of the Time of Sale Prospectus, as
the
Time of Sale Prospectus
. The Basic Prospectus, as amended and supplemented
immediately prior to the Time of Sale, is hereinafter referred to as the
Preliminary
Prospectus
. The Basic Prospectus, as it shall be revised or supplemented to reflect the final
terms of the offering and sale of the Securities by a prospectus supplement relating to the
Securities, and in the form to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, is
hereinafter referred to as the
Prospectus
. Any reference herein to the terms amend,
amendment or supplement with respect to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus,
the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be, including any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement and any prospectus supplement forming a part of the Prospectus relating to the Securities
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, and documents incorporated by
reference therein or deemed to be a part of and included therein, after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities by the Underwriters.
1.
Purchase and Sale
. Upon the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants
and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to
the respective Underwriters, severally and not jointly, and the respective Underwriters, severally
and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price specified in
Schedule II
hereto (the
Purchase Price
), the respective principal amounts of
Securities set opposite their names in
Schedule II
hereto. The Underwriters will offer the
Securities to purchasers initially at a price equal to 99.436% of the principal amount thereof.
Such price may be changed at any time without notice.
2.
Payment and Delivery
. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the
Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, through the facilities of The
Depository Trust Company (
DTC
), certificates for the Securities at the Time of Purchase
(as defined below), against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the order of the Company for the amount of the Purchase Price therefor plus accrued
interest, if any, to the Time of Purchase, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with such
delivery of Securities duly paid by the Company. The certificates for the Securities shall be
definitive global certificates in book-entry form for clearance through DTC. Delivery of
certificates for the Securities shall be made at the offices of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
(
Pillsbury
), 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036-4039 (or such other place or places
of delivery as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives) at 10:00 a.m., New York
City time, on January 14, 2010 (or such other time and date as the Company and the Representatives
shall agree), unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 8
2
hereof. The day and time at which payment and delivery for the Securities are to be made is
herein called the
Time of Purchase
.
3.
Conditions of Underwriters Obligations
. The several obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties and other
statements of the Company made herein at the Time of Sale and at and as of the Time of Purchase on
the part of the Company, to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder
theretofore to be performed and to the following other conditions.
(a) That all legal proceedings to be taken in connection with the issue and sale of the
Securities shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Pillsbury, counsel to the
Underwriters.
(b) That, at the Time of Purchase, the Underwriters shall be furnished with the following
opinions and letter, as the case may be, dated the day of the Time of Purchase:
(i) opinion of Shelley J. Ruckman, Esq., Assistant General Counsel of the
Company, substantially to the effect set forth in
Exhibit A
attached hereto;
(ii) letter of Sidley Austin LLP, special counsel to the Company, substantially
to the effect set forth in
Exhibit B
attached hereto; and
(iii) opinion of Pillsbury, counsel to the Underwriters, as to such matters
relating to the Securities and the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Underwriters may reasonably request.
(c) That, on the date hereof and on the date of the Time of Purchase, the Representatives
shall have received a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in form and substance satisfactory to
the Underwriters, dated such date, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public
accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act, the applicable published
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the applicable published rules and
regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, (ii) stating that in their opinion
the financial statements examined by them and incorporated by reference in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Commission, including the applicable published rules and regulations
of the Commission, and (iii) covering, as of a date not more than five days prior to the date of
each such letter, such other matters as the Underwriters reasonably request.
(d) That, subsequent to the Time of Sale or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is
given in the Time of Sale Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there
shall not have been (i) any change specified in the letter or letters referred to in Section 3(c)
hereof or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the
condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except as referred to in or contemplated in the Time of Sale
Prospectus (exclusive of any such amendment or supplement thereto), the effect of which, in any
case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the judgment of the
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Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed
with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus
(exclusive of any such amendment or supplement thereto).
(e) That no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part
thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or
threatened by the Commission, and the Company shall not have received from the Commission any
notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf
registration statement form.
(f) That, at the Time of Purchase, the Company shall have delivered to the Representatives a
certificate of an executive officer of the Company to the effect that, to the best of his or her
knowledge, information and belief, (i) there shall have been no material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus (other than
changes referred to in or contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus) and (ii) the representations
and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Time of
Purchase with the same effect as if made at the Time of Purchase, and the Company has complied with
all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder at or prior to the Time of Purchase.
(g) That the Company shall have furnished the Representatives signed counterparts of the
Supplemental Indenture.
(h) That the Company shall have performed such of its obligations under this Agreement as are
to be performed at or before the Time of Purchase by the terms hereof.
(i) That the Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 4(e) hereof with
respect to the furnishing of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(j) That, at the Time of Purchase, the Securities shall be rated at least BB+ by Standard &
Poors Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (
S&P
), Ba1 by Moodys
Investors Service, Inc. (
Moodys
) and BB+ by Fitch, Inc. (
Fitch
), and the
Company shall have delivered to the Representatives a letter, dated on or prior to the Time of
Purchase, from each such rating agency, or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Representatives, confirming that the Securities have been assigned such ratings; and, between the
date hereof and the Time of Purchase, there shall have been no downgrading or withdrawal of any
investment ratings of the Securities, securities of Consumers Energy Company or other securities of
the Company by any nationally recognized statistical rating agency (as such term is defined for
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act), and no such rating agency shall have publicly announced
that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, any such rating.
(k) That any filing of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any supplements
thereto required pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act shall have been made in compliance with and in
the time periods provided by Rule 424 under the Act and that the Final Term Sheet (as defined in
Section 4(v) hereof) and any other material required to be filed by the
4
Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within
the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 164 and Rule 433 under the Act.
(l) That, at the Time of Purchase, the Securities shall be eligible for clearance and
settlement through DTC.
(m) That the Company shall have paid the applicable filing fees to the Commission relating to
the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Act (without regard to the
proviso thereof).
(n) That any additional documents or agreements reasonably requested by the Underwriters or
their counsel to permit the Underwriters to perform their obligations or permit their counsel to
deliver opinions hereunder shall have been provided to them.
4.
Certain Covenants of the Company
. In further consideration of the agreements of
the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants as follows.
(a) To promptly transmit copies of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, to the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act.
(b) During the period when a prospectus relating to any of the Securities (or, in lieu
thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required to be delivered under the
Act by any Underwriter or any dealer, to file promptly all documents required to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; to promptly file all
material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the
Act; and to promptly notify the Underwriters of any written notice given to the Company by any of
the rating agencies referred to in Section 3(j) hereof of any intended downgrade in or withdrawal
of any rating of any securities of the Company or Consumers Energy Company or of any other intended
change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change of such
rating.
(c) To deliver to each of the Representatives a conformed copy of the Registration Statement
and any amendments thereto (including all exhibits thereto) and full and complete sets of all
comments, if any, of the Commission or its staff and all responses thereto with respect to the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and to furnish to the Representatives, for each
of the Underwriters, conformed copies of the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto
without exhibits.
(d) As soon as the Company is advised thereof, to advise the Representatives and confirm the
advice in writing of: (i) the effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement (and the
Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause any post-effective amendments to the Registration
Statement to become effective as promptly as possible); (ii) any request made by the Commission for
amendments to the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus or for additional
information with respect thereto; (iii) the suspension of qualification or suspension of exemption
from qualification of the Securities for offering or sale under blue sky or state securities laws
or the initiation or threat or any proceedings for that
5
purpose; and (iv) the entry of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or the initiation or threat of any proceedings for that purpose (and the Company agrees
to use every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such suspension or stop order and, if
such a suspension or stop order should be entered, to use every reasonable effort to obtain the
lifting or removal thereof at the earliest possible time).
(e) To deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, as soon as practicable, and from time to
time during such period of time after the date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as
the case may be, as they are required by law to deliver a prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the
notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act), as many copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be (as supplemented or
amended if the Company shall have made any supplements or amendments thereto), as the
Representatives may reasonably request; and, in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a
prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) after the
expiration of nine months after the date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the
case may be, to furnish to the Representatives, upon request, at the expense of such Underwriter, a
reasonable quantity of a supplemental prospectus or of supplements to the Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus, as the case may be, complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act.
(f) For such period of time as the Underwriters are required by law or customary practice to
deliver a prospectus in respect of the Securities (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in
Rule 173(a) under the Act), if any event shall have occurred as a result of which it is necessary
to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act), as the case
may be, is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it becomes necessary to amend or
supplement the Registration Statement or amend the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus to
comply with law, including in connection with the use or delivery of the Prospectus, to forthwith
prepare and file with the Commission (subject to Section 4(m) hereof) an appropriate amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the
case may be, and deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies thereof as may
be reasonably requested, and use its best efforts to have any necessary amendment to the
Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable to avoid any disruption in use of
the Prospectus.
(g) During the period when a prospectus relating to any of the Securities (or, in lieu
thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required to be delivered under the
Act by any Underwriter or any dealer, to comply, at the Companys own expense, with all
requirements imposed on the Company by the Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to
permit the continuance of sales of or dealing in the Securities during such period in accordance
with the provisions hereof and as contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(h) If required by Rule 430B(h) under the Act, to prepare a form of prospectus in a form
approved by the Representatives and to file such form of prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the Act not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) under the Act and to make
6
no further amendment or supplement to such form of prospectus that shall be reasonably
objected to by the Representatives promptly after reasonable notice thereof.
(i) To make generally available to the Companys security holders, as soon as practicable, an
earning statement (which need not be audited by independent public accountants) covering a
12-month period commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement and ending not
later than 15 months thereafter, that shall comply in all material respects with and satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.
(j) To use its best efforts to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities
or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and to pay (or cause to
be paid), or reimburse (or cause to be reimbursed) the Underwriters and their counsel for,
reasonable filing fees and expenses in connection therewith (including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters and filing fees and expenses paid and incurred prior
to the date hereof);
provided
,
however
, that the Company shall not be required to
qualify to do business as a foreign corporation or as a securities dealer, file a general consent
to service of process, file annual reports or comply with any other requirements deemed by the
Company to be unduly burdensome.
(k) To pay all expenses, fees and taxes (other than transfer taxes on sales by the respective
Underwriters) in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Securities, including, without
limitation, (i) the fees and expenses of the Companys counsel and independent accountants, (ii)
the cost of preparing any certificates representing the Securities, (iii) the costs and charges of
any transfer agent and any registrar, (iv) the cost of printing and delivery (electronic or
otherwise) to the Underwriters of copies of any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined in
Section 6(a) hereof), (v) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any road show
presentation to potential investors and (vi) any costs and expenses associated with the reforming
of any contracts for any sale of the Securities made by any Underwriter caused by a breach of the
representations and warranties contained in the third or fourth sentence of Section 5(a) hereof,
except that the Company shall be required to pay the fees and disbursements (other than fees and
disbursements referred to in Section 4(j) hereof) of Pillsbury, counsel to the Underwriters, only
in the events provided in Section 4(l) hereof, the Underwriters hereby agreeing to pay such fees
and disbursements in any other event, and that, except as provided in Section 4(l) hereof, the
Company shall not be responsible for any out-of-pocket expenses of the Underwriters in connection
with their services hereunder.
(l) If the Underwriters shall not take up and pay for the Securities (i) due to the failure of
the Company to comply with any of the conditions specified in Section 3 hereof, to pay the
reasonable fees and disbursements of Pillsbury, counsel to the Underwriters, and to reimburse the
Underwriters for their other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses not to exceed a total of $10,000,
incurred in connection with the financing contemplated by this Agreement, such amounts including
all amounts incurred in connection with any roadshow, provided that such amounts are documented in
writing to the Company, or (ii) due to termination in accordance with the provisions of Section 9
hereof prior to the Time of Purchase, to pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of Pillsbury,
counsel to the Underwriters.
7
(m) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, to not amend or supplement the
Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus (including the Basic Prospectus)
unless the Company has furnished the Representatives and counsel to the Underwriters with a copy
for their review and comment a reasonable time prior to filing and has reasonably considered any
comments of the Representatives, and not to make any such amendment or supplement to which such
counsel shall reasonably object on legal grounds in writing after consultation with the
Representatives.
(n) To furnish the Representatives with copies of all documents required to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the time the
Registration Statement becomes effective and prior to the termination of the offering of the
Securities.
(o) So long as may be required by law for distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters
or by any dealers that participate in the distribution thereof, to comply with all requirements
under the Exchange Act relating to the timely filing with the Commission of its reports pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and of its proxy statements pursuant to Section 14 of the
Exchange Act.
(p) Without the prior written consent of the Representatives, not to offer, sell, contract to
sell or otherwise issue debt securities substantially similar to the Securities for a period from
the date hereof until the Time of Purchase.
(q) To not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that has constituted or
that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise,
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or
resale of the Securities.
(r) To cause the proceeds of the issuance and sale of the Securities to be applied for the
purposes described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(s) To obtain the approval of DTC for book-entry transfer of the Securities, and to comply
in all material respects with all of its agreements set forth in the representation letter or
letters of the Company to DTC relating to the approval of the Securities by DTC for book-entry
transfer.
(t) To not voluntarily claim, and actively resist any attempts to claim, the benefit of any
usury laws against the holders of any Securities.
(u) To take all reasonable action necessary to enable S&P, Moodys and Fitch to provide their
respective credit ratings of the Securities.
(v) That any Underwriter may distribute to investors a free writing prospectus (as defined in
Rule 405 under the Act) that contains the final terms of the Securities in the form set forth in
Annex A
to
Schedule III
hereto (the
Final Term Sheet
), and to file such
free writing prospectus in accordance with Rule 433(d) under the Act.
8
(w) If the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement
occurs before all of the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters, prior to such third
anniversary, to file a new shelf registration statement and to take any other action necessary to
permit the public offering of the Securities to continue without interruption; references in this
Section 4(x) to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement declared
effective by the Commission or otherwise deemed to have become effective upon filing.
(x) If, at any time when Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company receives
from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act or otherwise ceases to be
eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, to (i) promptly notify the
Representatives thereof, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective
amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the
Representatives, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement or
post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of
such effectiveness.
5.
Representations and Warranties of the Company
. The Company represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters as of the Time of Sale and the Time of Purchase as
follows.
(a) The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the Act; the Registration
Statement has been declared effective by the Commission under the Act, meets the requirements set
forth in paragraph (a)(1)(ix) or (a)(1)(x) of Rule 415 under the Act and complies in all other
respects with Rule 415 under the Act; a true and correct copy of the Registration Statement as
amended to the date hereof has been delivered to each of the Representatives and to the
Representatives for each of the other Underwriters (except that copies delivered for the other
Underwriters excluded exhibits to such Registration Statement); any filing of the Preliminary
Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act has been made, and any filing of the Prospectus and
any supplements thereto required pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act will be made in the manner and
within the time period required by Rule 424 under the Act; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued under the Act and
no proceedings for such purposes have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened or are pending before the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for
additional information has been complied with by the Company; and no order preventing or suspending
the use of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission. (1) At the
respective times that the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto became effective and at
the Time of Sale (which the Representatives have informed the Company is a time that is the earlier
of (x) the date on which the Prospectus was first used and (y) the date and time of the first
contract of sale of the Securities) (the
Applicable Effective Time
), the Registration
Statement and the Basic Prospectus complied, (2) at the Time of Sale the Time of Sale Prospectus
complied, and (3) on its issue date the Prospectus will comply, in each case in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the related rules and regulations of the
Commission. (A) At the respective times that the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto
became effective and at the Applicable Effective Time, the Registration Statement did not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) the Basic Prospectus, as of
its issue
9
date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, (C) the Time of Sale Prospectus, as of the Time of Sale, does not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (D) the Prospectus, on its issue date and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, as of the Time of Purchase, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except in each case that the Company
makes no representation or warranty to any Underwriter with respect to any statements or omissions
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company through the Representatives on behalf of any Underwriter expressly for use therein (as set
forth in Section 7(b) hereof). Each document listed in
Schedule III
hereto, as of its
issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the
Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives, did
not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with
the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus.
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Basic
Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, when they were filed with the
Commission (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment
was filed with the Commission), conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and any
further documents so filed and incorporated by reference will, when they are filed with the
Commission, conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder; and none of such documents, when it was
filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was
filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and no such further document, when it is
filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. No such documents were filed with the
Commission since the Commissions close of business on the business day immediately prior to the
date hereof other than as expressly set forth in the Prospectus. The Company has given the
Representatives notice of any filings made within 48 hours prior to the Time of Sale pursuant to
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
(c) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the State of Michigan and has all requisite authority to own or lease
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and is duly qualified to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business
as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or its ownership or leasing of
property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure
10
to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a
Material Adverse Effect
).
(d) Each significant subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, and hereinafter called
a
Significant Subsidiary
) of the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite
authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus
and the Prospectus or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to
the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(e) The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture and have been duly authorized
by the Company. At the Time of Purchase, the Securities will have been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and, when authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture
and delivered against payment therefor as provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity) and will be entitled to the benefits afforded by the Indenture equally and
ratably with all securities outstanding thereunder. The Securities will conform in all material
respects to the descriptions thereof in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and such
descriptions conform in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining
the same. The Company knows of no reason that any holder of the Securities would be subject to
personal liability solely by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance of the Securities is
not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries.
(f) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company. At the Time of Purchase, the
Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity); the Indenture conforms in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in
the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; the Indenture conforms to the requirements of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
Trust Indenture Act
); and the Indenture is
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
(g) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and the
Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement.
(h) Except for the outstanding shares of preferred stock of Consumers Energy Company and the
7.75% Convertible Quarterly Income Preferred Securities of CMS Energy Trust I, all of the
outstanding capital stock of each of Consumers Energy Company and CMS
11
Enterprises Company is owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any
security interest, claim, lien or other encumbrance (except as disclosed in the Time of Sale
Prospectus) or preemptive rights, and there are no outstanding rights (including, without
limitation, preemptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or
exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in any of Consumers Energy
Company and CMS Enterprises Company or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or
arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any such capital stock, any such convertible or
exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options.
(i) Each of the Company and Consumers Energy Company has all necessary consents,
authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of and from, and has made all
declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, all
self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, to own, lease, license and use
its properties and assets and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus, except to the extent that the failure to obtain, declare or file the
foregoing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) No order, license, consent, authorization or approval of, exemption by, giving of notice
to, or registration with, any federal, state, local or other governmental department, commission,
board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, and no filing, recording, publication or registration in
any public office or any other place, was or is now required to be obtained by the Company to
authorize its execution or delivery of, or the performance of its obligations under, this
Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities, except such as have been obtained or may be required
under state securities or blue sky laws or as referred to in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(k) None of the issuance or sale of the Securities, or the execution or delivery by the
Company of, or the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the
Indenture or the Securities, did or will conflict with, result in a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default or require the consent of any party under, the Companys
Restated Articles of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws, any material agreement or
instrument to which it is a party, any existing applicable law, rule or regulation or any judgment,
order or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign,
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or assets, or did or will result in
the creation or imposition of any lien on the Companys properties or assets.
(l) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus
and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized
and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
(m) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation (at law or in equity or otherwise) pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company by any
governmental authority that (i) questions the validity, enforceability or performance of this
Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities or (ii) if determined adversely, is likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the ability of the
12
Company to perform its obligations hereunder or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(n) There has not been any material and adverse change, or any development involving a
prospective material and adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise),
prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, from that set forth or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus (other
than changes referred to in or contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus).
(o) Except as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus, no event or condition exists that
constitutes, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would constitute, a default or
any breach or failure to perform by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, in any material respect under any indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, lease or other
material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a
party or by which it or any of its respective properties may be bound.
(p) The Company, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be
an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(q) The Companys chief executive officer and chief financial officer are responsible for
establishing and maintaining the Companys disclosure controls and procedures. The Companys
management, under the direction of the Companys principal executive and financial officers, has
evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within
90 days of the filing of the Companys most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Based on such
evaluation, the Companys chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that
the Companys disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information
was presented to them and properly disclosed. There have been no significant changes in the
Companys internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls
subsequent to such evaluation.
(r) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or
specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain
asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements
general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences. The Company is not aware of any material weakness in its internal controls over
financial reporting.
(s) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and except as would
not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule,
regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative
interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent,
13
decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment
(including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface
strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or
threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous
substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively,
Hazardous Materials
) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively,
Environmental
Laws
), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals
required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their
requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens,
notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to any Environmental
Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances
that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an
action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or
affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any
Environmental Laws.
(t) The financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus
and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as applicable, and
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the
changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially
consistent throughout the periods covered thereby, except where an exception thereto has been
adequately described therein, and the supporting schedules incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement present fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be
stated therein; the other financial information incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting
records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, or, in the case of data not derivable
from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, other data in the
possession of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and presents fairly the information
shown thereby; and any
pro
forma
financial information and the related notes
thereto incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and
the Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Act and the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and the assumptions underlying any such
pro
forma
financial information are reasonable and are set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(u) At the latest of the time (i) of filing the Original Registration Statement, (ii) of the
most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act
(whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus) and (iii) the Company or any person
acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made
any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption
14
provided by Rule 163 under the Act, and at the date hereof, the Company was and is a
well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), including not having been and
not being an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act). At the date hereof, the
time of filing of the Original Registration Statement and the earliest time thereafter that the
Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule
164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Securities, the Company was not and is not an ineligible issuer (as
defined in Rule 405 under the Act), without taking into account any determination by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 405 under the Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an
ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act).
(v) The Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined for
purposes of this Section 5(v) in Rule 405 under the Act) and initially became effective not earlier
than the date that is three years prior to the Time of Purchase. The Company has not received from
the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act objecting to the use of the
automatic shelf registration statement form, and the Securities have been and remain eligible for
registration by the Company on an automatic shelf registration statement form.
6.
Free Writing Prospectuses
.
(a) The Company represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that, without the prior consent of
the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that
would constitute a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), other than the
Final Term Sheet. Each Underwriter represents, warrants, covenants and agrees, severally and not
jointly, that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made
and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405
under the Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company
under Rule 433 under the Act, other than the Final Term Sheet; provided, that the prior consent of
the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any free writing prospectus (as
defined in Rule 405 under the Act) included in
Schedule III
hereto. Each Underwriter
further covenants and agrees that it will not (and will not permit anyone on its behalf to) use or
refer to any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) used or referenced by
such Underwriter in a manner reasonably designed to lead to its broad unrestricted dissemination;
provided, that such covenant and agreement shall not apply to any such free writing prospectus
identified in
Schedule III
hereto or any such free writing prospectus prepared, authorized
or approved by the Company for broad unrestricted dissemination. Any such free writing prospectus,
the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives (including those
listed on
Schedule III
hereto), is hereinafter referred to as a
Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus
. For the purposes of clarity, nothing in this Section 6(a) shall restrict the
Company from making any filings required in order to comply with its reporting obligations under
the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
(b) The Company represents and warrants that it has treated or covenants and agrees that it
will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an issuer free writing prospectus (as defined
in Rule 433 under the Act) and has complied and will comply with the
15
requirements of Rule 164 and Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, including, without limitation, timely Commission filing where required, legending and
record keeping.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus would (i) conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Prospectus or the Prospectus or (ii) when read together with the other information that is part of
the Time of Sale Prospectus, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives
and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each
Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document that will correct such conflict,
statement or omission.
7.
Indemnification
.
(a) The Company agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to indemnify and hold harmless each of
the Underwriters, and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the
Act or otherwise, and to reimburse the Underwriters and such controlling person or persons, if any,
for any legal or other expenses incurred by them in connection with defending any action, suit or
proceeding (including governmental investigations) as provided in Section 7(c) hereof, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental
investigations) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus (if used prior to the
date of the Prospectus), the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, or, if the Prospectus shall
be amended or supplemented, in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented (if such Prospectus or
such Prospectus as amended or supplemented is used after the period of time referred to in Section
4(e) hereof, it shall contain or be used with such amendments or supplements as the Company deems
necessary to comply with Section 10(a) of the Act), the information contained in the Final Term
Sheet, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any issuer information (within the meaning of Rule 433
under the Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act or arise out of
or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental
investigations) arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission that was made in such Registration Statement, Basic
Prospectus, Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus, or in the Prospectus as so amended or
supplemented, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any issuer information (within the meaning of
Rule 433 under the Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company through the
Representatives on behalf of any Underwriter expressly for use therein.
16
The Companys indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a), and the covenants,
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any person, and shall
survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities hereunder, and the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 7 shall survive any termination of this Agreement. The liabilities of
the Company in this Section 7(a) are in addition to any other liabilities of the Company under this
Agreement or otherwise.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to the extent permitted by law, to
indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse the Company, its directors and such of its officers as shall
have signed the Registration Statement, each other Underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or any such other Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent and upon the same terms as the indemnity
agreement of the Company set forth in Section 7(a) hereof, but only with respect to alleged untrue
statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented (if applicable), or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company
through the Representatives on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use therein.
The indemnity agreement on the part of each Underwriter contained in this Section 7(b) and the
covenants, representations and warranties of such Underwriter contained in this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company
or any other person, and shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities hereunder,
and the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 shall survive any termination of this
Agreement. The liabilities of each Underwriter in this Section 7(b) are in addition to any other
liabilities of such Underwriter under this Agreement or otherwise. The Company acknowledges that
the third, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth paragraphs under the heading Underwriting in the
Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several
Underwriters for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be.
(c) If a claim is made or an action, suit or proceeding (including governmental investigation)
is commenced or threatened against any person as to which indemnity may be sought under Section
7(a) hereof or Section 7(b) hereof, such person (the
Indemnified Person
) shall notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
Indemnifying Person
) promptly after
any assertion of such claim, promptly after any threat is made to institute an action, suit or
proceeding or, if such an action, suit or proceeding is commenced against such Indemnified Person,
promptly after such Indemnified Person shall have been served with a summons or other first legal
process, giving information as to the nature and basis of the claim. Failure to so notify the
Indemnifying Person shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Person from any liability that it
may have on account of the indemnity under Section 7(a) hereof or Section 7(b) hereof if the
Indemnifying Person has not been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure. Subject to
the immediately succeeding sentence, the Indemnifying Person shall assume the defense of any such
litigation or proceeding, including the employment of counsel and the payment of all expenses, with
such counsel being designated, subject to the immediately
17
succeeding sentence, in writing by the Representatives in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 7(a) hereof. Any Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such litigation
or proceeding and to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified
Person shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any
such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include (x) the Indemnifying Person and (y) the
Indemnified Person and, in the written opinion of counsel to such Indemnified Person,
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or likely
conflicts of interest between them, in either of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel (including disbursements) for such Indemnified Person shall be reimbursed by the
Indemnifying Person to the Indemnified Person. If there is a conflict as described in clause (ii)
above, and the Indemnified Person(s) have participated in the litigation or proceeding utilizing
separate counsel whose fees and expenses have been reimbursed by the Indemnifying Person and the
Indemnified Person(s), or any of them, are found to be solely liable, such Indemnified Person(s)
shall repay to the Indemnifying Person such fees and expenses of such separate counsel as the
Indemnifying Person shall have reimbursed. It is understood that the Indemnifying Person shall
not, in connection with any litigation or proceeding or related litigation or proceedings in the
same jurisdiction as to which the Indemnified Person(s) are entitled to such separate
representation, be liable under this Agreement for the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses
of more than one separate firm (together with not more than one appropriate local counsel) for all
such Indemnified Persons. Subject to the next paragraph, all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed by payment to the Indemnified Person(s) of such reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
promptly after payment thereof by the Indemnified Person(s).
In furtherance of the requirement above that fees and expenses of any separate counsel for the
Indemnified Person(s) shall be reasonable, the Underwriters and the Company agree that the
Indemnifying Persons obligations to pay such fees and expenses shall be conditioned upon the
following:
(1) in case separate counsel is proposed to be retained by the Indemnified Person(s)
pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph, the Indemnified Person(s) shall in good
faith fully consult with the Indemnifying Person in advance as to the selection of such
counsel;
(2) reimbursable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be detailed and
supported in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying Person (but nothing herein
shall be deemed to require the furnishing to the Indemnifying Person of any information,
including, without limitation, computer print-outs of lawyers daily time entries, to the
extent that, in the judgment of such counsel, furnishing such information might reasonably
be expected to result in a waiver of any attorney-client privilege); and
(3) the Company and the Representatives shall cooperate in monitoring and controlling
the fees and expenses of separate counsel for Indemnified Person(s) for which the
Indemnifying Person is liable hereunder, and the Indemnified
18
Person(s) shall use every reasonable effort to cause such separate counsel to minimize
the duplication of activities as between themselves and counsel to the Indemnifying Person.
The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any litigation or proceeding
effected without the written consent of the Indemnifying Person, but, if settled with such consent
or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees, subject to the
provisions of this Section 7, to indemnify the Indemnified Person from and against any loss,
damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. The Indemnifying Person
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person(s), effect any settlement of
any pending or threatened litigation, proceeding or claim in respect of which indemnity has been
properly sought by the Indemnified Person(s) hereunder, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release by the claimant of all Indemnified Persons from all liability with respect to
claims that are the subject matter of such litigation, proceeding or claim and does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any
Indemnified Person.
(d) If the indemnification provided for above in this Section 7 is unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Person under such Section 7 in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental
investigations) in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under this
Section 7 shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying Person on the one hand
and the Indemnified Person on the other from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then
each Indemnifying Person shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the
relative fault of each Indemnifying Person, if any, on the one hand and the Indemnified Person on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental investigations) in
respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in
the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company and the total discounts or commissions received by the Underwriters, in
each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate
public offering price of the Securities. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The amount paid or
payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental proceedings) in respect thereof) referred to
above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include
19
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with
investigating or defending any such actions, suits or proceedings (including governmental
proceedings) or claims, provided that the provisions of this Section 7 have been complied with (in
all material respects) in respect of any separate counsel for such Indemnified Person.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased
by such Underwriter hereunder. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters obligations in this Section 7 to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
The agreement with respect to contribution contained in this Section 7(d) shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any
Underwriter, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities hereunder and any
termination of this Agreement.
8.
Substitution of Underwriters
. If any Underwriter under this Agreement shall fail
or refuse (otherwise than for some reason sufficient to justify, in accordance with the terms
hereof, the termination of its obligations hereunder) to purchase the Securities that it had agreed
to purchase at the Time of Purchase, the Representatives shall immediately notify the Company and
the Representatives and the other Underwriters may, within 36 hours of the giving of such notice,
determine to purchase, or to procure one or more other members of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. (
FINRA
) (or, if not members of the FINRA, who are foreign banks, dealers
or institutions not registered under the Exchange Act and who agree in making sales to comply with
the FINRAs Conduct Rules), satisfactory to the Company, to purchase, upon the terms herein set
forth, the principal amount of Securities that the defaulting Underwriter had agreed to purchase.
If any non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters shall determine to exercise such right, the
Representatives shall give written notice to the Company of such determination within 36 hours
after the Company shall have received notice of any such default, and thereupon the Time of
Purchase shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding three business days, as the Company
shall determine. If, in the event of such a default, the Representatives shall fail to give such
notice, or shall within such 36-hour period give written notice to the Company that no other
Underwriter or Underwriters, or others, will exercise such right, then this Agreement may be
terminated by the Company, upon like notice given to the Representatives within a further period of
36 hours. If in such case the Company shall not elect to terminate this Agreement, it shall have
the right, irrespective of such default:
(a) to require such non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase and pay for the respective
principal amounts of Securities that they had severally agreed to purchase hereunder, as herein
above provided, and, in addition, the principal amount of Securities that the defaulting
Underwriter shall have so failed to purchase up to a principal amount thereof equal to one-ninth
(1/9) of the respective principal amounts of Securities that such non-defaulting Underwriters have
otherwise agreed to purchase hereunder; and/or
(b) to procure one or more other members of the FINRA (or, if not members of the FINRA, who
are foreign banks, dealers or institutions not registered under the Exchange Act
20
and who agree in making sales to comply with the FINRAs Conduct Rules) to purchase, upon the
terms herein set forth, the principal amount of Securities that such defaulting Underwriter had
agreed to purchase, or that portion thereof that the remaining Underwriters shall not be obligated
to purchase pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof.
In the event the Company shall exercise its rights under Section 8(a) hereof and/or Section
8(b) hereof, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Representatives within such
further period of 36 hours, and thereupon the Time of Purchase shall be postponed for such period,
not exceeding five business days, as the Company shall determine. In the event the Company shall
be entitled to but shall not elect to exercise its rights under Section 8(a) hereof and/or Section
8(b) hereof, the Company shall be deemed to have elected to terminate this Agreement.
Any action taken by the Company under this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
Termination by the Company under this Section 8 shall be without any liability on the part of the
Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter.
In the computation of any period of 36 hours referred to in this Section 8, there shall be
excluded a period of 24 hours in respect of each Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday that would
otherwise be included in such period of time.
9.
Effectiveness and Termination of Agreement
. This Agreement shall become effective
upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Time of Purchase by the
Representatives if, prior to such time, any of the following events shall have occurred: (i)
trading in the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share, shall have been suspended by the
Commission or the New York Stock Exchange (
NYSE
) or trading in securities generally on
the NYSE shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such
exchange; (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by U.S. federal or New York
State authorities; (iii) any material disruption of securities settlement or clearance services; or
(iv) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national
emergency or war or other calamity, crisis or disruption in financial markets, the effect of which
on the financial markets of the United States is such as to impair, in the judgment of the
Representatives, the marketability of the Securities.
If the Representatives elect to terminate this Agreement, as provided in this Section 9, the
Representatives will promptly notify the Company and each other Underwriter by telephone or
telecopy, confirmed by letter. If this Agreement shall not be carried out by any Underwriter for
any reason permitted hereunder, or if the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters as herein
contemplated shall not be carried out because the Company is not able to comply with the terms
hereof, the Company shall not be under any obligation under this Agreement except as provided in
Section 4(l) hereof and shall not be liable to any Underwriter or to any member of any selling
group for the loss of anticipated profits from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Underwriters shall be under no liability to the Company nor be under any liability under this
Agreement to one another.
21
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Section 4(j) hereof, Section 4(k) hereof,
Section 4(l) hereof, Section 7 hereof and Section 8 hereof shall survive termination of this
Agreement.
10.
Notices
. All notices hereunder shall, unless otherwise expressly provided, be in
writing and be delivered at or mailed to the following addresses or be sent by telecopy as follows:
(i) if to the Underwriters or the Representatives, to the Representatives at the address or number,
as appropriate, designated in
Schedule I
hereto; and (ii) if to the Company, to CMS Energy
Corporation, One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201, Attention: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Telecopy 517-788-2186), or in any case to such other address as the person
to be notified may have requested in writing.
11.
Parties in Interest
. The agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely
for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company (including the directors thereof and such of the
officers thereof as shall have signed the Registration Statement), and the controlling persons, if
any, referred to in Section 7 hereof, and their respective successors, assigns, executors and
administrators, and, except as expressly otherwise provided in Section 8 hereof, no other person
shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.
12.
Definition of Certain Terms
. The term
Underwriters
, as used herein,
shall be deemed to mean the several persons, firms or corporations named in
Schedule II
hereto (including the Representatives herein mentioned, if so named), and the term
Representatives
, as used herein, shall be deemed to mean the representative or
representatives designated by, or in the manner authorized by, the Underwriters in
Schedule
I
hereto, which Representatives are hereby designated. If the firm or firms listed in
Schedule I
hereto are the same as the firm or firms listed in
Schedule II
hereto,
then the terms
Underwriters
and
Representatives
, as used herein, shall each be
deemed to refer to such firm or firms. The term successors as used in this Agreement shall not
include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Securities from any of the respective
Underwriters.
13.
Governing Law
. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York.
14.
Counterparts
. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties
hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
15.
No Conflicts
. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are
acting solely in the capacity of an arms length contractual counterparty to the Company with
respect to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with
determining the terms of the offering of the Securities) and not as a financial advisor or a
fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person or entity. Additionally, the
Underwriters are not advising the Company or any other person or entity as to any legal, tax,
investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction in connection with the offering of
the Securities contemplated hereby. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning
such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of
the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall
22
have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the
Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such
transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on
behalf of the Company.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us
counterparts hereof, and, upon the acceptance hereof by you, this letter and such acceptance hereof
shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company.
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Very truly yours,
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Thomas J. Webb
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Name:
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Thomas J. Webb
|
|
|
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Title:
|
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
|
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|
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above:
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|
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J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
RBS SECURITIES INC.
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
COMERICA SECURITIES, INC.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
KEYBANC CAPITAL MARKETS INC.
MITSUBISHI UFJ SECURITIES (USA), INC.
FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, INC.
THE WILLIAMS CAPITAL GROUP, L.P.
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By:
|
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Bottamedi
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Robert Bottamedi
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Jim Turner
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Jim Turner
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Managing Director
Head of Debt Capital Markets
|
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|
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|
|
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|
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By:
|
RBS SECURITIES INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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By:
|
/s/
Okwudiri Onyedum
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Okwudiri Onyedum
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Greg Greer
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Greg Greer
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
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By:
|
/s/
Carolyn C. Hurley
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Carolyn C. Hurley
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Vice President
|
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25
SCHEDULE I
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk
Telecopy: (212) 834-6081
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Syndicate Desk
Telecopy: (212) 841-3930
RBS Securities Inc.
600 Washington Blvd.
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Attention: Debt Capital Markets Syndicate
Telecopy: (203) 873-4534
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
One Liberty Plaza
165 Broadway 25th Floor
New York, New York 10006
Attention: Debt Capital Markets
Telecopy: (212) 225-6550
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
301 S. College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
Attention: Transaction Management Department
Telecopy: (704) 383-9165
I-1
SCHEDULE II
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Principal Amount
|
|
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Purchase Price
|
|
|
|
of
|
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of
|
|
Underwriters
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
|
|
$
|
51,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,074,860
|
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
|
|
$
|
51,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,074,860
|
|
RBS Securities Inc.
|
|
$
|
51,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,074,860
|
|
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
|
|
$
|
51,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,074,860
|
|
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
|
|
$
|
51,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
50,074,860
|
|
Comerica Securities, Inc.
|
|
$
|
9,250,000
|
|
|
$
|
9,082,205
|
|
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
|
|
$
|
9,250,000
|
|
|
$
|
9,082,205
|
|
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.
|
|
$
|
9,250,000
|
|
|
$
|
9,082,205
|
|
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.
|
|
$
|
9,250,000
|
|
|
$
|
9,082,205
|
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Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
|
|
$
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
3,927,440
|
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The Williams Capital Group, L.P.
|
|
$
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
3,927,440
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Total
|
|
$
|
300,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
294,558,000
|
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|
|
|
|
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II-1
SCHEDULE III
Information Constituting Part of the Time of Sale Prospectus:
Final Term Sheet attached as
Annex A
hereto
Information Not Constituting Part of the Time of Sale Prospectus:
None
III-1
ANNEX A
Filed under Rule 433
File No. 333-153353
Final Term Sheet
January 11, 2010
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Issuer:
|
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CMS Energy Corporation
|
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|
|
Security:
|
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6.25% Senior Notes due 2020
|
|
|
|
Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:
|
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$300,000,000
|
|
|
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Maturity:
|
|
February 1, 2020
|
|
|
|
Annual interest rate:
|
|
6.25%
|
|
|
|
Yield to maturity:
|
|
6.326%
|
|
|
|
Spread to Treasury:
|
|
250 basis points
|
|
|
|
Benchmark Treasury security:
|
|
3.375% due November 15, 2019
|
|
|
|
Benchmark Treasury yield:
|
|
3.826%
|
|
|
|
Interest payment dates:
|
|
February 1 and August 1
|
|
|
|
First interest payment date:
|
|
August 1, 2010
|
|
|
|
Public offering price:
|
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99.436%
|
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Optional redemption:
|
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Make-whole call at any time at Treasury rate plus 50 basis points
|
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Trade date:
|
|
January 11, 2010
|
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Settlement date:
|
|
January 14, 2010 (T+3)
|
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Ratings:
|
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Ba1 / BB+ / BB+ (Moodys / S&P / Fitch)
Note:
A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or
hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any
time
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Joint Book-Running Managers:
|
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
RBS Securities Inc.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
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Co-Managers:
|
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Comerica Securities, Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
The Williams Capital Group, L.P.
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CUSIP/ISIN:
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125896BE9 / US125896BE96
|
CMS Energy Corporation has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the offering to which this communication relates.
Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other
documents CMS Energy Corporation has filed with the SEC for more complete information about CMS
Energy Corporation and this offering.
III-A-1
You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Alternatively, CMS Energy Corporation, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering
will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
collect at (212) 834-4533, BNP Paribas Securities Corp. toll-free at (800) 854-5674, RBS Securities
Inc. toll-free at (866) 884-2071, Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. toll-free at (800) 372-3930 or Wells
Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at (800) 326-5897.
Any disclaimers or other notices that may appear below are not applicable to this communication and
should be disregarded. Such disclaimers were automatically generated as a result of this
communication being sent via email or another communication system.
III-A-2
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF OPINION OF SHELLEY J. RUCKMAN, ESQ.]
1.
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The Company is a duly organized, validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws
of the State of Michigan.
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2.
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All legally required corporate proceedings in connection with the authorization, issuance and
validity of the Securities and the sale of the Securities by the Company in accordance with
the Underwriting Agreement have been taken; and no approval, authorization, consent or order
of any governmental regulatory body is required with respect to the issuance and sale of the
Securities (other than in connection with or in compliance with the provisions of the
securities or blue sky laws of any state, as to which I express no opinion).
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3.
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The statements made in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences, Description of Securities,
Description of the Notes and Underwriting constitute summaries of legal matters or
documents referred to therein and are accurate in all material respects; and the Indenture and
the Securities conform as to legal matters to the descriptions thereof and to the statements
in regard thereto contained in such sections of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus.
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4.
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The Registration Statement was automatically effective upon filing on September 5, 2008; any
required filing of each prospectus relating to the Securities (including the Prospectus)
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act has been made in compliance with and in the time periods
provided by Rule 424 under the Act and all material required to be filed by the Company
pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act has been filed with the Commission within the applicable
time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 164 and Rule 433 under the Act; the
Registration Statement, at the time it became effective and at the Applicable Effective Time,
each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time it was filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and each document incorporated in each of the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as such document was originally filed pursuant to
the Exchange Act (except for (i) the financial statements and schedules contained or
incorporated by reference therein (including the notes thereto and the auditors reports
thereon) and (ii) the other financial information contained or incorporated by reference
therein, as to which I express no opinion), complied as to form as of their respective
effective or issue dates (including, without limitation, the Applicable Effective Time) in all
material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; and the Registration Statement has become, and at the Time of Purchase
is, effective under the Act and, to the best of my knowledge after due inquiry, no proceedings
for a stop order with respect thereto are threatened or pending under the Act.
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5.
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The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
|
A-1
6.
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The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming
due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, will be a valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding
at law or in equity).
|
7.
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The Indenture complies as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to an indenture that
is qualified thereunder. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and no
proceedings to suspend such qualification have been instituted or, to my knowledge, threatened
by the Commission.
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8.
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The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authentication thereof by the
Trustee and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, will
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors
rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); and the Securities are entitled to the
benefits afforded by the Indenture equally and ratably with all securities presently
outstanding thereunder, and no stamp taxes in respect of the original issue thereof are
payable.
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9.
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The issuance and sale of the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the
Underwriting Agreement do not violate the provisions of the Restated Articles of Incorporation
or the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, and will not result in a breach of any of
the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a
party.
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10.
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The Company is not an investment company or a company controlled by an investment
company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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11.
|
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Except for the outstanding shares of preferred stock of Consumers Energy Company and the
7.75% Convertible Quarterly Income Preferred Securities of CMS Energy Trust I, all of the
outstanding capital stock of each of Consumers Energy Company and CMS Enterprises Company is
owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any security interest, claim,
lien or other encumbrance (except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus) or preemptive
rights, and there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, preemptive
rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for,
any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in any of Consumers Energy Company and
CMS Enterprises Company or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement
of any kind relating to the
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A-2
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issuance of any such capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any
such rights, warrants or options.
|
12.
|
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The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and
all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized
and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
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13.
|
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Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that the Registration
Statement (other than (i) the operating statistics, financial statements and schedules
contained or incorporated by reference therein (including the notes thereto and the auditors
reports thereon) and (ii) the other financial or statistical information contained or
incorporated by reference therein, as to which I express no opinion), at the time the
Registration Statement became effective and at the Applicable Effective Time, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
|
14.
|
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Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that the Time of Sale
Prospectus (other than (i) the operating statistics, financial statements and schedules
contained or incorporated by reference therein (including the notes thereto and the auditors
reports thereon) and (ii) the other financial or statistical information contained or
incorporated by reference therein, as to which I express no opinion), as of the Time of Sale,
included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
|
15.
|
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Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that the Prospectus (other
than (i) the operating statistics, financial statements and schedules contained or
incorporated by reference therein (including the notes thereto and the auditors reports
thereon) and (ii) the other financial or statistical information contained or incorporated by
reference therein, as to which I express no opinion), as of its date or at the date hereof,
included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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A-3
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF LETTER OF SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP]
We have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
including certain of the Companys internal counsel, the Companys independent public accountants
and representatives of and counsel to the Underwriters, during the course of which the contents of
the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed. Although we are
not passing upon, and do not assume responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
the statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and have not made any independent check or verification thereof,
in the course of our review and such discussions, no facts have come to our attention that have
caused us to believe that (other than, in each case, the financial statements, financial data,
statistical data and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference therein or excluded
therefrom, as to which we express no belief):
1.
|
|
the Registration Statement, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at
the Applicable Effective Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading;
|
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2.
|
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the Time of Sale Prospectus, as of the Time of Sale, included an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or
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3.
|
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the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the date hereof, included or includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
|
B-1
Exhibit
4.1
TWENTY-FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
dated as of January 14, 2010
This Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the 14th day of January, 2010 between
CMS Energy Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Michigan (hereinafter called the
Issuer
) and having its principal office at One Energy Plaza,
Jackson, Michigan 49201, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation
(hereinafter called the
Trustee
) and having its Corporate Trust Office at 101 Barclay Street, New
York, New York 10286.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Trustee (ultimate successor to NBD Bank, National Association)
entered into an Indenture, dated as of September 15, 1992 (the
Original Indenture
), pursuant to
which one or more series of debt securities of the Issuer (the
Securities
) may be issued from
time to time; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.3 of the Original Indenture permits the terms of any series of Securities
to be established in an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture; and
WHEREAS, Section 8.1(e) of the Original Indenture provides that a supplemental indenture may
be entered into by the Issuer and the Trustee without the consent of any Holders (as defined in the
Original Indenture) of the Securities to establish the form and terms of the Securities of any
series; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer has requested the Trustee to join with it in the execution and delivery of
this Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture in order to supplement and amend the Original Indenture
by, among other things, establishing the form and terms of a series of Securities to be known as
the Issuers 6.25% Senior Notes due 2020 (the
2020 Notes
), providing for the issuance of the
2020 Notes and amending and adding certain provisions thereof for the benefit of the Holders of the
2020 Notes; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Trustee desire to enter into this Twenty-Fourth Supplemental
Indenture for the purposes set forth in Section 2.3 and Section 8.1(e) of the Original Indenture as
referred to above; and
WHEREAS, the Issuer has furnished the Trustee with a copy of the resolutions of its Board of
Directors certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary authorizing the execution of this
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture a valid
agreement of the Issuer and the Trustee and a valid supplement to the Original Indenture have been
done;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the 2020 Notes to
be issued hereunder by Holders thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree, for
the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the 2020 Notes,
as follows:
1
ARTICLE I
STANDARD PROVISIONS; DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01.
Standard Provisions
. The Original Indenture together with this Twenty-Fourth
Supplemental Indenture and all previous indentures supplemental thereto entered into pursuant to
the applicable terms thereof are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the
Indenture
.
All capitalized terms which are used herein and not otherwise defined herein are defined in the
Original Indenture and are used herein with the same meanings as in the Original Indenture.
SECTION 1.02.
Definitions
.
(a) The following terms have the meanings set forth in the Sections hereof set forth below:
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Term
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Section
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Applicable Premium
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2.04
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Change of Control Date
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3.01
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Change of Control Purchase Notice
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3.01(b)
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Change of Control Purchase Price
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3.01
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Depositary
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Article IX
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DTC
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2.03
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Events of Default
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5.01
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Global Note
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Article IX
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Indenture
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1.01; 2.04
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Interest Payment Date
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2.03
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Issuer
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Preamble; 2.03
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Lien
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4.02
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Original Indenture
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Recitals
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Original Issue Date
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2.03
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Place of Payment
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2.03
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Purchase Date
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3.01(a)(iii)
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Record Date
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2.03
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Required Repurchase
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3.01
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Securities
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Recitals
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Stated Maturity
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2.01(a); 2.03
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Treasury Rate
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2.04
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Trustee
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Preamble; 2.04
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2020 Notes
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Recitals; 2.04
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(b) Section 1.1 of the Original Indenture is amended to insert the new definitions solely
applicable to the 2020 Notes and to replace, solely with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with
respect to any other series of Securities), any existing definitions (as applicable) in the
Original Indenture, in the appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:
Business Day
means any day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are not
authorized or required by law or regulation to close.
2
Capital Lease Obligation
of a Person means any obligation that is required to be classified
and accounted for as a capital lease on the face of a balance sheet of such Person prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; the amount of such obligation shall be
the capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles; the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other
amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the
lessee without payment of a penalty; and such obligation shall be deemed secured by a Lien on any
property or assets to which such lease relates.
Capital Stock
means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options,
participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) corporate stock,
including any Preferred Stock or Letter Stock.
Change of Control
means the occurrence of any of the following events: (1) any person or
group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor
provisions to either of the foregoing) becomes the beneficial owners (as used in Rules 13d-3 and
13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person or group will be deemed to have beneficial
ownership of all shares that any such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right
is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of a
majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer, whether as a result of the
issuance of securities of the Issuer, any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution of the
Issuer or otherwise; (2) the sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition,
directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer and its subsidiaries,
considered as a whole (other than a disposition of such assets as an entirety or virtually as an
entirety to a wholly-owned subsidiary) shall have occurred, or the Issuer merges, consolidates or
amalgamates with or into any other Person or any other Person merges, consolidates or amalgamates
with or into the Issuer, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding
Voting Stock of the Issuer is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
property, other than any such transaction where (a) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Issuer is
reclassified into or exchanged for other Voting Stock of the Issuer or for Voting Stock of the
surviving corporation and (b) the holders of the Voting Stock of the Issuer immediately prior to
such transaction own, directly or indirectly, a majority of the Voting Stock of the Issuer or the
surviving corporation immediately after such transaction and in substantially the same proportion
as before the transaction; (3) during any period, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the board of directors of the Issuer (together with any new directors whose election or
appointment by such board of directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the
Issuer was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either
directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the board of directors of
the Issuer then in office; or (4) the stockholders of the Issuer shall have approved any plan of
liquidation or dissolution of the Issuer.
Change of Control Repurchase Event
means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a
Rating Decline.
3
Consolidated Assets
means, at any date of determination, the aggregate assets of the Issuer
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
Consolidated Current Liabilities
means, for any period, the aggregate amount of liabilities
of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current
liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after (i) eliminating all inter-company items
between the Issuer and any Consolidated Subsidiary and (ii) deducting all current maturities of
long-term Indebtedness, all as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets
means, for any period, the total amount of assets (less
accumulated depreciation or amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable
reserves and other properly deductible items) as set forth on the most recently available quarterly
or annual consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on
a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and after giving
effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom, to the extent otherwise included, the
amounts of: (i) Consolidated Current Liabilities; (ii) minority interests in Consolidated
Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary; (iii) excess of cost
over fair value of assets of businesses acquired, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors as evidenced by resolutions of the Board of Directors; (iv) any revaluation or other
write-up in value of assets subsequent to December 31, 1996, as a result of a change in the method
of valuation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (v) unamortized debt
discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks,
service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other
intangible items; (vi) treasury stock; and (vii) any cash set apart and held in a sinking or other
analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to
the extent such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current Liabilities.
Consolidated Subsidiary
means any Subsidiary whose accounts are or are required to be
consolidated with the accounts of the Issuer in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Consumers
means Consumers Energy Company, a Michigan corporation and wholly-owned Subsidiary
of the Issuer.
Enterprises
means CMS Enterprises Company, a Michigan corporation and wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Issuer.
Exchange Act
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and
any successor legislation.
Indebtedness
of any Person means, without duplication:
(i) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for
money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar
instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;
4
(ii) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;
(iii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement
(but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);
(iv) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of
credit, bankers acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to
letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (i) through
(iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such
letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is
reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for
reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit);
(v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons
and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is
responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and
(vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons
secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is
assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value
of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured.
Investment Grade
means BBB- or higher by S&P and Baa3 or higher by Moodys, or the
equivalent of such ratings by S&P or Moodys or, if either S&P or Moodys shall not make a rating
on the 2020 Notes publicly available, another Rating Agency.
Letter Stock
, as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any
class or classes (however designated) which is intended to reflect the separate performance of
certain of the businesses or operations conducted by such corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
Moodys
means Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
Paying Agent
means any Person authorized by the Issuer to pay the principal of (and premium,
if any) or interest on any of the 2020 Notes on behalf of the Issuer. Initially, the Paying Agent
shall be the Trustee.
Person
means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.
Predecessor 2020 Note
of any particular 2020 Note means every previous 2020 Note evidencing
all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular 2020 Note; and, for the
purposes of the definition, any 2020 Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.9 of the
Original Indenture in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen 2020 Note
shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen 2020 Note.
5
Preferred Stock
, as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of
any class or classes (however designated) that is preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as
to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such
corporation, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such corporation.
Rating Agency
means each of S&P and Moodys or, if S&P or Moodys or both shall not make a
rating on the 2020 Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization or organizations, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer (as certified by a
resolution of the Issuers board of directors), which shall be substituted for S&P or Moodys, or
both, as the case may be.
Rating Decline
means the rating of the 2020 Notes shall be decreased by one or more
gradations (including gradations within categories as well as between rating categories) by each of
the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could
result in a Change of Control until the end of the 30-day period following public notice of the
occurrence of the Change of Control (which 30-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of
the 2020 Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either of the
Rating Agencies; provided, that the other Rating Agency has either downgraded, or publicly
announced that it is considering downgrading, the 2020 Notes); provided, however, that if the
rating of the 2020 Notes by each of the Rating Agencies is Investment Grade, then
Rating Decline
means the rating of the 2020 Notes shall be decreased by one or more gradations (including
gradations within categories as well as between rating categories) by each of the Rating Agencies
such that the rating of the 2020 Notes by each of the Rating Agencies falls below Investment Grade
on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of
Control until the end of the 30-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change
of Control (which 30-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the 2020 Notes is under
publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies; provided,
that the other Rating Agency has either downgraded, or publicly announced that it is considering
downgrading, the 2020 Notes).
Restricted Subsidiary
means any Subsidiary (other than Consumers and its Subsidiaries) of
the Issuer which, as of the date of the Issuers most recent quarterly consolidated balance sheet,
constituted at least 10% of the total Consolidated Assets of the Issuer and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries and any other Subsidiary which from time to time is designated a Restricted Subsidiary
by the Board of Directors;
provided
that no Subsidiary may be designated a Restricted Subsidiary
if, immediately after giving effect thereto, an Event of Default or event that, with the lapse of
time or giving of notice or both, would constitute an Event of Default would exist, and (i) any
such Subsidiary so designated as a Restricted Subsidiary must be organized under the laws of the
United States or any State thereof, (ii) more than 80% of the Voting Stock of such Subsidiary must
be owned of record and beneficially by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and (iii) such
Restricted Subsidiary must be a Consolidated Subsidiary.
S&P
means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
6
Securities Act
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any
successor legislation.
Support Obligations
means, for any Person, without duplication, any financial obligation,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or otherwise supporting any debt or other
obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including,
without limitation, any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such debt or to purchase (or to advance or
supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such debt, (ii) to purchase
property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such debt of the payment
of such debt, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital, available cash or other financial
statement condition of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such debt,
(iv) to provide equity capital under or in respect of equity subscription arrangements (to the
extent that such obligation to provide equity capital does not otherwise constitute debt), or (v)
to perform, or arrange for the performance of, any non-monetary obligations or non-funded debt
payment obligations of the primary obligor.
Voting Stock
means securities of any class or classes the holders of which are ordinarily,
in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for corporate directors (or persons performing
similar functions).
ARTICLE II
DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF THE 2020 NOTES; FORMS
SECTION 2.01.
Establishment of Series
.
(a) There is hereby created a series of Securities to be known and designated as the 6.25%
Senior Notes due 2020 to be issued in aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000. Additional
Securities, without limitation as to amount, having substantially the same terms as the 2020 Notes
(except a different issue date, a different issue price and bearing interest from the last Interest
Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for on the 2020 Notes, and, if no
interest has been paid, from January 14, 2010), may also be issued by the Issuer pursuant to the
Indenture without the consent of the existing Holders of the 2020 Notes;
provided
, that such
additional Securities must be part of the same issue as the 2020 Notes for United States federal
income tax purposes. Such additional Securities shall be part of the same series as the 2020
Notes. The
Stated Maturity
of the 2020 Notes is February 1, 2020; the principal amount of the
2020 Notes shall be payable on such date unless the 2020 Notes are earlier redeemed or purchased in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
(b) The 2020 Notes will bear interest from the Original Issue Date, or from the most recent
date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, at the rate of 6.25% per annum stated
therein until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment. Interest will be
payable semi-annually on each Interest Payment Date and at Maturity, as provided in the form of the
2020 Note in Section 2.03 and Section 2.04 hereof.
(c) The Record Date referred to in Section 2.3(f)(4) of the Original Indenture for the payment
of the interest on any 2020 Note payable on any Interest Payment Date (other than on
7
the Stated Maturity) shall be the January 15 and July 15 next preceding the relevant Interest
Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day) except that interest payable on the Stated Maturity
shall be paid to the Person to whom the principal amount is paid.
(d) The payment of the principal of, and premium (if any) and interest on, the 2020 Notes
shall not be secured by a security interest in any property.
(e) The 2020 Notes shall be redeemable at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part, at
any time and from time to time, upon not less than 30, nor more than 60 days notice at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such 2020 Notes being redeemed plus the
Applicable Premium, if any, thereon at the time of redemption, together with accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the redemption date. In no event will the
redemption price ever be less than 100% of the principal amount of the 2020 Notes plus accrued
interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date. The 2020 Notes shall be purchased by the Issuer
at the option of the Holders thereof as provided in Article III hereof.
(f) The 2020 Notes shall not be convertible.
(g) The 2020 Notes will not be subordinated to the payment of Senior Debt.
(h) The Issuer will not pay any additional amounts on the 2020 Notes held by a Person who is
not a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in respect of any tax,
assessment or government charge withheld or deducted.
(i) The events specified in Events of Default with respect to the 2020 Notes shall include the
events specified in Article VI hereof. In addition to the covenants set forth in Article Three of
the Original Indenture, the Holders of the 2020 Notes shall have the benefit of the covenants of
the Issuer set forth in Article IV hereof. The provisions of Section 9.1 and Section 9.2 of the
Original Indenture shall be amended and restated solely with respect to the 2020 Notes as specified
in Article V hereof.
(j) The 2020 Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum
denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(k) The provisions of Article VII, Article VIII and Article IX hereof shall apply to the 2020
Notes as specified therein.
SECTION 2.02.
Forms Generally
. The 2020 Notes and Trustees certificate of authentication
shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article II, with such appropriate insertions,
omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture, and
may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements
placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may,
consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such 2020 Notes, as evidenced by
their execution thereof.
The definitive 2020 Notes shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders
or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such 2020
Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof.
8
SECTION 2.03.
Form of Face of 2020 Note
.
THIS SECURITY IS A REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER
REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS
SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE
DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT
BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE
OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY.
Unless this Global Note is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company, a New York corporation (
DTC
), to CMS Energy Corporation or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of a nominee of
DTC or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment
is made to such nominee of DTC or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO
ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof has an interest herein.
CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
6.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2020
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No. 1
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$
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300,000,000
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CUSIP No.: 125896BE9
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ISIN No.: US125896BE96
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CMS Energy Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State
of Michigan (herein called the
Issuer
, which term includes any successor Person under the
Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or
registered assigns, the principal sum of Three Hundred Million Dollars on February 1, 2020 (
Stated
Maturity
) and to pay interest thereon from January 14, 2010 (the
Original Issue Date
) or from
the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for,
semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 in each year, commencing on August 1, 2010
(each an
Interest Payment Date
), to the Persons in whose names the 2020 Notes are registered at
5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the January 15 and July 15 next preceding the relevant Interest
Payment Date (each a
Record Date
), and on the Stated Maturity, to the Person to whom the
principal amount is paid, at the rate of 6.25% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or
made available for payment. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Any such interest not so
punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this 2020 Note (or one or more
Predecessor 2020 Notes) is registered at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a subsequent record date
(which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to
9
the date of payment of such defaulted interest) for the payment of such defaulted interest to
be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of 2020 Notes not less than 15
calendar days preceding such subsequent Record Date.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this 2020 Note will be made
at the office or agency of the Issuer maintained for that purpose in New York, New York (the
Place
of Payment
), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is
legal tender for payment of public and private debts;
provided
,
however
, that at the option of the
Issuer payment of interest (other than interest payable at Maturity) may be made by check mailed to
the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or
by wire transfer to an account designated by such Person not later than ten days prior to the date
of such payment.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this 2020 Note set forth on the reverse
hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at
this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to
on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this 2020 Note shall not be entitled to any benefit
under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its
corporate seal.
Dated:
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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
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By
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Its:
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By
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Its:
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SECTION 2.04.
Form of Reverse of 2020 Note
.
This 6.25% Senior Note due 2020 is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Issuer
(herein called the
2020 Notes
), issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of September
15, 1992 (as supplemented by the Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 14, 2010
and as further amended or supplemented from time to time, the
Indenture
), between the Issuer and
The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation (ultimate successor to NBD Bank,
National Association), as Trustee (herein called the
Trustee
, which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference
is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Issuer, the Trustee, and the Holders of the 2020 Notes and of the
terms upon which the 2020 Notes are, and are to be, authenticated
10
and delivered. This 2020 Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, issued in
an initial aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000. Additional Securities, without limitation
as to amount, having substantially the same terms as the 2020 Notes (except a different issue date,
a different issue price and bearing interest from the last Interest Payment Date to which interest
has been paid or duly provided for on the 2020 Notes, and, if no interest has been paid, from
January 14, 2010), may also be issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture without the consent
of the existing Holders of the 2020 Notes;
provided
, that such additional Securities must be part
of the same issue as the 2020 Notes for United States federal income tax purposes. Such additional
Securities shall be part of the same series as the 2020 Notes.
No sinking fund is provided for the 2020 Notes.
The 2020 Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Issuer, in whole or in part,
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice as provided in the Indenture at any time and
from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such 2020 Notes
being redeemed plus the Applicable Premium, if any, thereon at the time of redemption, together
with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the redemption date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such redemption date will be payable
to the Holder of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Date referred to on the
face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture. In no event will the redemption price ever be less
than 100% of the principal amount of the 2020 Notes plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
The following definitions are used to determine the Applicable Premium:
Applicable Premium
means, with respect to a 2020 Note (or portion thereof) being redeemed at
any time, the excess of (A) the present value at such time of the principal amount of such 2020
Note (or portion thereof) being redeemed plus all interest payments due on such 2020 Note (or
portion thereof) after the redemption date, which present value shall be computed using a discount
rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such 2020
Note (or portion thereof) being redeemed at such time. For purposes of this definition, the
present values of the interest and principal payments will be determined in accordance with
generally accepted principles of financial analysis.
Treasury Rate
means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States
Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal
Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business
Days prior to the redemption date or, in the case of defeasance, prior to the date of deposit (or,
if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market
data)) most nearly equal to the then remaining average life to stated maturity of the 2020 Notes;
provided, however, that if the average life to stated maturity of the 2020 Notes is not equal to
the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is
given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest
one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for
which such yields are given.
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If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, the Issuer shall notify the Holder of this
2020 Note of such occurrence and such Holder shall have the right to require the Issuer to make a
Required Repurchase of all or any part of this 2020 Note at a Change of Control Purchase Price
equal to 101% of the principal amount of this 2020 Note to be so purchased as more fully provided
in the Indenture and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. In the event of a
Required Repurchase of only a portion of this 2020 Note, a new 2020 Note or 2020 Notes for the
unrepurchased portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation
hereof.
If an Event of Default with respect to this 2020 Note shall occur and be continuing, the
principal of this 2020 Note may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, redemption date, repurchase date, Stated Maturity
or Maturity of any 2020 Note shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision
of the Indenture or this 2020 Note) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not
be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and
effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, redemption date, repurchase date or Stated Maturity
or at Maturity;
provided
that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from
and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, repurchase date, Stated Maturity or
Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Issuer upon written request any money or
property held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the 2020 Notes that remains
unclaimed for two years,
provided, however
, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being
required to make any such return, shall at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published once in
a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or mail to each such Holder notice that
such money or property remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not
be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed money or property
then remaining shall be returned to the Issuer. After return to the Issuer, Holders entitled to
the money or property must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors unless an applicable
abandoned property law designates another Person.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (i) the entire indebtedness of
this 2020 Note or (ii) certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this
2020 Note, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth therein.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and
the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the Holders of all
outstanding 2020 Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Issuer and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of Securities of all series
(including the 2020 Notes) then outstanding and affected (voting as one class).
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The Indenture permits the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of all
series at the time outstanding with respect to which a default shall have occurred and be
continuing (voting as one class) to waive on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Securities of
such series any past default by the Issuer,
provided
that no such waiver may be made with respect
to a default in the payment of the principal of or the interest on any Security of such series, the
default in the payment of the redemption price or Change of Control Purchase Price with respect to
the 2020 Notes, or the default by the Issuer in respect of certain covenants or provisions of the
Indenture, the modification or amendment of which must be consented to by the Holder of each
outstanding Security of each series affected.
As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any 2020 Note
will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy
thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities of each affected series (voting as one class) shall have made written
request, and offered reasonable indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities, to the Trustee
to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each affected series (voting as
one class) a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such
proceeding within 60 days;
provided
,
however
, that such limitations do not apply to a suit
instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or any interest on this 2020 Note on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this 2020 Note or of the Indenture
shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the
principal of and any premium and interest on this 2020 Note at the times, place and rate, and in
the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the
transfer of this 2020 Note is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this 2020
Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Issuer in any place where the
principal of and any premium and interest on this 2020 Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Security
Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holders attorney duly authorized in writing,
and thereupon one or more new 2020 Notes of this series and of like tenor, of authorized
denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees.
The 2020 Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations
of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, 2020 Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate
principal amount of 2020 Notes and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as
requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith.
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The Issuer shall not be required to (i) issue, exchange or register the transfer of this 2020
Note for a period of 15 days next preceding the mailing of the notice of redemption of 2020 Notes
or (ii) exchange or register the transfer of any 2020 Note or any portion thereof selected, called
or being called for redemption, except in the case of any 2020 Note to be redeemed in part, the
portion thereof not so to be redeemed.
Prior to due presentment of this 2020 Note for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the
Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this 2020
Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this 2020 Note be overdue,
and neither the Issuer, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
All terms used in this 2020 Note without definition which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. In case of any conflict between this 2020
Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control.
SECTION 2.05.
Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustees certificate of
authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Trustee
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By
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Authorized Officer
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SECTION 2.06.
Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice, or be
charged with knowledge, of any event requiring notice under the Indenture unless the Trustee shall
have received from the Issuer or other requisite party such notice in writing.
ARTICLE III
CHANGE OF CONTROL
SECTION 3.01.
Change of Control.
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event
(the effective date of such Change of Control Repurchase Event being the
Change of Control Date
),
each Holder of a 2020 Note shall have the right to require that the Issuer repurchase (a
Required
Repurchase
) all or any part of such Holders 2020 Note at a repurchase price payable in cash equal
to 101% of the principal amount of such 2020 Note plus accrued interest, if any, to the Purchase
Date (the
Change of Control Purchase Price
).
(a) Within 30 days following the Change of Control Date, the Issuer shall mail a notice to
each Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:
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(i) that a Change of Control Repurchase Event has occurred and that such Holder has the
right to require the Issuer to repurchase all or any part of such Holders 2020 Notes at the
Change of Control Purchase Price;
(ii) the Change of Control Purchase Price;
(iii) the date on which any Required Repurchase shall be made (which shall be no
earlier than 60 days nor later than 90 days from the date such notice is mailed) (the
Purchase Date
);
(iv) the name and address of the Paying Agent; and
(v) the procedures that Holders must follow to cause the 2020 Notes to be repurchased,
which shall be consistent with this Section 3.01 and the Indenture.
(b) Holders electing to have a 2020 Note repurchased must deliver a written notice (the
Change of Control Purchase Notice
) to the Paying Agent (initially the Trustee) at its corporate
trust office in New York, New York, or any other office of the Paying Agent maintained for such
purposes, not later than 30 days prior to the Purchase Date. The Change of Control Purchase Notice
shall state: (i) the portion of the principal amount of any 2020 Notes to be repurchased, which
portion must be a minimum of $2,000 and in $1,000 integral multiples; (ii) that such 2020 Notes are
to be repurchased by the Issuer pursuant to the change of control provisions of the Indenture; and
(iii) unless the 2020 Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes, the certificate numbers of
the 2020 Notes to be delivered by the Holder thereof for repurchase by the Issuer. Any Change of
Control Purchase Notice may be withdrawn by the Holder by a written notice of withdrawal delivered
to the Paying Agent not later than three Business Days prior to the Purchase Date. The notice of
withdrawal shall state the principal amount and, if applicable, the certificate numbers of the 2020
Notes as to which the withdrawal notice relates and the principal amount of such 2020 Notes, if
any, which remains subject to a Change of Control Purchase Notice.
If a 2020 Note is represented by a Global Note (as described in Article IX hereof), the
Depositary or its nominee will be the Holder of such 2020 Note and therefore will be the only
entity that can elect a Required Repurchase of such 2020 Note. To obtain repayment pursuant to
this Section 3.01 with respect to such 2020 Note, the beneficial owner of such 2020 Note must
provide to the broker or other entity through which it holds the beneficial interest in such 2020
Note (i) the Change of Control Purchase Notice signed by such beneficial owner, and such signature
must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company having an
office or correspondent in the United States, and (ii) instructions to such broker or other entity
to notify the Depositary of such beneficial owners desire to obtain repayment pursuant to this
Section 3.01. Such broker or other entity will provide to the Paying Agent (i) the Change of
Control Purchase Notice received from such beneficial owner and (ii) a certificate satisfactory to
the Paying Agent from such broker or other entity stating that it represents such beneficial owner.
Such broker or other entity will be responsible for disbursing any payments it receives pursuant
to this Section 3.01 to such beneficial owner.
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(c) Payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price for a 2020 Note for which a Change of
Control Purchase Notice has been delivered and not withdrawn is conditioned (except in the case of
a 2020 Note represented by one or more Global Notes) upon delivery of such 2020 Note (together with
necessary endorsements) to the Paying Agent at its office in New York, New York, or any other
office of the Paying Agent maintained for such purpose, at any time (whether prior to, on or after
the Purchase Date) after the delivery of such Change of Control Purchase Notice. Payment of the
Change of Control Purchase Price for such 2020 Note will be made promptly following the later of
the Purchase Date or the time of delivery of such 2020 Note. If the Paying Agent holds, in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture, money sufficient to pay the Change of Control Purchase
Price of such 2020 Note on the Business Day following the Purchase Date, then, on and after such
date, interest will cease accruing, and all other rights of the Holder shall terminate (other than
the right to receive the Change of Control Purchase Price upon delivery of the 2020 Note).
(d) The Issuer shall comply with the provisions of Regulation 14E and any other tender offer
rules under the Exchange Act, which may then be applicable in connection with any offer by the
Issuer to repurchase 2020 Notes at the option of Holders upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.
(e) No 2020 Note may be repurchased by the Issuer as a result of a Change of Control
Repurchase Event if there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default (other than a default
in the payment of the Change of Control Purchase Price with respect to the 2020 Notes).
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER
WITH RESPECT TO THE 2020 NOTES
SECTION 4.01.
Existence
. So long as any of the 2020 Notes are outstanding, subject to
Article Nine of the Original Indenture, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary
to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.
SECTION 4.02.
Limitation on Certain Liens
. So long as any of the 2020 Notes are outstanding,
the Issuer shall not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien, mortgage, pledge, security
interest, conditional sale, title retention agreement or other charge or encumbrance of any kind,
or any other type of arrangement intended or having the effect of conferring upon a creditor of the
Issuer or any Subsidiary a preferential interest (a
Lien
) upon or with respect to any of its
property of any character, including without limitation any shares of Capital Stock of Consumers or
Enterprises, without making effective provision whereby the 2020 Notes shall (so long as any such
other creditor shall be so secured) be equally and ratably secured (along with any other creditor
similarly entitled to be secured) by a direct Lien on all property subject to such Lien,
provided,
however
, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
(i) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies to the extent not
past due;
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(ii) pledges or deposits to secure (A) obligations under workmens compensation laws or
similar legislation, (B) statutory obligations of the Issuer or (C) Support Obligations;
(iii) Liens imposed by law, such as materialmens, mechanics, carriers, workmens and
repairmens Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business
securing obligations which are not overdue or which have been fully bonded and are being
contested in good faith;
(iv) purchase money Liens upon or in property acquired and held by the Issuer in the
ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or to secure
Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of any such
property to be subject to such Liens, or Liens existing on any such property at the time of
acquisition, or extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or
a lesser amount,
provided
that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property other than
the property being acquired and no such extension, renewal or replacement shall extend to or
cover property not theretofore subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced, and
provided
,
further
, that the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness at any one time
outstanding secured by Liens permitted by this Section 4.02(iv) shall not exceed
$10,000,000; and
(v) Liens not otherwise permitted by Section 4.02(i) through Section 4.02(iv) hereof
securing Indebtedness of the Issuer;
provided
that on the date such Liens are created, and
after giving effect to such Indebtedness, the aggregate principal amount at maturity of all
of the secured Indebtedness of the Issuer at such date shall not exceed 10% of Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets at such date.
SECTION 4.03.
Reporting
. For purposes of Section 4.3(a) of the Original Indenture solely
with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), the
Trustee agrees that documents filed by the Issuer with the Commission via the Commissions EDGAR
system (or any successor thereto) will constitute filing of the same with the Trustee as of the
time such documents are so filed.
ARTICLE V
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
SECTION 5.01.
Limitation on Consolidation, Merger and Transfer
. Section 9.1 of the Original
Indenture is hereby amended and restated solely with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with
respect to any other series of Securities) as follows, and all references in the Original Indenture
to Section 9.1 thereof and to the provisions specified therein shall, with respect to the 2020
Notes, be deemed to be references to this Section 5.01 and to the provisions specified herein,
respectively.
Nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the 2020 Notes shall prevent any
consolidation or merger of the Issuer with or into any other Person or Persons (whether or not
affiliated with the Issuer), or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Issuer or its
successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any conveyance, transfer or
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lease of the property of the Issuer as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, to any
other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Issuer); provided, however, that:
(a) in case the Issuer shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer
or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person,
the entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or the Person that
acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties and assets of the Issuer as an
entirety or substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation or a limited liability company
organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time
there is more than one Trustee) supplemental to the Indenture, executed by the successor Person and
delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the
principal of and any premium and interest on the 2020 Notes and the performance of every obligation
in the Indenture and the outstanding 2020 Notes on the part of the Issuer to be performed or
observed;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default or event that,
after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and
be continuing; and
(c) either the Issuer or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance,
transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction,
such supplemental indenture complies with the provisions of the Indenture and all conditions
precedent therein relating to such transaction.
SECTION 5.02.
Successor Person Substituted for the Issuer
. Section 9.2 of the Original
Indenture is hereby amended and restated solely with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with
respect to any other series of Securities) as follows, and all references in the Original Indenture
to Section 9.2 thereof and to the provisions specified therein shall, with respect to the 2020
Notes, be deemed to be references to this Section 5.02 and to the provisions specified herein,
respectively.
Upon any consolidation by the Issuer with or merger of the Issuer into any other Person or
any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Issuer substantially as an
entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person formed by such
consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is
made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the
Issuer under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the
Issuer herein; and thereafter, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and
covenants under the Indenture and the 2020 Notes.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, such changes in
phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the 2020 Notes thereafter to be issued
as may be appropriate.
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ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT
WITH RESPECT TO THE 2020 NOTES
SECTION 6.01.
Definition
. All of the events specified in Section 5.1(a) through Section
5.1(h) of the Original Indenture shall be
Events of Default
with respect to the 2020 Notes.
SECTION 6.02.
Amendments to Section 5.1 of the Original Indenture
. Solely for the purpose of
determining Events of Default with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with respect to any other
series of Securities), Section 5.1(e), Section 5.1(f) and Section 5.1(h) of the Original Indenture
shall be amended such that each and every reference in Section 5.1(e) and Section 5.1(f) and the
first two references in Section 5.1(h) of the Original Indenture to the Issuer shall be deemed to
mean either the Issuer or Consumers.
SECTION 6.03.
Additional Events of Default.
Solely for the purpose of determining Events of
Default with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities), an
Event of Default shall also include default in the Issuers obligation to redeem the 2020 Notes
after exercising its redemption option pursuant to this Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture.
SECTION 6.04.
Additional Waivers of Past Defaults.
In addition to those matters set forth in
Section 5.10 of the Original Indenture, solely with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with respect
to any other series of Securities), approval of the Holders of each outstanding 2020 Note shall be
required to waive any default in any payment of the redemption price or Change of Control Purchase
Price with respect to any 2020 Note.
ARTICLE VII
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE AND DEFEASANCE
All of the provisions of Article Ten of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the 2020
Notes. Upon satisfaction by the Issuer of the requirements of Section 10.1(C) of the Original
Indenture, in connection with any covenant defeasance (as provided in Section 10.1(C) of the
Original Indenture), the Issuer shall be released from its obligations under Article Three and
Article Nine of the Original Indenture and under Article IV and Article V hereof with respect to
the 2020 Notes and the omission to comply with such obligations under such Articles upon such
covenant defeasance shall not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to
the 2020 Notes.
ARTICLE VIII
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
SECTION 8.01.
Without Consent of Holders
. In addition to any permitted amendment or
supplement to the Indenture pursuant to Section 8.1(a), Section 8.1(b), Section 8.1(c), Section
8.1(e) and Section 8.1(f) of the Original Indenture, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or
supplement the Indenture (to the extent applicable to the 2020 Notes) or the 2020 Notes without
notice to or the consent of any Holder, to:
(a) surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer;
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(b) comply with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and
(c) add guarantees of obligations under the 2020 Notes.
In addition, Section 8.1(d) of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated solely
with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with respect to any other series of Securities) as follows,
and all references in the Original Indenture to Section 8.1(d) thereof shall, with respect to the
2020 Notes, be deemed to be references to the following provisions of this Section 8.01:
(d)(1) cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any inconsistent or otherwise defective
provision contained in the Indenture;
provided
that such modification or amendment does not
adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the 2020 Notes in any material respect;
provided,
further
, that any amendment made solely to conform the provisions of the Indenture and the form or
terms of the 2020 Notes to the section entitled Description of the Notes as set forth in the
final prospectus supplement related to the offering and sale of the 2020 Notes dated January 11,
2010 will not be deemed to adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the 2020 Notes;
(d)(2) make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture
that the Issuer may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not be inconsistent with provisions
of the Indenture;
provided
, that such change or modification does not, in the good faith opinion of
the Board of Directors, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the 2020 Notes in any
material respect;
SECTION 8.02.
With Consent of Holders
. In addition to those matters set forth in Section 8.2
of the Original Indenture, solely with respect to the 2020 Notes (but not with respect to any other
series of Securities), no amendment or supplemental indenture to the Indenture shall, without the
consent of the Holder of each 2020 Note affected thereby:
(a) reduce the redemption price or Change of Control Purchase Price of the 2020 Notes;
(b) change the terms applicable to redemption or purchase of the 2020 Notes in a manner
adverse to the Holder; or
(c) change the Issuers obligation to maintain an office or agency in New York, New York.
ARTICLE IX
GLOBAL NOTES
The 2020 Notes will be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes.
Global
Note
means a registered 2020 Note evidencing one or more 2020 Notes issued to a depositary (the
Depositary
) or its nominee, in accordance with this Article IX and bearing the legend prescribed
in this Article IX. The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this
Article IX and the Issuer Order with respect to the 2020 Notes, authenticate and deliver one or
more Global Notes in temporary or permanent form that (i) shall represent and shall be
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denominated in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the 2020 Notes
to be represented by such Global Note or Global Notes, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the
Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be
delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositarys instructions and (iv)
shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: Unless this Global Note is presented by
an authorized representative of the Depositary to the Issuer or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of a nominee of
the Depositary or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of the
Depositary (and any payment is made to such nominee of the Depositary or to such other entity as is
requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner
hereof has an interest herein.
Notwithstanding Section 2.8 of the Original Indenture, unless and until it is exchanged in
whole or in part for 2020 Notes in definitive form, a Global Note representing one or more 2020
Notes may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary, to a nominee of such Depositary
or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by
such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for 2020 Notes or a nominee of such
successor Depositary.
If at any time the Depositary for the 2020 Notes is unwilling or unable to continue as
Depositary for the 2020 Notes, defaults in the performance of its duties as Depositary or ceases to
be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation,
the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the 2020 Notes. If a successor
Depositary for the 2020 Notes is not appointed by the Issuer by the earlier of (x) 90 days from the
date the Issuer receives notice to the effect that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to act, or
the Issuer determines that the Depositary is unable to act, or (y) the effectiveness of the
Depositarys resignation or failure to fulfill its duties as Depositary, the Issuer will execute,
and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive
2020 Notes, will authenticate and deliver 2020 Notes in definitive form in an aggregate principal
amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Note or Global Notes representing such 2020
Notes in exchange for such Global Note or Global Notes.
If the Issuer so specifies with respect to any 2020 Notes, an owner of a beneficial interest
in a Global Note representing the 2020 Notes may, on terms acceptable to the Issuer and the
Depositary for the Global Note, receive individual 2020 Notes in exchange for the beneficial
interest. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be
entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of 2020 Notes represented by the Global Note equal
in principal amount to the beneficial interest, and to have the 2020 Notes registered in its name.
2020 Notes so issued in definitive form will be issued as registered 2020 Notes in minimum
denominations of $2,000 and in $1,000 integral multiples, unless otherwise specified by the Issuer.
Upon the exchange of a Global Note for 2020 Notes in definitive form, such Global Note shall
be cancelled by the Trustee. 2020 Notes in definitive form issued in exchange for a Global Note
pursuant to this Article IX shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
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denominations as the Depositary for such Global Note, pursuant to instructions from its direct
or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or Security Registrar. The
Trustee shall deliver such 2020 Notes to the Persons in whose names such 2020 Notes are so
registered.
ARTICLE X
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
This Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture is a supplement to the Original Indenture. As
supplemented by this Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Original Indenture is in all
respects ratified, approved and confirmed, and the Original Indenture and this Twenty-Fourth
Supplemental Indenture shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
ARTICLE XI
INAPPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE
The 2020 Notes shall not constitute Subordinated Securities and the provisions of Article
Twelve of the Original Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.
TESTIMONIUM
This Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture
to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all
as of the day and year first written above.
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CMS ENERGY CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Laura L. Mountcastle
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Laura L. Mountcastle
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Vice President and Treasurer
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Attest:
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/s/ Shelley J. Ruckman
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Shelley J. Ruckman
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Trustee
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/s/ Laurence J. O´Brien
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Laurence J. O´Brien Vice President
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Attest:
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/s/ Christopher Greene
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Christopher Greene
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