UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  October 10, 2006

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Michigan

 

001-32576

 

32-0058047

(State or other Jurisdiction of

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

 Incorporation)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29500 Orchard Hill Place, Suite 200

 

 

Novi, Michigan

 

48375

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(248) 374-7100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 




Item 1.01  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Issuance of Senior Notes

 

On October 10, 2006, ITC Holdings Corp. issued $255 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “2016 Notes”) and $255 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “2036 Senior Notes” and, together with the 2016 Senior Notes, the “Senior Notes”) in a private placement in reliance on exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933.  The Senior Notes were sold by ITC Holdings Corp. to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc. and other initial purchasers pursuant to a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) dated October 4, 2006, pursuant to which ITC Holdings Corp. agreed to sell the Senior Notes at the closing subject to satisfaction of customary terms and conditions specified in the Purchase Agreement.  A copy of the Purchase Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The Senior Notes were issued under ITC Holdings Corp.’s Indenture (the “Original Indenture”), dated as of July 16, 2003, between The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to BNY Midwest Trust Company), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of October 10, 2006, between ITC Holdings Corp. and the Trustee (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the “Indenture”).  The Senior Notes are unsecured.

Interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 30 and September 30 of each year, commencing on March 30, 2006 at a fixed rate of 5.875% per annum, in the case of the 2016 Senior Notes, and a rate of 6.375% per annum, in the case of the 2036 Senior Notes.  ITC Holdings Corp. may redeem the Senior Notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a “Make Whole Price” equal to the greater of (1) the principal amount of the Senior Notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled principal and interest payments on the Senior Notes discounted to the redemption date at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined in the Indenture), plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Senior Notes to, but not including, the redemption date.  The principal amount of the 2016 Notes is payable on September 30, 2016 and the principal amount of the 2036 Notes is payable on September 30, 2036.

The Senior Notes and the Indenture restrict ITC Holdings Corp.’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to engage in sale and lease-back transactions and, in certain circumstances, to incur liens. The Senior Notes and the Indenture contain customary events of default, including, without limitation, failure to pay principal on any Indenture Security (as defined in the Indenture) when due; failure to pay interest on any Indenture Security for 30 days after becoming due; and failure to comply with certain covenants and warranties contained in the Indenture for a period of 60 days after written notice from the trustee or the holders of 25% of the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities then outstanding.  If an “Event of Default” (as defined in the Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the “Holders” (as defined in the Indenture) of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Indenture Securities outstanding may declare the principal amount of all the Indenture Securities to be due and payable immediately.  A copy of the Original Indenture was filed as Exhibit 4.3 to ITC Holdings Corp.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-123657).  A copy of the Second Supplemental Indenture is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.12.

The above description of the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture do not purport to be complete statements of the parties’ rights and obligations under those agreements.  The above descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement and the Second Supplemental Indenture, copies of which are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and to the Indenture, a copy of which was previously filed by ITC Holdings Corp., and which are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits

4.12

 

Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2006, between ITC Holdings Corp. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee

 

 

 

99.1

 

Purchase Agreement, dated October 4, 2006, between ITC Holdings Corp. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Lehman Brothers Inc. and the other initial purchasers named therein

 




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Daniel J. Oginsky

 

 

Name:

Daniel J. Oginsky

 

 

Title:

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

October  10, 2006



Exhibit 4.12

EXECUTION COPY

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

to

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
(as successor to BNY Midwest Trust Company),

as Trustee


 

Second Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of October 10, 2006

Supplemental to the Indenture
dated as of July 16, 2003

Establishing two series of Securities designated
5.875% Senior Notes due 2016
6.375% Senior Notes due 2036




SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of October 10, 2006 (herein called the “ Second Supplemental Indenture ”), between ITC Holdings Corp., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (hereinafter called the “ Company ”), and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to BNY Midwest Trust Company), as Trustee under the Original Indenture referred to below (hereinafter called the “ Trustee ”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture dated as of July 16, 2003 (herein called the “ Original Indenture ”), to provide for the issuance from time to time in one or more series of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “ Securities ”), the form and terms of which are to be established as set forth in Sections 2.1 and 3.1 of the Original Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered the First Supplemental Indenture on July 16, 2003 and has issued $267,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Senior Notes due July 15, 2013 thereunder;

WHEREAS, Section 9.1 of the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture to, among other things, establish the form and terms of the Securities of any series as permitted in Sections 2.1 and 3.1 of the Original Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a series of the Securities in an aggregate principal amount of $255,000,000 to be designated the “ 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016, ” and all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 under the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture has been duly taken

WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a series of the Securities in an aggregate principal amount of $255,000,000 to be designated the “ 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 ,” (the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2016 together with the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2036 are herein called the “Senior Notes” ) and all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 under the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture has been duly taken; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue the Senior Notes in accordance with Section 2.3 of this Second Supplemental Indenture and treat each series as a single series of Securities for all purposes, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Second Supplemental Indenture and the Original Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Senior Notes, when executed by the Company and completed, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee as provided in the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, the valid and binding obligations of the Company and to constitute these presents a valid and binding supplemental indenture and agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed.




NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That in consideration of the premises and of the acceptance and purchase of the Senior Notes by the holders thereof and of the acceptance of this trust by the Trustee, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal benefit of holders of the Senior Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS

Except to the extent such terms are otherwise defined in this Second Supplemental Indenture or the context clearly requires otherwise, all terms used in this Second Supplemental Indenture which are defined in the Original Indenture or the form of each Senior Note attached hereto as Exhibit A and Exhibit B , have the meanings assigned to them therein.

In addition, as used in this Second Supplemental Indenture, the following terms have the following meanings:

5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereof.

6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 ” has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereof.

Adjusted Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date, plus 0.25% in the case of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 and 0.30% in the case of the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036.

Agent Member ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.8(a) hereof.

Clearstream ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(d) hereof.

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

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated “Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government

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Securities,” or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (B) if the Company obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

Definitive Securities ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(e) hereof.

Depositary ” means DTC, together with any Person succeeding thereto by merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or substantially all of its assets, including substantially all of its securities payment and transfer operations.

Distribution Compliance Period ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(d) hereof.

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, having a principal office at 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041-0099.

Euroclear ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(d) hereof.

Global Securities ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(d) hereof.

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

Initial Purchasers ” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Lehman Brothers Inc.

Issue Date ” means October 10, 2006, the date on which the Senior Notes are originally issued under this Second Supplemental Indenture.

Make-Whole Price ” has the meaning given to such term in Article Three hereof.

Non-U.S. Person ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation S.

QIBs ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(b) hereof.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Lehman Brothers Inc., and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing is not a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), the Company will appoint another Primary Treasury Dealer as a substitute.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day next preceding such redemption date.

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Regulation S ” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended.

Regulation S Definitive Security ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.8(g) hereof.

Regulation S Global Security ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(d) hereof.

Regulation S Securities ” means Securities offered and sold as part of their initial distribution to persons outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Restricted Global Security ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.2(c) hereof.

Restricted Legend ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(a) hereof.

Restricted Securities ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.6(a) hereof.

Revolving Credit Agreement ” means the First Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2005, among ITC Holdings Corp., as the borrower, various financial institutions and other persons from time to time parties thereto, as the lenders, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as the administrative agent, Credit Suisse First Boston, Cayman Islands Branch and CIBC World Markets, as the joint lead arrangers, and Comerica Bank, as the documentation agent, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of March 24, 2006, as may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in effect from time to time including any successor or replacement agreement whether by the same or any other agent, lender or group of lenders.

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as may be amended.

Rule 144A Definitive Securities ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.8(b) hereof.

ARTICLE TWO

TERMS AND ISSUANCE OF THE SENIOR NOTES DUE

Section 2.1.  Issue of Senior Notes .  (a) A series of Securities which shall be designated the “5.875% Senior Notes due 2016” shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in all respects be subject to, the terms, conditions and covenants of, the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture (including the form of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 set forth hereto as Exhibit A ). The aggregate principal amount of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 which may be authenticated and delivered under this Second Supplemental Indenture shall not, except as permitted by the provisions of the Original Indenture, initially exceed $255,000,000; provided that the Company may from time to time or at any time, without the consent of the Holders of the Senior Notes, issue additional

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Senior Notes, which additional Senior Notes shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016.

(b) A series of Securities which shall be designated the “6.375% Senior Notes due 2036” shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in all respects be subject to, the terms, conditions and covenants of, the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture (including the form of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 set forth hereto as Exhibit B ). The aggregate principal amount of the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 which may be authenticated and delivered under this Second Supplemental Indenture shall not, except as permitted by the provisions of the Original Indenture, initially exceed $255,000,000; provided that the Company may from time to time or at any time, without the consent of the Holders of the Senior Notes, issue additional Senior Notes, which additional Senior Notes shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036.

Section 2.2.  Form of Senior Notes; Incorporation of Terms .  (a) The Senior Notes issued in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act shall be substantially in the forms of Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached hereto, as applicable.  The Senior Notes may have such notations, legends or endorsements approved as to form by the Company and required, as applicable, by law, stock exchange or depository rule, agreements to which the Company is subject and/or usage.  The terms of the Senior Notes set forth in each of Exhibit A and Exhibit B are herein incorporated by reference and are part of the terms of this Second Supplemental Indenture.

(b)  The Senior Notes will be offered and sold by the Company pursuant to the terms of a purchase agreement and will be resold initially only to (i) qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act ( “QIBs” ) in reliance on Rule 144A and (ii) Non-U.S. Persons in reliance on Regulation S.  Each such purchaser of the Senior Notes so initially resold will be deemed by their acceptance of the Senior Notes to have represented and agreed as follows:  it (A) (i) is a QIB, (ii) is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and (iii) is acquiring the Senior Notes for its own account or for the account of a QIB or (B) is not a U.S. person and is purchasing the Senior Notes in an offshore transaction pursuant to Regulation S.

(c)  The Senior Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall be issued, and will only be available, in the form of one or more Global Securities substantially in the forms of Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached hereto, as applicable, with such applicable legends as are provided for in Sections 2.6  and 2.8 (each, a “ Restricted Global Security ”) duly executed by the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee as herein provided.  The Restricted Global Security shall be in definitive, fully registered form without coupons and be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary and deposited with the Trustee, at its corporate trust office, as custodian for the Depositary.  The aggregate principal amount of any Restricted Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as provided in Section 2.9 hereof, which adjustments shall be conclusive as to the aggregate principal amount of any such Global Security.

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(d)  The Senior Notes offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued, and will only be available, initially in the form of one or more global Securities substantially in the forms of Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, as applicable, with such applicable legends as are provided for in Section 2.6 (each, a “ Regulation S Global Security ”) duly executed by the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee as herein provided.  The Regulation S Global Securities shall be in definitive, fully registered form without coupons and be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary and deposited with the Trustee, at its corporate trust office, as custodian for the Depositary, for credit initially and during the Distribution Compliance Period to the respective accounts of beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct) at Euroclear System S.A./N.V. (“ Euroclear ”) or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“ Clearstream ”).  As used herein, the term “ Distribution Compliance Period ”, with respect to the Regulation S Global Securities offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (i) the day on which the Securities are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S and (ii) the Closing Date.  The aggregate principal amount of any Regulation S Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as provided in Section 2.9 hereof, which adjustments shall be conclusive as to the aggregate principal amount of any such Global Security.  The Restricted Global Security and Regulation S Global Security are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “ Global Securities ”.

(e)  Senior Notes issued pursuant to Section 2.8(d) in exchange for interests in a Global Security shall be issued substantially in the forms of Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached hereto, as applicable, in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons, but shall not bear the legend for Global Securities in Section 2.8(b) (the “Definitive Securities” ).  Except as provided herein, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities shall not be entitled to physical delivery of Definitive Securities.

Section 2.3.  Execution and Authentication .  The Trustee, upon a Company Order and pursuant to the terms of the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, shall authenticate and deliver Senior Notes for original issue in an initial aggregate principal amount of $510,000,000 (consisting of $255,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 and $255,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036).  Such Company Order shall specify the amount of the Senior Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Senior Notes is to be authenticated and the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes outstanding on the date of authentication.  All of the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 issued under this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments and offers to purchase.  All of the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 issued under this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments and offers to purchase.

Section 2.4.  Depositary for Global Securities .  The Depositary for the Senior Notes issued under this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be DTC in the City of New York.

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Section 2.5.  Place of Payment .  The Place of Payment in respect of the Senior Notes will be at the principal office or agency of the Company in The City of New York, State of New York or at the office or agency of the Trustee in  The City of New York, State of New York, which, at the date hereof, is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.

Section 2.6.  Legends .

(a)           All Senior Notes issued pursuant to this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be “ Restricted Securities ” and shall bear a legend to the following effect (the “ Restricted Legend ”) except as permitted by the following paragraphs (b) and (c), as appropriate:

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS) OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (V) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.”

Each Definitive Security shall bear the following legend on the face thereof:

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE SECURITY REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY

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REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

(b)           Upon any sale or transfer of a Restricted Security pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Depositary shall, subject to approval by the Company and the provisions of Section 3.5 of the Original Indenture, permit the Holder thereof to request the issuance of a global Senior Note that does not bear one or more of the legends set forth above and rescind any restrictions on the transfer of such Restricted Security, if the sale or exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 and the Holder certifies to that effect in writing to the Depositary.

(c)  Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period of any Senior Notes acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Senior Notes bear the Restricted Legend shall cease to apply (but requirements requiring such Senior Notes to be in global form and bear the global legend in Section 2.8 shall continue to apply).

Section 2.7.  Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Senior Notes .

(a)           All 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same interest therein, and entitled to the same benefits under the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, as the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

A Holder may transfer a 5.875% Senior Note due 2016, or request that a 5.875% Senior Note due 2016 be exchanged for 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 in authorized denominations and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such 5.875% Senior Note due 2016 surrendered for exchange of other authorized denominations, by surrender of such 5.875% Senior Note due 2016 to the Trustee with the form of transfer notice thereon duly completed and executed, and otherwise complying with the terms of the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, including providing evidence of compliance with any restrictions on transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar.  No such transfer shall be effected until, and such transferee shall succeed to the rights of a Holder only upon, final acceptance and registration of the transfer by the Security Registrar in the Register.  Prior to the registration of any transfer of a 5.875% Senior Note due 2016 by a Holder as provided herein, the Company, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall deem and treat the person in whose name the Security is registered on the Register as the absolute owner and holder thereof for the purpose of receiving payment of all amounts payable with respect to such Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  Furthermore, the Depositary shall, by acceptance of a Global Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (or its agent) and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 shall be required to be reflected in a book-entry.  When 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 are presented to the Security Registrar with a request to register the transfer thereof or to exchange them for other authorized denominations of a 5.875% Senior Note due 2016 in a principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of 5.875%

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Senior Notes due 2016 surrendered for exchange, the Security Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transactions are met.

To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges in accordance with the terms, conditions and restrictions hereof, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 at the Security Registrar’s request.  No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016.  All 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with its then customary procedures.

(b)           All 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same interest therein, and entitled to the same benefits under the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, as the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

A Holder may transfer a 6.375% Senior Note due 2036, or request that a 6.375% Senior Note due 2036 be exchanged for 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 in authorized denominations and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such 6.375% Senior Note due 2036 surrendered for exchange of other authorized denominations, by surrender of such 6.375% Senior Note due 2036 to the Trustee with the form of transfer notice thereon duly completed and executed, and otherwise complying with the terms of the Original Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture, including providing evidence of compliance with any restrictions on transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar.  No such transfer shall be effected until, and such transferee shall succeed to the rights of a Holder only upon, final acceptance and registration of the transfer by the Security Registrar in the Register.  Prior to the registration of any transfer of a 6.375% Senior Note due 2036 by a Holder as provided herein, the Company, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall deem and treat the person in whose name the Security is registered on the Register as the absolute owner and holder thereof for the purpose of receiving payment of all amounts payable with respect to such Security and for all other purposes, and none of the Company, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  Furthermore, the Depositary shall, by acceptance of a Global Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (or its agent) and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 shall be required to be reflected in a book-entry.  When 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 are presented to the Security Registrar with a request to register the transfer thereof or to exchange them for other authorized denominations of a 6.375% Senior Note due 2036 in a principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 surrendered for exchange, the Security Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements for such transactions are met.

To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges in accordance with the terms, conditions and restrictions hereof, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 at the Security Registrar’s request.  No service charge shall be

9




made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036.  All 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with its then customary procedures.

Section 2.8             Book-Entry Provisions for Restricted Global Securities and Regulation S Global Securities .

(a)           Members of, or participants in, DTC (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under the Original Indenture, this Second Supplemental Indenture and the Senior Notes with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by DTC, or the Trustee, as its custodian, and DTC may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or shall impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Security.  Upon the issuance of any Global Security, the Security Registrar or its duly appointed agent shall record DTC as the registered holder of such Global Security.

(b)           Transfers of any Global Security shall be limited to transfers of such Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security in whole, but not in part, to DTC.  Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Security and any Regulation S Global Security may be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of DTC and the provisions of Section 2.9.  Beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Security or a Regulation S Global Security shall be delivered to all beneficial owners thereof in the form of Rule 144A Definitive Securities (“ Rule 144A Definitive Securities ”) or Regulation S Definitive Securities (“ Regulation S Definitive Securities ”), as the case may be, if (i) DTC notifies the Trustee that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be, and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Trustee within 90 days of such notice and (ii) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security with a principal amount aggregating not less than a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Global Security advise the Trustee, the Company and DTC through Agent Members in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through DTC is no longer in their best interests.

(d)           Any beneficial interest in one of the Global Securities that is transferred to a Person who takes delivery in the form of an interest in another Global Security will, upon such transfer, cease to be an interest in such Global Security and become an interest in the other Global Security and, accordingly, will thereafter be subject to all transfer restrictions, if any, and other procedures applicable to beneficial interests in such other Global Security for as long as it remains such an interest.

(e)           In connection with the transfer of an entire Restricted Global Security or an entire Regulation S Global Security to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.8, such Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be,

10




shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate, to each beneficial owner identified by DTC in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security, as the case may be, an equal aggregate principal amount of Rule 144A Definitive Securities or Regulation S Definitive Securities, as the case may be, of authorized denominations.  None of the Company, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or the Trustee shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such registration instructions.  Upon the issuance of Rule 144A Definitive Securities or Regulation S Definitive Securities, as the case may be, the Company and the Trustee shall recognize the Person in whose name the Rule 144A Definitive Securities or Regulation S Definitive Securities, as the case may be, are registered in the Register as Holders hereunder.

(f)            Any Rule 144A Definitive Securities or Regulation S Definitive Securities, as the case may be, delivered in exchange for an interest in the Restricted Global Security pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.8 shall, except as otherwise provided by paragraph (d) of Section 2.9, bear the Restricted Legend.

(g)           Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, any interests in a Regulation S Global Security issued in definitive, fully registered form without interests coupons ( “Regulation S Definitive Security” ) delivered in exchange for an interest in a Regulation S Global Security pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.8 shall bear the Restricted Legend.

(h)           The registered holder of any Restricted Global Security or Regulation S Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Original Indenture or this Second Supplemental Indenture or the Securities.

(i)            Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable if the Trustee or the Company is unable to locate a qualified successor clearing agency.

Section 2.9             Special Transfer Provisions .

The following provisions shall also apply to the Senior Notes:

(a)           Transfers to QIBs .  The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Senior Note required to bear the Restricted Legend to a QIB (excluding Non-U.S. Persons):

(i)            If the Senior Note to be transferred consists of an interest in any Regulation S Global Security during the Distribution Compliance Period, the Security Registrar shall register the transfer if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided for on the form of Senior Note stating, or has otherwise advised the Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar in writing, that the sale has been made in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who has signed the certification provided for on the form of Senior Note stating, or has otherwise advised the Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar in writing, that it

11




is purchasing the Senior Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it, or the Person on whose behalf it is acting with respect to any such account, is a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

(ii)           Upon receipt by the Security Registrar of the documents required by clause (i) above and instructions given in accordance with DTC’s and the Security Registrar’s procedures therefor, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date of such transfer and an increase in the principal amount of a Restricted Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interests in such Regulation S Global Security and the Trustee shall decrease the amount of such Regulation S Global Security so transferred.

(b)           Transfers of Interests in the Regulation S Global Security .

(i)            After the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Security Registrar shall register any transfer of interests in any Regulation S Global Security without requiring any additional certification.

(ii)           Until the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, interests in the Regulation S Global Security may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear S.A./N.V. or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (as indirect participants in the Depositary) or Agent Members acting for and on behalf of Euroclear and Clearstream only (x) for interests in a Regulation S Global Security and then only upon certification in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee that interests in such Regulation S Global Security are owned by either Non-U.S. Persons or U.S. Persons who purchased such interests in a transaction that did not require registration under the Securities Act or (y) for interests in the Restricted Global Security or if the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written transfer notice to the effect that the Securities are being transferred to a person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB; (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A; and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.

(c)           Transfers to Non-U.S. Persons at Any Time .  The following provisions shall apply with respect to any registration of any transfer of a Senior Note to a Non-U.S. Person:

(i)            Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Security Registrar shall register any proposed transfer of a Senior Note to a Non-U.S. Person upon receipt of a certificate substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit C or Exhibit D , as applicable, hereto from the proposed transferor.

12




(ii)           After the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Security Registrar shall register any proposed transfer to any Non-U.S. Person if the Senior Note to be transferred is an interest in a Restricted Global Security, upon receipt of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C or Exhibit D , as applicable, from the proposed transferor.  The Security Registrar shall promptly send a copy of such certificate to the Company.

(iii)          Upon receipt by the Security Registrar of (x) the documents, if any, required by clause (ii) and (y) instructions in accordance with DTC’s and the Security Registrar’s procedures, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date of such transfer and a decrease in the principal amount of such Restricted Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in such Restricted Global Security to be transferred, and, upon receipt by the Security Registrar of instructions given in accordance with DTC’s and the Security Registrar’s procedures, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Regulation S Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted Global Security to be transferred, and the Trustee shall decrease the amount of such Restricted Global Security.

(d)           Restricted Legend .  Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Senior Notes not bearing the Restricted Legend, the Security Registrar shall deliver Senior Notes that do not bear the Restricted Legend.  Upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Senior Notes bearing the Restricted Legend, the Security Registrar shall deliver only Senior Notes that bear the Restricted Legend unless either (i) the circumstances contemplated by paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section 2.9 exist or (ii) there is delivered to the Security Registrar an opinion of counsel to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.

(e)           General .  By acceptance of any Senior Note bearing the Restricted Legend, each Holder of such Senior Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Senior Note set forth in such Restricted Legend and otherwise in this Second Supplemental Indenture and agrees that it will transfer such Senior Note only as provided in such Restricted Legend and otherwise in this Second Supplemental Indenture.  In connection with any transfer of Senior Notes, each Holder agrees by its acceptance of the Senior Notes to furnish the Security Registrar or the Trustee such certifications, legal opinions or other information as either of them may reasonably require to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Article 2; provided that the Security Registrar shall not be required to determine the sufficiency of any such certifications, legal opinions or other information.

Until such time as no Senior Notes remain Outstanding, the Security Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.8 or this Section 2.9.  The Trustee, if not the Security Registrar at such time, shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Security Registrar.

13




In the event that any Global Security or any portion thereof is exchanged for Definitive Securities, such other Definitive Securities may be exchanged (by transfer or otherwise) for Definitive Securities or for beneficial interests in a Global Security (if any is then outstanding) only in accordance with procedures substantially consistent with this Article Two (including any certification requirements) and applicable procedures adopted by the Company and the Trustee.

Until Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may use temporary Securities.  Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities.  Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall deliver Definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.

The Company may issue some or all of the Securities in temporary or permanent global form.  The Company may issue a Global Security only to the Depositary.  A Depositary may transfer a Global Security only to its nominee or to a successor Depositary.  A Global Security shall represent the amount of Senior Notes specified in the Global Security.  A Global Security may have variations that the Depositary requires or that the Company considers appropriate for such a security.

Beneficial owners of part or all of a Global Security are subject to the rules of the Depository as in effect from time to time.

The Company, the Trustee and their agents shall not be responsible for any acts or omissions of a Depositary, for any Depositary records of beneficial ownership interests or for any transactions between or among the Depositary, Agent Members and beneficial owners.

The Company at any time may deliver Senior Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Paying Agent, if not the Trustee, shall forward to the Trustee any Senior Notes surrendered to them for payment or conversion.  The Trustee shall cancel all Senior Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Senior Notes according to its then customary practices.  The Company may not issue new Senior Notes to replace Senior Notes that it has paid or which have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.10.  Restrictions on Liens.   The covenant provided by Section 10.9 of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the Senior Notes; provided, however, that the dollar amount set forth in paragraph (b) of Section 10.9 shall be $100,000,000 with respect to the Senior Notes.

Section 2.11.  Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.   The covenant provided by Section 10.10 of the Original Indenture shall be applicable to the Senior Notes.

Section 2.12.  Limitation on Incurrence of Debt .  The covenant provided by Section 10.8 of the Original Indenture shall not be applicable to the Senior Notes.

14




ARTICLE THREE

REDEMPTION

The Senior Notes may be redeemed, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Original Indenture, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Original Indenture, as a whole or in part, at any time at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes being redeemed and (ii) as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date (the “ Make-Whole Price ”); provided, however, that installments of interest on the Senior Notes that are due and payable on an interest payment date falling on or prior to the relevant redemption date will be payable to the holders of such Senior Notes, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record date according to the terms and provisions of the Indenture.

In the event of a partial redemption of the Senior Notes, the Company will issue new Senior Notes for the unredeemed portion in the name of each Holder of the partially redeemed Senior Notes.

If less than all of the Senior Notes are to be redeemed, the Senior Notes will be redeemed by lot, pro rata by the Trustee or by such method of selection as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may, in any case, provide for the selection for redemption of Senior Notes and portions of Senior Notes in amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof from the outstanding Senior Notes, in accordance with Section 11.3 of the Original Indenture.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, the portion of Senior Notes called for redemption will no longer accrue interest on and after the redemption date.

ARTICLE FOUR

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 4.1.  Execution as Supplemental Indenture.   This Second Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture and, as provided in the Original Indenture, this Second Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof.

Section 4.2.  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.   This Second Supplemental Indenture may, but is not, as of the date first written above, required to be, qualified under and subject to the Trust Indenture Act.  If this Second Supplemental Indenture shall become qualified under and subject to the Trust Indenture Act, then if any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof, or with a provision of the Original Indenture, which is required to be included in this Second Supplemental Indenture, or in the Original Indenture, respectively, by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control to the

15




extent it is applicable.  Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, any reference herein to a requirement under the Trust Indenture Act shall apply only upon and so long as this Second Supplemental Indenture shall become qualified under and subject to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 4.3.  Effect of Headings .  The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 4.4.  Successors and Assigns .  All covenants and agreements by the Company and the Trustee in this Second Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 4.5.  Separability Clause .  In case any provision in this Second Supplemental Indenture or in the Senior Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 4.6.  Benefits of Second Supplemental Indenture .  Nothing in this Second Supplemental Indenture or in the Senior Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Second Supplemental Indenture.

Section 4.7.  Execution and Counterparts.   This Second Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 4.8.  Governing Law .  This Second Supplemental Indenture and the Senior Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York except that if this Second Supplemental Indenture shall become qualified under and subject to the Trust Indenture Act, this Second Supplemental Indenture and Senior Notes shall be governed by the Trust Indenture Act to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable.

16




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

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 




 

STATE OF MICHIGAN

)

 

 

) ss.:

 

COUNTY OF                            

)

 

 

On this                           day of October 2006, before me personally appeared                                                   , to me known to be                                                                             of ITC Holdings Corp., one of the corporations that executed the within and foregoing instrument, and acknowledged said instrument to be the free and voluntary act and deed of said Corporation, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned, and on oath stated that he was authorized to execute said instrument and that the seal affixed, if any, is the corporate seal of said Corporation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year first above written.

                                                       
                                         , Notary Public

                                          County, Michigan

 

My Commission expires:                                   

 

Acting in the County of:                                    




 

STATE OF ILLINOIS

)

 

) ss.:

COUNTY OF COOK

)

 

On the [     ] day of October in the year 2006 before me, the undersigned, personally  appeared [              ], [Assistant Vice President] of The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the  individual whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that she executed the same in her capacity, and that by her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.

 

 

 

 

 

Print Name:

 

Notary Public, State of Illinois

Commission expires:

 

 

 

 




EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF 5.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2016]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON MADE TO CEDE & CO.), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.  TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]*

[ THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS) OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (V) IN


*  To be included on the face of each Global Security.

A- 1




ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.]**

[ IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE SECURITY REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.]***

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

5.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2016

$

                     

 

 

 

No.                     

CUSIP

                     

 

 

 

 

ISIN

                     

 

ITC HOLDINGS CORP., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                        or registered assigns, the principal sum of $                             on September 30, 2016 and to pay interest thereon from October 10, 2006, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on March 30 and September 30 in each year, commencing March 30, 2007, at the rate per annum provided in the title hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, and, subject to the terms of the Indenture hereinafter referenced, at the rate of 5.875% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of interest, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date


**           To be included on the face of each Restricted Security and Rule 144A Definitive Security.

***    To be included on the face of each Definitive Security.

A- 2




for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given as provided in said Indenture.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of this series will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in t he City of New York, State of New York or at the office or place of business of the Trustee or its successor in trust under the Original Indenture hereinafter referenced, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts; [if this Security is not a Global Security, insert — provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register] [if this Security is a Global Security, insert—provided, however, that except with respect to payments of principal, payments shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds with respect to payments in respect of Global Securities if the Holders thereof have provided wire instructions in respect of such payments to the Company or the Paying Agent].  Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of the Securities of this series 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 manually executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under the Indenture (hereinafter referenced), this Security shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture (hereinafter referenced), or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ITC HOLDINGS CORP. has caused this Security to be duly executed.

Dated:

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

A- 3




TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Date:

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.,
as Trustee,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

A- 4




[FORM OF REVERSE OF 5.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2016 ]

This Security is one of the duly authorized issue of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the “ Securities ”), of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Original Indenture dated as of July 16, 2003, as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2006 (as so supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), duly executed and delivered by the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and any other indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Company and the Holders of the Securities of this series and of the terms upon which the Securities of this series are issued and are to be authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, which series is initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $255,000,000 ; provided that the Company may from time to time or at any time, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities of this series , issue additional Senior Notes, which additional Senior Notes shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the Senior Notes .  By the terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of other separate series, which may vary as to date, aggregate principal amount, Stated Maturity, interest rate or method of calculating the interest rate, redemption provisions and in other respects as therein provided, may be issued in an unlimited amount.

This Senior Note may be redeemed in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, as a whole or in part, at any time at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes being redeemed and (ii) as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date (the “ Make-Whole Price ”); provided, however, that installments of interest on the Senior Notes that are due and payable on an interest payment date falling on or prior to the relevant redemption date will be payable to the holders of such Senior Notes, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record date according to the terms and provisions of the Indenture.

In the event of a partial redemption of the Senior Notes, the Company will issue new Senior Notes for the unredeemed portion in the name of each Holder of the partially redeemed Senior Notes.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, the portion of Senior Notes called for redemption will no longer accrue interest on and after the redemption date.

A- 5




If less than all of the Securities of this series are to be redeemed, the Securities of this series will be redeemed on a pro rata basis by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of this series.

The Securities are subject to the further redemption provisions and procedures set forth in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Securities of this series and (b) certain restrictive covenants upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the unpaid principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture .

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

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of the Securities of this series or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series 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 the Securities of this series is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of the Securities of this series for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities 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 Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and

A- 6




subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series 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 Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

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

The Securities of this series are not subject to any sinking fund.

Each Holder, by accepting a Security, agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Indenture, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.

The Securities of this series shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that if the Second Supplemental Indenture shall become qualified under and subject to the Trust Indenture Act, this Senior Note shall be governed by the Trust Indenture Act to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable.

All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Security shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

A- 7




FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE

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

Insert Taxpayer Identification No .

                                  

                                  

please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee

                                  

the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

                                  

attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Security Registrar with full power of substitution in the premises.

[THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED
ON ALL SECURITIES,
EXCEPT REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITIES AND
REGULATION S DEFINITIVE SECURITIES]

In connection with any transfer of this Certificate occurring prior to the date that is the earlier of the date of an effective Registration Statement or the date two years after the later of the original issuance of this Security or the last date on which this Security was held by ITC Holdings Corp. or any affiliate of ITC Holdings Corp., the undersigned confirms that without utilizing any general solicitation or general advertising that:

[Check One]

[            ] (a) t he Securities are being transferred to a person whom we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) (a “QIB”) that purchases for its own account or for the account of one or more QIBs to whom notice has been given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act;

or

A- 8




[        ] (b) this Security is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished that comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Security and the Indenture.

If neither of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Security Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Security in the name of any Person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 2.9 of the Second Supplemental Indenture shall have been satisfied.

Date:[          ,      ]

[Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The signature must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within-mentioned instrument in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever.

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

A- 9




EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF FACE OF 6.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON MADE TO CEDE & CO.), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.  TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]*

[ THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.  EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS) OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (V) IN


*  To be included on the face of each Global Security.

B- 1




ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.]**

[ IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE SECURITY REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.]***

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

6.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036

$

               

 

 

 

No.               

CUSIP

               

 

 

 

 

ISIN

               

 

ITC HOLDINGS CORP., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Michigan (herein called the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                                  or registered assigns, the principal sum of $                                    on September 30, 2036, and to pay interest thereon from October 10, 2006, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on March 30 and September 30 in each year, commencing March 30, 2007, at the rate per annum provided in the title hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, and, subject to the terms of the Indenture hereinafter referenced, at the rate of 6.375% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of interest, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 15 or September 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date


**           To be included on the face of each Restricted Security and Rule 144A Definitive Security.

***    To be included on the face of each Definitive Security.

B- 2




for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given as provided in said Indenture.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of this series will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in t he City of New York, State of New York or at the office or place of business of the Trustee or its successor in trust under the Original Indenture hereinafter referenced, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts; [if this Security is not a Global Security, insert — provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register] [if this Security is a Global Security, insert—provided, however, that except with respect to payments of principal, payments shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds with respect to payments in respect of Global Securities if the Holders thereof have provided wire instructions in respect of such payments to the Company or the Paying Agent].  Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of the Securities of this series 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 manually executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under the Indenture (hereinafter referenced), this Security shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture (hereinafter referenced), or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ITC HOLDINGS CORP. has caused this Security to be duly executed.

Dated:

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

B- 3




TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Date:

 

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.,

 

 

as Trustee,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

B- 4




[FORM OF REVERSE OF 6.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036 ]

This Security is one of the duly authorized issue of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the “ Securities ”), of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Original Indenture dated as of July 16, 2003, as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 10, 2006 (as so supplemented, the “ Indenture ”), duly executed and delivered by the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and any other indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Company and the Holders of the Securities of this series and of the terms upon which the Securities of this series are issued and are to be authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, which series is initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $255,000,000 ; provided that the Company may from time to time or at any time, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities of this series , issue additional Senior Notes, which additional Senior Notes shall increase the aggregate principal amount of, and shall be consolidated and form a single series with, the Senior Notes .  By the terms of the Indenture, additional Securities of other separate series, which may vary as to date, aggregate principal amount, Stated Maturity, interest rate or method of calculating the interest rate, redemption provisions and in other respects as therein provided, may be issued in an unlimited amount.

This Senior Note may be redeemed in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice given as provided in the Indenture, as a whole or in part, at any time at the option of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes being redeemed and (ii) as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date (the “ Make-Whole Price ”); provided, however, that installments of interest on the Senior Notes that are due and payable on an interest payment date falling on or prior to the relevant redemption date will be payable to the holders of such Senior Notes, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record date according to the terms and provisions of the Indenture.

In the event of a partial redemption of the Senior Notes, the Company will issue new Senior Notes for the unredeemed portion in the name of each Holder of the partially redeemed Senior Notes.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, the portion of Senior Notes called for redemption will no longer accrue interest on and after the redemption date.

B- 5




If less than all of the Securities of this series are to be redeemed, the Securities of this series will be redeemed on a pro rata basis by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of this series.

The Securities are subject to the further redemption provisions and procedures set forth in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Securities of this series and (b) certain restrictive covenants upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the unpaid principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture .

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

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of the Securities of this series or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series 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 the Securities of this series is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of the Securities of this series for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities 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 Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and

B- 6




subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series 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 Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

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

The Securities of this series are not subject to any sinking fund.

Each Holder, by accepting a Security, agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Indenture, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms.

The Securities of this series shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that if the Second Supplemental Indenture shall become qualified under and subject to the Trust Indenture Act, this Senior Note shall be governed by the Trust Indenture Act to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable.

All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Security shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

B- 7




FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE

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

Insert Taxpayer Identification No .

                                  

                                  

please print or typewrite name and address including zip code of assignee

                                  

the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

                                  

attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Security Registrar with full power of substitution in the premises.

[THE FOLLOWING PROVISION TO BE INCLUDED
ON ALL SECURITIES,
EXCEPT REGULATION S GLOBAL SECURITIES AND
REGULATION S DEFINITIVE SECURITIES]

In connection with any transfer of this Certificate occurring prior to the date that is the earlier of the date of an effective Registration Statement or the date two years after the later of the original issuance of this Security or the last date on which this Security was held by ITC Holdings Corp. or any affiliate of ITC Holdings Corp., the undersigned confirms that without utilizing any general solicitation or general advertising that:

[Check One]

[          ] (a) t he Securities are being transferred to a person whom we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) (a “QIB”) that purchases for its own account or for the account of one or more QIBs to whom notice has been given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act;

or

B- 8




[          ] (b) this Security is being transferred other than in accordance with (a) above and documents are being furnished that comply with the conditions of transfer set forth in this Security and the Indenture.

If neither of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Security Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Security in the name of any Person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 2.9 of the Second Supplemental Indenture shall have been satisfied.

Date:[              ,       ]

[Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The signature must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within-mentioned instrument in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

B- 9




EXHIBIT C

[Form of Regulation S Transfer Certificate]

[Date]

ITC Holdings Corp. (the “ Company ”)
39500 Orchard Hill Place, Suite 200
Novi, Michigan, 48375
Attention:  General Counsel

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (the “ Trustee ”)
2 N. LaSalle Street
Suite 1020
Chicago, Illinois 60630
Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our proposed transfer of $                               aggregate principal amount of 5.875 % Senior Notes due 2016 (the “ Notes ”) of the Com pany , we confirm that:

(a)                                   the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

(b)                                  either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;

(c)                                   no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(a) or Rule 904(a) of Regulation S, as applicable; and

(d)                                  the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

In addition, if the sale is made during the Distribution Compliance Period and the provisions of Rule 903(b)(2) or Rule 904(b)(1) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(b)(2) or Rule 904(b)(1), as the case may be.

C- 1




The Company and the Trustee are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.  Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

[Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

 

C- 2




EXHIBIT D

[Form of Regulation S Transfer Certificate]

[Date]

ITC Holdings Corp. (the “ Company ”)
39500 Orchard Hill Place, Suite 200
Novi, Michigan, 48375
Attention:  General Counsel

The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (the “ Trustee ”)
2 N. LaSalle Street
Suite 1020
Chicago, Illinois 60630
Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our proposed transfer of $                         aggregate principal amount of 6.375 % Senior Notes due 2036 (the “ Notes ”) of the Com pany , we confirm that:

(a)                                   the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;

(b)                                  either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;

(c)                                   no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(a) or Rule 904(a) of Regulation S, as applicable; and

(d)                                  the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

In addition, if the sale is made during the Distribution Compliance Period and the provisions of Rule 903(b)(2) or Rule 904(b)(1) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(b)(2) or Rule 904(b)(1), as the case may be.

D- 1




The Company and the Trustee are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.  Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

[Name of Transferor]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

 

D- 2



Exhibit 99.1

EXECUTION COPY

$510,000,000

ITC HOLDINGS CORP.

$255,000,000 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016

$255,000,000 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

October 4, 2006

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

as Representatives of the Several Initial Purchasers

listed in Schedule A hereto,

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

      Eleven Madison Avenue

      New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

Dear Sirs:

1.  Introductory.  ITC Holdings Corp., a Michigan corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers named in Schedule A hereto (the initial “ Purchasers ”) for whom Credit Suisse (“ Credit Suisse ”) and Lehman Brothers Inc. (“ Lehman ”) are acting as representatives (the “ Representatives ”) U.S.$255,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “ 2016 Senior Notes ”) and U.S.$255,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.375% Senior notes due 2036 (the “ 2036 Senior Notes ” and, together with the 2016 Senior Notes, the “ Offered Securities ”) to be issued under an indenture (the “ Original Indenture ”), dated as of July 16, 2003, between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to BNY Midwest Trust Company), as Trustee, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2003 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”), and as proposed to be amended and supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of October 10, 2006 (the “ Second Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the First Supplemental Indenture and the Original Indenture, the “ Indenture ”).  The United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is herein referred to as the “ Securities Act .”

The Offered Securities are being sold by the Company in connection with the acquisition (the “ Acquisition ”), pursuant to that certain purchase agreement, dated as of May 11, 2006, among TE Power Opportunities Investors, L.P., Mich 1400 LLC, MEAP US Holdings Ltd., Macquarie Essential Asset Partnership (“ MEAP ”), Evercore

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Co-Investment Partnership II L.P., Evercore METC Capital Partners II L.P. and the other parties thereto (the “ Acquisition Agreement ”) and, together with the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement), the “ Acquisition Documents .” Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Company will acquire indirect ownership of all of the partnership interests in Michigan Transco Holdings, Limited Partnership (“ MTH ”), the sole member of Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of MTH (“ METC ”), in a transaction valued at approximately $867.3 million.  Upon consummation of the Acquisition, METC will be an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  In connection with the Acquisition, (A) the Company will issue approximately 6,580,987 shares of its common stock in a public offering (the “ Common Stock Offering ”), (B) the Company will issue shares of its common stock to MEAP with an aggregate value of $70.0 million and (C) the Company will enter into a Stockholders Agreement with MEAP.  The issuance of Common Stock to MEAP, the Common Stock Offering and the issuance of Offered Securities contemplated hereby as referred to as the “ Financings .”  The Acquisition, the Financings and the related transactions are referred to as the “ Transactions .”  This Agreement, the Acquisition Documents and the documents relating to the Financings are collectively referred to as the “ Transaction Documents .”

The Company hereby agrees with the several Purchasers as follows:

2.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.   The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Purchasers that:

(a)  A preliminary offering circular (the “ Preliminary Offering Circular ”) relating to the Offered Securities and a final offering circular (the “Final Offering Circular ”) disclosing the offering price and other final terms of the Offered Securities and dated as of the date of this Agreement (even if finalized and issued subsequent to the date of this Agreement) have been or will be prepared by the Company.  “ General Disclosure Package ” means the Preliminary Offering Circular, together with any Issuer Free Writing Communication (as hereinafter defined) existing at the Applicable Time (as hereinafter defined) and the information which is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B to this Agreement (including the term sheet listing the final terms of the Offered Securities and their offering, set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement, which is referred to as the “ Terms Communication ”).  “ Applicable Time ” means 3:50 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time) on the date of this Agreement.  As of the date of this Agreement, the Final Offering Circular does not, and as of the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) will not, include any 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 under which they were made, not misleading.  At the Applicable Time neither (i) the General Disclosure Package, nor (ii) any individual Supplemental Marketing Material (as hereinafter defined), when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The preceding two sentences do not apply

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to statements in or omissions from the Preliminary or Final Offering Circular, the General Disclosure Package or any Supplemental Marketing Material based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Purchaser through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

Free Writing Communication ” means a written communication (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Offered Securities and is made by means other than the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular. “ Issuer Free Writing Communication ” means a Free Writing Communication prepared by or on behalf of the Company, used or referred to by the Company or containing a description of the final terms of the Offered Securities or of their offering, in the form retained in the Company’s records. “ Supplemental Marketing Material ” means any Issuer Free Writing Communication other than any Issuer Free Writing Communication specified in Schedule B to this Agreement.

(b)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Michigan, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to have all requisite power and authority or to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to (x) result, individually or in the aggregate, in a material adverse effect on the properties, business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or the affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (y) interfere with the marketability of the Offered Securities or (z) draw into question the validity of this Agreement or the Indenture or the transactions described in the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular under the caption “Use of Proceeds” (any of the events set forth in clauses (x), (y) or (z), a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(c)  Each of the Company’s subsidiaries, as that term is defined in Rule 405 of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and Final Offering Circular; and each of the Company’s subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except where the failure to have all requisite power and authority or to be so qualified would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company free from liens, encumbrances and defects, except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final

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Offering Circular.  The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and files reports with the Commission on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system.

(d)  The Indenture has been duly authorized; the Offered Securities have been duly authorized; and when the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and such Offered Securities will have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company and will be consistent with the information in the General Disclosure Package and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Final Offering Circular; and the Indenture and such Offered Securities, when such Offered Securities are authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment therefore in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, and the Offered Securities will be entitled to the benefit and security afforded by the Indenture.

(e)  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, subject to the Permitted Encumbrances (as defined in the Indenture) and to minor defects and irregularities customarily found in properties of like size and character that do not materially impair the use of the property affected thereby in the operation of the business of the Company; and except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, the Company and its subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases except where the failure to have such valid and enforceable leases would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f)  The capitalization of the Company is, as of the date specified, as set forth in the section of the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular entitled “Capitalization.”

(g)  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body, including the Michigan Public Service Commission or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or any court is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

(h) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof will not result in a

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breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under (i) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (ii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or (iii) the charter or by-laws (or equivalent documents) of the Company or its subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, for such breaches, violations or defaults that do not and would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture.

(i)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(j) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(k)   No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened that would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(l)   The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, “ intellectual property rights ”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m)  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances  (collectively, “ environmental laws ”), own, have an interest in or operate any real property that, to the knowledge of

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the Company, is contaminated with any substance requiring investigation or remediation under any environmental laws, is, to the knowledge of the Company, liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or has received (or is aware of any pending investigation that would lead to) any claim relating to any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n)  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Indenture or this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings are, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

(o)  The financial statements of the Company, Predecessor ITC Transmission (as such term is defined under the caption “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” in the Preliminary Offering Circular) and MTH in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular (in each case, as such terms are defined under the caption “Selected Financial Data”) present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries and MTH, respectively, as of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis; and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions or events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical financial statement amounts .  The pro forma financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

(p Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and, except as disclosed in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

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(q)  The Company is not an open-end investment company, unit investment trust or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered under Section 8 of the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”); and the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the Transactions, the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Transactions, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.

(r)   No securities of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act) as the Offered Securities are listed on any national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“ Exchange Act ”), or quoted in a U.S. automated inter-dealer quotation system.

(s )   The offer and sale of the Offered Securities in the manner contemplated by this Agreement will be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by reason of Section 4(2) thereof, Rule 144A (as hereinafter defined) or Regulation S thereunder; and it is not necessary to qualify an indenture in respect of the Offered Securities under the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”).

(t)   Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf (i) has, within the six-month period prior to the date hereof, offered or sold in the United States or to any U.S. person (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) the Offered Securities or any security of the same class or series as the Offered Securities or (ii) has offered or will offer or sell the Offered Securities (A) in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act or (B) with respect to any such securities sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S (“ Regulation S ”) under the Securities Act, by means of any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Rule 902(c) of Regulation S. The Company, its affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S. The Company has not entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Offered Securities except for this Agreement.

(u)  The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

(v)  The Company (i) makes and keeps books, records, and accounts, which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company and (ii) maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (1)

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transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States or any other criteria applicable to such statements and to maintain accountability for assets; (3) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (4) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(w)  Deloitte & Touche LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the accountants who have audited certain financial statements of the Company, whose reports appear in the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular and who will deliver the letters referred to in Sections 7(a) and (h) hereof, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company and MTH, respectively, as required by the Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

(x)  N o “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company’s retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any securities of the Company or (ii) has indicated to the Company that it is considering (a) the downgrading, suspension, or withdrawal of, or any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change in, any rating so assigned or (b) any change in the outlook for any rating of the Company, or any securities of the Company.

(y)  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offered Securities as set forth under “Use of Proceeds” in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(z)  The Company (i) has delivered to the Purchasers a true and correct copy of the Acquisition Agreement that has been executed and delivered prior to the date of this Agreement; and (ii) has delivered, or made available, on or prior to the Closing Date, each other Transaction Document in the form substantially as it will be executed and delivered on or prior to the Closing Date, together with all related agreements and all schedules and exhibits thereto, and as of the date hereof there have been no amendments, alterations, modifications or waivers of any of the provisions of any of the Transaction Documents since their date of execution or from the form in which any such Transaction Document has been delivered or made available to the Purchasers; and there exists as of the date hereof (after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents) no event or condition that would constitute a default under the Transaction Documents by the Company, or to the knowledge of the Company, by the other parties thereto, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions.

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(aa)  Each of the Transaction Documents conforms, or will conform as of the Closing Date, in all material respects to the description thereof in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular.

(bb)  Each of the Acquisition Documents to which the Company is a party has been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and when duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company, to the extent a party thereto, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Purchasers or counsel for the Purchasers in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty to the Purchasers as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date and an agreement with the Purchasers.

3.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities.   On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein, but subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to the Purchasers, and each Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.337% of the principal amount of the 2016 Senior Notes and 99.035% of the principal amount of the 2036 Senior Notes, plus accrued interest, in each case, if any, from October 10, 2006 to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the respective principal amounts of Offered Securities set forth opposite the names of the several Purchasers in Schedule A hereto.

The Company will deliver against payment of the purchase price the Offered Securities to be offered and sold by the Purchasers in reliance on Regulation S (the “ Regulation S Securities ”) in the form of one or more global securities in registered form without interest coupons (the “ Offered Regulation S Global Securities ”) which will be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) for the respective accounts of the DTC participants for Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels office, as operator of the Euroclear System (“ Euroclear ”), and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“ Clearstream, Luxembourg ”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The Company will deliver against payment of the purchase price the Offered Securities to be purchased by the Purchasers hereunder and to be offered and sold by the Purchasers in reliance on Rule 144A (“ Rule 144A ”) under the Securities Act (the “ 144A Securities ”) in the form of one or more permanent global securities in definitive form without interest coupons (the “ Restricted Global Securities ”) deposited with the Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. The Offered Regulation S Global Securities and the Restricted Global Securities shall be assigned separate CUSIP numbers. The Restricted Global Securities shall include the legend regarding restrictions on transfer set forth under “Transfer Restrictions”

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in the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular.  Until the termination of the distribution compliance period (as defined in Regulation S) with respect to the offering of the Offered Securities, interests in the Offered Regulation S Global Securities may only be held by the DTC participants for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. Interests in any permanent global Securities will be held only in book-entry form through Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or DTC, as the case may be, except in the limited circumstances described in the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular.

Payment for the Regulation S Securities and the 144A Securities shall be made by the Purchasers in Federal (same day) funds by official check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank specified in writing by the Company, at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York at 10:00 A.M., (New York time), on October 10, 2006, or at such other time not later than five full business days thereafter as the Representatives and the Company jointly determine, such time being herein referred to as the “ Closing Date ,” against delivery to the Trustee as custodian for DTC of (i) the Offered Regulation S Global Securities representing all of the Regulation S Securities for the respective accounts of the DTC participants for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg and (ii) the Restricted Global Securities representing all of the 144A Securities. The  Offered Regulation S Global Securities and the Restricted Global Securities will be made available for checking at the above offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

4.  Representations by Purchasers; Resale by Purchasers.  (a)   Each Purchaser severally represents and warrants to the Company that it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

(b)  Each Purchaser severally acknowledges that the Offered Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in accordance with Regulation S or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  Each Purchaser severally represents and agrees that it has offered and sold the Offered Securities, and will offer and sell the Offered Securities (i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the Closing Date, only in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 144A. Accordingly, neither such Purchaser nor its affiliates, nor any persons acting on its or their behalf, have engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Offered Securities, and such Purchaser, its affiliates and all persons acting on its or their behalf have complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.  Each Purchaser severally agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of sale of the Offered Securities, other than a sale pursuant to Rule 144A, such Purchaser will have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases the Offered Securities from it during the restricted period a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:

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“The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the date of the commencement of the offering and the closing date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S (or Rule 144A if available) under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.”

Terms used in this subsection (b) have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.

(c)  Each Purchaser severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates has not entered and will not enter into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Offered Securities except for any such arrangements with the other Purchasers or affiliates of the other Purchasers or with the prior written consent of the Company.

(d)  Each Purchaser severally agrees that it and each of its affiliates will not offer or sell the Offered Securities in the United States by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act, including, but not limited to (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or (ii) any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising.  Each Purchaser severally agrees, with respect to resales made in reliance on Rule 144A of any of the Offered Securities, to deliver either with the confirmation of such resale or otherwise prior to settlement of such resale a notice to the effect that the resale of such Offered Securities has been made in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A.

(e)  Each Purchaser severally represents and agrees that (i) in relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “ Relevant Member State ”), each initial purchaser has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “ Relevant Implementation Date ”) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:  (A) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; (B) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; (C) to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive)

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subject to obtaining prior consent of the manager for any such offer; or (D) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.  For the purposes of this provision the expression of an “ offer of notes to the public ” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State); (ii) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “ FSMA ”) to persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) order 2005 or in circumstances in which Section 21 of the FMSA does not apply to ITC Holdings; and (iii) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to any notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

5.  Certain Agreements of the Company.   The Company agrees with the several Purchasers that:

(a)  The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Preliminary Offering Circular or Final Offering Circular and will not effect such amendment or supplementation without the consent of Credit Suisse, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If, at any time prior to the completion of the resale of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers, any event occurs as a result of which the Preliminary Offering Circular, Final Offering Circular or any document included in the General Disclosure Package or any Supplemental Marketing Material included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company promptly will notify the Representatives of such event and promptly will prepare, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission. Neither the consent of Credit Suisse to, nor the Purchasers’ delivery to offerees or investors of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.

(b)  The Company will furnish to the Representatives copies of the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Final Offering Circular and each document comprising a part of the General Disclosure Package and each item of Supplemental Marketing Material, if any, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives reasonably request.  At any time when the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly

12




furnish or cause to be furnished, upon the written request of the Representatives, to the Representatives and, upon request of holders and prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities, to such holders and purchasers, copies of the information required to be delivered to holders and prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (or any successor provision thereto) in order to permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales by such holders of the Offered Securities.  The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Purchasers all such documents.

(c)  The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale and the determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions in the United States and Canada as the Representatives designate and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the resale of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers, provided that the Company will not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any such state or jurisdiction.

(d)  During the period of three years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives as soon as available, a copy of each report, notice or communication sent to the Company’s stockholders; provided that such delivery requirements shall be deemed to be met by the Company’s compliance with its reporting requirements pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.

(e)  During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the Company will, upon request, furnish to the Representatives and any holder of Offered Securities a copy of the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Offered Securities.

(f)  During the period of two years after the Closing Date, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any of the Offered Securities that have been reacquired by any of them.

(g)  The Company will pay all expenses incidental to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture including (i) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its professional advisers; (ii) all expenses in connection with the execution, issue, authentication, packaging and initial delivery of the Offered Securities, the preparation and printing of this Agreement, the Offered Securities, the Indenture, the Preliminary Offering Circular, any other documents comprising part of the General Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Circular, all amendments and supplements thereto, each item of Supplemental Marketing Material and any other document relating to the issuance, offer, sale and delivery of the Offered Securities; (iii) the cost of any advertising approved by the Company in connection with the issue of the Offered Securities; (iv) for any expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions in

13




the United States and Canada as the Representatives designate and the printing of memoranda relating thereto; (v) for any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities; and (vi) for expenses incurred in distributing the Preliminary Offering Circular, any other documents comprising part of the General Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Circular (including any amendments and supplements thereto) and any Supplemental Marketing Materials to the Purchasers. The Company will also reimburse the Purchasers (to the extent incurred by them) for all reasonably incurred travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities from the Purchasers; provided that the Company shall not pay, or reimburse the Purchasers for, any fees or expenses of or relating to any consultants or more than 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with such meetings.  Such amount may be deducted from the purchase price for the Offered Securities set forth in Section 3 hereof.

(h)  In connection with the offering, until Credit Suisse shall have notified the Company of the completion of the resale of the Offered Securities, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has or will, either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase for any account in which it or any of its affiliates has a beneficial interest any Offered Securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Offered Securities; and neither it nor any of its affiliates will make bids or purchases for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in, or of raising the price of, the Offered Securities.

(i) For a period of 30 days after the date of the initial offering of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers, the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any United States dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse.  The Company will not at any time offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any securities under circumstances where such offer, sale, pledge, contract or disposition would cause the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or the safe harbor of Regulation S thereunder to cease to be applicable to the offer and sale of the Offered Securities.

6.  Free Writing Communications . (a)  The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of Credit Suisse, and each Purchaser represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and Credit Suisse, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Communication.

(b)           The Company consents to the use by any Purchaser of a Free Writing Communication that contains only (A) information describing the preliminary terms of the Offered Securities or their offering or (B) information that describes the final

14




terms of the Offered Securities or their offering and, in each case that is included in the Terms Communication or is included in the Final Offering Circular, it being understood and agreed that any such Free Writing Communication (other than the Terms Communication) shall not be an Issuer Free Writing Communication for purposes of this Agreement.

7.  C onditions of the Obligations of the Purchasers.  The obligations of the several Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities will be subject, after giving effect to the Transactions, to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a)  At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Purchasers shall have received letters from each of Deloitte & Touche LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, addressed to the Purchasers and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the most recent Preliminary Offering Circular, as of a date not more than three (3) days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.

(b)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Securities Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would, in the judgment of the Representatives, be likely to prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or distribution of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any material suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any

15




exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (v) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New York authorities; (vi) any major disruption of settlements of securities or clearance services in the United States or (vii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the offering or sale of and payment for the Offered Securities.

(c)  The Purchasers shall have received an opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date, of the General Counsel of the Company, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto.

(d)  The Purchasers shall have received an opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Company, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B-1 and Exhibit B-2 hereto.

(e)  The Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Dykema Gossett PLLC, Michigan counsel for the Company, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

(f)   The Purchasers shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Stuntz, Davis & Staffier, P.C., special regulatory counsel for the Company, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

(g) The Purchasers shall have received from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, counsel for the Purchasers, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the validity of the Offered Securities, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Circular, the exemption from registration for the offer and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company to the Purchasers and the resales by the Purchasers as contemplated hereby and other related matters as the Representatives may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(h) The Purchasers shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and that, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its

16




subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package  and the Final Offering Circular.

(i)            With respect to the letters of Deloitte & Touche LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP referred to in paragraph (a) and delivered to the Purchasers concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “ Initial Letter ”), the Purchasers shall have received letters (each, a “ Bring-Down Letter ”) of such accountants, addressed to the Purchasers and dated the Closing Date (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of the date of the Bring-Down Letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Final Offering Circular, as of a date not more than three (3) days prior to the date of the Bring-Down Letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by the Initial Letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the Initial Letter.

(j)    The Acquisition shall have closed or close concurrently with the sale of the Offered Securities and each condition to the closing thereof contemplated by the Acquisition Documents will, on or prior to the Closing Date, have been satisfied or waived.  The Purchasers shall have received  conformed copies of the Acquisition Documents.

The Company will furnish the Purchasers with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request. The Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Purchasers compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Purchasers hereunder.

8.  Indemnification and Contribution .  (a)  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser, its respective affiliates, its respective directors, officers, employees and each person, if any, who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which that Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular, in each case as amended or supplemented, or any Issuer Free Writing Communication at any time, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact  necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, including any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out of or based upon the Company’s failure to perform its obligations under Section 5(a) of this Agreement, and will reimburse each Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Purchaser, affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,

17




claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Purchaser through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.  The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Purchaser, or to any affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person of that Purchaser.

(b)  Each Purchaser will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Circular or Final Offering Circular, in each case as amended or supplemented, or any Issuer Free Writing Communication at any time, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Purchaser through the Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by such Purchaser consists of the following information in the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular: under the caption “Plan of Distribution” paragraphs three, thirteen, sixteen and seventeen; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall not be liable for any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out of or based upon the Company’s failure to perform its obligations under Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

(c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above .  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such

18




indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes (x) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (y) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment to the extent provided in this Section 8.

(d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Purchasers on the other from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Purchasers on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Purchasers 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 bear to the total discounts and commissions received by the Purchasers from the Company under this Agreement. 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 or the Purchasers and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Offered Securities purchased by it were resold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged

19




omission.  The Purchasers’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations and not joint.

(e)  The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act; and the obligations of each Purchaser under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which such Purchasers may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

9.  Default of Purchasers.   If any Purchaser defaults in its obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder and the aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities that such defaulting Purchaser agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount of Offered Securities, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any Purchaser, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the non-defaulting Purchaser shall be obligated to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Purchaser agreed but failed to purchase.  If any Purchaser so defaults and the aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of Offered Securities and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Purchaser or the Company, except as provided in Section 10.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Purchaser” includes any person substituted for a Purchaser under this Section.  Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Purchaser from liability for its default.

10.  Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations.   The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Purchaser, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective obligations of the Company and the Purchasers pursuant to Section 8 shall remain in effect.  If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Purchasers is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of Section 7(b), the Company will reimburse the Purchasers for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

11.  Notices.   All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Purchasers or any Purchaser will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to the

20




Purchasers c/o (a) Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention:  LCD IBD and (b) Lehman Brothers, Inc. 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019, Attention:  Debt Capital Markets, Global Power (with a copy to the General Counsel at the same address), or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at ITC Holdings Corp., 39500 Orchard Hill Place, Suite 200, Novi, Michigan 48375, Attention:  Daniel J. Oginsky.

12.  Successors.   This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the controlling persons referred to in Section 8, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder, except that holders of Offered Securities shall be entitled to enforce the agreements for their benefit contained in the second and third sentences of Section 5(b) hereof against the Company as if such holders were parties thereto.

13.  Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

14.  Absence of Fiduciary Relationship.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a)  The Purchasers have been retained solely to act as purchasers in connection with the sale of the Company’s Offered Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Purchasers has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Purchasers have advised or are advising the Company on other matters;

(b)  The price of the Offered Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Purchasers, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c)  It has been advised that the Purchasers and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Purchasers have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d)  It waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Purchasers for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Purchasers shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

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15.  Applicable Law.   This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

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If the foregoing is in accordance with the Purchasers’ understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to us one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Purchasers in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

ITC Holdings Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

The foregoing Agreement

is hereby confirmed and accepted

as of the date first above written.

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

23




SCHEDULE A

 

 

Principal Amount of
Offered Securities

 

Initial Purchaser

 

2016 Senior
Notes

 

2036 Senior
Notes

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

$

95,625,000

 

$

95,625,000

 

Lehman Brothers Inc.

 

$

95,625,000

 

$

95,625,000

 

Comerica Securities, Inc.

 

$

21,250,000

 

$

21,250,000

 

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

 

$

21,250,000

 

$

21,250,000

 

Lasalle Financial Services Inc.

 

$

21,250,000

 

$

21,250,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

$

255,000,000

 

$

255,000,000

 

Total

 

$

510,000,000

 

 

24




SCHEDULE B

List of Issuer Free Writing Communications, including documents delivered with the Preliminary Offering Circular

1.                Terms Communication set forth on Schedule C

25




SCHEDULE C

Form of Terms Communication

ITC Holdings Corp.

5.875% Senior Notes due 2016

6.375% Senior Notes due 2036

Final Terms and Conditions

Issuer:

ITC Holdings Corp.

 

 

Market Type:

Senior Notes

 

 

Ratings:

Moody’s: Baa3 (stable)

 

Standard & Poor’s: BBB- (positive)

 

 

Trade Date:

October 4, 2006

 

 

Settlement Date:

October 10, 2006 (T+3)

 

 

Principal Amount:

$255,000,000 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “ 2016 Senior Notes ”)

 

$255,000,000 6.375% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “ 2036 Senior Notes ”)

 

 

Coupon Dates:

March 30 and September 30 each year

 

 

Interest Accrual

 

Commencement Date:

October 10, 2006

 

 

First Payment Date:

March 30, 2006

 

 

Final Maturity:

September 30, 2016 for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

September 30, 2036 for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

Call Date & Terms:

Make-Whole Call at T + 25 bps for 2016 Senior Notes

 

Make-Whole Call at T + 30 bps for 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

UST Benchmark:

UST 4.875% due 8/15/2016 for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

UST 4.500% due 2/15/2036 for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

Treasury Price:

102-16 for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

96-20+ for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

26




 

Treasury Yield:

4.557% for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

4.712% for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

Re-offer Spread:

+132 bps for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

+167 bps for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

Re-offer Yield to Investor:

5.877% for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

6.382% for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

Coupon:

5.875 % for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

6.375% for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

Price to Investor:

99.987% for the 2016 Senior Notes

 

99.910% for the 2036 Senior Notes

 

 

Day Count:

30/360

 

 

Denominations:

$2,000

 

 

Lead Managers:

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

Lehman Brothers Inc.

 

 

Co-managers:

Comerica Securities, Inc.

 

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

 

Lasalle Financial Services Inc.

 

 

CUSIPS:

2016 Notes

 

 

 

144A: 465685 AC 9 / US465685AC94

 

Regulation S: U4501W AB 8 / USU4501WAB82

 

 

 

2036 Notes

 

 

 

144A: 465685 AD 7 / US465685AD77

 

Regulation S: U4501W AC 6 / USU4501WAC65

 

The senior notes have not been registered under the Securities Act.  The notes may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons except to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A and to certain non-U.S. persons in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S.  You are hereby notified that sellers of the notes may be relying on the exemption from the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act provided by Rule 144A.  Before you invest, you should read the Final Offering Circular.  Credit Suisse and Lehman can arrange to send you the Final Offering Circular.  Please call Credit Suisse at 1-800-221-1037 or your Lehman Brothers sales representative to request it.

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EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF OPINION OF DANIEL OGINSKY, GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE COMPANY

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EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER OF DANIEL OGINSKY, GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE COMPANY

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EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF OPINION OF SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP, COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY

30




EXHIBIT B-2

FORM OF NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER OF SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT, COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY

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EXHIBIT C

FORM OF OPINION OF DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC, MICHIGAN COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

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EXHIBIT D

FORM OF OPINION OF STUNTZ, DAVIS & STAFFIER, P.C., SPECIAL REGULATORY COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

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